Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • 31

Chicago Tribune, Tuesday, August 23, 1983 Section 3 3 Daseball Pro football Rodriguez set to lend a glove ars ma r.nntrnnfe lox notebook surgery 'I 1 III! i I n. By Don Pierson DAN PLATER first noticed something was wrong when he came uie Dears camp juiy and had trouble seeing. "1 couldn't focus. I could barely see the ball. I didn't pass the eye test.

I figured I just needed glasses. Then, the eyes seemed to get By Mike Kiley Chicago Tribune KANSAS CITY, Mo. Aurelio Rodriguez will return to the Sox (or the September push, and one of the main reasons is the popularity he enjoyed with the players when he started last year at third base. Rodriguez, who cleared waivers after Baltimore released him Aug. 12, will begin working out with the Sox Friday, when they return home to start a seven-game stand against Boston.

Rodriguez, a fine defensive player, isn't expected to be activated until Sept. 1, which means he won't be eligible for postseason play. Only the 25 on the roster Aug. 31 are able to participate in the league championship games and the World Series. "I don't want to mess with the mix of people we have on this club," LaRussa said, "and Chi Chi is very popular with the players.

This will be good news to them. "Jerry Dybzinski is the only legitimate extra infielder we have now, and it makes more sense if we have to replace Vance Law' at third that we go to Rodriguez ahead of Dybzinski, whose position is short-. Texas opens a two-game series at Comiskey Park next Monday. "I never talked to Rader all the time we were in Texas, so I'm not going to make a point of seeking him out, LaRussa said. "I never seek out other managers.

But the next time I see him, he'll hear what I have to say." RELIEVER Kevin Hickey and coach Dave Nelson both returned Monday to Chicago to see doctors. Hickey, who has been on the disabled list with a stiff shoulder, will have his shoulder examined Tuesday before the Sox decide whether to bring him back to the roster. "He has a bright future, but maybe Kevin needs to take a break and a fresh start," LaRussa said. In spring training? "Let's see what the doctor says," LaRussa replied. First-base coach Nelson will seek medical advice on whether to undergo hemorrhoid surgery immediately or wait so he can stay with the team in this critical period.

FORMER ORIOLE manager Earl Weaver broadcast Monday night's game on ABC-TV, and, in case you missed it, here is one of his observa- stop." Rodriguez, 35, chose to try the free-agent market after last season, but he wasn't claimed and later signed with Baltimore. He hit .119 with 67 at-bats in 45 games with the Orioles. He struck out 13 times and never got a base on balls. LaRUSSA WAS CHAGRINED, to put it mildly, by Texas manager Doug Rader criticism of the Sox after they beat the Rangers three out of four games over the weekend. Rader said Sunday, "I can't wait for their bubble to burst.

It will be a beauty." Before the series, he said the Sox were winning "ugly." "I'll have a private and personal reaction the next time I see him," LaRussa said. "I don't need to juice up my club with all this stuff. What he says doesn't bother us. "From reading what he has said about other clubs he played, it's his philosphy to rip the clubs who beat worse, saia naier. Until last Thursday, however, the i rai i AP Laserptoio Aurelio Rodriguez will put his glove back to work for the White Sox as a utility infielder.

He's due to be activated after Sept. 1. was to rest a strained hamstring muscle. Glasses could wait. Plater could see well enough to know that making this team at wide receiver was going to require all his effort.

"I just thought I'd get the glasses when I had the time, said Plater. Plater didn't complain. "EVERY ONCE In a while he would say, 'I can't see, the said fellow wide receiver Brian Baschnagel. "I didn't think much of it. I wondered why he didn't get year they can show that they are.

"I talked to Tony LaRussa a while ago and told him it's a long way to Oct. 2. I know how long it is. But, to me, Kansas City is the only team I see now who can make a run at the Sox." tions. "Kansas City is 11th in the league in run production and pitching, last in the league in fielding and on-base percentage," Weaver said.

"And yet, we know they are better than that and maybe this is the time of the him. I don't thin! think that philosophy is worth a darn. DUlllC bUllkOI.U). AIG WOO UUlIlg a IUt VI i body-catching. "I guess he did drop some when he tried to catch with his hands, but nothing real noticeable." Soon, Plater, Jim McMahon's fa- -vorite receiver at Brigham Young, found it difficult to see the writing on the board in team meetings.

"When you're a receiver, it's im- perative to see the flight of the ball. When you can't even see the ball, it makes it pretty tough," said Plater. Last Thursday, the Bears sent Plater with teammate Henry Waechter to Dr. Robert Barabas. an Yaz's celebration big hit in Boston From Chicago Tribune wires CARL YASTRZEMSKI, who has risen to the occasion countless times in 23 years with the Boston Red Sox, did it again Monday night.

He celebrated his 44th birthday with a tiebreakmg double and scored what proved to be the winning run in the Red Sox's 4-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park. Yastrzemski settled down to the business at hand after being surprised by a brief ceremony at home plate before the game. He was presented a huge cake carried onto the field by his daughter, Mary Ann, and his father, Carl Sr. With the score tied 1-1 in the sixth, Yaz ripped a double to right for his career run batted in. That moved him into a tie with Ted Williams for ninth placej.

Roundup 1" 4 ly suspected a tumor on the pituitary gland and recommended a CAT scan. On Friday, the scan confirmed the diagnosis. PLATER WILL UNDERGO Bur- 'gery Thursday by Ronald Pawl at the University of Illinois-Chicago Medical Center to remove the tumor. He has been told that there is only a i 1 tl 4 4U 4.. i 1: oiiiii ciuurce uiai uic luuiur is malig nant.

"The doctor says he's done hun- dreds of these and found only two malignant," said Plater. "Still, when it's you, you can't help thinking, 'What if it is I have too many things to accomplish to worry about a malignant tumor." Plater, who has been accepted at USC medical school, is able to talk in 1 "if clinical terms. His knowledge-doesn't help the situation. "In a way, it makes it more scary, because vou know what it is lurkine i large. About from the tip of the LIIUIIIU Llf li irz 111 ft L.

nil 1 11.. "It extends into the third ventricle of the brain, the part responsible for making fluid. Usuallv. thev can take out the tumor through the nasal Das-' AP Laserphoto White Sox third baseman Vance Law left backs off just in fly in the second inning Monday night in Kansas City, Mo. The time as, first baseman Tom Paciorek grabs Hal McRae pop Sox won 3-1 on Julio Cruz's eighth-inning home run.

craniotomy on me and go through UIC VitUIl. Pl.ATRR VmiNn miT oKnnt tha Til nr nniu nmiva nnt nro inn hoom White Sox crnmiv Kntiirrinv ncrniricr tha Kniftare among baseball's all-time RBI leaders. He was Williams' replacement in left field for the Red Sox after Ted retired at the end of the 1960 season. "I'm just enjoying this game for all the six weeks or so I have left' said Yaz, who has announced his retirement at the end of this season. "I'm just thinking' about helping the club and winning baHgames." Rangers 3, Tigers 1 George Wright's run-scoring single keyed a two-run fifth inning at Arlington, Frank Tanana 7-4 gave up five hits, struck out three and walked five before running into trouble in the eighth inning and yielding to Victor Cruz, who got his third-save.

"We laid some leather on Tanana said. Angels 7, Indians 3 Juan Beniquez singled home'. Rod Carew from second base to trigger a four-run outburst in the 13th inning at Cleveland and help California snap a three-game losing streak. Brewers 3, Mariners 2 Robin Yount hit the first pitch of the bottom of the 10th inning over the left-field fence at Milwaukee. The home run, Yount's first since July lifted the Brewers into first place in the American League East.

It also made a winner of Chuck Porter 1 6-5, who allowed eight hits, struck out six and walked none in his fifth complete game. A's 3, Yankees 2 Carney Lansford's single with one out in the 14th inning at New York scored Mike Heath from third base and right-fielder Mike Davis secured" the verdict by throwing out pinch-runner Bert Campaneris at the plate in the bottom of the 14th. Campaneris had run for Butch Wynegar, who had doubled with one out off Dave Beard 5-3, and when Graig Nettles singled to right, Davis nailed Campaneris at the plate. Dodgers 4, Expos 1 Jerry Reuss 8-10 allowed only six singles at Los Angeles, pitching to the Dodgers to their sixth straight victory. Mike Marshall drove in two runs with his 13th homer and a run-scoring single off Steve Rogers U5-8, preventing Rogers from becoming the NL's first 16-game winner.

Giants 11, Phillies 5 Jeff Leonard's two-run homer capped a five-run first inning and a two-run single by Tom O'Malley highlighted a six-run sixth at San Francisco. Leonard's 17th homer came off Charles Hudson 7-6, who yielded hits to the first five batters he faced. All of them scored as the Phillies fell into a tie with Pittsburgh atop the National League East. The Pirates were idle Monday. Padres 4, Mets 3 Luis Salazar and Ruppert Jones each homered at San Diego and Eric Show defeated the New York Mets for the third time this year.

The loss stopped the Mets' three-game winning streak. Show 13-8 went seven innings and gave up six hits, including two home runs by rookie Darryl Strawberry, "It was quite a blow and a shock," said Plater. "It was the first time I had cried in a long time. It scares you. I feel like I've been ripped off." Plater still made the trip to L.A.

with the team. "I didn't want to lay around In my aorm room an weekend and tmnk about it," he said. "I have friends in L.A." A FEW BEARS found out before the plane took off. They were sur- prised to see him on it. World Series when we goi 10 games in front.

I would like to win that ame Tuesday pretty bad." Shortstop U.L. Washington erred before Splittorff did with his inside pitch to Fletcher looked like he would be the 16th consecutive Sox batter retired when he grounded one straight at Washington with two outs in the eighth. But Washington let the ball bounce off his -glove and didn't have a play on Fletcher at first. The next batter was Cruz, who had hit two homers earlier this year with the Mariners. "Kingdome homers.

They don't count," he said. "This is my first one outdoors this year." "Hoyt kept the ball in the park and I didn't, and that was the difference," said Splittorff, who only gave up a third-inning single to Dave Stegman to go with the homers. He walked nobody. THE SOX OFFENSE hasn't produced many runs lately, but their pitching and defense have been good enough to make those runs hold up for triumphs in seven of their last eight games on this trip. "They are making the big plays.

That's why there are in this position," said Splittorff. "We're not making big plays and that's why it will be pretty difficult to catch them." The kind of plays Splittorff referred to were the two defensive gems by first baseman Tom Paciorek. In the fifth, he dug out third baseman Vance Law's bouncing -throw for a putout. That play's importance became evident when Don Slaught followed with a single. In the sixth, Paciorek dived along the.

line to stop a one-out George Brett smash headed for extra bases. Still lying on his back, he flipped to Hoyt for the putout. "What an inspired player Paciorek is right now," LaRussa said. HOYT SAID he didn't feel that good pitching, "but they were swinging at every- thing I threw up there. When I saw that, I kept trying to move the ball in-and-out on them as much as possible." Three singles in the Royals' third led to their only run.

Hoyt got two out after two" hits started the inning and Pat Sheridan's run-scoring single didn't deflate him. "He didn't drop his head and go like some pitchers would," LaRussa stressed. "He went 3-2 on Brett and then struck him out. "He consistently gets the difficult outs. He is consistently one of the best pitchers in the league because of that." Continued from page out a successful pickoff play at second base.

"I just know every day that I'm in first place, and that's so big to me," Cruz said. "It's where I always wanted to be. I have never been in this kind of situation before, so don't ask me if we are going to win it. Ask my teammates." Better yet, ask the Royals, perhaps the only West Division team with a chance to catch the Sox. "I like our chances if we get close to them, but we haven't done anything -consistently enough this season to indicate we can put together that kind of streak," said Splittorff.

"It looks to me to be pretty difficult." "WE HAD TO WIN all three games." said Royals designated hitter Hal McRae. "If we win two out of three games, the Sox i will still be happy." "Ten is my number," manager Tony LaRussa said. "I told the pitchers they could start on batting practice for the iiwiu gun nivuuvif dqiu i iciWni was on the practice field Mon-. day watching, just as any other in-lured nlnver. "Sunnnrt hns heen overwhelming.

Jim Finks has been great. You find out what a organization this is. Plafat'o unfa A'rtrfomiA Iq Aita In! Chicago Wednesday, "Cha utaa a at ftct col1 Pinter. "Rut she's several months pregnant, so she's emotional anyway." i Pan American Games Boxing X- A stripped of medals for drug use quits during 3d round By Neil Milbert MELROSE PARK middleweight lenny LaPaglia Monday night was a carbon copy of junior middleweight world mark of 3:40.84 last summer at the World Championships. BOXERS PERNELL Whittaker of Norfolk, and Jerry Page of Atlanta easily advanced to the quarterfinals, joining all nine of their teammates in clinching at least bronze medals.

Whittaker, who waited 10 days for his first fight in the Pan Am tournament, knocked out Kenworth Minus oi the Bahamas at 1:50 of the first round in the 132-pound class. And Page, perhaps the least-known of the American fighters, scored a 4-1 decision over Jose Magallenes of Venezuela at 139. The United States was far ahead In the medals race, and added to its count by winning the water polo gold. The U.S. edged Cuba 8-6 as Gary Figueroa of Salinas, Calif, scored three goals and Terry Schroeder of Santa Barbara, and John Svendsen of Pleasant added two apiece.

That boosted the U.S. count to 84 THERE WERE NO knockdowns. "I couldn't believe it when he quit," said referee Stan Berg. "I said; 'Are you but he told me: 'No, the guy hit me too much in my stomach, and I can't Dr. Glen Bynum, the attending physician, examined LaPaglia after the fight and found no evidence of injury.

Said Dr. Bynum, "LaPaglia told me: 'The guy just beat me to the body; he won fair and It was the first fight for LaPaglia since March 20 when he lost by unanimous decision to Chicago's unbeaten John Collins in a fiercely contested 10-round bout. LaPaglia refused to trieet with reporters, and manager Bob Fusello took it upon himself to do the talking. include an unidentified U.S. weightlifter.

Officials said it was the second time in the 32-year history of the Pan Am Games athletes had lost medals because of drug use. In 1979, Canadian Joan Wenzel had to return her bronze medal in the 800 meters when it was discovered she had taken an antihistamine, which she was using to treat a cold. The steroid controversy once again tooK attention away from the competition in these games. The athletic schedule was relatively light as the games entered their last week and final practice was held for the start of track Tuesday. But for the most part, what events there were again were ruled by the United States.

The United States' men's 400-. meter medley relay team, with Rowdy Gaines swimming the anchor free style leg for his fourth gold medal, swam to a world record of 3 minutes 40.42 seconds. The team of back stroker Rick Carey, breast stroker Steve Lundquist, butterflyer Matt Gribble and Gaines was the first In history to have four world record-holders swimming together. The U.S. team had little challenge for first place, and were in effect racing only against themselves because they teamed for the previous CARACAS AP A doping scandal rocked the Pan American Games Monday and may spread to the team that has dominated the athletic com- petition, the United States.

Pan Am officials stripped four weightlifters from Canada and Cuba, including world-record holder Daniel Nunez, of their medals and held out the possibility of further sanctions that could affect participation in the Olympics. Nunez, who set a world record of 303.6 pounds in the snatch event of the 132-pound class; his Cuban teammate, Alfredo Blanco, and Canadians Guy Greavette and Michael Viau were found to have used anabolic steroids artificial hormones used to build muscle bulk and strength. Nunez and Blanco, at 220 pounds, had won three gold medals apiece. Greavette had taken two golds and a silver in the 182-pound class, while Viitu had a pair of bronze medals at 148 pounds. Three other Latin American lifters, all non-medalists, also were found to have steroids in their systems, authorities said.

MONDAY NIGHT, sources said that 14 more athletes would be identified as drug-ban violators Tuesday. That groupf the sources said, will wiuiiifyjiii iwucivu LUl Oil Ull UJC infamous night Duran exclaimed "No mas" to Sugar Ray Leonard. LaPaglia quitl To the dismay and disbelief of the standing-room-only crowd estimated at 2.000 in DiVinci Manor, LaPaglia suddenly stopped fighting Milwaukee's Danny Blake 64 seconds into the third round of his scheduled 10-round bout. He turned his back and walked to his corner, sneering and shaking his head. After a short interlude of mass confusion, Blake 5-6-1 was declared the winner on a technical knockout and LaPaglia 19-2 was informed that his $10,000 purse was being withheld, pending a formal investigation by the State Athletic Board.

Punching incessantly, LaPaglia had won the first two rounds. The shorter Blake concentrated on crowding him and attacked almost exclusively to the body, an onslaught that apparently ruined LaPaglia's appeti for the night's activity. ACCORDING to Fusello. LaPaglia Lenny LaPaglia said: "1 couldn breathe anymore; I medals, far ahead of Cuba In ioth categories. After subtracting he showed no shyness at all.

"He had the flu Monday and Tuesday of last week, and maybe that had something to do with it. Tomor-i row, we'll have to sit down and find out what was what and then decide what his future will be." couian i caicn my Dreatn. "He had an operation on his nose after the Collins fight," Fusello said. "Whether it did any adverse damage, I don't know. We were worried about him being glove shy to the head, but he was deliberately hit in the face a lot sparring last week, and the titles won by Nunez and Blanco, the Cubans had 47 gold medals, while Canada was third at 9 golds and 64 overall, after taking the 1 bronze in water polo..