The Item from Sumter, South Carolina • 14

I 0 Page 4B Sumter Sunday Auqust 4 1991 The ITEM msm Injury to shoulder ends season early By DENNIS BRUNSON ITEM Sports Writer -j hilly ambition this summer was to make the Team USAbaseball squad which will begin play in the Pan American Games in Havana this' week In his' quest to make the team McMiilon at tempted to show his defensive prowess pn a sinking line drive Instead what he did was end his charters at making the team USA was playing a scrimmage game against the Anchorage Bucks in Anchorage Alaska on July 2 when McMiilon who was playing left field dove-after a sinking liner Clem-' son outfielder "landed on hik right shoulder and suffered a subluxation (an incomplete dislocation) of the shoulder was pretty painful but what I had on my mind was to get the ball into the said McMiilon who is a Bishopville McMILLON people like Chris Roberts of Florida State and Dan Melendez for Pepperdine helps you I feel now that a little more aggressive a little more 'McMiilon will not get the pleasure of off dally representing his Country he did get a feeling of patriotism wheri Team USA played an exhibition series in Cuba the games when the national anthem was playing I would stand a little straight than I would if I was at say Riley Park dr Tiger he said was a great feeling to have USA across! your chest and know representing 237 million peo- McMiilon who hit 240 during Team exhibition games hopes his future holds an opportunity to represent the country on a more grandiose scale He hopes to receive an inVitatihp to try out For the 1992 Olympic team All of that hinge? on how well Team USA does in the Pan Am Games If it is one of the top four teams it will qualify for a spot in the Barcelona Olympics I would get an invitation to try out for the Olympic said McMiilon a member of the Baseball America freshman All-America team Polk said he would do what he could do and with my statistics at Clemson and my ability to play the game I think I would get that chance" That could no doubt make up for an interesting but ultimately disappointing summer pretty I would have made it if for nothing else because Iwas the only left-handed hitting outfielder McMiilon said know if Coach Polk was just saying this but he told me I would have piade the team I just felt like saying telling me First I get hurt I find out on the team was disappointed' because spent thewhole summer training with he added "I felt I was 9 big part of (he team and whdril had to' pack up my bags and go it oivthe other hand if something heeds to be done to my shoulder I can do it now and not have it hovering over my head for the 'rest of my career" While McMiilon did not reach the ultimate goal he had for himself the exhibition games and the traveling involved -afforded McMiilon a great learn ing opportunity think ever forget said McMiilon who traveled to Cuba Japan and Canada with Team USA Cuban teairf was not as aggressive as I expected but it was basically a major league'team The shortstop was the best ever seen In Japan the pitchers had curveballs that would break off buildings 1 arouild coaches like Ron Polk and Jerry Kindall was very beneficial for he added experience on the field gives me a new avenue something to think about Also playing with Team USA wps playing host to the Cuban national team at its training site in Millington Tenn in a series -prior to the Pan Am Games McMiilon was stretching and throwing prior to one of the games when shoulder just feel right" The doctors first thought it was a complete dislocation but Soon discovered if was a sublux'ation The first opinion McMiilon received was that he have surgery done on the shoulder McMiilon wanted a second opinion ajid upon his dismissal from team he returned tb Clemson where he had its team doctor check the shoulder McMiilon who led the Atlantic C6astConference in hitting with a 391 average as a freshman this past season is now on medication and undergoing rehabilitation on the shoulder in hopes of avoiding surgery exercises are to try and get the range of motion back in my shoulder just try to strengthen the shoulder said McMiilon who made the All-ACC first team ran some tests and waiting for the results to get back going to go on the test and X-rays to see how far along the shoulder is in its recovery I may need surgery and then again I may Injuring the shoulder is enough of a disappointment for McMiilon one of 25 finalists for the 20-map roster for the Pan Am Games What makes matters worse is that McMiilon appeared to have a spot locked up native told the trainer about the shoulder after the game but I didn't tell coach (Mississippi on Polk) because I want him to think I was making excuses We play for three days so I got a chance to rest it It was fine until we played the Nftfr Thomas makes adjustment Sweet revenge: AL West teams move above 500 Through games of August 1 HITTING By BEN WALKER AP Sports Writer acy on the East" Wow they sure do The West teams are a combined 388-327 for a 543 winning percentage The greatest domination by one division over the other wasone in the days when the AL East ruled Their teams in 1969 the first year the leagues split up finished with a combined winning percentage of 567 the best ever in 1983 the AL East wound up a total of 76 games above 500 also the highest of all-time Those days all the big names were in the East -Reggie Jackson Jim Rice Jim Palmer and the rest And with more money to spend where all the top free agents went to play In the last few years however a trend started to develop Not that many people noticed at first even as the West began to turn the tide beginning a streak in 1987 of sending four straight teams to the World Series In the 12 years before that only two West teams Kansas City in 1980 and 1985 had won in the playoffs Some of the big names are still in the East guys like Alan Trammell and Robin Yount but getting older Meanwhile other old-timers like Jack Morris and Dave Winfield have moved West and are prospering More importantly the West which put its money into farm systems for so many years is really reaping the full benefits Jose Canseco Kirby Puckett and Danny Tartabull already were stars as the West began putting more players than the East into the All-Star game and now Frank Thomas Scott Erickson and Chuck Finley are part of the new breed All those good players also make for a good race Only three games separate Minnesota Chicago and Oakland in the other three divisions at least 4V4 games between first and second place Texas and Seattle are just 5 Vs games back with California trailing by eight and then Kansas City not concerned with the pennant race right now" Royals manager Hal McRae said like to play good baseball for three weeks or so(to prove to ourselves that a good ballclub and can win is the first step" he said feel good about it but you really haven't accomplished a great All those years the American League West vowed it would get even For the insults the inferiority and the indignation On Friday night it finally happened Every team went above 500 Not since Aug 30 1986 when the AL East acr complished the feat had a division put all of its clubs over the break-even point Back then the AL Worst was the laughingstock of baseball Now though no doubt the West is Best by a lot The Kansas City Royals achieved the feat with a 64 victory in Cleveland That made the Royals 51-50 but still left them in last place 8V4 games behind first-place Minnesota stoked about being 500 but still a long way to go" winning pitcher Kevin Appier said no point in thinking about where be in the other divisibn though some people here might wonder about that" For those counting the record would put them in a nip-and-tuck race with Detroit for second place in the AL Least Kansas City like every other team in the West has a winning record against East opposition The Twins are best at 44-20 while California is the worst even at 32-31 Toronto and Detroit meanwhile are the only East teams to hold an edge over West competition 0 One indicator: through Friday every team in the West had played at least 500 ball in its last 10 games while no team in the East was better than '500 in its past 10 Another one: Minnesota won 15 straight and Texas took 14 in a row Chicago and Seattle each won eight straight and Oakland had a seven-game string No team in the East has won more than six consecutive games at the record" Detroit manager Sparky Anderson recently said "They have total suprem By DENNIS BRUNSON ITEM Sports Writer When Mike Thomas awoke on the morning of July 15 he ask for much more out of life as a baseball player Thomas was the closer on the Columbia Mets pitching staff and one of the top relievers in the South Atlantic League with 15 saves and a 241 earned run average Columbia had THOMAS won the SAL Southern Division first-half title and the New York Mets rumor mill had it that Thomas might be receiving a promotion Then came the afternoon of the 15th and life took a 180-degree turn That is when he learned that as part of the Ron Darling-Tim Burke deal between New York and the Montreal Expos he would come to the Sumter Flyers in exchange for A1 Sieradzki was at home and I received a call that my coach (Mets manager Tim Blackwell) wanted to talk to me in Thomas said was thinking'he might be going to tell me I wal getting sent up My' scout (who signed Thomas) was in town and I saw him and asked him but he said my coach would tell me He (Blackwell) told me the Mets had made a trade and I was involved and be going to Sumter was weird I know what to said Thomas a 1989 23rd-round pick of the Mets out of Lebette (Kan) Junior College "I didn't know whether I -should be happy sad or glad I know what to think It was just a weird The switch for whatever reasons has not been an easy one to make for Thomas In his first six outings with the Flyers covering innings he has two saves but also a 491 ERA After allowing only 28 hits and picking up 59 strikeouts in 41 innings with Columbia he has surrendered nine hits with seven strikeouts for Sumter Thomas insists a lack of familiarity with his surroundings and trying to make a good impression have been the reasons for his rocky start with Sumter "When you come over to a new Pitching Leaders (Minimum 85 Ipplngs Pitched) 75 8 72 5 al He was moved to the bullpen last season with Pittsfield of the short-season Single A New York-Penn League Thomas posted a 3-3 record with three saves and a 267 ERA in 28 games 25 as a reliever The left-hander professes he has no desire1 to return to the starting rotation "I like coming in with the bases loaded and none out or runners on second and third and none out get three outs and have nobody score" he said love that challenge it gets me pumped up always liked it like that had people tell me that I pitch better when under pressure I come in a tight game I go right after them" he added not a nit-pick type pitcher a fastball-curveball pitcher I try to pitch around anyone" Thomas is not fretting about being in the Montreal organization In fact he feels he is now in an even better position Mets had a lot of people in their system that I was going to have to go over (in order to make it to the Thomas said that over the initial shock of being traded real happy to be here They (Montreal) can help me and I can help organization you just kind of sit in the corner and watch going Thomas said really joke around with them (new teammates) kind of tense' and you know how they perceive you Now been around and I do stuff with them much more relaxed and they make me feel comfortable "My first outing was real rough and so was the second he added "I was trying to impress them and show that they were right in trading for me I get either my fastball or curve over the first two outings then I' started to establish my fastball Now got both of them gotten better as I went along and comfortable Thomas' feels Ijis best outing with the Flyers came in last 7-6 win over the Savannah Cardinals at Riley Park Thomas entered the game with the bases loaded'and none out in the eighth inning and Sumter clinging to a 7-5 lead He got out of the jam allowing only one run on a sacrifice ly and retired the side in order 4n the ninth for the save Thomas who has an overall record of 4-2 with 17 saves and a 279 ERA had been a starting pitcher through high school junior college and his first year as a profession 70 1 72 9 South Atlantic League State Copyright By Howe Sportedata Inti Through Aug 1 CM) Batting 1 AB fl HR SB AVQ Columbia 3389 510 896 47 148 264 Columbus 3527 560 903 71 165 256 Chaton-Wv 3593 458 906 45 80 252 Augusta 3547 481 888 34 178 250 Macon 3390 561 839 52 218 247 Greensboro 3392 491 838 53 140 246 Gastonia 3511 449 53 107 242 Myrtle Bch 3274 439 786 48 141240 Spartanburg 3394 439 807 32 137 238 FayettevDe 3285 395 772 34 104 235 Sumter 3401 457 782 61 128 230 Chston-Sc 3453 467 793 61 168 230 Asheville 3347 411 764 52 64 228 Savannah 3228 443 704 31 154 218 Batting Leadera (Minimum 286 Plate Appearance!) 64 1 84 5 65 2 75 6 63 0 79 9 85 7 79 1 38 241 26 239 50 239 40 238 17 237 31 237 19 237 35 237 42 237 27 236 39 236 27 235 23 234 34 234 29 234 25 232 51 231 55 230 27 230 45 228 37 228 15 227 52 226 38 223 36 221 32 221 32 217 17 212 38 211 23 2)0 54 207 36 204 24 199 22 198 30 196 24 192 16 187 22 177 Bullock Cse Looney Fay Eldrldge Sav Pearce Csc O'Neal Fay Cotton Qm Roberta Myr Marabella Sum Bell Clm McCall Clm AraceAug Williams Mac Jackson Spt Bowers Myr McDavId Csc GiH Cwv Quinones Cwv Farmer Spt EalySav Rogers Fay Hill Gbo Harley Ash Nevers Ash Murray Gas Blsvlns Gas Bennett Spt Hyers Myr Dot el Myr Steffens Spt Bryant Clm Beck Csc Andrews Sum Turrentlne Gbo -Romano Gbo Swlnton Ash Rodriguez Aug Perozo Clb HanelAug 311 47 301 45 331 39 281 39 295 46 304 65 304 31 266 28 359 35 250 24 264 39 272 37 359 64 278 42 321 67 271 42 342 44 369 44 343 42 318 30 '325 60 255 33 341 42 260 29 262 29 331 43 299 26 250 31 355 37 252 40 290 41 274 35 296 41 253 27 255 28 261 30 248 28 277 26 Home Runs IP BB SO W- 143 122 23 122 13- 4 133 101 52 100 7- 5 120 76 64 125 10- 6 124 91 28 118 10- 4 85 51 58 100 9-3 151 107 50 154 10- 8 138 122 20 124 10- 3 92 61 40 75 7- 4 88 85 30 72 6- 7 124 109 34 88 9- 3 95 73 21 91 6- 2 130 122 51 143 11- 7 100 99 17 67 7- 6 112 83 34 78 10- 3 130 101 54 69 5-10 110 98 44 lOO'S- 5 122 122 53 92 7- 7 88 74 64 78 3- 4 104 103 39 54 6- 3 112 96 45 122 8- 6 95 62 40 86 3- 7 103 76 52 110 5- 7 113 109 35 76 5- 8 97 87 58 84 4- 6 137 129 48 88 14- 6 132 120 46 87 10- 9 103 89 58 81 6-5 85 82 44 64 7-5 107 103 43 102 6-9 121 115 42 114 5- 8 123 118 46 95 7- 6 98 107 29 94 4-8 108 112 33 72 3- 7 98 97 63 88 2- 7 86 91 20 58 7- 2 97 95 43 87 7- 6 123 126 49 76 8- 9 ERA 157 183 218 218 221 239 2 54 2 54 256 269 2 84 2 85 2 97 312 318 319 324 3 29 330 336 340 341 341 344 348 355 366 369 370 371 372 874 382 3 86 389 400 402 Martinez Clb Dreyer Gas Qulrico Gbo Brown Csc Foster Sum Roper Cwv Gles Gas Vazquez Mac Martinez Sum Frazier Gbo Santiago Clm Alvarez Sum Hasslnger Spt Werland Mac McGarity Sav Waldron Csc Hines Gbo Hooper Aug Cecil Cwv Ganote Myr Karsay Myr Jordan Myr Branconler Ash Rodriguez Fay Ray Cwv Steed Myr Calrncross Csc Williams Mac Hill Spt White Sum Faw Gbo Freitas Clb Goergen Spt Singer Myr Carpentler Clb Munoz Spt KetchenAsh 77 13 75 1 53 6 60 14 San Francisco has no regrets after streak ends at 12 games ileJ failed Black who to win because two-run homers by Barry Larkin and Joe Oliver rallied the Reds said the Giants realize they afford to get carried away with their recent success got a long way to go" Black said think keeping everything in The winning streak was three games short of the all-time San Francisco record of J4 in 1965 The franchise and all-time baseball record was 26 straight in 1916 The Giants started strong against Randy Myers (5-8) who allowed an RBI single to Willie McGee and a two-run single to Robby Thompson in the first Inning Kevin Mitchell led off the third with his 21st homer but Myers allowed just one more hit before leaving with two out in the seventh CINCINNATI (AP) There were no backward glances no tears and certainly no regrets for manager Roger Craig as the San Francisco longest winning streak in 25 years came to an end i start another winning streak tomorrow" Craig said after the Cincinnati Reds beat the Giants 5-4 Friday night to snap the National best run this season at 11 games The defeat did little to sour the Giants who won 12 in a row in 1966 Nor did the run of success overly excite them "Last night we won our 11th in a row and it was like tonight You hear anything in the clubhouse" Craig said "All along our players have been in a pretty good frame of mind "Winning 11 in a row going to pick us up thought we could win even more so now because had that good The Giants were within 1V4 games of the third-place Reds in the National League West going into Saturday game More importantly they have picked up 5 games on pace-setting Los Angeles since the All-Star break and now trail the Dodgers by games Bud Black (8-9) who let a pair of leads slip away also chose to look at the fresh beginning the streak has provided rather than the end that finally came Friday "All along everybody knew we had a good team and we played poorly the first two months" he said played like capable of playing the last two weeks If we continue to play this way chip away" I I aL sjf itap.