The South Bend Tribune from South Bend, Indiana • 29

i tv rw'i'ri''r'w'r'rwfi'rwiyrw rt ttrrt yyyrr i tTtTyyi ht -r ry ry SECTION INSIDE SPORTS ASHE REACTION MASTERS PREVIEW PAGEC3 High School C6 Scoreboard C8 Business C9 SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE THURSDAY. APRIL 9, 1992 Jn SEASON PREVIEW ISOUTKBENDjVHimSO JT 1 Five years later, The Cove is still safe haven CHICAGO WHITE SOX ORGANIZATION Pitching coach: Jamie Garcia Hitting coach: Mark Haley Infield coach: Jim Reinebokf Trainer: Scott Takao UTICA BUIE SOX Class N.Y.-Penn League Manager: Fred Kendall Pitching coach: Bill Ballou Hitting coach: Charlie Culberson Trainer: Rick Ray GULF COAST WINTE SOX Cookie Gulf Coast League Manager: Mike Rojas Pitching coach: Curt Hasler Coach: Chet DiEmidio Trainer: Dave Wall work CHICAGO WHITE SOX American League Manager: Gene lamont Third-base coach: Terry Bevington Pitching coach: Jackie Brown First-base coach: Doug Mansolino Hitting coach: Walt Hriniak Bullpen coach: Mike Squires Bench coach: Joe Nossek VANCOUVER CANADIANS Class AAA, Pacific Coast League Manager: Rick Renick Pitching coach: Rick Peterson Hitting coach: Roger LaFrancois Trainer: Greg Latta BIRMINGHAM BARONS Class AA, Southern League Manager: Tony Franklin Pitching coach: Don Cooper Hitting coach: Pat Roessler Coach: Sam Hairston Trainer: Steve Davis SARASOTA WHITE SOX Class Florida State League Manager: Rick Patterson Pitching coach: Kirk Champion Hitting coach: Mike Barnett Trainer: Scott Johnson SOUTH BEND WHITE SOX Class Midwest League Manager; Terry Francona BvCURTRALLO nbune Sports Writer SOUTH BEND Dt has brought smiles and cheers, a championship season, laughs, stand-on-your feet excitement and even a few ears. Nobody quite knew what to expect when baseball arrived in South Bend at Coveleski Stadium in 1988. But now, as the South Bend White Sox enter their fifth season, area fans have taken it to their hearts. pitcher Roberto Hernandez overcoming a life-threatening blood clot last season to win a spot this season with the Chicago White Sox.

It also has been 1990 South Bend shortstop Leo Tejada, one of 14 children, cooking rice in his hotel room on road trips to save money to send back to his family in the impoverished Dominican Republic. South Bend has enjoyed one championship season, but every season has been a win- See COVEPage C2 Minor-league baseball is fathers taking young sons to see their first baseball game. Its friends meeting at the ballyard on a warm summer night to enjoy the thrills and spills that minor leaguers provide. Its families taking in a ball-game and fireworks on the Fourth of July. Minor-league baseball in South Bend has been Mike Girouard pitching a no-hitter in 1988.

It has been LaPorte native Greg Perschke helping South Bend capture the Midwest League championship in 1989. It has been first baseman Scott Cepicky. going up to pitcher Mike Mongiello on an Easter Sunday with the bases loaded in a tense game, and offering him jelly beans tucked away in his mitt. Minor-league baseball also has been 23-year-old Mike Eatinger. the 1990 South Bend MVP who fought cancer in 1991.

It has been ex-South Bend L- WHA) Iftil 4" K. Mimin' I M5 1 Any uf At 1 I ft 1 jf I i 4 fc VS i Mrlr1 V' Aft i iS' f.rA I 1 Tnbne PhotoRON RYBACK Manager Terry Francona, right, and the 1992 South Bend White Sox hope to make a run for the Midwest League title. IWhat was your favorite baseball team when you were growing up? i "Whatever team my Dad played for. (Tito Francona was 15-year major-league veteran). He played on nine teams, so I have so many hats and T-shirts, you wouldnt believe it." In Who was your favorite ballplayer? "I have two favorites.

One is Al Downing, who gave up Hank Aarons 715th home run, because when I was 11 or 12 he would play catch with me. The other is Tommy Reynolds who played with Oakland, because he was always nice to me, too." 9 Who was your favorite manager? kind of money. I never did, but it is ridiculous for a guy to make $7 million a year. Obviously, though, the money must be there. 4 When you were a player, what was your I Ob biggest peeve with managers? "I never had any problems with any of my managers.

As a pinch hitter, I couldnt stand it when a manager wouldnt tell me when I was hitting. I would think the game through and prided myself on knowing when I would be needed. I hate being caught off-guard." 4 A Now that you're a manager, what's your 14 biggest peeve about players? "When a player doesn't run to first base hard. Some guys have marginal talent, some have outstanding talent, but they can all run hard to first." What kind of manager are you? What's the worst thing about a job in baseball? "By far, being away from your family. I have three young kids.

When I had to say goodbye last month, I was a basket case." 9 Whats the best thing about the minor leagues? "I like the enthusiasm. Maybe theres even more in Class A than in Triple A. Whats the worst thing about the minor leagues? "The kids dont make much money, and you see them struggle. You really feel for them." If you were named the comissioner of baseball, what would be your first order of business? I would take out the designated-hit-ter rule. The game would be a lot more fun if you leave the pitcher in.

There would be a lot more decisions and thinking. When I played in the National League, I was always ready to pinch hit. In the American League, its like youre a fan. National League games are more exciting. It would also solve the problem if a pitcher wanted to hit somebody.

You're gutty on the mound if you dont have to step in the batters box. Guys in the American League throw more up and in because they dont have to hit. 4 Are the big salaries hurting baseballs I image? Yeah, but I dont have the answer. Im thrilled for the players making this "I was a rookie with Montreal and it was 1981. We were in the pennant race with St.

Louis and it was the bottom of the ninth inning. I had played Double A and Triple A all that season and had about 600 at bats and no homers. Then. I hit a homer off of Bruce Sutter to tie the score. At the time.

Sutter was the best reliever around." 4 What was great about having a major-; I league ballplayer for a dad? "The best part was that he was my dad first and a baseball player a distant second. He wasnt a so-called Little League' father. He never pushed me. He let me know he was there if I had any questions." 9f) Was there ever a problem with having a fCU major-league ballplayer for a dad? "I played against Carl Yastrzemskis son and he was really struggling with that. I never felt any pressure.

I was proud of my dad and wanted to follow in his footsteps, but I never felt forced or pressured to. The part that bothered me was when people would say. 'You should be good, your dads a major-leaguer. The worst time was when I was about. 12 and my mom took me to the local Pitch.

Hit and Throw contest. I won it. i and then they disqualified me because' my dad was a major-leaguer. I hadn't seen my dad in three months, and my mom couldn't teach me to throw or pitch a ball. The other kids had their dads there telling them how to throw the ball.

But I got disqualified. My mom was in tears." 15. I dont know if it helps. What does help me is that Ive been through every situation. I was an everyday player, a platoon player, a pinch hitter.

Ive had some success, I was OK, and Ive been brutal. I should be able to relate to every player on the team. 6 Whats the toughest thing about being a manager? "For me, cracking down on the kids. 1 never had to do that before. Im sure Ill be able to do it if I have to, but I dont enjoy yelling at people.

Im sure there will be times when I have to discipline people, but I didnt become a manager to be a drill instructor. 7 What's the best thing about a job in baseball? "You get to stay in baseball. I really love the game. i "Dick Williams by far was baseball-wise head and shoulders above everybody. He was always three innings bhead.

But I've got to say Buck Rodgers. didn't play for Buck and I still liked him. He was fair, loved to have fun, and all he expected was that you play bard." What does it take to be a successful manager? "Ask me in August. I know one thing U.you have to be honest with players. When I was playing, maybe somebody told me something I didnt like, but I Could respect them.

I didnt like it when I was lied to. 5 Does being a former major-leaguer help you as a minor-league manager? I hope I will be a players' manager. I'll be myself and not imitate anybody." 4 If you weren't in baseball, what line of IDaworkwouldyoubein? "I dont want to do anything else." 4 9 What advice would you give to young kids I who are thinking about a baseball career? Play and play and play. I used to play from morning until dark. And get an education.

If you can put time and energy into baseball, you can put time and energy into education. Not too many of the great players are What's your best baseball highlight? 18. TO KILL. TS cmv 10 MILES SEE DACK PAGE.