The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 62

0 4C TWt TCHHtMCAM frtdrWAY 198S I); Ma for league drug use baffling to Anderson "Chuck Tanner (former Pittsburgh manager now with Atlanta) was as close to his players as any manager could ever be, and he wasnt aware of some of the stuff that was going on on his club. That's one thing a manager doesn't know about, no matter how good a relationship you have with your players." Anderson indicated an off-field altercation here involving former Sound Nelson Simmons was behind his recent abrupt release. Simmons, released April 29, is now with Baltimore's AAA team in Rochester, N.Y. Former Vanderbilt star Scotti Madison, who was leading the Sounds in hitting last season before being called up, was activated last week from the disabled list He broke a thumb in spring training. "Madison's status is day to day," said Anderson when asked about the possibility that he might be left here for rehabilitation.

The future of another injured Tiger, star crippled for life turning to drugs. His life's dreams have already been shattered. I can feel for that weakness. But why on earth would a major league baseball player do it? How could they turn against a game that has given them Anderson said he is in complete support of baseball commissioner Peter Ueberroth's recent tough stand on drugs in the game. "I'm not behind him 100, I'm behind him 1,000," said Anderson.

"As long as there's one player in baseball using drugs, that's one too many. If there's a player using them, I want him caught" Anderson's club has not been touched by the revelations of drug use that have rocked some teams. He says as far as he knows, all his players are clean. "But I would never get before a court of law and swear that none of our players use drugs," Anderson added. outfielder Kirk Gibson, also remains In limbo.

Gibson suffered ligament damage in his ankle In an April 22 game in Boston. "I saw him a few days ago and he had the ankle in a cast and was on crutches," said Anderson. "It didn't look too good. When will he come back? Nobody knows." Gibson was one of the team's top hitters. Since his departure, his replacements have gone 0-for-40 at the plate, a factor in Detroit's fifth-place standing in the American League East Asked how badly the club will miss Gibson, Anderson replied: Til wait and see what our record is when he gets back." The Tigers are 13-12 and, says Anderson, "We're lucky we're not 5-20." The Tigers took a chartered flight to Minnesota, where they begin a series with the Twins, following last night's game.

LARRY WOODY Major league baseball players who use drugs dont make Sparky Anderson mad. They have him confused. "How could they do it?" said Anderson, manager of the Detroit Tigers, prior to sending his team against the AAA farm club Nashville Sounds in an exhibition game last night at Greer Stadium. "How many kids In this country alone play baseball in Little League, high school and college? And what's each of their dreams? To some day play In the major leagues. "Then you hear about some of the guys fortunate enough to finally make it to the majors who are using drugs.

How could they turn on their dreams like that? "Players who use drugs confuse me," said Anderson. "I cant figure them out I could maybe understand someone who is blind or 1 Sparky Anderson Wonders why 1 Conroy in hit parade as Cardinals explode: years." Cubs 8, Dodgers 5: Shawon Duns- ton leads the Chicago Cubs in runs, but he isn't ready to brag about it In fact he wouldn't mind if people just forgot about it "That's not my stat that's not what I want to do," Dunston said yestei day after his fifth homer of the sea- son started a four-run fifth inning asj the Cubs came from behind to edge'' the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-5. Dunston's homer was one more than he hit last season when as a 'f rookie he split time between the Cubs and their Iowa farm club. It' came off loser Jerry Reuss, 2-1, and was an unlikely shot that cut i a22-mphwind. "I wanted to bunt to get on," said Dunston, who was leading off in the Laga-led Tigers win they know what I can do.

In baseball, you've just got to wait and see." Nashville manager Leon Roberts worked five pitchers, with starter Jeff Robinson getting the most work, five inning. wanted to see what some of our guys could do and give everybody a little work," said Roberts. The five Sounds hurlers gave up 13 hits to their major league opponents, while Nashville tagged Detroit's three pitchers for nine hits. Along with Laga, four other ex-Sounds were on Detroit's starting lineup last night Madison, Bergman, Harper and Sheridan. Nashville carries an 11-11 record Into tonight's game with Denver.

The Sounds are tied with Indianapolis for second place in the American Association East division, 1 1 games behind leader Louisville. Jeff Conner (1-1, 3.26 ERA) is scheduled to start for Nashville. Denver, a farm club of the Cincinnati Reds, sports the Association's top record at 16-9 as the Zephers rule the West division. Former Tiger relief ace John Hiller is in town as a coach for Detroit's minor league clubs. 7 3f a mmm duel between Oakland's Chris Codi-roll and Milwaukee's Ted Higuera, which began 14 hours after the A's 7-6 victory Wednesday night "That's what baseball is all about," Moore said.

"It was a heck of a game. Two pitchers just went toe-to-toe out there. Cod just kept us in the game to enable us to pick up a couple of runs and hang on." Codiroli, 3-3, pitched out of several jams, including a bases-loaded situation in the fifth inning, and stranded 11 Brewers in eight innings. He was rewarded with a victory when the A's finally solved Higuera in the bottom of the eighth. Higuera, 4-2, had blanked Oakland on four hits while striking out eight through seven innings, but ran into trouble after Alfredo Griffin led off the eighth with a single.

MarkHumpreysAP Detroit infielder Harry Spillman stretches for a ground ball, which he fielded and threw out the Nashville runner in last night's exhibition game at Greer Stadium. Oakland wins 2-1 pitching duel inning, -gut i saw (iirsi rjaseman -Greg) Brock come in so I decided ta swing away for a hit Greg Brock hit a three-run homer to right field in the first inning to give the Dodgers a 4-0 lead, but Cubs pecked away and went ahead i to stay in the fifth, making a winner of Scott Sanderson, 2-1. 588 allowed four hits over seven innings' and Sid Bream drove in three runs with a double and a single as the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the San Francisco Giants 8-2 last night Bielecki, 3-0, lost his shutout bid -f and a 15-inning scoreless streak i i' when Joel Youngblood hit a pinch-hit home run leading off the eighth. He struck out four and walked four and held the Giants hitless for six until yielding solo homers in the eighth to Youngblood and Will Oarkv Jim Winn relieved Bielecki and finished with two hitless -1 completing the combined four-hitter, Bielecki pitched seven scoreless- innings in the Pirates' 4-0 victory over San Diego on May 2 and one shutout inning in the Pirates' 13-5 "hV umph over Philadelphia on Aprtf .27. Griffin took second on Mickey Tettleton's sacrifice and scored on Phillips' single to left.

Phillips, who took second on the throw home, advanced to third on a fielder's choice and scored on Dave Kingman's single to center. Steve Ontiveros pitched the ninth Inning for the A's, lost the shutout by allowing Randy Ready's first home run of the year, but still earned his third save of the season and second in as many games. Both teams failed to score after loading the bases in the fifth. In a controversial play that led to Moore's ejection, Carney Lansford was tagged out by Brewers' catcher Charlie Moore on an attempted steal of home with two out to end the Oakland threat in the bottom of the fifth. Lansford slid across the plate after Tony Phillips squared around to bunt, but Hendry called Lansford out on a tag after the pitch.

Tennessean News Services OAKLAND, Calif. After winning two one-run games in 17 hours, Oakland A's Manager Jackie Moore said he's glad the Milwaukee Brewers are getting out of town. Moore kept tabs of the final four innings of yesterday's 2-1 Oakland win from the runway to the clubhouse after home plate umpire Ted Hendry ejected him. But Moore enjoyed the pitching HUNTERS POINT GOLF COURSE Hwy. 231 North Ubonon.Tn.

WEEKLY SPECIALS Rcnl cart GfMrti fw $1pw 9 Monday Davidson Co. Tuesday Rutherford Co. SAVE THOUSANDS Tennessean Wire Services ST. LOUIS Left-hander Tim Conroy, after playing a lead role as both a pitcher and a hitter for the St Louis Cardinals, was stumped to categorize his performance. "It kind of messes it up with the hits," said Conroy after hurling a five-hitter and driving In four runs to key yesterday's 13-3 romp past the San Diego Padres.

'The last time it happened, I think, was at Gateway High School In Monroeville, Pa." Conroy's hits, a two-run double and a two-run single, keyed a 20-hit explosion, St Louis' biggest since pounding out 22 on July 1, 1983 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. "We got 'em started now," said San Diego Manager Steve Boros of the Cards, who began the day with a .209 batting mark. Conroy, who was making his second National League start, survived bouts with his mound mechanics at the outset and yielded only a single to Carmelo Martinez after the third inning. "It was sort of back and forth for a while. I was too strong," he said of his early problems.

"I let them get back in to it Once we had that big inning, I just threw fastballs and let them swing away." In addition to Conroy's hits, St Louis' bombardment included four hits by McGee and three each by Coleman, Tito Landrum and Oquen-do. Braves 10, Reds 5: Atlanta Braves slugger Dale Murphy has established himself as a model for other players to be compared with, Braves Manager Chuck Tanner said yesterday in Atlanta. Tanner was moved to the statement after Murphy belted two home runs to drive in five runs and give Atlanta a 10-5 victory, staving off a Cincinnati Reds comeback attempt and sending the Reds to their 10th loss in 11 games. Tve never known anyone like him," Tanner said. "When you ask who to compare him with, you must compare someone with him.

God only makes one like him in 50 A i MARTIN with the New York Yankees, might not be that easy. Harrelson took over the White Sox operations in October and said he did not believe In multiyear contracts. Harrelson put himself under a one-year contract and gave LaRussa the same. Martin reportedly wants a multi-year contract at $500,000 a year. In addition, Martin is still under contract to George Steinbrenner, owner of the Yankees.

Although Steinbrenner has given the White Sox permission to talk to Martin, he might want some kind of compensation If the White Sox hire Martin. In addition to Martin, Harrelson has talked to Jim Fregosi, who managed the California Angels to the American League West title In 1979. Fregosi currently is managing the Louisville Redbirds, the AAA farm club of the St Louis Cardinals. Seattle axes Cottier, seeks skipper H'tV F78x14 $23.95 lit "VI lilt 5.60x15$19.95 SwW L78x15 $28.95 Vfffi5? All prices are plus tas 1 "nd your old lira. FREE MOUNTING BALANCING AVAILABLE I NOW AVAILABLE! TRUCK A CAR TIRE VULCANIZING! I I ALSO -USED LARGE TRUCK TIRES TIRE RECAPPERS ggi 3000 NolensvilleBd.

Phone 832-0887 Reports say it's ex Padre Williams, but other claim Martin's Mariner pick Boxes, Page 2C Ex-Seattle manager Rene La-chemann said Seattle owner George Argyros must stop being trigger-hap py in firing managers in order for I' his American League baseball to become a contender. Lachemann, 41, was critical of (he; firing of Chuck Cottier, the fourth-manager of the Mariners to be dis- charged during the six seasons Ar-gyros has owned the Seattle franchise. LIIIC 8.8 A.P.R. RETAIL FINANCE RATE Lachemann, now third-base coach! i of the Boston Red Sox, and Cottier. are dose friends.

Lachemann hireri i Cottier as the Mariners' third-base coach In 1981 Cottier, who Joined the Mariners as a coach in 1982, was hired as manager on an interim basis in ttie' IJ final month of the 1984 season Dd Crandall was fired. Cottier gukl 3 ed the Mariners to a 15-12 I Tennessean News Services SEATTLE The slumping Seattle Mariners fired manager Chuck Cottier yesterday, naming coach Marty Martinez as interim manager. The Associated Press learned that Dick Williams will be named manager shortly, although other reports suggested that Billy Martin may be In line for the Seattle job as well as being the No. 1 candidate for a similar post with the White Sox should Tony LaRussa be fired. In firing Cottier, Mariners President Chuck Armstrong said the team's sixth-place standing in the American League West "is far below our expectations." The Mariners, who had hoped to contend this season, are 9-19 after losing eight of their last 10 games.

Mariners' officials said a decision on hiring a new manager would be made in the next few days, and would not comment on whether Williams would get the job. Mariners spokesman Bob Porter said the team was "having discussions with a number of people." Asked if he was denying Williams had been hired. Porter said, "As far as I know, we havent hired him." A source who spoke on condition he not be indentified told The Associated Press earlier yesterday that Cottier called a Mariners' clubhouse attendant and told him to clean out his locker because he had been fired and was being replaced by Williams. Williams quit earlier this year as manager of the San Diego Padres. Neither Cottier nor Williams could be reached for Immediate comment As for Martin, it appears he may be headed to Chicago.

With LaRussa's job hanging by a thread yesterday, Sox management met with Martin's agent Ed Saplr, and said they would talk again today. White Sox spokesman Paul Jensen AND SPECIAL Stk. 65037 DESCRIPTION 100 FuH Size Truck 6cyl 3.7 Liter Eng 4 Speed Overdrive Trans 195 Radial Tires 1345 lb. Paytoad Deluxe Full Foam Seat Cut Pile Carpet Power Bakes Cigar Lighter Dual Horns 5 MILE No Dealer Prep-No 5' SALE PRICED 1986 DODGE RAM PICKUP SALE PRICE $7499 00 Wood Tone Inst Panel 7 Outside Mirrors DayNile Inside Mirror Wheelcovers FuN Bright Inside Hood Release Color Keyed Seat Belts Bodyside Tape Strips Hood Ornament Ram A Hood Independent Front Susp Extensive Gal Steel Const WARRANTY "Extra" Chargers COTTIER said the dub and Sapir "would be In contact again within 24 hours" after a meeting yesterday at a hotel near Chicago's O'Hare International Airport "All we did is agree to talk again I don't know if Billy is going to be manager of the White Sox," Sapir said, adding that he was also engaged in "preliminary" talks with the Mariners about the possibility of Martin taking over that ballclub. Ken Ilarrelson, chief of White Sox baseball operations, has stated he wants Martin to replace LaRussa.

Ilarrelson met with Martin on Wednesday, but no decision was reached. Sapir left his New Orleans base and met again yesterday with ilarrelson, who was joined by White Sox co-owners Jerry Reinsdorf and Eddie Einhora. But hiring Martin, who has held numerous managerial positions including four different terms September, and was given a one- year contract for 1985 that was re- newed for this seasoa The Mariners went 98-119 under Cottier. The latest loss came Wedaes: day night an 11-5 defeat at home against Boston In which Cottier was ejected from the game after arguing an Interference call during a play. Going Into Wednesday night's game they were hitting .207 and had.

an earned run average of 132 after 27 games. Cottier, batting coach ff-Deron Johnson and pitching coach: Phil Regan all have been strongly 'l criticized for the performance. In an Interview prior to Wedne days game. Cottier said he felt ho could turn around the dub's for- tunes, given a chance. "I know this team is going to be, good team and I know this team is going to have a good record at tne end of the season," he said..