The Dispatch from Moline, Illinois • 39

THE SUNDAY DISPATCH AND ARGUS April21t1991 1 EH Baseball Billy Wait a' Minnis, and other Angel Bermanisms Expos error aids Angels By John Marx Staff sports writer A gift With one out and runners on If ESPN's Chris Ber-man can do it for the guys in the big leagues, why cant it be done for the guys looking to make it to the bigs? After several, long and thought out. with input from various sources, here is a Midwest League version of Bermanisms. Quad-Citv -'j Jo77 Marx Cather Fausto Tejero "along the dotted line." Manager Mitch "Part the Red" Seoane. Pitching coach Joe "John, Paul, Ringo and" Georger. Defensive coach Matt "Dr.

Jekyll and Mr." Hyde. Radio play-by-play David "Gone" Fisher. Well, Berman's job's safe for at least one more day. Here's to Wegman Here's to hoping Bill Wegman makes it back to the big leagues. If there was ever a nice guy in professional sports, Wegman ranks as one of the top.

The former Milwaukee Brewer trying to make it back to the bigs was accommodating and had time for all in his Midwest League medical rehabilitation stint Thursday at John ODonnell Stadium. scored. Polanco is l-for-7 with 5 RBIs with runners in scoring position. His only hit of the season was a three-run triple against Beloit Lights out! What's up with all the lights out surrounding John ODonnell Stadium? At least 20 lights are out, creating some mighty tough shadows on the playing field. General manager Mike Tatoian says help is on its way, soon.

"The city of Davenport and the Musco lighting people have been in contact and the problem should be taken care of early next week," Tatoian said earlier last week. "We have prided ourselves on our lighting for several years and it remains something we take great pride in. The problem will be fixed early next week." Local pro update Rock Island's Mark Borcherding is 2-0 with the Cedar Rapids Reds. Borcherding won his second game of the season Friday with a 7-1 decision over Peoria. The ex-Rock Island High School star tossed a six-hit shutout in his first start of the season.

Borcherding is the Reds' No. 1 starter. East Moline's Mike Butcher is 0-1 with the Midland Angels, the Calfornia Angels' Class AA club of the Texas League. Butcher is Midland's No. 1 starter.

Former Alleman star Scott Hennessey is a member of the Angel notes Q-C first baseman Don Barbara leads the Midwest League in RBIs with 12 and is second with a .520 batting average. Barbara has a .622 on-base percentage and leaves a ticket each home game at the front gate for Yan -1 Don Barbara Don Mattingly Angels' style. Alphabetically appears the best way to start, so here goes: Pitcher Dave "Uncle Fester" Adams. Outfielder Garret "Morris" Anderson. First baseman Don "Santa" Barbara, or Don "take a little off the top" Barbara.

Outfielder Emmitt Pitcher Brit Craven "a trip to the big leagues." Third baseman Mark Dalesandro The Great" Catcher Tom "Ram Tough" Dodge. Pitcher Ken "Garden of Edenfield. Pitcher Robert "I'm not the golfer" Gamez. Outfielder Cliff "Grin and" Garrett Infielder Brian Grebeck, "Grebeck, Grebeck to Where You Once Belonged." Designated hitter Jeff Kipila "Hands to Yourself." Pitcher Joe "Iron hands" Hancnik. Pitcher Bret "Baton down the Lachemann.

Pitcher Phil "Right or" Leftwich. Pitcher Justin "Rowan and" Martin. Shortstop Billy "Wait Minnis, or Billy "Dinnis the" Minnis. Pitcher Norm "You asked for it you got it" Montoya. Outfielder Rafael "Maza" MurattL Infielder Jeff "I jumped the wall and fell" Oberdank.

Second baseman Carlos "Beer Barrel" Polanco. Pitcher Darryl "Great" Scott Pitcher Victor "Hi-yo" Silverio. Catcher Jose Stela "performance." Baseball City Royals, the Kansas City Royals' top Class A club of the Florida State League. Safe at Home Day today The Quad-City Angels, in conjunction with the Council on Children at Risk and John Deere Insurance, will be holding "Safe at Home Day" today when they take on the Rockford Expos in a 2 p.m. Midwest League game at Davenport's John O'Donnell Stadium.

Pre-game festivities will start at 1:30 p.m., featuring clowns, balloons, music by the Davenport West High School band and several giveaways, including bicycles. Free family tickets for the game are available at all Quad-City Kwik Shops, McDonald's and Happy Joe's restaurants. For information, call the Council on Children at Risk at 764-7017. kee star Don Mattingly. The Angels as a team are batting .197 without Barbara.

Reliever Darryl Scott is the Midwest League leader in strikeouts with 16 in just 8 innings of work. Infielder Brian Grebeck is third in the league in batting with a .385 average. Reliever Ken Edenfield is third in the league with two saves. Outfielder Cliff Garrett is now second in the league with 5 stolen bases. Reliever Bret Lachemann has pitched 8 scoreless innings this season, but has allowed 13 base runners, somehow finding a way to wiggle out of several jams.

Infielder Carlos Polanco has amazing numbers considering his paltry .053 batting average. With only one hit in 19 at bats, Polanco is second on the team with 5 RBIs and six runs You can read success Edenfield first and second in the bottom of the tenth inning, Quad-City Angels designated hitter Jeff Kipila hit a deep fly ball to left field that Rockford's Mike Friedland settled underneath at the track. The ball was caught but then dropped. The error scored Olif- ton Garrett T.iM with the winning run, giving the Angels a 4-3 win Saturday at John O'Donnell Stadium. The win, played before 3,137, moves the Angels to 6-3, while Rockford drops to 2-6.

The Expos threatened in the top of the second with runners reaching first and third with nobody out but pitcher Victor Silverio got Dan Hazgis to pop out and induced an inning-ending double play out of Mike Friedland to escape the jam. Rockford then managed the real thing, scoring a run in the top of the fourth. Mike Weimerskirch started the inning with a single to center and went to second when Clifton Garrett bobbled the balL With one out a Steve Keigley single plated Weimerskirch with the game's initial run. But the Angels answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the fourth. Shortstop Jeff Oberdank started the frame with a double to right and went to third on a Don Barbara fly out After designated hitter Jeff Kipila walked, third baseman Mark Dalesandro singled to center, scoring Oberdank and tying the contest at one.

The Halos took the lead with a two-spot in the home half of the fifth. Second baseman Carlos Po lanco started the frame with a single. After moving to second, Polanco moved to third as Gar rett beat out an infield single, Then, as he had done the inning before, Oberdank connected, this time on a double to the wall, scoring Polanco and Garrett and putting the Angels up 3-1. Rockford responded in the sixth with an unearned run. A combination of Silverio walks and a two-out throwing error by Dalesandro had the Expos within one.

The Expos tied the game in the seventh when Quad-City reliever Bret Lachemann walked Rock- ford's Mike Moberg to force in the tying run. To put out the fire, the Angels called on reliever Justin Martin, who recorded two strikeouts and got a pop out to wiggle out of the bases-loaded jam. The Angels wiggled out of a big jam in the top of the ninth inning. Rockford's Ray Callari opened with a double to right field. The Angels replaced Martin with stopper Ken Edenfield.

Edenfield got Glenn Murray to ground out then walked Moberg intentionally. With runners at first and third, he got Weimerskirch on strikes and Randy Wilstad to ground out, leaving things tied at 3-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth. The same two teams do battle today at 2 p.m. Dave Adams gets the nod for the Angels, while Steve Whitehead takes the mound for Rockford. Blues 5, North Stars 2 ST.

LOUIS (UPD Adam Oates and Jeff Brown scored third-period goals Saturday night sparking the St Louis Blues to a 5-2 victory over the Minnesota North Stars to even their Stanley Cup quarterfinal series at one game apeice. The best-of-seven Norris Divi sion final switches to Blooming ton, Minn, for Game 3 on Monday night Garth Butcher and Rich Sutter scored the other St Louis goals and Bob Bassen had two assists for the Blues. with it" But in all good relief pitchers, there must be one "out" pitch. Edenfield has that in his palmbalL "Each time you hear about a good relief pitcher who comes in and gets the job done, they talk about the one good pitch he has to get people out," Georger said of Edenfield, who was 8-4 with a 1.66 ERA at Boise (Rook or not, free agency By John Marx Staff sports writer Ken Edenfield's got an attitude. Not the nose-stuck-up-in-the-air kind of arrogance you might think.

Rather, just enough confidence to successfully get the job done as the closer for the Quad-City Angels. "He's got that real good pitcher's arrogance," Quad-City pitching coach Joe Georger said of his club's closer. "He's a real good kid, a hard worker, and he does have that good arrogance about him." A deceptive fastball, a sneaky motion and a big-league-caliber palm-ball have been the secret to success for Edenfield, a 21st-round selection in last year's free agent draft. "Basically breaking him down, he stays back, stays over the rubber nice and gets on top," Georger said of Edenfield, who has two saves and a 1.65 earned-run average in three outings this season. "He has good control and we'll just let him run Believe it SportsWeekend wire services The better St Louis' Felix Jose and Houston's Jeff Bagwell perform, the more they represent the high cost of victory in this free-agent era.

Last August, just before the Sept 1 deadline for completing playoff rosters, the A's traded Jose and two other players for St Louis' Willie McGee, the National League batting leader. Boston shipped Bagwell to Houston for middle reliever Larry Andersen. McGee replaced injured Dave Henderson, and Andersen improved Boston's middle relief But the A's and Red Sox knew they were taking risks because McGee and Andersen could become free agents after the season. Oakland and Boston won their divisions, and McGee and Andersen left for other teams. So those clubs gave up an excellent prospect to rent a player for Vi months.

Now Jose is the Cardinals' everyday right fielder, hitting impressively. The Astros like Bagwell so much they have converted him from a third baseman to first base- Felix Jose field still has his detractors. "IVe been looked upon as a pitcher who doesn't have a good fastball," said Edenfield. "They say if you sit on his off-speed stuff you can hit So I've tried to go back to establishing my fastball and earn some respect for it Hopefully it will re-setup my palmbalL" But Georger says the knock is unjustified and Edenfield has all the tools needed to advance in the game. "He can get the job done, he's proven that," said Georger.

"All the tools are there, including the mental makeup to be successful. When he throws the palmball even if a hitter knows it's coming guys still don't catch up with it I can't say how far he will go, but I can see he has what it takes to be a success. He's an accomplished pitcher and has an idea what it takes to make it" It's all in Edenfield's hand the palm of his hand. to parity 18 and allowing only two earned runs in his first 13V4 innings at Iowa. "He's done everything right, including get off to a great start again this year," farm director Bill Harford said.

Sutcliffe rings up a big bill tourist econ- I I omy took a hit last week when the Cubs recalled Rick Sutcliffe from their extended spring training program in Mesa. Sutcliffe checked out of Rick Sutcliffe the club's headquarters hotel with a bill that was, to put it mildly, bigger thanabreadbox. "Seven thousand dollars," said Sutcliffe, who checked in the first week of February. "The room was cheap only $60 a night The phone bill was something else." Stealers thrown out, not bottles Montreal catcher Gilberto Reyes, a recovering alcoholic, threw out five potential base thieves in three days, including Met speedster Vince Coleman. 'The difference now is that when a ball is being thrown to me, that ball is what I see," he said.

"Last year I was seeing a couple of bottles of Jack Daniels." in palm of 'I have confidence in all my pitches, but thepalmball has been the pitch that I hope can set me apart and help me Ken Edenfield ie) last year. "Kenny has that in his palmbalL He can throw it for strikes, no matter what the situation. His fastball is sneaky fast and better than most give it credit for. But his palmball is simply outstanding." Edenfield admits the secret to his success rides in the palm of his hand. "I have confidence in all my pitch want to do a live interview with a thunderstorm approaching: "If you get struck by hghtning, we'll still play.

If I get struck by lightning, we won't" Speedster Cole run out Speedy center fielder Alex Cole quickly became a favorite in Cleveland when he came up in the middle of last season. Now he has been benched in favor of Mike Huff, the kind of fundamentally sound player relished by manager John McNa-mara. High cost of umpiring Under their new contract, major league umpires receive $185 in daily expense money, up from $173. It's not as much as it sounds. The umpires use that money to cover all of their expenses except air fare.

That includes hotels, cabs, rental cars, tips for clubhouse attendants and laundry bills. American League umpires Steve Palermo and Mike Reilly say they break even for the year, in some cities they need more than $185, in some they need less. They needed Wild Thing'? Phils' pitchers own the market on wild pitches this season. Tommy Greene hit the backstop screen with a pitch. Pat Combs threw a wild pitch while issuing an intentional walk.

Jason Grimsley threw four wild pitches in a game, and this the team that recently acquired Mitch Wild Thing' Williams from the Cubs. Slow start benches McRae Kansas City leadoff batter Brian McRae was 3-for-28 with no walks when he was benched Wednesday. Going the other way Cincinnati's Chris Sabo hit his first opposite-field homer in 1,428 career at-bats. New Comiskey sting Chicago police used the opening of Comiskey Park to stage a sting operation that resulted in 17 arrests. The police sent letters to about 2,500 wanted suspects, telling them they had won prizes from Paul closer es," he said, "but the palmball has been the pitch that I hope can set me apart and help me win.

You cant rely too much on one pitch, and I feel I dont, but it has worked." A difficult pitch and a small-handed pitcher's guide to an effective change-up, mastering the pitch was simply trial and error for Edenfield. "My second year of college I was a starter a fastball, curveball and slider-type pitcher," said the personable 24-year-old Knoxville, native. "I just started fooling around with some grips and it kind of evolved from that" Throwing the pitch is simple, according to Edenfield. "I just grab it and push it back in the palm of my hand and release the ball like a football," said Edenfield. "It gets up to the plate and the bottom falls out I've been fortunate enough to have some success with it" Despite all of his success, Eden can lead J.

Willis Associates, a fictitious sportswear company. The recipients were told they would receive free tickets to the Comiskey Park opener if they would wear the free sportswear they received at a gala Wednesday. Twenty-one people showed up at the giveaway. Seventeen were arrested; the other four had received the letter by accident When is enough, enough? Favorite spring training exchange: In one of Carlton Fisk's early exhibition games, against the Rangers, he caught five innings. In those five innings, there were four Carlton Fisk Texas stolen bases (three by Jeff Huson), two wild pitches and some other indignities.

Finally, Torborg approached him in the dugout "How much more do you want of asked the manager. Replied Fisk: "How much more can you stand?" Blame the balk on Moose Finally, at Seattle, Randy Johnson was charged with a balk Monday when the Mariner Moose tried to throw a bag of peanuts at a local-celebrity vendor known as Rick the Peanut Man, overthrew him and the peanuts hit near the on-deck circle, distracting the pitcher. Rick blamed the Moose: 'The Moose has this new head this season and bigger gloves. It's harder for him to throw. Plus, he threw it overhand.

The Moose isnt supposed to do that" Down on the farm, On the Cubs' farm: Earl Cunningham, the Cubs' top 1989 draft pick, is expected to join the Single-A Peoria affiliate this week. He has been playing in the extended spring program because of strained knee ligaments. Lance Dickson is blowing away minor leaguers again, striking out ered for their first hit of the season: Kevin Mitchell, Steve Decker, Robby Thompson, Matt Williams and Mike Benjamin. Speaking of Thompson, the experiment of having him lead off isn't a great success so far. Thompson doesn't have a first-inning hit yet this year.

He's 0-for-8 and has been hit by a pitch once. First wins are 'biggies' The Athletics already have wins from four rookie pitchers. They are Joe Slusarski, Kirk Dressendorfer, Steve Chitren and Dana Allison. Dressendorfer, by the way, is only the fourth pitcher since David Clyde in 1973 to earn his first professional victory in the majors. The others are the Texas Rangers' Bobby Witt and Kevin Brown (1986) and the Angels' Jim Abbott in 1989.

Just not wild enough Angels pitchers Scott Lewis, Jeff Robinson and Scott Bailes combined to throw six wild pitches in California's 15-9 win over Minnesota last That's an American League record. But if reliever Brian Harvey, who pitched the ninth, had thrown one the Angels would have had a major league record as welL "Harv didn't do his job," complained Bailes Mddingly. "He makes one wild pitch and we could all be in the Hall of Fame." No problem, prez Former President Ronald Reagan stopped to see the Los Angeles Dodgers recently. Pitcher Bob Oje-da, who visited the White House, with the New York Mets in 1986, went over to say hello but Reagan didn't remember him. "I met him before, but he forgot" Ojeda said.

"I guess he's lived a full life." Replacement for Rickey? Oakland's Terry Steinbach, who came into the season with five career stolen bases, has swiped two bases already this season. "IVe got a chance to get a career high," said Steinbach, who stole three in 1988. A matter of priorities Braves manager Bobby Cox, to a television reporter, on why he didn't man so he can play every day. McGee and Andersen might not have been available if they weren't on the verge of free agency. But first-place teams, not the last-place Cardinals and Astros, got nothing for them.

The Astros and Cardinals each received a top young player. It's one more example of how free agency has brought about parity. Lansford readies for comeback Oakland third baseman Carney Lansford, who needed surgery on his left knee after a snowmobile accident during the offseason, is already taking ground balls. "It's a big mistake, whoever said I would miss the season," he said. "That's doctors.

Look for me at the All-Star break." Homers, for a start Five San. Francisco Giants hom- DRIVING RANGE AND LEARNING CENTER JUDITH M. CARLS CLASS A LPGA Professional Thursday, April 25: Woods Thursday, May 2: LongMid Irons Thursday, May 16: ChippingPutting Next to Governor's Mollne 53rd St. and 22nd Ave. Private and Semi-Private Lessons Also Available To Register for Clinics or Lessons 332-5664.