The Akron Beacon Journal from Akron, Ohio • Page 39

Sunday, August 17, 1986 Akron Beacon Journal C9 MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL Indians' radio sweepstakes may bring surprise tion (airing Browns and Cavaliers games)? Would the station tempt Franklin to stay? These mysteries have yet to be resolved. In the meantime, it won't be long before we know for sure which station has won the Indians. Tribe front office already has decided la give Niekro, 47. another contract. itou probably won't see this on his resume, tnt Terry Barthelmaa, Tribe vice president Ssf, administration, is the guy who hired Maria Collins to be the Chicago Cubs' ball gfrf' Collins, of course, recently was fired by the team for posing nude in Playboy.

Thisi has not been a pleasant season for Padres relief ace Rich Gosiage. Though he is 5-5 with 20 saves, his earned-run average is an embarrassing 4.31. Gossage also has failed eight times in save situations and has allowed 13-of-26 inherited runners tp score. After blowing a 3-run lead lasl Wednesday, Gossage was told when the team bus would leave for the hotel. "I'll be under it," was his response.

6 The intrigue is likely to be over almost before it begins. it be WWWE, WHK or TjyjSRE, the latter previously considered the poor cousin among the three contenders? Which radio station will come up with enough cash and residual benefits 40, snare the Indians for the next three years? According to word from the front, WERE is on the verge of becoming the surprise winner. That is not what most observers of the local broadcast scene expected to happen. But the station -Is the process of being sold to Interests from Detroit, a factor that has increased its resources. how much of these re-uoarces will it take to purchase the right to broadcast Tribe games? The club reportedly will between $1.6 million and $1.8 million a year.

WWWE paid $1.5 million to air the 1986 schedule. That figure is considerably higher than previous seasons because WERE raised the ante dur- the Indians. Talk show host Pete Franklin, according to one source, has an escape clause in his contract that allows him to leave if the station fails to broadcast Tribe baseball. Why would Franklin quit his lucrative job just because there is no baseball on WWWE? Too much competition. Despite Franklin's long history of domination over the evening radio hours in Northeast Ohio, he is no match for the Indians, and he knows it.

Where would Franklin go? More than likely, WWWE has included a non-compete provision in his contract. That means he would be unable to hop to another station in the Cleveland area for a couple of years. A different market, then? Retirement? Who knows? And another question: How would WWWE replace Franklin? Would it hire a new talk show host, thus complementing its sports orienta By contrast, Cleveland is hitting .263 with 13 homers and is averaging four runs a game over the same span. If the Indians continue to play as they have, they will end their 42-game foray into the East with a worse record (15-27) than they did the first time, when they were 15-21. Through Friday night, including its shining hour in Baltimore, the Tribe was 7-13 with 22 games to play against its lodge brothers.

Cleveland finishes with 24 games against the West. Using current percentages to make a projection, the Indians are on an 82-80 pace, a far cry from three weeks ago when 89 victories were possible if only they could break even against the East. UNLESS Phil Nlekro loses his fingertips to Libyan terrorists, expect him back in Cleveland next year. A source says the HR, 73 RBI; Jordan Lane Medina .324, 30 HR, 100 RBI; Webster .254, 15 HR, 58 RBI; Workman Dube 2-3, 4.88 ERA; Farr 4-5, 8 SV, 2.54 ERA; Fedor 2-1, 3 SV. 1.35 ERA; Ghelfi 7-6, 4.01 ERA; Githens 4-4, 2 SV, 5.36 ERA; Karpuk 6-2, 1 SV, 2.73 ERA; Kuy-kendall SV, 5.57 ERA; Lafever 8-5, 1 SV, 2.11 ERA; Nichols 7-5, 4.34 ERA; Poehl 4-6, 3.22 ERA; Scott 6-5, 4.26 ERA; Swindell 1-1, 1.64 ERA; Whitmyer 1- 2, 4.70 ERA; Williamson 3-3, 5.87 ERA; Winbush 2-1, 3.48 ERA.

Batavla: Fairchild .241, 6 HR, 12 RBI; Gamba Hinzo .311, 12 SB; Lampkin Richardson .234, 7 HR, 26 RBI; Twardoski Bird 0-4, 4 SV, 3.38 ERA; Compres 2-2, 3.81 ERA; Gardner 3-6, 2.33 ERA; Maggard 2-3, 1 SV, 3.77 ERA; Shaw 4-2, 2.89 ERA; Skalski 4-6, 2.29 ERA; Wickander 2-1. 1.82 ERA. Burlington: Johnson .282, 12 HR, 36 RBI; Llriano Martinez Polk Richardson Wolton .288, 1 HR. 27 RBI; Gilles 7-0. 2.29 ERA; Hindulak 0-1, 5.19 ERA; Mercado 3-3, 2.88 ERA; Ortiz 0-2, 2 SV, 2.93 ERA; Scaglione 2-4, 4.40 ERA; Seanez 4-2, 3.05 ERA; Soos 2- 1, 6 SV, 1.95 ERA; Walker 3-5, 5.70 ERA.

Niekro, Indians make Weaver do slow burn ANGELS manager Gene Mauch doesn't mince words when he assesses his team's chances of beating Texas for the championship of the West. "I like the idea of having to beat a club that has to score nine runs to win," he said. "If we can't handle the Texas Rangers, I give up. I know I shouldn't say that, but I like our pitching staff. And if we win 90, that should be enough." Rangers pitcher Mike Mason responds: "If you have to start taking jabs at another team, you're panicking.

And he's panicking because he can't get away from us." And just think where California would be if it didn't hold a 6-0 advantage over Texas. For the first time in many seasons, the Stadium baseball diamond was recognizable following a Browns exhibition game. "This is the best shape I've seen this field in years," Orioles pitctter Storm Davit said. Tell it to head grounds-keeper David Frey, Storm. SO YOU DON'T think Greg Swindell will be pitching for the Indians in September? Through all the carefully worded answers to such questions by Joe Klein and Dan O'Brien, there has not been one firm denial.

Since the All-Star break, ttie Mets' Big Four of Dwlght Gooden, Ron Darling, Sid Fernandez and Bob OJeda are 7-6 with eight no-decisions. Before tre break, they were 41-10. Does It mattef? Ask the Expos, who continue to be umpteen games behind. The Mets ate feeling no pain, and when Keith Hernandez broke a club record by driving In at least one run in eight consecutive games, he said: "I want to clinch the division al home and see New York rock and rod. I want to go out on Manhattan 'til 5 a.m.

and tell Davey (Johnaon) I'm not playing the next day." FALL SOFTBALL LEAGUE 1 4-16 GAMES plus playoffs for every team. Sunday morning double headers. "2 253.2762 OPEN SUNDAY 11 TO 5 P.M. WITH THE exception of the four impressive victories over the Orioles, which are beginning to look like an apparition, Indians pitchers have been performing like double agents lately. I mean, whose side are these guys on, anyway? Excluding the 3-game sweep last week in Baltimore and the 3-2 victory over the Orioles Friday night at the Stadium, opposing hitters are batting .317 with 23 home runs against Cleveland pitchers since the Tribe began playing the East July 28.

The result is that the Indians are giving up the scandalous average of 7 runs in these games. season, which in this case means A'h innings. Corrales vowed Friday that he would somehow avoid from batting in Saturday's Old-Timers Game. However, there he was, hitting a ground ball to the second baseman in addition to catching. Niekro, at 47, is older than 13 of the 29 players who participated in the Old-Timers Game.

There is something in the visiting team's dugout that was not there before. Rick Dempsey stomped a hole in the bench Friday night after Mel Hall robbed him of a home run. "I couldn't get to sleep till 4 in the morning," Dempsey said. "I kept thinking about him catching that ball." The Orioles finally named a starter to oppose Ken Schrom today. It will be Mlktt Boddlcker (14-6, 4.04 ERA).

Pitching matchups against the Brewers: Tom Candiolli (11-9, 3.65 ERA) vs. Chrla Boalo (0-1, 2.25 ERA) Monday night; Jos Roman (1-1, 4 97 ERA) vs. Tad Hlguera (15-8, 2.78 ERA) Tuesday night; Scotl Ballea (9-7, 4.30 ERA) vs. Bill Wagman (3-9, 4.88 ERA) Wednesday night. FARM FACTS Mains: Allen .261, 9 HR, 38 RBI; Buckley .235, 1 1 HR, 35 RBI; Cecchetti Dugas Gallagher .302, 8 HR, 41 RBI, 17 SB; Noboa Rohn Smajstrla Washington .220, 8 HR.

27 RBI; Weaver .232, 8 HR, 22 RBI; Creel 5-10, 2.25 ERA; Hagen 7-10, 3.55 ERA; Jones 4-5. 9 SV, 2.06 ERA; Murphy 0-2, 5. 1 1 ERA; Pippin 2-7, 3 SV, 4.97 ERA; Ritter 6-3, 5.09 ERA; Roberts 2-6, 5 SV, 4.75 ERA; Rowe 3-7, 1 SV, 4.82 ERA; Wardle 5-8, 4.61 ERA. Waterbury: Bell .270, 7 HR, 68 RBI; Brito .249, 15 HR, 63 RBI; Brunenkant Crum Ficklin .313, 19 SB; Harper Hill Lovell .271, 3 HR, 59 RBI; Mejia Roman .275, 5 HR, 49 RBI; Syverson Williams .248, 6 HR, 23 RBI, 145 AB; Beasley 5-8, 4.07 ERA; Bellaman '6-10, 5.53 ERA; Encarnacion 7-7, 9 SV, 4.07 ERA; Farrell 8-9, 3.36 ERA; Link 5-0, 3 SV, 3.79 ERA; K. Murphy 11-8, 4.23 ERA; Santarelli 3-9, 10 SV, 3.91 ERA; Smith 2-2, 3.18 ERA.

Waterloo: Alvis Bennett Bresnahan Carrasco Gill .235, 5 HR, 15 RBI, 149 AB; Higgins .302, 18 The best deals on wheels are in the automotive section of today's Beacon Journal. Beacon Journal SAE.G 70 60 SERIES LIGHT TRUCK WHITES SIZE 20575x14 21575x14 21575x15 22575x15 PRICE $31.95 $32.95 $33.95 $35.95 SPECIALS fAUCaKiatsPiaAil ji I i If ri 1 11K Good With I Coupon Only II WU 1 MOST CARS I SET OF WHEELS PURCHASED Anniversary. Sheldon Ocker ing last year's auction, and WWWE felt compelled to match the offer. That did not make the folks at WWWE happy. Recouping their investment has not been a snap, and there are problems caused by inevitable scheduling conflicts between the Browns and Indians.

As is customary at virtually all radio stations when football and baseball games overlap, football gives way. Even when the owner of the football team, in this case Art Modell, also owns the radio station. WWWE may lose more than Phil Niekro the Orioles are hitting a meager .218 against Tribe pitchers, who have compiled a 2.36 earned-run average against the Birds. And if Thursday night's 12-2 Baltimore triumph is excluded from the statistics, the Orioles' batting average dips to .192 and the Indians' ERA sinks to 1.84. Not that the Tribe was ham- Carter's single.

Thornton singled to score Franco, Carler moving to third. Snyder struck out. Jecobv lined to Ihe center fielder. CLEVELAND 1, BAL.TI- INDIANS SECOND Butler grounded out. Ta- bier doubled.

Bando grounded out. Bernazard singled to score Tabler. Franco singled, Bernaiard moving to ou'' CLEVELAND BALT- ORIOLES NINTH Niekro pilchingLvnn struck out. Murray homered. Noles replaced N(5ro.

Ripken wsfcffi 'rounded oul- CLEVELAND 2, BALTIMORE 1. StatlStlCS in mi (Through 117 games) Recerd: 0Wi Home 33 K'' Rni Plaver AB HR RBI Avo, Bernazard 111 409 125 II 51 .306 Carter 116 465 138 18 78 .297 Hal1 99 314 93 Tabler 88 315 93 4 28 295 Franco 112 457 132 6 45 289 Jacoby 114 415 114 13 64 .275 Snyder 57 221 60 14 36 .271 Castillo 65 159 43 5 tO .270 Bano 57 '5' Butler 115 410 106 3 35 .259 Thornton 103 358 83 15 57 .232 Allanson 81 238 55 1 25 .231 Nixon 73 58 12 0 3 .207 Mullins 19 26 4 0 3 .154 17 3 0 3 Totals 117 401J 1107 108 S28 .276 Butler 23, Carler 20, Nixon 14; Bernazard 12; Allanson Franco Thornton Hall Tabler, Castillo, Jacoby 2, Snyder. v1 BB so era Camacho 35 1-2 39 35 26 29 3 46 Candiolli 26 U- 170', 162 77 118 3.65 Oelkers 23 1-2 523 48 32 29 3.93 Niekro 27 9-9 188 73 66 4.27 5chrom 25 11-4 153S 153 38 66 4.28 Bailes 53 9-7 73'6 73 32 39 4.30 Noles 25 3-2 39'v 40 21 26 4 81 hulze 17 4-4 80'3 84 31 30 4 82 Romj)n 5 Wills 10 1-1 10'3 11 12 7 5.90 Yen 31 4-2 56 65 24 36 5 95 5 10 14 430 Bucher ,5 tJVj 2 )5 Easterly 13 0-2 17 27 12 9 764 Olhers 33 4-7 11R3 121 61 41 5.32 Totals 117 60-57 1026V3 1095 457 516 4.56 Saves (26) Camacho 17; Bailes Oelkers, Yell 1. NO PAYMENTS TILL WINTER NO MONEY DOWN SAVE $999 SAVE MOO I SALE! Cutini ft OF COlr Continued from page CI it was coming with (Cal) Ripken lip next." After that, Corrales went to tjhe bullpen for Dickie Noles, who got the right-handed-hitting Ripken on a foul pop. Then Bryan Oelkers got his first big-league Save by retiring lefty Jim Traber On a hard grounder to first.

And where was designated stopper Ernie Camacho during all of this? His wife, Elena, had given birth to an 8-pound boy Earlier in the day and Camacho presumably was with her. He called the clubhouse at 1:20 p.m. to tell his teammates the news of the birth, but he did not return to the Stadium. "I tried to get a message to him at the hospital to be back by the eighth inning," Corrales said, 'but you know Ernie. What else Is new? He had to deliver a baby." Maybe Camacho already knew what everyone else is starting to understand: It doesn't matter who pitches for Cleveland if the 6pponent is Baltimore.

In a dozen games this year, TRIBE DATA Box score CLEVELANO 2, BALTIMORE bai Tnunpc ri euei tun MkiimuKB JBonilla 2b 4 0 2 0 Bernazard 2b 3 0 11 Lvnncf 4 0 0 0 Sll" 0 0 0 0 Mnrrw lh Join uL looo vssz dh 402 Traber dh 4 0 2 0 Snyder rt 4 0 0 0 SheetsH 3 0 0 0 Jacobv 3b 3 0 0 0 O'Mallev 3b 3 0 10 Butler cf 4 0 0 0 Sfefero 2 0 0 0 Tabler lb 3 12 0 Randnr 4 0 10 total 1 7 I Totals 33 9 2 IS! 1 7 1 RUJ Baltimore 000 000 001-1 Cleveland 110 000 OOx-2 r. tt; Game-winning RBI Thornton (8). O'Malley. DP-rBal. Cle.

2. LOB-Bal. 5, Cle. 10. 2B Tabler 2.

HR-Murrav (12). Baltimore IP HRERBBSO Flanagan 6-8 8.9 2 2 3 8 Cleveland PNiekro 8 -3 7 1 1 1 5 Noles -3 0 0 0 0 0 Oelkers 1 1-3 0 0 0 0 0 WP-Flanagan. 2:30. A 22,326. Comparison rnnn( 8 8amM) 86 Overall 60 57 '86 Home 33 25 66 Road 27 32 Overall 39 78 65 Home 24 Jb '85 Road 15 43 unuc iTTCumurc I 86 through 57 dates 1,176,689 -'86 average 20,643 "85 through 57 dates 551,691 85averaae 9 679 oo average SCHEDULE Next home game Today vs.

Baltimore -Orioles 135 Dm i.js p.m. Coring INDIANS FIRST Flanagan pitching. Bernazard struck oul. Franco singled and moved to third on Sale Expires 8-23-86 LIMITED QUANTITIES Andy Thornton mering the ball off Mike Flanagan (6-8). He suffered through two uncertain innings before figuring out how to keep Cleveland docile.

The Indians scored once in the first on singles by Julio Franco, Joe Carter and Andy Thornton, who was credited with the game-winner. They scored again in the second on Pat Tabler's double and Tony Bernazard's single. Thornton collected two of Cleveland's nine hits and has four hits in his last seven at-bats, indicating that his 20-game slump (.157) may be over. "I've had a couple of good situations, and I'm hitting pitches that I should be hitting, rather than fouling them off," he said. NOTEBOOK Franco twisted his ankle in the eighth Inning and had to leave the game in the ninth.

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