RMJ 54 April 9

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9 ● Atlanta, vs Braves

I didn’t get up until 11 a.m. Although it seemed a luxury to sleep that late, it really only amounted to eight hours of shuteye.

My old broadcast partner, Dewayne Staats, was in town to cover our game tonight for ESPN, and I invited him over for a video scouting session. The Perfessor came by as well, and we watched last night’s game tape and had some wine, some cheese, and crackers. Dewayne was announcing Astros games when Vern was pitching for the club, so it was a warm reunion.

Vern left in the eighth inning, but Dewayne stayed for the final out, around 2:30. I did a little reading (The Last Picture Show) and turned out the lights about 3:00.

 

Upon awakening, I went for coffee, a croissant, and a newspaper — a favorite combination.

I was chagrined to see that USA Today used one of my zinger quotes out of context. Having been in the media, I know how tiresome clichés can be, and how much a reporter likes a good quote. I don’t want to be boring, but I will eventually take that tack if these guys continue to slant my meaning by leaving things out.

This time, the question was Are you having fun?

My answer was: “I wouldn’t say fun is the right word. It is challenging, stimulating, and satisfying when you feel like you have done a good job. But fun? No. The money has taken the fun out of the game. There is so much riding on the outcome, so much pressure. It’s hard to really have fun until it’s over and you have won.”

So what do you think they printed? You got it: “Astros manager Larry Dierker said that the money has taken the fun out of baseball.” Actually, I’m trying to put some fun back in it: trying to keep things loose and friendly, encouraging practical jokes and laughter. Tossing out a few one-liners myself, even during a close game.

Still, I don’t think you will find many players who will say that the games are “fun” except for the occasional blowout, when you win big.         

 

The game with the Braves tonight was no “laugher.” It was tough and tight all the way. Darryl Kile and Denny Neagle pitched, and we were all tied at three after nine innings. The Braves won it 4-3 in 11 innings.

I think I did a reasonably good job of managing this game. On several occasions we had runners in scoring position and the batter lined out; that’s just bad luck. There were also a couple of calls that didn’t go our way. I’m sure the Braves would say the same thing if they lost.

It was a good ballgame, but there is one decision that still sticks in my craw:

With two outs and runners on first and second in the bottom of the 11th, I sent Vern out to tell José Lima not to give Chipper Jones anything good to hit. This may not have been good advice, because Lima doesn’t have pinpoint control.

A guy like Maddux or Glavine, or even our Shane Reynolds, would have thrown tantalizing pitches that Jones might swing at; Lima was so far out of the zone he almost threw the ball past our catcher, Tony Eusebio.

That loaded the bases for Fred McGriff. We had a lefty, rookie Tom Martin, ready in the bullpen.

What to do?

I hate to bring a guy in with the bases loaded, because he has no time to find the range with his control. But Lima was off the mark too. Because I asked him to pitch around Jones, I really should have let him pitch to McGriff. But I didn’t have a good feeling about that outcome; McGriff can be a patient hitter. The most important thing was to throw strike one, so Fred would have to swing.

To be honest, I didn’t feel too good about Martin, either, because McGriff hit lefties better than righties last year.

I looked at Vern. “Martin?” I said.

“That’s what we got him for,” Vern said.

Martin came in and walked McGriff on four pitches to force home the winning run.          

But it wasn’t that simple.

Every manager or player will tell you that a player’s reputation has an influence on the umpire. In this case, it was McGriff — a guy with a good eye, who seldom argues with umpires — against Martin, an unproven rookie.

Two of the four pitches were marginal. They could have gone either way. Naturally, they went McGriff’s way. That’s just the way it goes. If the pitches hadn’t been marginal, Larry Vanover would have called them strikes. Because there was some doubt, McGriff got the benefit.

 

There was another interesting rules play in this game.

Kenny Lofton tried to steal third, and he was thrown out on what was called ball four on Javy Lopez. Who would lead off the next inning? I thought the walk to Lopez ended his at-bat, and the Braves would have to lead off with Mark Lemke. Vanover wasn’t sure, so he asked the other umpires, and Lemke did lead off the next inning. 

I am reminded that I still need a clarification of the interference rule.

Maybe something good will come of this journal after all.