The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 17

yjpgwtxiwun minimi ynp 4CjTHt TOMCSSCAMMi4ar TtBRUARY 23 197 Jr 1 ftjfllMqjaM I 4 if If niOll xV i "ff'fj mm. THE I '''v- .) i.ti- mer, especially with the kind of team I think Opening day will be special. It will be nine years to the day, April 10, that the first game was played at Greer Stadium marking the revival of professional baseball in KTotnll. i i-. 'J' I uncinnau wui give us," schmittou said.

"We're looking for long lines at the ticket booths." The Sounds chief says that he feels there is a chance to sell 2,500 season tickets the record is 2,680. And there is the pick-a-day certificate book that is being offered. Generally, it is coraorate rustnmpn: whn Schmittou returns to put boom back in Sounds JIMMY DAVY Spans Writer LARRY SCHMTITOU, president of the Nashville Sounds, says he has bitten himself in the foot And it's all because of talk some say fantasy about Nashville in the near future winding up with a major league baseball franchise. "I don't have major league thoughts for Nashville," he said, surprising his listeners. "If it happens, that's great But I created the anticipation of a major league franchise here-and it came back to bite us in the foot" Schmittou raised such hopes for a major league expansion franchise that he feels fans the past couple of years lost enthusiasm for and an appreciation of the solid Class AAA American Association baseball program that is operating at Greer Stadium, "The talk became negative to the good things we already had.

Our best shot to get a major league franchise is to keep hanging numbers (attendance figures) on the wait The big leagues will find you. You don't have to sell them on your qualifications," Schmittou said. "I don't want to appear negative about big league baseball, however. When the time is right I'll be the first in line." Schmittou has put the major leagues behind him in another more personal manner. He's back home.

After serving as a vice-president with the Texas Rangers, his contract was not renewed. He was back on the premises at Greer Stadium just a few hours when he called a meeting of his Nashville Sounds staff. Few of them had worked for Schmittou before he left the hands-on Sounds management to hold an executive position with the American League club. He didn't need a one-on-one meeting with each. He had a simple message.

"I know that some of you have not worked with me on a daily basis," he said. "You probably have been told that I'm hard to work for. "I have called this meeting to personally assure you that all you have been told is true." IN HIS GREER Stadium office last week, the one-time Vanderbilt baseball coach and football recruiter leaned back in his chair, lit a long cigar and summed up the Sounds' work ethic with him back on the premises "We work just a half-day here at the stadium You can choose whichever 12 hours you prefer," he said, smiling. If there is a secret to this man, it is that he is never off duty, never wound down, and accepts nothing less from those who surround him It's the reason that the Nashville minor league franchise is considered one of the most successful in the country the attendance reaching 300,000 or better almost every year since pro baseball was revived here in 1978. The franchise is Schmittou's dream, not a job.

And it is a dream no one shared with him almost 10 years ago. It was, in the opinion of buy the season tickets 70 games. But Schmittou says the Pick-A-Day certificate is for the average fan and he has a phone crew working at night to sell them Pick-A-Day is 12 tickets for the price of 10, and the purchaser picks the days he wants to go to the game, exchanging the certificates for a seat Marketing, said Schmittou, who held that management post for the Texas Rangers, is the name of the game. There are not enough purists to fill a stadium "We are going to be marketing 70 games this year. In the past we've had 40 special nights and then allowed the other 30 games to go.

satisfied with small crowds. We're not others, an impossible dream Minor league baseball was dead and only Schmittou didn't know it He still has a collection of stories and headlines which scoffed at his naivety. But he isn't one to look back. And now that he is once again at the controls on a daily, hands-on basis where is he most effective, the ball park is buzzing weeks before the season 'opener, April 10. Among the things he has going are: Replacing half the old Atlanta Stadium seats in Greer Stadium with new ones.

The other half of those wooden chair-back seats will be replaced next year. Replacing all the wooden bleachers in the outfield with alumimum ones, eliminating splinters and torn clothes for general admissions fans. Repainting the entire ball park. Remodeling the players' batting cage. Buying new uniforms for the ball club, perhaps throwing away the last vestige of the two losing seasons here with farmhands of the Detroit Tigers organization.

Keeping concession prices virtually the same as last year, going up on a couple of items by five cents, dropping others by the same amount Keeping ticket prices the same as last year, and having sold almost 2,000 season tickets (at 70 tickets in a book, this means 140,000 paid admissions already). Arranging for all the Sounds games to be broadcast over WSIX, 980-AM, with Bob Jamison again doing the play-by-play. George Plaster, the other half of last year's broadcast team, can also return, if the likes, although talks have not taken place yet Negotiating for three post-game concerts this summer, the result of last year's financially-successful appearance of The Beach Boys. Talks have already been held with groups like The Monkees. Arranging a big league all-star game.

Bobby Thompson, Ferguson Jenkins, Don Kess-inger and Bob Feller have accepted invitations. "And don't forget the prospects of a better team," said Schmittou. "That is the most important thing." Bill Welch Stall Schmittou says that "in celebration of something people said wouldn't work, we are going to have a reunion of that first team. And, we're going to roll almost all the prices back thatday to the 1978 level." Returning, too, are the Reds. They were also working with the Sounds to re-start baseball in 78.

"I think the thing that has been missing for awhile has been an exciting team, not me," said Schmittou. "We were spoiled. With Detroit there were no Willie McGees or Don Mattinglys the kinds of stars our fans were accustomed to seeing, anticipating them in the big leagues; "Our best players, a guy like Doug Baker, rarely smiled, let alone mixed with the crowd down the third base side. Most were never here long enough to develop any community relations. Scotti Madison gave us this his first year, but not as much last season in his disappointment of being sent back down from the big leagues." Schmittou is not critical of Detroit's organization for the situation.

He says Detroit simply didn't have the farm system that is found in the Cincinnati organization or, later in the Sounds history, the New York Yankees system "Detroit did everything it could. It spent more money on salaries, signing free agent former big leaguers, than any organization in minor league baseball except Lousville. But we never had the spirit the winning spirit of a solid farm system, where players move within the system. That's what we have back in the form of the working agreement with Cincinnati." And what about the new Schmittou? 'Tm the same guy with the dream in 1978. Only I'm more determined.

In those days I really didn't know what I was doing, just reacted to things. Now I think I spend more quality time. And when I left Texas, all my energies became devoted to having the best year ever for the Nashville Sounds." going to have empty seats this year, if we can help it" Schmittou said. At Texas, where attendance reached 1.6 million last year, schmittou said there were promotions for every game until Labor Day. And, why the cutoff? "By that time, a good team in the pennant race didn't need promotion.

And after Labor Day, if you aren't in the race, football takes over and you couldn't give away $2 cash with a ticket" he said. IT IS IN the area of marketing where Schmittou feels the most pressure, having returned to full-time duty at Greer. "I have such a reputation that I'm not sure I can live up to it Folks have the idea that schmittou did some wild and crazy things down here," he said. "Welt we're going to have rally innings (where concessions prices go down with the number of runs scored by the Sounds) and ice cream eating and all the other things. "We are also going to have the most ambitious promotions we're ever had.

Tve rolled the dice because they are going to be costly." His reference is to the concerts he's in the process of arranging. Since his return from Texas, Larry Schmittou has had his staff working a half-day schedule. "You can choose whichever 12 hours you prefer," he said. THE NEW MAJOR league working agreement with the National League's Cincinnati Reds is heralded on the sign on the Chestnut Street side of the stadium It calls attention to "Reds Fever." Certainly, the arrival of Cincinnati farmhands at the ball park on April 8, fresh from spring training, is expected to produce renewed interest in the Sounds interest that waned with two drab, uneventful years with Detroit And with Schmittou gone. But that fever hasn't as yet manifested in season ticket sales, which Schmittou had hoped would reach 3,000 before opening day.

"The Reds coming back hasn't produced the season ticket sales we would have liked, but I believe this impact will be felt this sum i anager hopes to 'Lind' a hand 1 I 1 LIND Sounds' countdown -to Opening Day Key dates during spring training camp for the Nashville Sounds, the Class AAA farm club of the Cincinnati Reds (camp and home spring training games at Tampa, unless noted): Wednesday Cincinnati Reds major league roster holds first full. squad workout. March 7 Reds' first spring training game: vs. Minnesota Twins. March 10 Minor league managers and coaches report to camp.

't March 12 Minor league pitchers and catchers report March 15 Minor league position players report. March 21 Sounds' first spring training game: vs. Vermont the Reds' Class AA affiliate. March 22 Sounds vs. Vermont March 23 Sounds vs.

Toledo (Detroit Tigers, Class AAA) at Lake-, land, Fla March 24 Sounds vs. Toledo. March 25 Sounds vs. Louisville (St Louis Cardinals, Class AAA) at St Petersburg, Fla. March 26 Sounds vs.

Syracuse (Toronto Blue Jays, Class AAA). March 27 Sounds vs. Syracuse at Dunedin, Fla March 28 Sounds vs. Maine (Philadelphia Phillies, Class AAA). March 29 Sounds vs.

Vermont. March 30 Sounds vs. Louisville. March 31 Sounds vs. Maine at Clearwater, Fla April 1 Sounds vs.

Maine April 2 Sounds vs. Tidewater (New York Mets, Class AAA). April 3 Sounds vs. Maine. April 4 Sounds vs.

Syracuse. Cincinnati Reds n. Montreal Expo 1 at Gtmt Surfum, NMnvin. April Sounds vs. Vermont CtodnrtaU Rede vs.

Montreal Expo at Gtmt Aprl 6 Sounds vs. Tidewater at St Petersburg, Fla CSndmati Reds' open major league season at home against Montreat Apri 7 Sounds vs. Vermont April I Sounds arrive in Nashville for workout at Greer Stadium. Opening Day Apri 10 Sounds' open American Association season vs. Omaha Royals at Greer Stadtura BUD BURNS SpiMs Writer Jack Lind will store his hammer and saw tomorrow and leave for Tampa, to join the Cincinnati Reds for spring training.

The Nashville Sounds manager will remain with the Reds until March 15, when his own club reports to open drills. Lind has been a carpenter during the offseason "off and on since 1971." working for a friend in construction and remodeling homes. It is a job he enjoys. But it's like Lind said in a telephone conversation from his home in Mesa, "Winter's about over. I'm ready to get going.

I want to get down to Florida and get things wrapped up, get to Nashville and start playing." Lind. who managed Denver to the American Association Western Division championship last year when the Zephyrs were Cincinnati's Triple-A farm club, said he is looking forward to managing in Nashville. "I'm excited. I love the way the park is set up, with the stands close to the playing field. That makes it cozy and lets the fans get into the game.

The folks in Nashville seem to enjoy baseball. Mile High Stadium was so big that we could get seven or eight thousand people in there and it didn't look like we had anybody. They were so far away from the field." Lind laughed when asked if he enjoyed bringing his club in here last year. "No," he sail "We didn't play very well there. If pretty hard to Lind said he didn't know if he would have a better team this year than he had in 1986.

"That's a tall order, considering that we won 76 games with 10 rookies and came within one out of winning the league championship. We really won't know anything about what we'll have until about April 1," he said. As Lind sees it the biggest position to fill will be shortstop, where Barry Larkln performed so well last year. "If he doesn't make it youU know somebody has screwed up. He's a great talent" Lind said of Larkln, who, despite playing in only 103 games before he was called up by Cincinnati, was named the American Association's most valuable player.

"We have some kids from AA and A who can help. We'll probably get a middle infielder from Cincinnati. Who? I don't know. Kurt Stilwell? It'll be interesting. "Cincinnati sent Wade Rowdon down, but he wont be our shortstop.

We'll probably have Chris Sabo at third base, Jeff Treadway at second, Ron Henika at first Dan Boever and Orsino Hill in the outfield, and maybe Terry McGrtfl catching. McGrlff should play every day. However, if Cincinnati decides to keep three catchers we probably wont get him. "Infielder Orlando Gonzales, who was my super sub last year, and Leo Garcia may also be back. However, the Eddie Milner trade might help Garcia stick with the Reds.

Mike Manfrey, who had a good year at Vermont is another possibility. The pitching should be good. We've got about 16 to choose from We had some good ones at Vermont (Class AA Eastern League). Norm Charlton, Jeff Gray and Rob Dibble all had good years. Then there are guys like Hugh Kemp, Jeff Montgomery, Billy Scherrer.

Guy Hoffman and Bill CutshalL They could wind up with us." What about Lloyd McClendon, the big bopper who wore the Sounds out last year? "I could be wrong, but I don't think well see Lloyd in Nashville," Lind said. "I think he has a good chance to stick with Cincinnati But If he doesn't I wouldn't be surprised to see him quit or go to Japan. He doesn't have anything else to prove in Triple-A." Lind, who won three straight Class AA league titles before becoming Cincinnati's Triple-A manager, says there is no secret about the way he plays the game. His style of play is determined by the type personnel he is given. When asked what he expected of certain players who might be playing for the Sounds, Lind said he didnt like to put pressure on his players by saying they should do this or that "All I ask of them is that they play up to their ability," he said.

Another thing that the skipper believes in is using his roster. "I like to use all my players, give them as much playing time as possible," he said. "Everybody on my ball team is going to get a chance to play. Tm strong on development I want to see our kids eventually play for Cincinnati, not be traded. The only way they can maie it is by playtng." enjoy a place when you get beat six out of eight games.

"I remember when we went in there in August I think it was the third stop on a road trip. Although we weren't hitting the ball well at the time, we had just taken three out of four from Louisville and had finally caught and passed Omaha. But when we got to Nashville we couldn't hit or pitch. That came at a bad time because (Reds director of player personnel) Chief Bender and (scout) Chet Montgomery were in the stands. We didn't show them much." To make bis visits to Nashville even more unenjoyable, Lind said, is that he didn't get to see much of the city "because about all I did was go from the motel to the ballpark and back to the motel.

But the kids enjoyed it They had a lot of fun there. I'm looking forward to getting to Nashville and seeing the sights." taiftniini-r rVm iVr 4mlfin rf 'i IthiaVrfc. JU i a.iflti Ifc Hfc jfcuft.