Author: Larry Dierker

RMJ 80 May 5

MONDAY, MAY 5 ● Houston, vs Philadelphia

Before the game today, Gerry and Cubby were in my office. Rob came by to get the lineup.

“I have it right here,” I said. “But I wanted to talk to Cubby about it before posting it.”

“That’s cool,” Rob said. “I’ll come back in a few minutes.”

When I showed the lineup to Cubby and Gerry, they were nonplussed: Biggio’s name was not on the card.

“Something wrong with Biggio?” Cubby asked.

“Only that he is 3-for-19 off this pitcher,” I said. “I thought I would give Spiers a chance to play second. He’s hit this guy well.”

I could tell that this line of reasoning was not convincing. I had a little problem with it myself:

We like to give regulars a day off before or after an off-day, so that they effectively get two days off.

Biggio plays defense and runs the bases so well that he doesn’t always have to hit to help us win.  

I put his name back on the card and gave it to Rob.

Later, Bidge was Rollerblading around the clubhouse and I said, “Skate in here a minute.”

“What’s up?” he asked.

“I just wanted to issue the Al Oliver Challenge,” I said, cryptically.

“What’s that?” he asked.

“Well, let’s put it this way,” I said. “I had you out of the lineup today because you have not hit Mark Leiter at all. Your buddies, Gerry and Cubby, talked me out of it.

Al Oliver

“Here’s the challenge: back when I was pitching, I had some success against a great hitter by the name of Al Oliver.

“One night, I had a shutout going in the ninth against the Pirates in the Dome. Oliver had as good an at-bat as I have ever seen.  I made at least six or seven tough pitches, but he kept fouling them off. 

“It went to 3-2, and he hit a home run on a fastball that was right on his hands.  The next day, my old teammate Dave Giusti came up and punched me on the shoulder.

“’I really got you last night,’ he said. ‘I bet Oliver 20 bucks that he couldn’t get a hit off you last night.’  I called him an asshole, but I didn’t really mind. With all the great lefthanded hitters the Pirates had, I was just happy to win the game.

“So this is the challenge,” I said. “I say you can’t hit Mark Leiter. What do you say?”

“We’ll see,” he said with a smile.  

I also had a chance to visit with James Mouton before the game. I’m always looking for opportunities to talk one-on-one with players, but this can be difficult because they are seldom alone in a quiet place.

I believe that the setting and timing of these conversations is important. If you call a guy into your office to talk, or pull him off the field to talk, the whole team sees it, and it becomes a big deal. I prefer to fold the one-on-one time into the fabric of our workout, so that it seems natural.

The outfield, during batting practice, is a good place to talk. I’ve noticed that Jimmy Leyland spends time out there talking to his players.

I have also been able to sit with them on the bench during BP.

This time, I found Mouton in the lunchroom of the clubhouse, with no one else around.

James Mouton

I wanted to talk with him about his body language. I’m not sure a guy can change this behavior, because it is a personality trait — an ingrained response to pressure.

James is a good player, but he has never been able to win a fulltime job. Like most “extra men,” he seems insecure at times. And I think he sends this signal to the opponent — and especially, the umpires — way too often.

If he takes a close 2-2 pitch, he immediately turns to the home plate umpire with a “stray dog” look on his face. Because he looks so guilty, he seldom gets the benefit of the doubt from the ump.

The same thing is true when he steals a base. If it is close, he looks up with the sad eyes of a sinner at confession.

“Yer’ out!” the umpire barks. It’s almost automatic.

“Look at Biggio,” I suggested. “When he takes a close pitch, he never looks back. He just assumes it’s ball, and that is usually the way it is called. When he steals a base, he just gets up and brushes himself off. He never even looks at the umpire – he just acts like he was safe by a mile.”

 At first, James was a little defensive. He said that because he didn’t play every day, he didn’t always feel natural. He admitted he was probably too conservative on the bases, but he said that a lot of times, he just didn’t have the timing.

“If I can’t get a good jump, I’m out,” he said.

“Not necessarily,” I said. “In assuming you will be out you are giving the catcher credit for making a clean catch and a good throw. If you get a bad jump and he makes a bad throw, you will be safe. The other guys make mistakes, too.

“I’d like to see you play with more confidence — maybe even a little bit of recklessness. Like when you were a rookie.”

That made him smile. In his first game, he got three hits and threw a runner out at the plate. He stole bases at will that year. But he was unable to hit a righthander’s breaking ball — a weakness that ultimately relegated him to platoon status. 

“When I was a rookie, I didn’t understand the risks involved,” he said. “I’m a better ballplayer now; a smarter player now.”

“I don’t doubt that,” I said. “But you are a less-instinctive player now. I get the impression you are trying not to be the goat of the game, and in the process giving up the chance to be the star of the game.”

I think I was starting to get through to him. He said that he didn’t always feel comfortable, and sometimes felt like he was sometimes trying harder not to make a mistake than to make a great play.

“Look,” I said. “You are on the team, making good money. You are not going to be sent to the minors. And I am not going to jump you if you make a mistake on the aggressive side. I know that you understand situations, that you know the difference between an aggressive play and a stupid play.

“Review the possibilities before each pitch, whether you are hitting, fielding, or on the bases. Then when the pitch is made, trust your instincts and never — I mean never — look at the umpire like you pleading for mercy.”

This session went well. I think James accepted my observation as a challenge, rather than an indictment. This is why the setting is so important. If you call a guy into the office, he is worried to begin with. If you can catch him when he is relaxed, he is apt to be more receptive.

Time will tell whether or not he can loosen up. I don’t expect a miracle, but I hope for a small change for the better.

 

The same is true with Pat Listach. In fact, I told James that I was going to have the same chat with Pat.

“I don’t look like that, do I?” he asked.

I just rolled my eyes and brows up and to the side, in an example of body language that said yes.

Pat is under more scrutiny than James, because he makes a little more money and he is expected to be a starter. Throughout the spring and early season, he has been under the gun, and the strain is showing.

He doesn’t have as much speed or power as James, so he doesn’t fit as well as an extra man. I still don’t know if he can make it. I see flashes, but I still see the evidence of insecurity on his face way too often.

All of our veteran players like Pat. He is a helluva guy and a good professional. But we cannot play all year with a shortstop who is below-average in the field and at the plate.

I cannot keep the pressure off him. The opposing hitters and pitchers will keep it on him all the time. He is going to have to deal with it better to become the regular shortstop.

 

Mark Leiter

The game was a laugher. Chris Holt came up big on the fourth day, just as D.K. did yesterday.

Bagwell and González homered, and we won, 9-2.

Oh, and by the way, Biggio also homered, after looking inept in his first two at-bats.

“I just saved you a lot of money,” he said as he came back into the dugout. “We’d have killed you in Kangaroo Court if I took an oh-fer after what you said.”

“But you didn’t, did you?” I said. “You met the Al Oliver Challenge.”

             

Dale Robertson of the Chronicle called to say that he had been covering the Rockets vs Supersonics game at the Summit, and that Jimmy Buffett was there.

“I know you like Buffett,” he said, “and he’s going over to Carraba’s with Rudy T and some of the guys. Why don’t you stop by?”

I told him I probably wouldn’t. I was feeling a little tired, and I had a golf game scheduled with the coaches at 8:30 in the morning. I knew that a beer at Carraba’s could turn into several beers, and a long night.

As much as I would like to meet Jimmy Buffett, I feel the need to consider the coaches and the team first.

RMJ 79 May 4

SUNDAY, MAY 4 ● Houston, vs Florida

The Cubbages have become good friends in just a few months. Cubby and I ride to the ballpark together, and Jan spends a lot of time at our house watching Chief play with our puppies, Vesta and Babe. Vesta is a boxer, and she can run with Chief. Babe is a blond Lab, and she is learning to swim in the lake out back. We have enjoyed Jan and Mike, but I’m not sure we have enjoyed each other as much as the dogs have.

We were going to go to church together — without the dogs — today, but Judy and I didn’t wake up in time for the 11:00 service. Cubby came by at 2:00 and we headed for the Dome and our Sunday-night ESPN special with the Marlins.

Jon Miller (L) and Joe Morgan

I was in the dugout, talking with Jon Miller, when my old teammate Joe Morgan came by. We sat on the bench and talked about playing and managing, and it was really enjoyable. Even Joe, who has been a good friend for many years, seemed to look at me in a new light since I have become a manager.

“You have to be careful not to let this job change you,” Joe advised.

“I know,” I said. “We’ve both seen that happen to a lot of guys. And it may happen to me. But one thing I have going for me is that I didn’t spend 15 years of my life preparing to do this job. I didn’t even ask for it. And as a result, I don’t feel any sense of desperation to keep it. I can do other things.”

“That’s good,” he said. “If you manage for the fans or the writers or even the general manager, you’ll never win. You have to manage for yourself.”

The point is, to thine own self be true. And that is a tall order.

He then told me a story about Giants manager Dusty Baker. In a recent game, Dusty had used a lefthanded hitter to pinch-hit against a lefthanded pitcher. It worked, so he was not second-guessed. But if it had failed …

The point is, to thine own self be true. And that is a tall order, even if you are not desperate.

As he was leaving, I remembered something my mother had said. She told me that when we played the Cardinals on ESPN, Joe had said, “Most people don’t know this, but Larry’s real name is Leroy.”

“Hey, Joe,” I said, calling him back, “my real name is Larry, short for Lawrence. My mom said you said my real name was Leroy.”

“I thought it was,” he said. “Why did we always call you Leroy?”

“It was because of a column a guy did on me my first year in Cocoa at spring training,” I said. “The caption under my picture said, ‘Leroy Dierker.’”

“That’s funny,” he said, “I never knew that.”

He started to walk away, then he turned back to me, “What’s your Mom and Dad’s name?” he asked. “I’ll say ‘hi’ to them tonight during the game.”

“Chuck and Marilynn,” I said. “They’ll be watching.”

I had my doubts about whether or not he would remember to slip the greeting into the broadcast. I have offered the same courtesy as a broadcaster, but I haven’t always followed through.

About a half-hour before game time, a press runner came down to ask me my mother’s name.

“Joe Morgan wants it,” he explained.

At that point, I felt certain that Chuck and Marilynn would get a nice surprise. Joe is a bright guy. As a player, one of his abiding assets was concentration. I certainly appreciate his thoughtfulness.

Anyway, Joe followed through, and Mom and Dad got a better surprise during the game. It was a beauty, and we won it 1-0 over Kevin Brown and the Marlins, to give us two out of three against a talented team. I know these nail-biters are tough on Chuck.  He tends toward anxiety more than Marilynn.

A stolen base by Bagwell and a two-out single by González in the first inning were the difference in the ballgame.

Our batters kept coming back to the dugout, shaking their heads in disbelief after facing Brown. He may have the best sinker I have ever seen.

But this game had an Astros flavor, right from the start. Pat Listach made four great plays; Biggio made one; Bagwell made one; Spiers made one; and Bell made one. I told the writers that I could not recall a game with so many great defensive plays. And each of them was critical to preserving the one-run lead.

Some people think baseball is too slow — that there is not enough offense. I hope some of them saw this ballgame. It was one of the most exciting games of the year.

 

Before the season, I told many writers and broadcasters that my lack of experience would not be a major factor going against the top managers in the league. This was probably wishful thinking, but it has turned out that way so far. There isn’t much Jimmy Leyland can do about Darryl Kile pitching a four-hit shutout. 

In the end, it’s the players’ game — and I think it is useful to keep that in mind. That thought can prevent you from getting the big head when the team wins, or beating yourself up when it doesn’t.

RMJ 78 May 3

Pitching IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA BF Pit Str
Mike Hampton 3.1 3 6 4 5 3 0 6.03 19 79 42
Jose Lima 3.2 2 0 0 1 1 0 4.63 14 55 39
Russ Springer, H (2) 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 1.42 3 20 13
John Hudek, BS (1) 0.1 2 2 2 1 0 2 3.86 4 15 7
Billy Wagner 1.2 0 0 0 1 2 0 0.51 7 30 18
Tom Martin 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 7 28 18
Ramon Garcia, L (2-1) 1 3 1 1 0 1 0 3.26 6 14 11
Team Totals 13 11 9 7 8 10 2 4.85 60 241 148

SATURDAY, MAY 3 ●Houston, vs Florida

This turned out to be one of the longest days of the year. By the time I was able to take the lost-cause cigar test, it was technically Sunday.

 

The day started at Norton Ditto. I arrived at the store at 10:00 for a fitting. At 10:30, the autograph session started. It was not a madhouse, card-show type of atmosphere; the only folks who knew I would be there were Norton Ditto customers. For this reason, it was rather enjoyable.

I had time to visit with the kids who came for autographs. Many of their parents showed their advanced age by admitting that they had seen me pitch.

The session ended about 1 p.m. It was too early to go to the ballpark, and too late to go back home. Ordinarily I would stop somewhere for a bite to eat, but I was still feeling puny with the flu, so I went to the park and laid on the training table.

Dennis Liborio was cutting up some chicken for chicken-noodle soup. I asked him if he could send out for a sandwich; instead, he made me a chicken sandwich right there on the spot. With the chicken sandwich, the half-hour I spent reclining, and the chicken soup I had after batting practice, I felt pretty good by game time.

But not good enough for what followed.

 

This was a game that became a war. It went 13 innings, and the Marlins beat us 9-8.

It was really frustrating, on several fronts.

Mike Hampton could not survive the five innings required for a starting pitcher to get a win. We scored six runs in the first three innings, and I had to take Mike out in the fourth.

When I went to the mound to take him out, a loud cheer went up — a cheer that had an afternote of sarcasm. I had clearly allowed Mike to face two more batters than I would have in a late-season or postseason game.

Sometimes you can lose a battle, but win the war. This is what I was hoping for. The war I was hoping to win was Hampton’s fight to break out of his slump. If he could just finish five innings with a lead, I would take him out and hope to preserve the victory with the bullpen. But he couldn’t make it.

I replaced him with José Lima, with two men on and one out in the top of the fourth, leading 6-5.  Lima allowed the tying run to score, but then shut them down for three innings. In the meantime, we had scored two runs.

Russ Springer pitched a scoreless eighth, and we had an 8-6 lead when John Hudek came in to close the deal in the ninth. I had Billy Wagner in the bullpen, just in case. 

Greg Zaun greeted Hudie with a long home run. Gulp: another one-run game.

I looked at the clock, and it was already 10:30. Gerry, his wife Irene, and Judy were waiting for the game to end so we could keep our dinner date at Ruggles.

The first out came easily. The third was posted by Wagner, after Kurt Abbott had tied the game with a homer to left off Hudek. The idea of having Wagner ready in case Hudek had an “off” night got us out of the inning, but did not preserve the win.

If Hudie had crumbled, I could have saved him. But he cracked so suddenly, there was nothing to do but pick up the pieces and move on. 

 

We had several chances to win in our last at-bat, starting in the ninth, but we kept coming up empty. Craig Biggio struck out twice with the winning run in scoring position. Jeff Bagwell failed as well. James Mouton had a chance to curtail a Marlins rally, but it would have taken a spectacular play.   

With two outs in the fourth inning, Jim Eisenreich pinch-hit for Marlins starter Tony Saunders. He hit a slicing line drive to left, and Mouton got a great jump on the ball. It looked like he had a 50-50 chance of catching it, but he pulled up, slapped at it on the bounce, and it rolled away for a double and two RBI.

It wasn’t a bad play, really. It would have been a triple, or maybe even an inside-the-park home run if he had gone for the catch and missed it cleanly. Still, I like an aggressive style of play. In the fourth inning, we could afford some risk, but James chose not to take it.

The Marlins scored a run off Ramón Garcia in the 13th, and once again we came back. Mouton doubled and advanced to third on a fly ball to right.  The infield moved in, and Bell could have tied it any number of ways. With Mouton’s speed, a short fly ball would have been enough. Jay Powell pitched carefully, and Derek walked.  At least he didn’t swing at a bad pitch and hit into a double play. 

Powell’s delivery is slow, and he does not have a good pickoff move.  I encouraged Derek to steal second, but he did not.  Berry followed with a sharp ground ball to short, and the Marlins turned two to end the game. 

It was a good, if deflating, way to reinforce what Bidge and I had talked about the night before: we had a fast runner on third with one out, but we didn’t score him with a walk and a hard-hit ball. 

As a pitcher, I never conceded that run. If anything, I thought I could get the batter to swing at a tough pitch, trying to get the run home.  If I didn’t, and he walked, there were still a number of ways to prevent the guy on third from scoring.  A double play was the best way!

 

It was 12:30 when the game ended; so much for the dinner date.

Gerry came by my office, and we talked over our pitching options. Obviously, our plan to have Ramón Garcia take Donne Wall’s start had to be rewritten. D.K. could go on Sunday with three days’ rest. Chris Holt could also go on Monday. But Shane Reynolds could not make it on Tuesday after pitching eight innings on Friday.

Because we had used the whole bullpen, we needed immediate help.

Vince Cotroneo

Gerry called Vern into the office, and just as we were starting to review our options, a guy came in with a tape recorder. I was a little peeved, because my postgame press conference was already over.

“I’m getting interviews for Vince Cotroneo’s postgame show,” he said. “Do you have a minute?”

Well, it was 1 a.m., and I didn’t feel like spending even a minute, but Vince is one of our announcers and I couldn’t deny him the sound bites.

“OK,” I said. “Make it quick.”

The guy sat down next to me and proceeded to ask a stream-of-consciousness question that took at least a minute to deliver. I gave him a short answer, and he continued in the same vein. I’m sure Gerry and Vern could see steam rising off my head, but this guy was oblivious.

Finally, after about five minutes, he quit. I’ll have to talk to Vince about this.

 As we reviewed our options concerning bolstering the bullpen, I raised a question:

“In view of the fact that Kevin Brown is pitching tomorrow,” I said, “would we be better off to call up a sacrificial starter and let him pitch seven innings, come hell or high water? That way, we would have Kile and Holt on their normal day against the Phillies.”

This question was intriguing enough to prompt a phone call from Gerry to our AAA manager, Matt Galante. It was after 2:00 in the morning when Matt picked up the phone. I’m sure he was glad to hear that it was a baseball-related call, and not a family emergency, that had roused him from dreamland.

As it turned out, there were no logical starters available. We decided to call up Alvin Morman, a lefthanded relief pitcher who had not worked in several days.

 

When I got home, I was weary but not the least bit sleepy. Judy waited up, as we had planned to spend some intimate time together after our dinner with the Hunsickers.

She is amazing. I don’t know how she does it, but she can get by on very little sleep. She got very little this night, as we did not retire until 4 a.m.

RMJ 77 May 2

FRIDAY, MAY 2 ● Houston, vs Florida

It was almost noon when I arose today, still feeling crummy.

Jim Leyland

Cubby came by at 1:30, and we went to the Dome to do a little Marlin fishing. The Marlins have lost nine consecutive road games, and I know that doesn’t sit well with manager Jimmy Leyland. I also know that we had better play well in the first two games, because Kevin Brown looms in the dark shadows of the dugout, ready to come out blazing in the third game on Sunday.

Shane Reynolds was to pitch for us tonight, which is both good and bad. He is clearly our best starting pitcher, but he has never beaten the Marlins. Most of their hitters have hit him pretty hard. But I do remember him pitching a beautiful game against them in Miami last year, only to lose because we were shut out.

Pat Rapp

Pat Rapp, a hard-throwing righthander, will pitch for the Marlins. Like Shane, he is from Louisiana. Unlike Shane, he doesn’t have a good off-speed pitch, and he doesn’t hit the corners too well with his fastball. He is their fourth starter.

 

In this game, Shane was stingy as usual. Bagwell hit a towering home run in the first inning, and we took a 2-1 lead on a sacrifice fly by Derek Bell.

After the seventh inning, Shane thought he was finished. He was acutely aware of his problems with the Marlins, and the meat of their order was coming up.

I asked him how he felt, and he said he was fine. He had only thrown 77 pitches, so I left him in there. Afterward, he said he was surprised that I allowed him to pitch the eighth, but he was also glad he did, because he proved to himself that he could beat this team — even without his best stuff.

Billy Wagner came in and finished up in the ninth. I think he learned the value of the curve ball in this game.

After he got Bobby Bonilla on a ground ball to third base, he challenged the league’s leading RBI hitter, Moises Alou, throwing him about seven consecutive fastballs before he gave up a line single to center. He got next two outs easily, but he should know by now that some hitters can get around on his fastball if he doesn’t mix in a curve now and then.

The nice thing is that some hitters can’t get around, no matter what. Billy was throwing 97-98 MPH again tonight.

The win gave us a lift after losing in Montreal. I would prefer winning with a comfortable margin, but I have to admit that these 3-2 and 2-1 victories build character. 

           

Craig Biggio came by my office after the game and asked me if we were still going to try to drive the run in from second with no outs, instead of just moving him over to third with a bunt or a ground ball to the right side of the infield.

“Drive him in,” I said, loud and clear.

He just shook his head, “We missed two chances to score tonight, because we didn’t get the guy over,” he said.

“Yes, and we also failed to get you home from third on your triple.” I said (his triple came with one out). “Look, you know as well as I do that when you try to move the runner, you don’t always succeed. I don’t like to give away outs. Plus, I have noticed that many runners advance on long fly balls and choppers to short and third.

“I don’t think a batter should give up his chance to get a hit, just to move the runner to third. If you look for a certain pitch and hit it hard to the right side, great! If you think you can bunt for a base hit, great!

“What I don’t like to see is a guy giving up any chance for a hit by taking an awkward swing and hitting a weak ground ball to second base.”

“OK, you’re the skipper,” he said.

This exchange really made me feel good. His question was legitimate. And tonight’s game was a good example of both things: why you might want to sacrifice, and why a sacrificial at-bat might not be availing.

As with most things in baseball, you could look at it more than one way. The way he was suggesting is more traditional; my view is based on the high-scoring nature of the modern game. I might sacrifice to get one run in the eighth or ninth innings, but in the early going, I am inclined to go for the big inning.

I am pleased that Bidge feels he can come up and debate a point like this. It shows that we have established an open line of communication with at least one player.  I think there will be more. I hope so.

           

One thought that came back to me via the grapevine was Derek Bell’s continuing interest in hitting third, and moving Bagwell to cleanup. This is not debatable. I will talk to Derek about it, but I will not move Bagwell out of the three-hole.

I would have to be insane to take a guy with a .450 on-base average and move him back in the lineup in order to let a guy with a .270 on-base average hit third. If anything, I would move Derek back in the lineup until he shakes his slump.

It is tempting, I might add, to move him all the way out of the lineup. But he is a player of rare talent, and we have to get him going — even if it does weaken us for a few games.

One thing is for sure: you can’t break out of a slump on the bench.

 

I had a nice cigar to smoke after the game. One of our fans is in the cigar business, and he brought a box to the Dome for me to try. I must admit, they taste pretty good after a win.

The test will be whether they still give pleasure after a loss.

May 1 Astros’ Don Wilson pitches a “reply” no-hitter vs Reds 5/1/69

The Astros began the 1969 season 4-20, with the low point April 30 when the Reds’ Jim Maloney pitched a 10-0 no-hitter against them. An angry, embarrassed Don Wilson answered Maloney’s no-hitter with one of his own against the Reds the following night.

RMJ 76 May 1

THURSDAY, MAY 1 ● Montreal, vs Expos

May Day! May Day! Let us out of here!

Half the team has this cold now, and the rest of them have Martinezitis. We won’t see Pedro again until the end of July, and that’s too soon for most of our hitters.

What a game he pitched today! A three-hit shutout. It didn’t help that Chris Holt was without his best stuff, and the Expos were able to jump out in front and give Martinez a little working room. But I’m not sure he needed it.

The first time through the order, he brushed every hitter back from the plate at least once. He hit the outside corner with fastballs and sliders at will, and he mixed in an occasional changeup. Each time he faced a hitter, he gave him a little different sequence.

I’m going to review the tape, and if it looks like I think it will, I may use it as a teaching tool for some of our young pitchers.

The first time we faced him, we actually got an earned run when Russ Johnson hit a homer. That is the only earned run Martinez gave up in April.

I suppose it is comforting to know that no one else has been able to hit him, but the fact is, we will have to beat some good pitchers 1-0 or 2-1 if we are going to win our division.

We have already won a few low-scoring games. And with the Marlins coming to the Dome, we may have to win some more to stay over .500.

 
Pitching IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA BF Pit Str
Pedro Martinez, W (4-0) 9 3 0 0 2 9 0 0.31 32 111 74

 

In this game, we could have gotten out of the first inning without a run if Pat Listach had made a play behind the second-base bag on Henry Rodriguez. It looked like a tough play at first, but when I saw the replay, I knew that he should have made it.

That set the tone. Chris was in trouble throughout the game, and Martinez was cutting through our lineup like a hot knife through butter.

Derek Bell was lucky enough not to be in the lineup today. Before the game, Mac told me he thought it would be good to give him a day off.

“Derek’s not ready for this guy right now,” Mac said. Then he told me that he had been talking with a psychologist friend about Derek. This is just another example of the way the coaches go the extra mile. Of course, we as a team will not go beyond the regular season unless Derek Bell hits a lot better than he is hitting now.

“The guy told me that with a personality like Derek’s, you can only work on something for three or four minutes at a time,” Mac said. “I’m going to work his ass off today. We’ll work for three minutes and then take a break. Then we’ll do it over, again and again. Maybe it will help.”

I don’t know if it will help.

Derek certainly hit the ball well in BP today, but then he always hits the ball well in BP. I know one thing for sure: When he saw the way Martinez was throwing, he wasn’t champing at the bit to get in there.

 

On the way out of Montreal, one of the US Customs agents was giving everyone a hard time about not having passports or visas. Normally, the only players who are required to carry these documents are the players from countries other than the US.

When I was going through, the clerk couldn’t find my boarding pass. Jim Deshaies was not traveling with us, so Barry told me to just use Jim’s pass.

When I got to the customs agent, I had both arms full of carryon luggage. He asked me to show identification, and I put down my bag and retrieved my driver’s license.

“So, where were you born?” he asked.

“Hollywood,” I said.

“California or Florida?”

“California.”

“This all the ID you got? Anyone can get a fake driver’s license.”

I showed him my Social Security card.

“That’ll help you out when you retire. It’s not any good here.”

At this point I’m thinking:

C’mon, we lost the games, and we donated our three-dozen autographed team balls to the national economy. Let’s get on with the process.

“How would you like it if twenty guys you didn’t know got on your team plane?” he said.

“I wouldn’t,” I said, playing along. “But I don’t think that is going to happen. We all know each other.”

“If all you had to have was a driver’s license and a boarding pass, you may get some strange people on the plane.”

At this point I was thinking that they couldn’t possibly be any stranger than this guy.

I was also amused that he didn’t notice that my boarding pass said Deshaies and my driver’s license said Dierker. Oh well, they say it takes all kinds. By the way, does anal-retentive have a hyphen?

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