Kingsport Times-News from Kingsport, Tennessee • 31

ID Thursday July 22 1982 Kingsport Tlmes-News Cincinnati Reds fire McNamara Lyon season and led the Reds to a division title that year bottom line in hi! case is that I feel that we are a Better club than our record of 34-58 indicates We have 70 games remaining in the season gnd our work is cut out for us not going to pay much more than that" McNamara was not available for comment Wagner said he does not regard Nixon as an manager told him (Nixon) if he does a good job it (the job) will still be his next Wagner said from 1970 through 1975 A native of nearby Cleves Nixon was a major league catcher for 13 years with the Boston Red Sox the Cleveland Indian and the Minnesota Twins Wagner who has been criticized by many fans for letting go too much veteran hitting power after last season including Ken Griffey and free agent Dave Collins to the New York Yankees Ray Knight to the Houston Astros and George Foster to the New York Mets said the club would emphasize cultivating young players under Nixom CINCINNATI (UPI) John McNamara yesterday was fired as manager of the Cincinnati Reds a club mired in the cellar of the National League West with the second-worst record in major league baseball The move was announced at a hastily called afternoon news conference by Reds President Dick Wagner who said he had made the decision only that morning Wagner said veteran Cincin-' nati coach Russ Nixon would replace McNamara as manager managerial change is nev-er an easy move to Wagner said of the firing of McNamara who became manager of club prior to the 1979 that Wagner was dictating line- up changes opposed by'McNa- mara McNamara confirmed that Wagner had ordered rookie Tom Lawless called up from the Indianapolis farm team inserted at second base with regular second baseman Ron Oester moved to third base That move took veteran Johnny Bench who had been playing third base this year while slumping at the plate out of the starting lineup Nixon queried about the infield said he -hoped Jo get Bench back into the lineup soon as what will happen to Lawless and Oester Nixon replied think both will get enough playing Also released by the Reds was first-year c6ach Joe Amalfitano -who assisted McNamara in the dugout The Reds whose record is second only to the Minnesota Twins of the American League as the worst in the major leagues have been struggling since virtually the start of the season Last year the Cincinnati club compiled the best record in both leagues during the strike-shortened split season but make the playoffs Nixon 47 a Reds coach for the past seven years was a ager in the farm system The firing of McNamara follows a public disclosure by the manager earner this week Wagner praised McNamara 50 his dedication and hard win second row There goes Earl again For allowing himself to be punched about for the better part of an hour a man named Cooney (Gerry! received close to $10 million in June Similarly for the privilege of being hit and being able to retaliate in kind a man named Weaver (Mike) has cashed a number of six-figure checks and is identified as the World Boxing Association heavyweight champion Last Saturday night in Baltimore two men who also happen to be named Cooney and Weaver had a disagreement in public It was culminated by the one named Weaver striking the one named Cooney in the face The verb is much too harsh however It was more of a forceful caress made in a moment of pique bukdelivered with none of the affection we normally associate with a caress As punches go this one was laughable It couldn't even qualify as a slap Puppies whose bladders have violated the rules as they apply to house-breaking have been smitten with more fury What Earl Weaver did was to jab his finger to punctuate his oratory but in video replays it appears as though he miscalculated the distance between the end of his index finger and the countenance of umpire Terry Cooney It was certainly the most expensive non-punch Earl Weaver has ever delivered It has cost him a $2000 fine and a week's suspension Long ago you see the Lords of Baseball deemed the bodies of umpires to be sacrosanct You may scream at them you may accuse them of the most "heinous of crimes you may question their ancestry and their vision but you are absolutely forbidden to touch them The slightest nudge the faintest brush the tiniest jostle is interpreted as assault and battery and will earn you swift consequences This is as it should be But it keep Earl Weaver down He is a stubby" combative feisty banty rooster a raspy-voiced chain-smoking tactician whose run-ins with umpires are legendary It was Weaver for example who once became so incensed over a decision that he uprooted a base and stalked off the field 1 with it under his arm Petulantly he refused to return it The game had to be delayed until a substitute base could be found It was Weaver for example who once became so outraged that he told an umpire: the rule book mean anything then let's just go ahead and tear it Whereupon he whipped out a rule book and tore it to shreds leaving the game's rules of conduct a fluttering shower of confetti on the diamond It was Weaver for example who once went 4 for 4 in ejections In one weekend series! he was thrown out of each of the four games worked by Ron Luciano The last one he was thumbed to the exits before the lineup cards had even been exchanged at home plate He has been banished from games 84 times during his major league CareeriAnd this is his fifth suspension for unseemly conduct Weaver could have been -excused for his transgressions The incident could have been dismissed a lot more lightly goes oF Earl heh-heh blowing up again what a show he puts on except that Weaver has reacted in a most cavalier manner He exhibited not the slightest trace of repentance Indeed he boasted how he would make double or triple his salary during this suspension from personal appearances and radio shows He labeled the president of the league little This is interesting when you consider that Weaver has earned his reputation by dressing up in knickers and throwing tantrum in public By RON BLISS Executive Sports Editor Life in the minors has been tougher than Dwight -Gooden thought it would be The No 1 draft pick of the New York Mets says he thought it was just like high school when he breezed through his first 20 innings of professional baseball without allowing an earned run But then something went and he lost his next three outings And last night at Fred Johnson Stadium Gooden appeared headed for his fourth straight loss as he and his Kingsport Met teammates went into the bottom of the eighth inning trailing the Pikeville Brewers 3-2 But roommates Carl Hollis and Jerry Young told him to keep the faith get the said Young we'll get the runs for you" i And they made good on their promise Hollis tripled home Ken Harris with the tying run and Young followed by chopping a single through a drawn-in infield to give the Mets their second straight victory 4-3 came through for said Gooden who pitched his second complete game of the season to even his record at 3-3 told me not to worry come through and glad they After his buddies gave him a lead Gooden who fanned 11 Pikeville batters while scattering nine hits had a little gut-check of his own after Pikeville loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth But Gooden got clean-up hitter Harold Landers to pop out to first baseman Andy Lawrence to end the game I got two balls on said Gooden knew be taking so I challenged him with tny best pitch" Landers took a called strike then fouled out on the next pitch was going to keep it down and away from his said Gooden I wanted to make sure too that I walk him" Young was particularly happy to get the hit since it was his error that led to a first-inning run by Pikeville "I let Dwight down when I booted that said Young "So I told him I would personally make it up to him and get the run Hollis hit a shot over Brewer center fielder Dewey James to score Harris known as "Home Hollis but in this case the triple was as big as a home run (manager Ed Olsen) told me to keep my head on the ball when I went up to the said Hollis did and I hit it real Hollis said he Gooden Young and Floyd Youmans who room together talk a lot at night after games at home and kid each other said Hollis going to have a lot to talk gonna go for it now" said Olsen elated at winning a second straight game after losing 17 of 20 previous games not out of it yet We're going to shoot to play 667 ball overt the next 30 days only through a third of the season to this point" There was reason for joy The victory coupled with loss lifted the Mets (now 9-19) out of the Appalachian League cellar Mets notes: Executive vice president and general manager Frank Cashen of the New York Mets was in the stands last night to watch his No 1 draft pick looks like a guilded-edge said Cashen his way of saying the Mets struck gold with Gooden we don't want to rush him We want to give him a few -years and have him make all the regular stops If ever to realize his full potential he has to play at each level There are no shortcuts to the Cashen says the Mets are also pleasantly surprised with the play of Hollis and infielder Rich Diaz who was batting 408 going into last game Cashen stayed over especially to see Gooden pitch He was to catch an early flight for Chicago this morning Randy Myers (2-2) will pitch tonight in the second of a three-game series with Pikeville Game time is 7 In other Appalachian League games last night it was: Johnson City 6 Bluefield 4 The Cardinals moved to within 1 Uj games of the league lead with the victory Keith Turn-bull notched his fifth victory while beating Bluefield ace Herb Crumley Steve Fleming helped with a home run Mike Cain and Jeff Doerr had home runs for Bluefield Johnson City can take the lead with victories tonight and tomorrow night Elizabethton 8 Paintsville 7 Herbert Carter and Rhett Whisman belted home runs as the Twins jumped off to a 7-2 lead after three innings and held off a Paintsville rally Luiz Cruz got the victory in relief of Mark Page Logan Easley was the loser Pulaski 14 Bristol 1 Kurt Moody pitched a five-hitter as the Braves returned the Tigers to the Appy League-cellar Preston Cash and Tom Reynolds each belted two-run home runs for Pulaski 'tt Times News photo Earl Cortef Dwight Gooden follows through with pitch in first inning of game last night Gooden even record at 3-3 with route-going victory NFL rookies free agents may sign yet -s no sense bringing in more for (Thursday's) session if the union is going to shut us out on Among the other free agents are defensive end Ed Jones of the Dallas Cowboys! linebacker Bob Swenson of the Denver Broncos and quarterback Gary Danielson of the Detroit Lions The unsigned rookies include two first-round draft choices: running back Marcus Allen of the Oakland Raiders anc running back Dar By MICHAEL JANOFSKY Knight-Rldder Service For the first time since last Thursday when their right to negotiate individual contracts reverted to the NFL Players Association 23 free agents and seven unsigned draft choices may have a chance to sign and report to training camp Representatives from at least two teams will join the negotiators and attempt to discuss new contracts for their un signed players when' collectivebargaining talks with the union resume today in Washington Jack Donlan executive director of the NFL Management Council and the league's chief labor negotiator said Wednesday that Atlanta Falcons' General Manager Eddie LeBaron will offer to negotiate a deal for wide receiver Alfred Jenkins New York assistant general manager Terry Bledsoe will do the same' for running back Rob Carpenter rin Nelson of the Minnesota Vikings But noble as management's intentions may be the NFLPA is expected to reject them Ed Garvey the union's executive director said that if management wants to discuss unsigned players going to be a hort conversation unless we know what everyone else has signed for he added have not received copies of any contracts signed after June 1 Donlan also said he has been empowered to negotiate contracts for four players: running back Dave Williams and tight end Tim Wrightman a second- round draft choice from UCLA with the Chicago Bearg and kicker Efren Herrera and safety John Harris with the Seattle Seahawks we get something going with these players we'll bring in more (team) representatives to try to negotiate Donlan said from New York 4.