The Palm Beach Post from West Palm Beach, Florida • Page 49

THE PALM BEACH POST SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 1994 9C Baseball Piazza's strength: A 'throwback mentality9 Standings Vincent's book 'proposal' reads like a litany of insults Pet. Boston 1 1 .000 ICalifomla 1 0 1 .000 i Detroit 1 0 1.000 Milwaukee 1 0 1. 000 Seattle 1 0 1.000 'Tfcxas 1 0 1.000 "Toronto 1 0 1 .000 "New York 0 0 .000 -Baltimore 0 1 .000 i.J)hicago 0 1 .000 rtcteveland 0 1 .000 -Kansas City 0 1 .000 Xtakland 0 1 .000 Minnesota 0 2 .000 state of baseball than anyone else." Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schott is the owner who "does the dumbest things." Jackie Autry, the California Angels executive vice president and wife of owner Gene Autry, is "mean-spirited and not bright." White responded: "I suggest you talk to people where he's worked before if you want to talk about incompetent." "Fay apparently is bitter," Reinsdorf said. "If he chooses to write a book, I don't think it will enhance his reputation." And Selig responded: "I find this all very sad." Vincent said he "wouldn't put much stock in the tone" of the proposal, contending it was not in keeping with his style. When informed the excerpts would be published in the newspaper, he told the Times he would no longer write the book.

The Times said the 40-page proposal is being shopped to publishing houses by the William Morris Agency. After publishing rights are auctioned, the book would be written by Vincent and David Kaplan of Newsweek. By SCOTT TOLLEY Palm Beach Post Staff Writer PORT ST. LUCIE Mike Piazza peeked to all sides to make sure no wandering eyes would confuse his next move with that of an egomaniac. He then hunched over in his seat, clinched his right fist, and unleashed a show of veins, knots and striations.

"Yep, 16'2-inch forearms," Piazza said. "That's pretty good, isn't it?" Sure, even for all Popeye wannabes. And Piazza is quick to tell you that his lumberjack forearms are what he's most proud of and dedicated to. But if Piazza was into symbolism, he would talk about his broad shoulders. The tabletop to a 6-foot-3, 220-pound frame that funnels into a 33-inch waist.

It's these shoulders that go into spring bearing the weight of success, expectation, and the pressure of being a nobody turned somebody after one season. Especially if it's your rookie season. Just this week, the Los Angeles Dodgers catcher was named the winner of the ESPY for his breakthrough effort. It was the latest in a mantel-breaking slew of offseason awards. Piazza was the National League's Rookie of the Year in 1993.

He was the ninth player in history to receive all first-place votes. He was named to the NL All-Star team, the first Dodgers rookie since Steve Sax in '82. He shattered all Dodgers rookie records, with 35 homers and 112 RBI, while hitting .318. Now, the next important number. What is the ETA of his fall from grace? "People keep asking me about the sophomore jinx," Piazza said.

"I think you have to have a certain amount of apathy. You can't over-analyze things. You have to just go play the game. It's a purist approach. I know that's a throwback big leagues to make money, but to win a championship," he said.

"You've got to realize that you're in demand because you're doing your job. It's easy to get carried away if you're not careful." First thing Piazza did this offseason was hire a personal trainer. Of course, he took care of the forearms alone. He lifted weights six days a week and worked on a treadmill. While he worked on the body, he also toyed with the mind.

Piazza was his worst critic in '93, hammering himself on minute details. He said he found himself bitter, taking the game home with him and taking it out on family and his girlfriend. "You suffer more than you already were," he said. "It's something I've always tried to fight. We're at a level where there's so much pressure around you, why make it self-inflicted." While his outlook is maturing, his humility stays grounded.

Taking the future in stride is easy for Piazza, because he can't forget how it all started. It began in the 62nd round of the '88 June draft, a long shot of the Dodgers who climbed the organizational ladder one slow rung at a time. "He's a guy who's had to work so hard to get there, he doesn't want to take anything for granted," third baseman Tim Wallach said. "He appreciates things more than the guys ticketed for it." But the climb made the end result that much more surprising. To everyone but Piazza.

"It overwhelmed other people more than me," Piazza said. "I'm thinking, 'What's the big It overwhelms me the way everyone else was overwhelmed. My only goal was to stay in the big leagues for a whole year. Obviously I met my goal. "But it's just one year.

It doesn't compare with the greats of the game. Not that I consider myself one but you have to strive for something." The Associated Press NEW YORK Acting commissioner Bud Selig is a "smalltown schlepper" who is the "emblem of baseball's decline" and Los Angeles Dodgers owner Peter O'Malley is a "nitwit" and "bigot," former Commissioner Fay Vincent wrote in a proposal for a book. Excerpts from the proposal for And the Horse They Rode In On: My Tumultuous Years as Baseball Commissioner, were published in Friday's New York Times. Selig and O'Malley weren't the only members of baseball's hierarchy to be lambasted. Vincent said: Vincent Bill White, the former National League president, is a "good man" but "incompetent." New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner is "the most hated man in baseball." Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf is "dangerous" and more to blame for the "poor mentality, but that's me." Piazza is still jeans, jean jacket and tennis shoes.

He still says yes sir, no sir, and apologizes when conversation is interrupted. This from someone who is quickly becoming a fan darling. He started unknown last spring, stealing home as part of his ultimate ESPN highlight. Now, he's done another spot for ESPN, one for Topps baseball cards and is en 7T dorsing Nike shoes. His agent, Beverly Hills-based Dennis Gilbert, has tried to keep the off-the-field activities to a minimum, so his client keeps his head on the field.

But the two still took enough time to negotiate a three-year, $4.2 million contract. But the new dollars don't mean a dime to Piazza if the Dodgers slip, and a far second, if he slips. "I never wanted to make the Bo makes with game his presence felt tying HR in debut 1993 SEASON: Trachsel, a 6-foot-4, 205-pounder, went 13-6 with a 3.96 ERA at Class AAA Iowa and made three starts for the Cubs, losing two. He struck out 135 in 170 innings at Iowa. FRIDAY: Starting against San Francisco, Trachsel pitched three hitless innings, striking out two.

THE JORDAN WATCH FRIDAY: Michael Jordan went 0-for-1 on a tapper back to the mound. He 1 played four innings of the White Sox's 9-0 loss to Texas. Batting Average: .000. Fielding Percentage: 1.O00. Updates Call 511 to hear PostLines previews, frequent scoring updates jfe and postgame summaries pomma on all spring training games.

ClOEl 35' for up to 5 min. See 2A for more details. AMERICAN LEAGUE 32 11 Baltimore 3246 Milwaukee 3216Boston 3251 Minnesota 3221 California 3256NewYork 3226Chicago 3261 Oakland 32 31 Cleveland 3266 Seattle 3236Detroit 3271Texas 3241 Kansas City 3276Toronto NATIONAL LEAGUE 3301 Atlanta 3306Chicago 33 11 Cincinnati 33 16 Colorado 3321 Florida 3336 Montreal 3341 New York 3346Phila. 3351 Pittsburgh 3356St. Louis 3361 San Diego 3326 Houston 3331 Los Angeles 3366 San Fran.

SCHEDULES: Enter category 3305 for schedules and other information for teams training in South Florida. Report DELINO DESHIELDS, traded to the Dodgers from Montreal for pitcher Pedro Martinez, will have surgery Monday to repair a depressed fracture of the left cheek bone. DeShields suffered the fracture when hit by a bat Wednesday in the batting cage. He was examined Thursday and has resumed workouts. Pitcher Joe Vitko had successful arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Wednesday to repair torn cartilage.

Vitko is expected to resume workouts in three weeks. ONE OF those warm-hearted New Yorkers welcomed Strawberry Friday with a sign that said, "Darryl, Can You Do My Taxes." NEW YORK YANKEES, Thomas J. White Stadium, Lucie. PITCHERS: The Yankees will go with Bob Ojeda, Bob Wickman, Paul Gibson, and Steve Howe; the Mets with An- thony Young, Bobby Jones, Bob Kipper, and Josias Manzani- No. DIRECTIONS: Take Interstate 95 north to exit 63C; after exiting, bear right.

Make first left (NW Peacock); stadium is straight ahead. Florida's Turnpike does not have a stadium exit. TICKETS: Bleachers ($6) are still available. Ticket office opens at 10 a.m. Phone (407)871-2115.

Dodgers 6, Mets 1 ab bi 2 10 0 10 0 0 3 12 3 10 0 0 2 0 11 10 10 4 0 10 10 0 0 4 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 10 0 0 3 111 10 0 0 3 2 2 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 10 0 34 i 10 i ab bl 3 0 11 10 0 0 3 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 10 10 2 0 0 0 10 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 10 10 00 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 00 0 0 0 0 10 00 2 100 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 10 JO 1 4 1 Butler cf Williams cf Offerman ss Bournigal ss Piazza Prince Strawberry If Busch lb Karros lb Wilson KiGross Hansen ph Gott Wallach 3b Coomer 3b Mondesi rf Webster rf Treadway 2b Candiotti McDowell Rodriguez If Totals Veras 2b Vina 2b Martinez ss Bonilla 3b Manto 3b Davis lb Zinter lb Burnitz rf Parker rf Thompson cf Howell cf Kmak Maddux Lindeman ph Gozzo Cangelosi ph Sanders It Smith Ledesma ph Seminar Stinnett Totals Pet. Chicago Florida Houston Los Angeles Philadelphia St. Louis 'Pittsburgh Montreal 'Atlanta Colorado Cincinnati "New York ISan Diego 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 .500 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 -San Francisco .000 NOTE: Split-squad games count in standings, ties or college games do not Friday's results Florida 9, Kansas City Houston 3, Cincinnati 2 Philadelphia 7, Pittsburgh 5 Boston (ss) 9, Atlanta 6, 10 innigns Louis 5, Minnesota 4 Texas 9, Chicago White Sox 0 Detroit 12, Cleveland 5 Los Angeles 6, New York Vets 1 Toronto 6, Baltimore 5, 10 Innings Chicago Cubs 7, San Francisco 2 California 7, Colorado 6 Seattle 9, San Diego 6 Milwaukee 4, Oakland 3, 10 Innings Boston (ss) 12, Boston College 1 -Today's oamos Los Angeles vs. Florida at Melbourne, 1:05 p.m. Atlanta vs.

Montreal at West Palm Beach, 1:05 o.m. Kansas City vs. Houston at Klssimmee, 1:05 p.m. Baltimore vs. St.

Louis at St. Petersburg, 1:05 P.m. Detroit vs. Cleveland at Winter Haven, 1:05 Boston vs. Minnesota at Fort Myers, 1:05 Cincinnati vs.

Pittsburgh at Bradenton, 1:05 p.m. p.m. Chicago White Sox vs. Texas at Port Char lotte. 1:30 o.m.

Philadelphia vs. Toronto at Dunedin, 1:35 p.m. vs. San Diego at Peoria, 3:05 p.m. Milwaukee vs.

Oakland at Phoenix, 3:05 p.m. San Francisco vs. Colorado at Tucson, 3:05 p.m. -California vs. Chicago Cubs at Mesa, p.m.

(., New York Yankees vs. New York Mets at Port St. Lucie. 3:10 p.m. Astros 3, Reds 2 At Kissimmet Cincinnati Houston 000 001 010-2 I 000 100 011-3 10 (None out when winning run scored.) Pugh, Roper (4), McElroy (6), Ruffln (7), Brantley (8), Patterson (9) and Oliver, Lake (6); Harnlsch, Reynolds (4), Osuna (7), M.Williams (9) and Taubensee, Eusebio (6).

Williams (1-0). L-Patterson (0-1). Ken Camlnltl went 2-for-2 for Houston. Phillies 7, Pirates 5 At Clearwattr Pittsburgh Philadelphia 000 002 210- 7 1 200 100 22X-7 11 1 Tomiin, Neagle (3), Corbin (5), Johnston 6), Powell (8) and Sutko, Encarnacion (6); Schilling, Munoz (4), Bottallco (6), Andersen (8), West (8), Wells (9) and Pratt, Mariano (7). W-West (1-0).

L-Powell (0-1). Sv-Wells (1). HR Pittsburgh, Woodson; Philadelphia, Incaviglia, R.Jordan, Geisler. Philadelphia's Pete Incaviglia drove In four runs with a homer and two doubles. Cardinals 5, Twins 4 XI Fort Myers sn.

louis 020 010 002-5 11 1 000 020 011-4 4 0 "(7), Wlshnevskl (8), Batchelor (9) and Pappas, Hahvan Dixon ltt. Frnsratore Ronin (); oeshaies, Tromoiey (3), casian (5), Willis (6), Campbell (8) and Parks, Durant (8). W-Wlshnevskl (1-0). L-Campbell (0-1). Sv-Batchelor (I).

HR-Minnesota, Hrbek. Tony Pena drove in two runs In the ninth for the Cardinals. Rangers 9, White Sox 0 At Sarasota Texas Chicago 000 078 101-9 8 1 000 000 000-0 4 3 Brown, Whitside (4), Oliver (6), Honeycutt (8), Henke (9) and Rodriguez, McNamara (6); Fernandez, Ruffcorn (4), Ritchie (5), Schwarz (8) and Karkovlce, Llndsey (6). W-Whiteside (1-0). L-Ruffcorn (0-1).

HR-Texas, Ducey, Canseco. Will Clark hit a two-run single In his Texas debut, and Jose Canseco homered. Tigers 12, Indians 5 At Lakeland Cleveland Detroit 000 004 001- 041 050 llx-12 Nnav. Rnrnei (31. Clark 51.

(7). 'DIPolo (8) and Alomar, Ortiz (5); Moore, Gul- lickson (3), Krueger (5), Christopher (7), Hen-neman (9). W-Moore (1-0). L-Nagy (0-1). HR-Detroit, Felix, Trammell.

Chad Kreuter had a two-run triple and Alan Trammell had a three-run homer for the Tigers. Blue Jays 6, Orioles 5 (10) At Dunedin Baltimore 101 000 210 0-5 12 300 000 20x 1-4 14 Toronto Mills, Frohwirth (3), O'Donoghue (5), Oquist (7), Manuel (9) and Holies, Tackett (5); Guz man, Cadaret (4), Williams (6), Castillo (8), Brow (10) and Knorr, A Martinez (6). w-Brow (1-0). L-Manuel (0-1). HR-Baltimore, Palmeiro; Toronto, Molitor, Delgado.

Rafael Palmeiro hit a home run in his Ori oles' debut. Cubs 7, Giants 2 At Mesa, Ariz. San Francisco Chicago 000 200 000-2 1 004 030 OOx-7 14 1 Hickerson, Torres(3), Frey (4), Jackson (7), Beck (8), and Manwaring, Reed (5); Trachsel, Boskie (4), Crim (4), Plesac (8) and Wilkins, Parent (4), Lampkin (7). W-Trachsel (1-0). L-Hickerson (0-1).

HR-Chlcego, Dunston, Sosa 2. I Sammy Sosa homered twice and drove in five runs to lead Chicago. Angels 7, Rockies 6 At Tempo, Ariz. Colorado California 110 003 001-4 14 1 010 000 06X-7 11 8 Harris. Harkev (3), Freeman (7), Pisciotta (8).

Walton (8) and Girardi, Wedge (7); Lang- ston, Farrell (3), Hillegas (5), Grahe (7), Lef-ferts (9) and Turner, Fitzgerald (4). W-Grahe (H. -Pisciotta (0-1). Sv-Lefferts (1). HR-Colorado, Johnson; California, Jackson.

Bo Jackson homered and drove in four runs to power California. Mariners 9, Padres 6 At Peoria, Ariz. San Diego 030 120 000-4 12 2 012 400 00K-9 12 2 Seattle Worrell. Ashby (3), Mauser (4), M.Davis (6), Hoffman (7) and Ausmus, B.Johnson (4); Bo-iio, DeLucia (4), Thigpen (4), Plantenberg (7), Nelson (9) and D.Wilson, Sasser (5) Christpherson (7) W-DeLucia (1-0). L-Ashby (O-l).

sv Nelson, (l). UK-san uiego, ataion (I); Seattle, T.Martinez (1), Griffey (1). Ken Griffey homered and drove In ffvt runs for Seattle. Brewers 4, A 3 (10) At Chandler, Ariz. Oakland 118 008 001 0-J Milwaukee 010 800 200-1 4 11 7 I (Two outs when winning run scored.

Welch. Reves (4). Vosbura (4), Taylor (8), Horsman (10) and Hemond, Mercedes (10); Bones, orosco 83), Fetters (4), seaman 15), ig-nasiak (8), Tabaka (9), Wagner (10) and Nils- son, Matheny (6). W-Wagner (1-0). L-Horsman (0-1).

HR-Mllwaukee, Vaughn (1). Greg Vaughn homered and Jeff Cirillo had two hits for Milwaukee. Red Sox 12, Bos. Coll. 1 At Fort Myers Boston College Soston (ss) 08 000 100- 2 310 130 22X-12 9 1 McKenna.

Bemancourt (2), Ramboli (3), Dunlea (4), Levrault (5), Essick (4), Dilorlo (7). Miollore (7). Noon (8) and Marciano, Wolfe (5), Curtln (7), Selt, Melendez (4), How ard (4), Henkel (8) and vane, Berrytwi (5), Hatteberg (7). W-Sela. L-McKenna.

HR-Boston, Ortiz 2. lltllllllllf 5 Yiilllllilil i I Palm Beach Post Wire Services TEMPE, Ariz. The murmur began the moment he left the on-deck circle and had built to a crescendo by the time he reached the plate. It was the kind of scene that makes for legends, with fans later embellishing what they had just witnessed. Baseball Notebook Designated hitter Bo Jackson stepped to the plate with the bases loaded Friday.

The California Angels were trailing by four runs in the eighth inning. The situation was made for a grand slam. Jackson, whose flair for the dramatic has helped make him one of America's greatest sports heroes, watched Colorado Rockies rookie Marc Pisciotta throw three consecutive balls. There was no doubt in his mind what was coming next. Pisciotta delivered, and Jackson sent the ball over the right-field fence, and the Angels into a frenzy.

The score was tied and, moments later, the Angels beat the Rockies 7-6 on Eduardo Perez's two-run single. "Bo knows dramatics," Angels manager Buck Rodgers said. "That's why you pay some guys $5 million and some guys $500. The minute I saw the ball, I just looked at the flagpole and waited for it to land." Mets LZfl DODGERS shortstop Jose Offerman, fresh from signing a multiyear contract, was 2-for-3 with three RBI. He had a two-run double in the fifth and an RBI single in the sixth.

Dodgers outfielder Raul Mondesi had a solo homer to lead off the sixth. THE METS got a strong opening from pitcher Pete Smith (three innings, one hit), and strong finishes by Mike Maddux and Mauro Gozzo. "I'm most happy with the way my arm felt," said Smith, who was acquired from Atlanta in November for Dave Gallagher. "I would have liked to have gone out in the fourth inning. After two surgeries, you look at the source of everything.

If I can be healthy, I can pitch like I did in '92 (7-0, 2.05 ERA)." For the Dodgers, Tom Candiotti and Roger McDowell combined to throw five hitless innings. FRANK SEMINARA of the Mets allowed six runs in 2'3 innings. FIRST, Darryl Strawberry gets the IRS on his back. Now maybe it'll be the FAA. Strawberry put on a hitting show during Thursday's batting practice, with his encore being a home run off the right-field lights that teammate Brett Butler estimated at 600 feet.

"Mantle has nothing on him," Butler said. "I don't care how hard you swing a bat, you're not going to hit one farther than that." Strawberry had seven home runs in his three rounds about 20 swings leaving his teammates oohing and ahhing. Even Strawberry cracked a smile. "I've been telling them that I've been doing that every day," he said. "That was like the one off the roof in Montreal." Yeah, but it wasn't enough to impress Candiotti.

"He didn't hit it that hard," Candiotti said. "No glass broke." THE BE-LIKE-MIKE bunch grew by one this week when the Mets' Bobby Bonilla in all seriousness said he'd like a shot at the NBA. "I figure this is the day and age of two-sport athletes," Bonilla told the New York Daily News. "I'd like to give it a go. I'm not being facetious.

Michael is doing it. It's something I'd love to try. I know I'm not as tall as these guys in the NBA, but do know that I can score. All I'm looking for is a team willing to give me a shot." But is there a market for a 6-foot-3, 240-pound guard that didn't even play high school or college basketball? BALTIMORE ORIOLES: New first baseman Rafael Palmeiro did it again. The day after hitting a home run in his first at-bat of the Orioles' intrasquad game Thursday, he homered in his first exhibition at- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Los Angeles pitcher Tom Candiotti makes a chest save on a liner hit by the Mets' Quilvio Veras during the Dodgers' 6-1 win Friday at Port St.

Lucie. Candiotti made the play, throwing out Veras at first. ibat against Toronto Blue Jays ace I nday. A "I'm relaxed, and I'm having fun," Juan Guzman Palmeiro said. not trying to do it.

It just happened to be the first league camp in Tampa pitcher Matt Drews and catchers Kiki Hernandez and Tom Wilson. Bernie Williams had three hits and shortstop Robert Eenhoorn two, including his second homer in two days, in an intrasquad game. Melido Perez, coming off shoulder surgery, pitched two innings, giving up two hits, including Eenhoorn's homer. SEATTLE MARINERS: Ken Griffey Jr. has picked up where he left off last season.

The Mariners' 24-year-old slugger, coming off a career-high 45 home runs in 1993, hit a 450-foot grand slam as Seattle opened Peoria Stadium with a 9-6 victory over San Diego. TEXAS RANGERS: It isn't easy being Michael Jordan, Rangers first baseman Will Clark said after the former NBA superstar made his exhibition debut at Sarasota. "It's a little out of whack," Clark said. "Anytime a guy hits a foul ball and everybody stands up and cheers, it's a little crazy. I wouldn't want to be in Michael's shoes.

His every move is critiqued." twb I'm not trying to do anything special. Theiy ve times when you want to hit home runs, but this wav't one of them. He threw me a fastball a little bit up. I I do OK against (Guzman), but I don't think I've hit a home run off him." CHICAv WHITE SOX: Gave one-year contracts to pitche Wilson Alvarez, Larry Thomas and Jeff Schwarz, catcher Matt Merullo and outfielder Warren Newson. The club also announced that it renewed the contract of pitcher Jason Bere.

No terms were revealed but Alvarez, 15-8 last season, said he received a $265,000 base salary, up from $180,000 a year ago. Bere was 12-5 last season. CLEVELAND INDIANS: Coach Luis Isaac and General Manager John Hart were impressed by what they saw Dec. 19 in Puerto Rico. "Everybody knows Carlos Baerga, but nobody knows who is the governor of the island," Isaac said after watching fans pay homage on Carlos Baerga Day.

The Indians' 25-year-old second baseman is a baseball star willing to play winter ball for the San Juan team. "There were 30,000 people in the stadium," Hart said. "All of Carlos' family was there. He received several gifts." When Hart and Baerga left the locker room that night to go to dinner, six armed escorts arrived. "There must have been 5,000 people waiting for him," Hart said.

"They mobbed him. It was just like a fighter's entourage going toward the ring." NEW YORK YANKEES: Reduced their roster to 47 by optioning pitcher Mariano Rivera do Class AA Albany and sending three others to their minor Las Angeles 000 033 000 4 New Verb ON Ml tot -1 E-Senders. LOB-Los Angeles 9, New York a 2B-Otterman, Karros. HR-Mondesi S-McDowell, Butler. Las Angeles IP EH II SO Candiotti 3 0 0 0 i 1 McDowell 1-0 2 0 0 0 0 2 Wilson 2 3 1111 KiGross 1 0 0 0 1 0 Gott 1 10 0 10 New York LOS ANGELES DODGERS: After Eric Karros had two hits, Raul Mondesi hit a towering home run and shortstop Jose Offerman drove in three runs during the Dodgers' 6-1 exhibition victory over the New York Mets, manager Tom Lasorda was more than pleased.

"I liked what I saw today," Lasorda said. "The players have really worked bard all spring and they are ready to go." Smith 3 1 0 0 9 3 Seminara L.0-1 2' 7 1 Maddu 1V I 0 0 1 Gozzo 2 10 0V HBP-by Smith (Piazza). 1 SCOTT TOLLEY.