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Reno Gazette-Journal from Reno, Nevada • Page 19

Location:
Reno, Nevada
Issue Date:
Page:
19
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Baseball Sunday, June 19, 1988 Reno Gazette-Journal 5B Don Baylor Associated Press IT'S OUT OF HERE: When Don Baylor was with the Angels in 1982, he it a grand slam against the Brewers. AB HHR RBI Pet 1988 stats 144 16 30 3 18 .208 Baylor tf 4 1 Vv fc i 1 2 AB HHR RBI Pet Career stats Baylor 8078 1224 2107 334 1260 .261 (Through Saturday) From pagt 1B scrutiny from peers and employers. "The first thing you notice is the personal presence he has," says Athletics' general manager Sandy Alderson. "He's articulate, but he doesn't come across as self-centered or egotistical. It's just a quiet confidence.

That's important, I think, in a baseball environment for good leadership. "He has been around winning clubs. He has a sense of what it takes to win. He has to be as well qualified (to manage) as any player in the game." Minnesota Twins' shortstop Greg Gagne says he would like to play for Baylor. Last September, Baylor came to the Twins in the middle of a pennant race.

Gagne was slumping. Almost daily, the veteran worked with Gagne on the mechanics of hitting and Gagne emerged from the shadows of the slump. "The quality I try to put into the game is to work hard," Gagne said. "He has the strong work ethic. He works well with people.

He knows how to win." Athletics third baseman Carney Lansford, who was Baylor's teammate for three seasons at California, says Baylor would be an outstanding manager. "He'd be the best manager of anybody I know playing now," says Lansford, who leads the majors in hitting. "Nobody in the American League commands more respect than Don." Under his own terms Baylor, who will turn 39 on June 28, has heard the talk and seen the lists in newspapers that invariably include him, but says the criteria that he has in mind might preclude him from accepting a managing job. "I'm not going to take a job just because it's there to take a one-year commitment," Baylor says. "My career wasn't based on one year.

"I don't want someone's hand-appointed coaches. If I get axed, I'm going to get axed with my own guys. I don't know how many managers are in control of their situations, who to play, who not to play. I have a problem with that." If he pursued a manager's job, Baylor says he wouldn't want to manage in the minor leagues, even for one season, or coach in the majors. Other managers have made the jump to the majors without managing in the minors.

Pete Rose and Lou Piniella did it. Rose didn't coach. Baylor, who has 2,107 hits, 334 home runs and 1,260 runs batted in during his career, says he is in that category. Alderson agrees with him. "If he says he doesn't need the other two things, he doesn't need them," says the Athletics' La Russa.

"The average guy, it would help him to do those other things. He's always been something special." His criteria to be a general manager might be easier to meet than what he feels is necessary as a manager. To be a general manager, he says he would search for the owner who was willing to make a full commitment, not just pay lip service, to get to the league playoffs, the World Series. Door opens for blacks Robinson became the first black manager with the Cleveland Indians in 1975. Larry Doby and Maury Wills were hired and fired, but Robinson, who manages the Baltimore Orioles, is the only black who currently holds one of the 26 major league managing jobs.

In the majors, Baylor has played for managers such as Earl Weaver, Chuck Tanner, Gene Mauch, Billy Martin, John McNamara and Tony La Russa, but Baylor says the manager who most influenced him is Robinson. Baylor played for Robinson in the winters of 1970 and 1972 for Santurce in Puerto Rico's winter league. Reggie Jackson was his teammate, but had to come to Puerto Rico only at the insistence of then Oakland owner Charlie Finley and probably didn't want to be playing winter ball, Baylor says. Jackson hit a towering pop fly and didn't run. "Frank told him, 'Do that again, it'll cost you $500 or you've got to go Baylor says.

"A week or two later, it happens again. Frank said, 'You've got to pay and Reggie told him, 'I'm going Frank said, 'After this inning, I'll help you "Frank was saying, 'I'm manager of this club, even though I'm still playing. I'm in control of this The young players saw it, 'Frank's in control of this Jackson stayed and a young player named Baylor was forever affected by what he had seen and felt. That's the kind of manager he would be. He would be in control.

Robinson is still Baylor's friend and a lifeline to minority players who want to get back into the dugout after their playing careers are finished, Baylor says. Players from the majority, as Baylor refers to Craig Sailor Gazene-Journal DUST BOWL: Modesto's Dan Russell slides safely past Reno's Julio Fernandez. A's score quick KO of Reno Modesto snaps 3-game win streak whites, retire and go directly to a minor league dugout to begin their managerial apprenticeship. The fortunate ones land a major league coaching job, he says. Often the jobs are distributed in an old-boy network, dominated by whites.

"We don't have that network to get minorities into the main stream," Baylor says. "(Orioles owner) Edward Bennett Williams has given Frank a lot of latitude to bring in guys like Don Buford, Deacon Jones and Bobby Tolan. "Our only link right now is Frank. It's like 25 versus one. It's not a large link." Baylor believes he can manage, given the right situation, and he believes he's not alone.

"I would like to think if there's one of me, there's five or 10 other guys of a minority who are qualified, too." He reels off the names Jose Cruz, Dave Win-field, Bill Madlock and Bob Watson. "It doesn't have to be a superstar player either," Baylor says. "You have superstars like Ted Williams he became a manager. Earl Weaver never played in the majors, but he was a successful big league manager. Guys like Dusty Baker would be good Bake McBride and Andre Thornton, too." Dealing with players As a manager, Baylor says he would be in control, but would temper that by remembering what it is to be a player.

If he wasn't using a player in the lineup, Baylor says he would tell the player why. He would want to know about the outside lives of his players, whether someone had a financial problem or an ill wife. He wouldn't mind players' sons being in the clubhouse before games, if they stayed out of the way of other players. He fondly remembers when Preston Gomez was managing the California Angels, Gomez would go to the ballpark early and hit fungos to players' sons, including Don Baylor now 15. Watson, the Athletics' bench coach, says Baylor is low key and patient, but has an inner toughness that every manager must have.

"He's not going to be bulled over," Watson says. "He knows when he has to be tough and he's able to do it and not have any bad feelings about it." Watson is among the black players and coaches mentioned as possible front office candidates. Watson says he has no interest in managing, but would like to pursue baseball's front office side. Watson says he thinks Baylor is interested in both. "I haven't talked to him about it, but I think Donnie would like to manage three, four years, then move upstairs (to general manager)," Watson says.

Baylor won't go to the minors to manage, but says he would be willing, even when he was an active player, to manage in Puerto Rico's winter league. He's not sure when he will retire as a player. A practical man, he will make the decision based on numbers more than emotion. "At-bats would probably give me an indication," says Baylor, who had 143 at-bats in the Athletics' first 65 games. "The least number of at-bats would tell me it's time to quit 50 at-bats, 100 at-bats, why stick around?" batter he faced A's second baseman Randy Randle to force in Modesto's fourth run of the inning.

After a sacrifice fly scored another run, Reno right fielder Jamie Allison threw Martinez out at the plate on a single by Dann Howitt. Randle scored on a pass ball and Marino hit Modesto's Tony Arias with a pitch before a ground out ended the inning. Control problems by Reno pitchers put the A's in control. "That has been plaguing us all year," Fowlkes said. "You've got to be able to throw strikes in any league." Reno came back with three runs in the bottom of the inning and battled from behind all afternoon.

Ken Whitfield led off the Reno second with a home run. Jamie Allison singled, stole second, moved to third on an infield single by third baseman Jim Pace and scored on catcher Joe Ortiz's sacrifice fly. Pace later scored on a wild pitch by Modesto starter Wes Weber. Modesto designated hitter Dan Russell, who scored three runs on the day, led off the third with a homer to push the A's' lead to four. Reno matched the run in the bottom of the inning on three straight walks by Weber and reliever Mark Stancel and a single by Pace.

With the bases loaded and no outs, Stancel got Reno shortstop Sam Ferretti to ground into a third-to-catcher-to-first double play, effectively ending the Reno rally. Modesto scored its final run in the fifth, but Reno again matched the run, this time on a lead-off home run by first baseman Jim Aylward. "We've been battling back all year," said Fowlkes, who is managing the club while Oliver is in Los Angeles playing in an old-timer's game. "We have confidence that we're not out of it until the end." Reno added two runs in the bottom of the seventh when Ferretti doubled in Pace, who had walked, and Ortiz singled Ferretti home. The Silver Sox loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth, but Modesto relief ace Dave Shotkoski got Ferretti and Ortiz to ground into force plays at home.

Shotkoski struck out Reno designated hitter Mike Rountree to end the game. The loss was not without its bright spots for the Sox. Eric Reinholtz relieved Marino and struck out four in 3M innings of one-hit ball. Ortiz threw out three Modesto attempting to steal second base. "There's no question we're a better team (than earlier in the year)," Fowlkes said.

Fowlkes (3-7, 3.24 ERA) will face Modesto's Dave Veres (3-5, 2.48) in this afternoon's game at Moana. By Vince DunbarGazettjournai For the second straight day Saturday, the Reno Silver Sox spotted the Modesto A's an early lead in a California League game at Moana Stadium, but unlike Friday night, Reno couldn't manage a comeback. Modesto took a 6-0 lead Saturday afternoon, twice as large as Friday night's early advantage. The A's went on to win, 8-7, snapping the Silver Sox's three-game winning streak. Modesto scored six times in the second inning.

Reno starter Jim Boebel made it through the first inning with only one Modesto runner reaching first base. But, along the way the right-hander developed a sore right forearm. "We had a starting pitcher arm problems," said Alan Fowlkes, Reno's pitching coach who was filling in Saturday for manager Nate Oliver. "But with our lack of pitchers, (Boebel) tried to suck it up and go the second inning. It was the arm problems that led to his demise." After the first two Modesto hitters singled in the second, Boebel walked the next three A's and gave up a single to Modesto leadoff man Louis Martinez.

Mark Marino relieved. Initially, he was bo better than Boebel. Marino walked the first Baseball sons catch the Spirit Cal League notes PiiPfiKmH Gannett News Service SAN BERNARDINO: The Spirit picked up two new players, outfielder Andrew "Drew" Kosco and catcher-infielder Jeff Hooper, both of whom come via the Seattle Mariners' Class A team in Wausau, Wis. Kosco is the son of former major-league Andy Kosco, who spent 10 years in the big leagues. San Bernardino has now had three major-league progeny on its roster, the other two being center fielder Ken Griffey Jr.

and outfielder Jose Tartabull. The new players fill spaces vacated by Griffey and pitcher Colin Ward, who moved up to Seattle's Class AA team in Burlington, last Tuesday. Griffey, a No. 1 draft pick, is on the disabled list with back problems. BAKERSFIELD: It was a dismal week for the Dodgers as a long road trip ended.

Bakersfield dropped 3 out of 4 to Riverside and 4 out of 4 to Palm Springs With extended spring training concluding, the Dodgers some roster moves. Going to Salem, in the Northwest League were shortstop Dan Montgomery, outfielder Tony Barron, .250, and catcher Juan Mora, who hit .333 in 4 games. Promoted to San Antonio were pitcher Phil Torres (1-1, 0.00 ERA, 1 save) and catcher Adam Brown (.337, 2 home runs and 49 RBI). Coming off the disabled list were catcher-first baseman Almicar Valdez (.31 1) and pitcher Carlos Carrasco (0-3, 4.78). FRESNO: When the Suns beat San Jose and Riverside back-to-back this week, it marked the fifth time this season they had put together a two-game winning streak.

They have yet to win more than two in a row. Manager Dean Treanor, anticipating some roster changes now that the major-league draft is completed, released right-handed pitcher Tim Cota and catcher-first baseman Jon Hobbs. Cota had only made two appearances; Hobbs was hitting .184 with five RBI. Second baseman Kim Flowers, on loan from the San Francisco Giants, announced his retirement this week. Flowers, who went to the bench when the Suns acquired former major-leaguer Jose Cruz, was hitting .186 through 55 games with two home runs.

He had It appears that the Red Wave will not be granted a liquor license this season. Although there's an outside chance they might obtain the license by the final two weeks of the season, complaints from 16 area residents have sent the application into the hearing stage and effectively denied the Red Wave the license for this season. "I just think it's unfortunate that 16 people can wield that much weight and have such a damaging effect on minor-league baseball in Riverside," general manager Leanne Pagliai said. SAN JOSE: As anticipated, the four-game series that brings Stockton to San Jose to close the first half will determine the Northern Division title. Should the two teams wind up the first half in a dead heat for the top spot, they will meet in a a single-game tie-breaker Monday in San Jose.

The Giants' defense, pitching and fielding have been outstanding all season, and the once-anemic offense has improved to where San Jose is now third in the league in batting average and run production. Left fielder Mark Leonard has taken over the league batting lead with a .343 average In only the third roster change of the season, San Jose added switch-hitting shortstop Jeff Kaiser, the sixth-round selection of San Francisco in the free-agent draft. He led Southwest Missouri State in batting in 1987-88 with marks of .404 and .300. He helped lead his school to the Association of Mid-Continent Universities championships both years. San Jose released shortstop Willie Mijares, who batted .221 in 47 games.

STOCKTON: Former Stockton pitcher Jeff Peterek pitched shutouts in his first two starts at Class AAA Denver after being promoted from El Paso. Pitcher Alan Sadler had been having trouble after being hit in the hand by a batted ball against Modesto. But he pitched five innings to beat San Bernardino. "It hurts from the knuckles down; I can't seem to grip the ball," he said. VISALIA: Pitcher Doug Simons had a rough professional baseball debut June 11.

The youngster, fresh from Pepperdine University, lasted only 16 innings, allowing six nits, seven earned runs and five walks against Riverside. EDA committed 18 errors. Outfielder Tony Triplett extended his consecutive-game hitting streak to nine. He's 16-for-36 with seven RBI and six steals during the stretch. He also has stolen 13 stolen bases in his last 13 games.

MODESTO: The Athletics' struggling offense could be helped by the addition of two power hitters. Moving down from Huntsville is Tony Arias, a former star for Miami-Dade South Junior College and Florida International. His personal best is 18 homers in a season. Switch-hitting outfielder Antoine Pickett also has joined the squad. Modesto is fourth in the Californioa League in attendance, averaging 962 per game.

PALM SPRINGS: Heading into the final weekend of the first half of the season, the Angels were riding the arms of pitchers Colin Charland, Mike Erb and Jim Long to a slim lead over Riverside in the Southern Division. Charland pitched a complete-game, 6-2 win over Bakersfield in the first game of a Sunday doubleheader to raise his record to 9-2. In the nightcap, Erb (6-6) snapped a three-game losing streak, 2-1. He was 5-3 with a 2.12 ERA before his losing skid giving 19 earned runs in 11 innings. RENO: Despite a 3-7 record, former San Francisco Giants pitcher Alan Fowlkes has a 3.25 ERA.

He allowed nine hits and six runs, four earned, in his last start Tuesday, in a game Reno lost 9-6 to the Ports. Reno outfielders made five errors. RIVERSIDE: The Red Wave, after pulling into first place in the Southern Division for the first time, was hit with some injuries in the outfield. Manager 'Tony Torchia had pitcher Jimmy Lewis In right field in a game against Visalia after three of the regular outfielders were taken out of action. Pat Jelks was moved up to Wichita, while Brian Brooks and Will Taylor had pulled hamstrings, leaving Warren Newsome as the only true outfielder in the lineup.

ELDORADO'S CORONADO BALLROOM 7:30 P.M. RESERVED TICKETS $25 GENERAL ADMISSION $20 Tickets on sale in the Eldorado Gift Shop euooRaoo HOTEL CASINO 2.

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