Asbury Park Press from Asbury Park, New Jersey • Page 121

v-SUNDAY, MAY 16, 1999 ASBURY PARK PRESS PAGE H9 BASEBALL MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL Thunder coach has a Feller tale ci lmuuu-iimiim invades St Louis iThe Cardinals' Fernando Tatls Is now called The Man' by teammate Mark McGwire. -V i THE ASSOCIATED PRESS f- k. i ST. LOUIS Fernando Tatis I saunters over to the clubhouse CD i player, slips in his music and cranks up the volume. Nobody in the St.

Louis Cardi-' nals' clubhouse complains about the frenetic sounds of Spanish rap-per Boca C. And why would they? "Mark McGwire says I'm 'The so I can play whatever I want," Tatis says with a high-i pitched laugh. Hard to argue with a man who set a major league record last month by hitting two grand slams in the same inning. The 24-year-old native of the Do-minican Republic used to be known more for his wacky hairstyle a shock of bright; blond hair stands out on the rignt side of his head. Now it's his homers, 11 of them going into the weekend.

3 Of course, he's on a team that fea be back home following four years on the road as minor league hitting instructor for the Boston Red Sox. A .271 lifetime hitter, he was more known as a pinch-hitter. With 113 pinch-hits he ranks seventh all-time in major league history. Around the league Trenton, swept for the first time this year in three games at Harris-burg earlier this week, was swept six times in series a year ago. Akron continues to lead the Eastern League in attendance, averaging 6,319 per game.

Reading is the only team also over 5,000 at 5,175. Speaking of attendance, seems the cold weather is keeping folks away from expansion clubs in Altoona and Erie. And speaking more of attendance, rumors persist that three-time defending Eastern League champion Harrisburg may move from City Island to downtown. A major problem continues to be May flies, the short-life bugs that fall from the skies like, well, like flies. The city-owned franchise is likely to move across the Susquehanna and over to the capital.

And speaking of ball parks, Portland suffered an electrical blackout in a game last week, eventually sending everyone home before it got too dark and suspending the game. Thirty seconds after the crowd began to file out, the power came back mighty have fallen Former Thunder player Adam Hyzdu, who hit .337 here three years ago before playing in AAA and batting .276 and .340 the past two seasons, is back in Double A ball. The 27-year-old is hitting .100 with Altoona. Alfonso Soriano of Norwich and Joe Funaro of Portland went into last night's action tied for the league lead in batting at .386. Trenton's Israel Alcantara enjoying a three-homer lead with 12, and leads by two in the league's RBI race.

a team, Norwich leads with a .288 batting average; Trenton is second at .285. i By PAUL FRANKLIN STAFF WRITER TRENTON THUNDER hitting coach Steve Braun was talking about what he knows best before Thursday night's Eastern League game against the Portland Sea Dogs. This particular story had to do with an item in the recently re- leased book au- EASTERN thored by Bob LEAGUE NOTES FeUer- "Bob Fel" mmmmmmm ler Comes to Louisville." Feller, the Hall of Fame pitcher with the Cleveland Indians, made some money after baseball by traveling to minor league parks and pitching batting practice to local sponsors. Braun, in his final year in pro baseball with Triple A Louisville in the St Louis organization, was watching Feller toss what at one time was arguably the fastest pitch in the game. "There were bankers, lawyers, and everybody was hitting the ball into the dirt or swinging and missing.

I decided to have some fun with him, so I went inside, took off my uniform and came out with a T-shirt and sweats. I used an aluminum bat, because I wanted to make sure I would yank every pitch out" Braun, who spent more than 15 years in the bigs, hit only 52 home runs in his major league career. That day he drove eight or tlTne over the wall before Feller's ego got the best of him. He came inside with a pitch and knocked Braun to the dirt The year was 1986. Feller was 67.

"They introduced me as a janitor with some company," Braun said. "Later, after I dressed and came back out, I went up to him and had a good laugh. He's a good guy. I haven't read the book, but I heard that story was in there." Braun, who graduated from Hopewell Valley High School, just turned 51 last week. He's happy to Associated Press "You don't have to be big to hit 30 or 40 home runs," Tatis said.

Hitting coach Mike Easier underestimated Tatis in spring training when he predicted the third baseman would hit 20 home runs. Now, who knows? "The man's got a stroke," Easier said. "He's learning what pitchers are doing to him. He's starting to figure these things out He's one of the best His wrists, his hands, his upper body, his balance. He's got good snap." Manager Tony La Russa has seldom been around such a quick study.

Tatis equaled his 11-homer output from last season on May 6, and entered the weekend third in the NL in homers and second with 34 RBI. "He's not a wild swinger," La Russa said. "The more discipline he has, I tell you, the sky's the limit for him as far as average and production." McGwire, who had eight homers going into the weekend, has been reluctant to talk about Tatis at times, apparently not wanting to steal any attention. "Fernando and Joe have been carrying us," McGwire said, also referring to rookie outfielder Joseph McEwing. "That's how you win championships.

It's not one guy. It's not two guys. I encourage you guys (reporters) to talk about them all you want." The talk about Tatis began right away this year. He started his second full major league season by homering in the first three games, threatening the record of four straight to open the season set by Willie Mays in 1971 and equaled by McGwire last year. With McGwire batting ahead of him, Tatis broke a different record on April 23, hitting the first two grand slams of his career off Chan Ho Park in the third inning in Los Angeles.

McGwire singled to load the bases once, then died out to shallow right to leave them loaded the second time. Tatis smiles at the memory of the game. "I always think about it, because it was a good day, Tatis said. "It Fernando Tatis showed off his home run stroke with a pair of grand slams in the same inning in a game last month. was sidelined earlier this month with a shoulder injury.

comes back to my mind probably every day." tures another slugger. But is there room alongside Big Mac Land for a Fernando Land in the left-field bleachers? What about that empty slot on the scoreboard used last year to' track the McGwire-Sammy Sosa home run race? The Rangers most likely don't have pleasant memories of letting The Cardinals also got hander Darren Oliver in the bargain, and he's been one of their most consistent starters. Only the McGwire trade-deadline deal with Oakland in 1997 was better for general manager Walt Jocketty. "I think they made a mistake," Tatis said of the Rangers. His initial reaction to the trade "No way," Tatis says.

"I haven't done anything to deserve that." Maybe not yet. But star status appears to be approaching fast for Tatis, who at 5-foot-lO, 170 pounds is dwarfed by the 6-5, 250-pound McGwire. (1 Ask Tatis how he generates so much power in such a compact body, and the 70-homer man comes up again. "It's that Mark McGwire stuff," he says with another laugh, joking about the testosterone booster an-drostenedione that Big Mac made famous last year. Tatis go on the trading deadline last July 31.

So far, the deal looks like one of the great stretch-drive steals, ranking with the Jeff Bagwell for Larry Andersen deal the Astros pulled off with the Red Sox, or the John Smoltz for Doyle Alexander heist the Braves worked with the Tigers. The trade brought right-hander Todd Stottlemyre and shortstop Royce Clayton to the Rangers, and helped them make the playoffs. But Stottlemyre, who had priced himself out of the Cardinals' market anyway, then signed a free-agent deal with Arizona. Clayton, once considered the heir apparent to Ozzie Smith in St. Louis, so far has been a flop with the Rangers.

He was in a 5-for-59 drought and batting .150 when he was bitterness. He had spent his entire career in the Texas organization since signing as an undrafted free agent in 1992, and thought it might end that way. "You never know in baseball; you never know where you're going," he said. "Today, I'm here. Tomorrow, I don't know where I'm going to be." Jocketty said Tatis won't be going anywhere.

"He's a young guy who's going to play for us for a long time," he said. 4 12 .9 8 .08 7 Horn Run Patarman.Nbr. Morgan. Akr Several Tied Seriously, he said the secret is a combination of daily weight-training, adjusting to pitching tactics and just trying to make good, solid contact. EASTERN LEAGUE STATISTICS Through May 13 CLUB Batting CLUB AB HR SB AVQ Norwich 1108 190 319 32 39 .288 Trenton -1146 215 329 36 29 .287 Nw Britain 1102 160 296 27 40 .269 Eri1021 196 273 26 44 .267 Aliron .1069 172 281 36 27 .263 Portland 1113 160 292 24 30 262 Harrisburg 1016 150 262 29 25 .258 Reading 1032 160 265 24 45 .257 NewHawn 1130 144 280 21 27 26 Bowia 1086 156 268 25 25 .247 Altoona 1104 143 264 31 17 239 Blnghamton 1091 154 258 25 46 236 Runs Batted In Leon.Nrw Gibraltar, Tre Soriano.

Nrw 35 32 f9 E8 For Blue Jays, it's closer by committee Stolen r. 15 15 14 3 Tyner.Bng Ramirez. Prt Brown, Nrw Davidson, Nbr WIRE SERVICES Batting leaden (Minimum 89 Plate Appearances) BATTER AB HR RBI 52 5 28 I I i 1 WHITEY HERZOG used to boast about his "bullpen by committee." Now, Toronto manager Jim Fregosi seems to be taking the same ap- Soriano, NrwM Rolison.Prt HR BB SO SHO SV 246 30 97 228 1 7 Burrell.Rta- Colangelo.ErU 43 12 35 Alcantarajre- Club Pitching CLUB ERA Erie 331 Akron 3.93 Norwich 3.93 Portland 397 Altoona 4.19 Harrisburg 4.34 4.37 New Haven 4.40 TrfftH 4.6 Reading 4.86 Binghamton 4.99 New Britain 527 proach when it comes to a closer. So far, Graeme Lloyd and rookies Jr Tom Davey, Roy Halladay and Billy -iKoch have saves for the Blue Jays -this season. The bullpen also in- ftlnrfae lofrv cnoMalict Han Plocar 3 12 2 10 1 8 1 5 0 8 2l0 1 7 4 10 0 11 3 8 5 10 229 23 129 185 272 20 126 232 280 21 125 259 298 20 140 240 233 31 123 175 286 32 137 215 301 22 157 245 310 39 128 192 281 39 132 238 320 29 143 197 331 30 121 226 7 25 4 17 3 19 3 26 8 28 Fregosi, though, is in no rush to Toca.Bng Hayes.Akr Gonzalez.Tre 6arnes.Eri Gibralter.Tre Eckstein.Tre Veras.Tre Horne.Rea Chevalier Bradley.Hrb Hlllnbrnd.Tre David son.

Nbr Horner. Nhv find a relief ace. Pitching I (Minimum 26 Innings Pitched) PITCHER IP BB SO W-L ERA 'notes I'l "Why is everyone so anxious to put tags on people?" he Zancanaro.Nrw- said. Lloyd was hoping to get the job after being traded from the Yankees in spring training. "He has pitched extremely well," tregosi said.

"But he is not what I consider a power guy, and basically 9 24 4 22 Ah Yat.Alt Shumaker.Rea-. Cooper, Eri Tejera.Prt Bevehin.Nrw Bell Bow Ohka.Tre Towers.Bow Spiers.Nbr Wise.Erl Sanders.Akr Mccrary.Bng Davis.Alt Evans.Hrb Ramirez.Prt Burnham.Rea Hacker.Nbr Morris, Nrw Carroll. Hrb Peterman.Nbr Johnson, Nrw Bass.Nhv Haverbusch.Alt-Tracy,Hrb Ozuna.Prt Tyner.Bng Tebbs.Tre Norton.Prt Decinces.Bow Abbott.Erl vou would like to have a power guy as your closer." In time, Koch could emerge as the stopper. The No. 4 pick overall in the 1996 draft, he missed most of 1997 after reconstructive surgery Yeskle.Nbr Leese.Prt De La Cruz.Nrw- Arroyo.

Alt 3 13 4 17 1 13 4 19 1 5 1 13 3 21 3 17 Hage.Bow Barnes.Nbr Mcdonald. Nrw Hud. Br that everything in life happens for a reason and that the important thing is where I go from here." Starting over This is when Denny Neagle should start to earn all that money the Cincinnati Reds are paying him. This is when he should start to show the stuff that won him 36 games the last two years. After all, for Neagle, the season is really just starting.

Neagle basically missed all of spring training with weakness his left shoulder. The Reds have said all along it would take him four or five starts to get into form. But, in a way, it's like the first of the season for Neagle, the 30-year-old left-hander, "It's a good analogy," Reds pitching coach Don Gullett said. "This is like his first start." Neagle is more anxious than anyone for his rhythm to arrive. "It's more frustrating than any-thing," he said.

"It's more mental than anything else. You've got to keep grinding. I know it will come. I know I'm a better pitcher than my numbers and everything else." For the Reds to contend, Neagle needs to win 16-to-18 games. He has shown glimpses of being capable of that.

He went six scoreless innings in his second start against Philadelphia. But in his other three starts, there was always an inning or two where he strnggled. Thus, he has an 0-2 record and a 5.89 ERA before Friday's outing. That's not what the Reds expected when they traded Bret Boone and Mike Remlinger to Atlanta for Neagle, Michael Tucker and pitching prospect Rob Bell. But Neagle had to shut things down early in spring training after experiencing weakness in his left shoulder.

He was on the disabled list from March 24 to April 21. Physically, Neagle is fine. "The arm strength is there," Neagle said. "The velocity is there. It's just a matter of building up endurance.

I've got to get in a situation where I'm winning in the sixth, seventh inning to do that. "I feel like I'm definitely getting there. Gullett agrees. "He's making progress," he said. "It hasn't shown up in his record.

But I see more arm strength, a better breaking ball. His changeup has been better from time to time, but it's not consistent." The changeup is the key to Neagle's success. Until the change-up's consistent, you're not going to see the Neagle who went 20-5 with 2.97 ERA in '97 and 16-11 with a 3.55 ERA last year. "That's my pitch," Neagle said. "That's always been my pitch.

I need to be able to throw it with the count 3-0, 2-1, 0-2, whatever. Right it's so inconsistent. Right now, it's a 'show me' pitch, which is like my curveball, which is my fourth best pitch." The only time the change worked was in Philadelphia. Neagle had no command of his fastball that night, but he still only gave up five hits and two walks in the six innings. But in his last outing against the Chicago Cubs Saturday, the change wasn't working at all.

"He's the type of pitcher who has to fine tune his stuff," Reds man- ager Jack McKeon said. "It's matter of getting four, five, six starts to do that." Ordinarily, that's done in spring training. "That's where you get things ironed out," Neagle said. "You can throw to a catcher in the winter all you want, but until you get out there six or seven times in spring training, you don't get your feel for pitches." This and that NL umpire Eric Gregg, whose weight and health have caused concern in recent years, missed last week while undergoing tests. He's looking forward to returning to work this week.

While duos such as Roberto Alomar and Omar Vizquel may get more attention, the fanciest double-play combo in the majors right now might belong to rookie 2B Carlos Febles and shortstop Rey Sanchez in Kansas City. Led by their acrobatic and athletic pair, the Royals were tops in the majors in DPs and are on a pace to turn a whopping 238, which would shatter the team record of 192 set in 1973. Former All-Star 2B Carlos Baerga is hitting over .300 for Triple-A Indianapolis, batting third and playing second base and third base. His contract gives him the right to negotiate with any big league team beginning this weekend, though the 30-year-old Baerga intends to stay with Cincinnati's top affiliate unless another club comes calling. "I'd like to come up with the Reds because this team gave mothe said, AVQ .380 .373 .356 .352 .351 J48 .339 .331 .327 .326 .321 319 .319 .315 .314 .309 .307 .307 .303 .303.

.302 .300 299 .299 298 295 295 294 293 291 291 287 283 282 280 280 278 .277 273 272 271 270 270 269 269 268 267 267 264 261 258 258 256 256 255 255 255 254 253 253 252 252 250 250 250 247 247 244 242 241 241 241 235 234 233 232 232 231 227 225 224 .206 .202 .196 .194 .194 .179 .171 .165 .153 .149 This year, along with hitting 13 home runs tied for the major league lead going into the weekend he's already walked 22 times. Mondesi gives much of the kudos to teammate Gary Sheffield, "We talk a lot about hitting," Mondesi said. "He was telling me to be patient when I'm up there because if I do, I'll get a good pitch." Casey on the phone Even before he started hitting over .370, Sean Casey impressed everyone he met him with his friendly manner. So, it was just natural that when the Cincinnati Reds first baseman heard about a college player who had an eye injury similar to his own, he picked up the phone. Casey tried to lift the spirits of Evansville's Anthony Molina, who was hit in the left eye by a warmup pitch before a game against Wichita State on April 23.

"A lot of the feelings I had last year came back when I was talking to him," Casey said. "I felt like I was talking to myself. It sounded like exactly what I had." Casey was hit in the right eye by a throw from a teammate during pregame practice on April 2 last year. He temporarily lost vision in the eye and had to have a plate installed to stabilize fractures around the eye. Casey's injury could have ended his career.

But one year later, his vision in the eye is actually a little better than before the injury. He read about Molina and got his phone number. "It's nice to talk to somebody who's been through it because not many people have, you know?" Casey said. "It's no fun. He had the same exact symptoms.

I told him I'd keep him in my prayers. "I think things happen for a reason," he said. "Maybe the reason it happened to me was to be able to talk to kids like that to be able to relate with somebody who's been through that experience." Molina, a second baseman-catcher, had his cheekbone broken and has not gotten back clear vision. Casey said Molina sounded discouraged when they started talking, but was more upbeat by the time their 15-minute conversation ended. "I was just really impressed that he would take the time to call me," Molina said.

"He just kept saying .137 23 .118 20 .101 24 .108 20 .131 21 92 26 .109 24 -130 30 .107 27 86 12 .106 11 .119 14 91 19 .127 30 .137 27 97 18 .114 23 88 12 .122 25 .119 24 96 23 80 12 -137 25 87 11 .124 18 88 16 -122 19 .126 25 92 36 79 13 .110 21 .108 19 .127 13 .117 20 82 11 .100 21 .115 10 83 12 88 12 .103 20 .107 8 -111 19 .126 18 -130 21 .104 13 82 10 .101 25 -105 12 87 8 92 13 89 9 .120 16 -121 24 -121 22 -102 17 -106 18 -106 16 -114 14 83 10 99 13 -107 9 -115 15 -120 22 .116 18 -112 14 97 12 85 16 86 10 .120 19 87 11 .112 15 .108 13 .119 16 .107 15 90 9 -125 13 95 16 .121 21 -119 14 .111 20 98 16 .107 15 -129 15 -107 16 -129 18 93 10 95 13 76 9 85 9 85 12 94 9 97 12 38 15 6 20 6- 0 .95 29 16 11 22 2- 1 126 41 31 9 40 2- 2 SA 40 28 11 45 4- 1 1.56 41 22 9 49 3- 1 198 34 28 12 36 4- 1 2.10 39 27 10 35 4- 2 2.31 36 26 15 32 2- 2 2.50 30 22 20 16 3- 0 303 44 35 17 36 5- 0 3.09 42 48 5 25 3- 1 321 42 44 11 18 4- 2 324 37 41' 1 28 4- 2 341 34 25 16 38 3-' 1 3.48 28 24 11 10 3- 2 3.54 28 33 12 16 1- 1 3.58 30 31 13 20 2- 2 3.64 27 29 5 21 0- 2 367 34 37 9 27 2- 2 367 36 40 12 28 4- 1 379 34 31 16 24 3- 1 3.93 34 33 15 26 3- 1 401 35 36 IS 28 1- 3 4.08 35 35 13 28 1- 2 415 38 34 21 27 3- 2 423 34 37 14 15 3- 3 4 28 34 37 10 42 2- 4 4.50 31 43 9 20 1- 1 465 31 31 15 13 2- 1 4.70 38 40 10 29 2- 0 4.78 32 41 14 20 2- 2 4.78 36 31 9 34 5- 1 4.79 34 42 15 30 1- 4 4 98 36 30 19 45 2- 2 5 05 32 41 17 23 1- 4 506 28 35 15 23 2- 2 546 28 33 14 31 0- 4 546 26 24 17 16 1- 2 5 54 37 44 11 21 3- 1 5 54 32 34 9 13 2- 2 668 32 41 14 18 0- 2 585 35 49 16 19 0- 3 591 33 41 11 30 3- 0 504 35 39 13 29 2- 2 623 34 36 18 21 1- 1 635 31 32 21 18 0- 3 6.46 32 33 22 21 1- 3 6 47 30 37 17 12 2- 2 6 67 33 41 15 21 1- 5 6 82 34 49 14 26 0- 3 6 88 35 38 20 21 2- 4 701 29 33 20 30 2- 3 7.14 28 43 9 14 0- 4 771 31 41 13 15 0- 2 804 Falkenborg.Bow-Meche.Nhv- Roberts, Bng Bacsik.Akr Etherton.Erl Spence.Nrw Harriger.Erl Brm Afar Martinez, Akr Delahoya.Bow Ortiz.Erl Burnett.Prt Pineiro. Nhv Kinney. Nbr-. Politte.Rea Moreno. Bow Jacquez.Rea Phelps.Hrb Cames.Prt Stark.Nhv Kim.Tre Valera.Bng Durrlngton.Eri Wolfl.Eri Ronca.Bow Wooten.Eri Gunderson.Nbr Weber.Nhv Bruce, Bng Morgan.Akr Hemandez.Alt Tucker.Hrb LongAlt Taylor.

Rea Betances.Akr De La Rosa. 8 24 5 17 Jl on his elbow. Koch made his major league debut this month, pitching in relief Jfor the first tinie in his career. In jhis first three outings for the Blue he threw Si1, scoreless in-" nings, allowing one hit and striking out five. "Do I think he has the stuff to Rclose? Yes," Fregosi said.

The Blue Jays, expected by many to win the AL wild-card spot, went into the weekend at a disappointing 18-18. Hitting has been no trouble; they're batting .287 as a team. But pitching, particularly start-; ing pitching, has been the surpris-s ing problem. David Wells (6.00 ERA), injured Joey Hamilton (19.29) and Kelvim I Escobar (5.23) have struggled. For- mer Cy Young winner Pat Hentgen (4.30) hoped he was back in the i groove after an 8-2 win Thursday in I Kansas City.

"Offensively, we have played 1' super," Hentgen said. "We haven't as well as we all thought coming out of spring training." Thames, Nrw Brown.Nrw Casimiro.Bow-Vazquez, Nhv Figueroa.Alt Wilson.Alt Ojeda.Bow Crssnd.Tre-Nbr Westbrook.Hrb- Pumphrey.Bng-. Herbison.Bng- Espinal.Nbr Corey. Bng Robbins.Nrw Anderson.Nhv Hazlett.Tre Crawford.Tre Brown, Nrw. 1 13 0 12 0 9 2 11 1 12 7 22 2 13 1 12 1 17 6 16 Wins Rigdon.Akr Delahoya.Bow.

Ohka.Tre Several Tied Harrison.Nhv Rolllns.Rea Schneider. Hrb Bates.Prt Valertcia.Nrw Kingsale.Bow Rtvas.Nbr Hutt.Rea Betts.Akr Erickson.Prt Wilkerson.Hrb Robertson.Prt- Strikeouts Cooper, Eri Burnett.Prt Shumaker.Rea. Ah 49 45 45 42 40 Walk this way Last year, Raul Mondesi was a 30-30 man for Los Angeles and not the kind the Dodgers wanted to Lsee. Sure, the star outfielder hit 30 home runs. But he also walked only SOstimes all season.

Sane hez. Bng 8 8 -1 -at 6 Lnlo.Nrw BulHnger.Tre. Almonte. Prt Several Tied-. Epperson.

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