Times-Advocate from Escondido, California • 29

Stoifus TIMES-ADVOCATE MONDAY, OCT. 1, 1979 D-1 Oh Padres hang a star on Coleman they would give me another chance. I know I can manage in the majors. I thought I did as good a job last year as anyone in the league. Ill manage a pennant winner some day, I really believe that.

i Earlier last week, batting coach Billy Herman blasted Padre management for considering firing Craig, calling the team the weakest hes ever been associated with in his 25 years of major league baseball. The move to fire Craig met with the full approval of Kroc, who surprised both Smith and Fontaine by naming him manager when Dark was released. We were weak in some fundamentals, Craig added. And we even had morning workouts to try to do something about it. We had trouble scoring runs and we lost some games because Rollie (Fingers) had a sub-par season with that bad elbow.

The players never quit on me. Unfortunately, the management finally did Sunday. hes being made a scapegoat, but all of us share the blame for a poor season. And, coming on the heels of an 84-78 record in 78, good enough for a fourth place finish 10 full games ahead of the Houston Astros, this past season was a major disappointment almost from the outset. The Padres finished the year with a 68-93 record, 22 games behind division champion Cincinnati.

It was the worst season for the Padres since 1974, the first year under Ray Kroc, when the was 60-102. Among other personnel moves by the Padres, coach Whitey Wietel-mann has semi-retired and will not make any more road trips, coach Doug Rader will remain in the organization probably managing one of the minor league teams next season. Third base coach Don Williams will be back, but will be in the dugout with Coleman. Pitching coach Chuck Estrada will be back in 80. Coleman announced that he has hired Bobby Tolan, a veteran National League players, as the Padres third base coach.

With Coleman moving out of the broadcasting booth, Dave Campbell becomes the Padres No. 1 play-by-play man and he will be joined next season by Eddie Doucette. Craig pitched in the major leagues for 12 seasons, mostly with the Dodgers, both in Brooklyn and Los Angeles. He had a 74-98 record with a 3.82 ERA for his career. In his two seasons with the New York Mets, Craig posted season records of 10-24 and 5-22.

Craig was with the Padres as the pitching coach from 1969 to 72 before going to the Dodgers as a minor league pitching coach in 73. In 74, Craig was the Houston-Astros pitching coach. When you sign on to manage, you know theyll probably fire you, eventually, Craig said. But I thought after what I did last year that thought at all. When they handed me the job on Friday, I asked Is Roger finished.

I spent a very uncomfortable weekend in San Francisco for obvious reasons. Roger is a friend of mine. Craig, 48, who replaced Alvin Dark as manager of the Padres in spring training last season, learned of his dismissal Sunday prior to the regular season finale against the San Francisco ants when he was summoned to a meeting with new club president Smith and Fontaine. Craig moved up from pitching coach when Dark was fired prior to the start of the regular season. Letting Roger go is a very unpleasant thing for me, said Smith.

But were going to do whatever we can to improve the team, and we believe the person were hiring will be an improvement. Were not making change just for changes sake. This is not a public relations move. I know Roger thinks By TERRY MONAHAN T-A Sports Writer SAN DIEGO Former New York Yankee infielder Jerry Coleman, the Padres radio-TV broadcaster the past eight seasons, was named today to replace Roger Craig as the new tnanager of the San Diego Padres. The announcement was made at a morning news conference as Coleman prepared to leave for Cincinnati to as-' sist on the CBS-radio coverage of the National League Playoffs.

This is probably a bigger surprise -to me than it is to you, Coleman told 'media members gathered at San Di-- ego Stadium. I told them Id do it if they gave me a physician for when I collapse. When you look at Ray Kroc, and we know what he wants out of base- ball, Ballard Smith, and Bob Fontaine, thats why I took the job. I didnt sign with the Padres, I signed with those people. Coleman, 55, has spent the last 20 years as a broadcaster and almost 40 in professional baseball.

Its my last challenge and I relish it, I grasp it and Im going to run with it, Coleman said. Coleman knows a thing or two about winning baseball games. The Yankees captured the American League pennant in eight of the nine seasons Coleman played, and won the World Series six times. Coleman appeared in six World Series and batted .275. In 1950, when the Yanks beat the Philadelphia Phillies four straight, Coleman was named the most valuable player, later, in his final series in 1957, he batted .364 against Milwaukee.

In addition to his broadcast wcrk with the Padres, Coleman was one of the Yankee announcers for seven years after serving as the clubs per-sonel director for two seasons. Coleman signed a multi-year contract. As per club policy, no terms were revealed. I thought Bob Fontaine was on something, stated Coleman. "He kidded me about it and I gave it no Coryell's all smiles after Charger win By RON KENNEY T-A Sports Writer SAN DIEGO The faces of the two opposing coaches told the story.

San Diego Charger head coach Don Coryell, having just witnessed his team score a 31-9 victory over the San Francisco 49ers Sunday, was all smiles as he enthusiastically answered questions about the game. In direct contrast, Bill Walsh, the 49ers head man, was totally drained and dejected, as he sat in one of the locker rooms interview areas. His 49ers had just dropped to 0-5 in regular season play. The Charger win, witnessed by 50,893 roaring fans, coupled with the Oakland Raiders 27-3 win over the Denver Broncos, puts San Diego alone atop the AFC West with a 4-1 record. The Broncos dropped to 3-2 and share second place with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Weve got to smile after this one, Coryell said, jubilant in victory. The score doesnt tell the story though. 1 San Francisco is a fine team. It was a close, hard fought game. The 49ers are going to win some ball games.

The unhappy Walsh did not entertain Coryells optimism. The loss is terribly frustrating, he said. I feel really upset to hand this one over to them the way we did. Our special teams were outplayed badly. San Diego really pushed us around out there.

Following a scoreless first quarter, the 49ers took a brief 3-0 lead with a Ray Wersching 32-yard field goal with 3:21 gone in the second stanza. However, San Diego fashioned a scoring drive of their own on the very next series, marching 68 yards in 11 plays. Running back Clarence Williams went over right guard from the three-yard line. The touchdown was the ninth of the season for Williams, tying a club record set by Paul Lowe in 1961. Newly acquired placekicker Roy Gerela split the uprights following the score to give the Chargers the lead for good, 7-3.

San Diego fans had reason to worry during the first quarter scoring drought by the Chargers. Following a 22-yard pass reception, wide receiver John Jefferson was shaken up and forced to leave the playing field. He would not return until fourth quarter. Quarterback Dan Fouts, minus his favorite receiver, elected to go with the Chargers first-round draft selection, Kellen Winslow. The big (6-5, 252) tight end from Missouri didnt let anyone down.

Winslow had a banner day, pulling in seven receptions for 72 yards and one touchdown. He caught everything in sight except one. Still playing in the second quarter, San Diego was driving deep into San Francisco territory. On first and 10 from the 49ers 16, Fouts dropped back and lofted a pass for Winslow, who had beaten his defender and was alone in the end zone. Winslow dropped the sure touchdown pass.

A smiling Winslow said after the game: Why does everyone have to bring up the one that I dropped. I made up for it, didnt I just got my feet crossed up when I looked up for the balL What can I say? I blew it This game was a great confidence builder for me though. On the play, the 49ers were caught holding. San Diego turned the error into a Gerela 26-yard field goal and a 10-3 advantage. It was the next 49ers possession that angered coach Walsh so much.

Setting up at their own 20 with 37 seconds to play in the half, quarterback Steve DeBerg completed a nine-yard pass to Freddie Solomon. De-Berg attempted another pass to Solomon on second down and 21 seconds to go, but this one was picked off by Charger middle linebacker Bob Horn and returned to the San Francisco 24. Fouts found Charlie Joiner in the end zone on the first play and the Chargers jumped out to a 17-3 first half lead. Why was Walsh so livid over the Please see D-3, Col. 1 start out that way after I had what I thought was an impressive mini-camp.

A pulled hamstring kept Winslow from unveiling his immense talent for two weeks during training camp. Even when he returned to action, his progress was not rapid enough to suit him. Its very frustrating to sit in the meetings and watch, stand on the field and watch, claimed Winslow. The biggest thing I missed during that time was blocking. Ive made a real effort to improve that and I think I did in the New England game (a 27-21 loss last week).

Its coming along slowly. Slowly or not, the star that hangs above Winslow these days is getting brighter all the time. Above Simpson, well, hes having a better year running through airports than defenses. Behind a young and inexperienced line, Simpson managed 89 yards on 16 carries to sur-Please see D-3, Col. 1 Rookie Winslow steals light from O.J.

KENT TEKULVE A happy winner Pirates get happiest of endings Pittsburghs veterans and Philadelphias cagiest pitcher sent the Pirates to the National League East Division title and eliminated the youthful Montreal Expos after a marvelous chase on the final day of the season. The Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs, 5-3, on the heroics of 38-year-old Willie Stargell and 36-year-old Bill Robinson Sunday, but needed the three-hit magic of Steve Carlton of the Phillies to finally force Montreal to call it a season. Hey, we voted Carlton a full playoff share, didnt we? kidded Pirate catcher Steve Nicosia after he learned that Carlton and his Philadelphia mates had blanked the Expos, 2-0. This is a thing of beauty. Im so proud of these guys, said Stargell, who slammed his 32nd homer of the season and added a sacrifice fly one day after making a costly throwing error and striking out three times in a tough loss to the Cubs.

The Saturday loss put the Pirates and Expos even in the loss column. If the Expos could have won Sunday, they would have then made up two games against Atlanta today. Now the only one whose season will continue is Pittsburgh, which begins its NL championship Tuesday night against the Cincinnati Reds. The last time the Pirates won the NL East, in 1975, they succumbed to the Reds in three straight games. Im very happy.

I thank the good Lord. But now our work really starts, said Robinson, whose two-run single cemented the Pirates 98th triumph of the season. Were good. Cincinnati is good If we get the pitching, well win it, said Pittsburgh manager Chuck Tanner. Hes certainly got the relief pitching in lanky Kent Tekulve, who nailed Please see D-4, CoL 1 1 noon as a professional as San Diego blasted the San Francisco 49ers, 31-9, in front of 50,893 fans at San Diego Stadium.

The ex-Missouri standout made more of an impression than did Simpson, who was playing his final game in San Diego. Winslow snared seven passes for 72 yards and one touchdown, a 21-yard strike from quarterback Dan Fouts in the fourth quarter which extended the advantage to an insurmountable 15 points, 24-9. I just wanted to get into the end zone, he said. When Charlie (Joiner) threw that great block, I got a silly smile on my face because I knew Id get there. Yet, all everyone wanted to talk to the tight end about after the game was a pass he dropped in the end zone with less than a minute to play before halftime.

Why does everyone want to know about that pass? asked Winslow, sheepishly, noting as long as I can play. Whether he can play has never been in doubt. Thats why the Chargers, slated to pick 20th in the draft, traded spots with Cleveland. Winslow, in the eyes of the Chargers, was the best player in the Ton in the draft and could help right away. It may be that they were right on both counts.

With his outstanding day, Winslow, though a part-time performer up until an eye injury Saturday caused starter Bob Klein to be sidelined, now leads the club in receptions. Winslow has 17 receptions for 171 yards a 10-yard average per catch and two touchdowns. Jefferson and Clarence Williams are next at 15. When I was drafted I heard one scout said I was as good as (Oaklands) Dave Casper, said Winslow. Another told me I was in a class by myself.

Some people asked if I would be as good as JJ. I dont know. It sure didnt that cornerback Tim Gray was detected holding. The rest of Sunday went just fine, thank you. Winslow caught five of Fouts passes before halftime even without the one he missed.

We thought we could work on Gray, Winslow said in the locker room. Hes their weakest cover man because hes a strong safety playing out of position at cornerback. Hes a tough hitter, but he cant cover us very well. Covering the 6-5, 250-pound Winslow is no easy matter, and the 49ers seemed to shy away from that task all afternoon. Most of their attention went where it should go flashy wide receiver John JJ Jefferson.

But with Winslow in the game, no matter if hes lined up at tight end or split wide, defenses cannot afford that kind of luxury. Just ask the 49ers. I dont care where they line me up, Winslow said. Tight end or wide, it doesnt matter, By TERRY MONAHAN T-A Sports Writer SAN DIEGO Over on one sideline Sunday, O.J. Simpson sat on the bench thoroughly exhausted after yet another turnover.

His days, it seems, are winding down fast. At age 32, the legs which dazzled defenders the past 11 seasons in the National Football League and two years at Southern California, including a Heisman Trophy, have lost most of their zip. The talent no longer brings fans to their feet very often. However, on the other sideline, there is a young colt who, for the first time, brought people to their feet quite a bit. And big Kellen Winslow, who wont be 22 until Nov.

5, figures to do that more often than not for the San Diego Chargers. Winslow, the No. 1 draft choice by the Chargers this year, showed why he was the 13th player selected in the draft Sunday with his finest after 4 I.