RMJ 126 June 21
SATURDAY, JUNE 21 ● Houston, vs Cubs
Here we go again. Up and at ’em. Got to rise-and-shine for the Network. The East Coast game starts at 1 p.m., so we have to start at noon Central Time.
We did not take batting practice, but the pitchers did work on their fake-bunt move and the hitters gathered with Mac to talk about being unselfish: moving runners with outs, making the opposing pitcher elevate his pitches with the infield playing in. He also told the players about some of Stanky’s baserunning and bunt plays. I was told that these sessions went well.
At the time, Gerry and I met with Drayton in my office. He gave us a videotape of the movie Twelve O’clock High, and told us that it was a great movie about leadership.
“It shows how one officer was too loose and let things get away from him, and another officer who was too strict. After you watch it, I’ll talk to you about the lessons you learned.”
I haven’t watched it yet, but my first impression is that it is a movie about leadership under stress and the problems with being too lax or too rigid.
This afternoon’s matinee was neither loose nor rigid; it was just right. Another unstressful 7-3 victory.
We scored in the first inning again. Two runs this time. A Bagwell double and a Bell single drove them in, but a hit-and-run groundout by Listach helped set the table. Chris Holt made the call and flirted with disaster but didn’t get the date. He bobbed and weaved and took a few punches. Came out of it in the seventh with a 6-3 lead.
I made a good move in that frame, even though I thought I had made a mistake. With a man on third and one out, Jim Riggleman sent Dave Hansen up to pinch-hit. I wanted to go with Mike Magnante against the top of their lineup. I figured Mike would be all right against Hansen, because Dave seldom sees a lefthanded pitcher. I really prefer Mike against righthanded hitters because of his spitball.
I had my back to the plate, facing Mike on the mound, with Biggio and Bogar right there.
“Okay, he’s going to pinch-hit with a righthander,” I said. “Who is it?”
“Hernandez,” Biggio said.
“Perfect,” I said.
As I walked back to the dugout, I realized that I didn’t hear Hansen being announced. I was hoping he had been, but I should have been sure. I shouldn’t have changed pitchers until I heard that announcement.
Luckily for me, Hansen had been announced. He was burned (replaced without coming to bat) and Hernandez got a sacrifice fly to drive in their third run, but Magnante went on to finish the game. We didn’t even have to warm up Wagner.
The only blemish on this game is that Gonzo’s streak came to an end. He went against Bob Patterson in the eighth and drew a walk. He was true to his word, going for the team instead of the glory. Sure, it was 6-3 and he could have tried to hit the 3-1 pitch, but he took it and ended up scoring our last run.
| Batting | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | PA | BA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luis Gonzalez LF | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | .289 |
| Team Totals | 30 | 7 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 36 | .400 |
I started out Rollerblading, but rain chased me back into the house before I even got started. Then it quit, and I tried to jog. I got halfway around the lake behind our house when the lightning began flashing all around. I hurried home.
All told, I ran about a mile. So much for a workout.
I guess I’ll have to work out tomorrow. This has become a small problem. I think the workouts help with stress, but I have not been able to discipline myself. I would have to do it first thing in the morning, and that is not my preferred time for exercise. I like to linger over the paper, then maybe do a little office work. Nothing strenuous. Noon is about as early as I like to get started. With Cubby coming over at 2:00, any little thing (like lunch) keeps me from it.
Dee
Tal and Johnnye Smith, Bill Virdon, and of course, Dewayne Staats were at the party to help Dee celebrate. Seemed like the party cheered Dee up.
The food was excellent. Sort of a Cuban style, I guess: black beans and rice. Tenderloin with guava salsa. Fruit salad. Key Lime pie.
I ate plenty. Should have worked out.
Toward the end of the evening, Bill, Tal, Gerry, and I huddled away from the girls. We touched on several subjects before coming to a focal point with Derek and Thomas Howard.
Both of these players are shortchanging us. They are not in good physical condition. When they have to score from first on a double, they collapse at home plate in a puddle of sweat.
Derek could probably get in decent shape in a week. He is not the least bit heavy. Thomas is another story. He doesn’t work very hard in the pregame drills, and he appears to be at least ten pounds overweight.
In the spring, I asked the trainers to find out what he weighed last year in Cincinnati. They reported that the Reds didn’t keep weight records. Somehow, that doesn’t surprise me. One of the many defections from the Marge Schott Reds was a capable trainer named Larry Starr. I don’t know who the new trainer is, but he certainly doesn’t seem weight-conscious.
I guess we aren’t, either. We have only mentioned the weight thing to Thomas once, and even then we didn’t make a real big deal about it.
This time, as we talked about Derek’s many foibles, Bill said, “he’s never going to be the player you hope for when you see his tools. He’s not a hard worker and doesn’t pay attention. But he’s not a bad guy. And if he hits, he’ll play better defense.
“I’m more worried about Howard.”
Gerry raised his eyebrows. “Really?” he said.
Tal leaned in.
“Well, I’m not saying it’s a big deal or anything, but I don’t think he’s a good guy on the club,” Bill said. “The other day, he wasn’t going to take infield and I caught him in the runway and asked where he was going. He said he had to get treatment, or something like that. I don’t know. He’s not a bad guy, but he isn’t a very good example of a veteran ballplayer, I’ll tell you that.”
“He’s a mercenary,” I said. “A product of the system. He’s the guy who is a good complementary player, but not a nucleus player. Nobody wants to pay him top dollar, so they don’t tender him a contract. Then they hope to sign another guy like him for less money. We do the same thing. Everybody does. It’s not Thomas Howard; it’s the system. He doesn’t feel any loyalty to us. He’s a hired gun.”
“That may be true,” Bill said. “But I told him that there were scouts watching all the time, and if he didn’t put out, the word would get out. His career depends on how people rate him. He can’t afford to get a bad reputation.”
Bill was right. He usually is. But I could understand Tank’s side of the issue. He has maybe 2-5 years left in the game. His wife is divorcing him. The lawyers are out for blood. And he is on his own, without seeing his kids for the first time. I don’t blame him for having an attitude — especially when I started playing Pat Listach in center.
My attitude is that if he would lose 10-15 pounds and get into shape, he would get more playing time. I’m not sure Thomas gives a damn right now; he just seems to be letting things slide. I can’t afford to have him do this, because we are not deep in good players. And Thomas can be a good player. Not great, but good.
“You know he can’t, Bill. And so do I,” I said. But does he know that now? It’s my fault I haven’t talked with him these last few days. I need to get him aside and try to get him to get with the program.”
“Good luck,” Bill said.
Gerry was a little miffed. He told me to talk with Thomas when I started to play Listach. I looked for an easy opportunity, but I did not find one. I should have pursued it more diligently. But I still think I have time to set things right.
What they want is special treatment.
Tal was nonplussed when I told him we had to have a separate series of flash signs for Derek. Cubby told me that Bobby Bonilla was the same way.
I don’t think for a minute that these guys are incapable of getting the normal signs. Sure, they would have to know one more sign: the indicator, which alerts the player that the sign is about to be given. They could do that.
What they want is special treatment.
“If we go three days without an incident involving Derek, he’ll create one,” I said. “Usually he’s not really upset. He just wants attention.”
Andersen
Gerry and Tal talked about possible trades and salary issues. I think we need to spend another month evaluating the situation. Toward the end of July, some teams decide to go for the pennant, and they will trade top prospects for high-salaried veterans. If we can do another deal like Larry-Andersen-for-Jeff-Bagwell, we should do it.
In the meantime, we should continue to work with these guys to draw them into the team. Winning will do wonders in that regard. Without winning, it probably won’t work.
So we’re back to the beginning again.
Just win, baby.