RMJ 25 March 11

TUESDAY, MARCH 11 ● Kissimmee, vs Cleveland

Well, we had a few meetings today, but I was not the keynote speaker in any of them. 

Mark Belanger of the Players Association came by the coaches’ room to explain the benefit plan and the distribution of licensing money. Cubby and Mac were especially interested in this information, because they have been active coaches throughout this decade.

During most of that time, each member of the plan was to receive a check for roughly $50,000 per season. It was more than that before the strike in 1994, and has been less since. Actually, members get substantially less in years leading up to a new labor agreement; the rest is set aside as a war chest.

Now that the new agreement has finally been signed, the money that was withheld is going to be distributed. This has income-tax ramifications, and that’s what Mark was trying to explain.

The other thing I learned was that only five coaches qualify for the pension plan. Alan Ashby is the odd-man-out in our group. Some teams apparently pool funds and share equally. This would be fine with me, but this possibility has not been discussed.

What really surprised me is that there is another designated coach who does not receive pension benefits, but who does qualify for licensing money. I didn’t know if we had designated a coach for this slot, but later found that Bill Virdon was our man because he is already taking his pension.

It’s hard to think of him as a 65-year-old man. He just doesn’t look or act that old.

           

When Belanger finished, he joined Donald Fehr, who was reporting on similar issues in a players meeting.

While this meeting was in progress, the coaching staff got together with Gerry and his assistants, Matt Galante, and Tim Purpura. Seems like there are some trade winds blowing, and Gerry wanted us to speak up on the shortstop situation.

Pat Listach has been disappointing, in the field and at the plate. He is not quite as fast as we thought he might be, and some of the guys, including myself, are getting a little worried. Pat was with the Brewers last year, and his manager was a friend of mine, Phil Garner.

Phil told me that Pat would probably look a little clumsy in the field, “but if you just let him play, he’ll do the job.” Well, he hasn’t done it yet. But he is bound to be a little rusty.

Should we try to cover ourselves, with Ricky Gutierrez out until May? Our schedule in April appears to be difficult. We don’t want to panic, but we don’t want to stumble out of the gate, either. 

Most of the coaches were concerned about Pat, but when we learned that it would cost one of our best prospects to get Manny Alexander from the Orioles, we were inclined to be a little more patient with Pat. Alexander is a great fielder, but he has never hit much.

Matt brought up Jay Bell, who is with the Royals now. They are interested in Derek Bell. But I am not interested in getting an old – granted, good, but still old — shortstop for a young outfielder with superstar tools.

I mentioned Walt Weiss, another old shortstop. His name didn’t seem to excite anyone.

About that time, someone came in to inform us that the players’ meeting was over. We adjourned without coming to any conclusion.

Later, Matt told me that he had called Garner, and that Gar said we should be patient with Pat. I agree. He may not be quite what we hoped he would be, but Ricky will be back with most of the season left. By then we will have a better feel for Pat, and we will not have to make a desperation trade and lose prospects in the bargain.

           

As the players split into batting-practice groups, Vern and I started the cutdown process.

The first guy we talked to was Mike Gardiner. Mike is a 31-year-old righthander who has had some big-league experience. Last year, he pitched for AAA Tidewater (Mets) and had a sensational year. His problem in our camp was that the numbers were against him.

After he signed, we made a trade with Detroit that brought us three pitching prospects. Then we drafted another pitcher in the Rule 5 draft. We then signed free agents Russ Springer and Tommy Greene.

All of these guys throw harder than Gardiner; that doesn’t necessarily mean they can pitch better, but there is certainly more upside when you have a good fastball.

The other number that got him was our scarcity of position players. After three or four guys got injured, we didn’t have enough bodies to play the three “B” games on our schedule. If we had played these games, Mike would have pitched at least three times. As it was, he pitched only once — coming in in the middle of a wildfire inning. He got burned in that frame, but he settled down and got ’em 1-2-3 in the next.

This guy was a starter last year, and he went 13-3 with a 3.21 ERA. It was not a fair way to judge him. We have seen him throw on the side, and we are somewhat aware of what it will take for him to succeed in the major leagues. I think he is a little short of stuff, but I cannot be certain.

We couldn’t see him getting any more chances to pitch in major-league camp, with our starters pitching more innings each time out. In minor-league camp, he could get ready for the season. If he continues to perform well, there is a chance we might need him.

But that’s not what he wanted to hear. All he wanted was a chance. He was led to believe he would get a taste of the action, but he didn’t even get a sniff.

Mike was a victim of circumstance. As he unburdened himself of a career of similar frustrations, all Vern and I could do was listen and agree. Mike said it was horseshit, and I have the feeling that blue language doesn’t often pass his lips.

Mike is dedicated, sincere, and a professional in every sense of the word. The word may not have come naturally to him, but it was the right word.

Horseshit!

We could only nod our heads. What could we say?

 

After that, it got a little easier; the other seven pitchers knew they would not make the first cut.

There were some positive things that came out of these discussions:

We were able to tell these guys what we thought of their ability, and what it would take for them to make it big. They seemed to appreciate the time we spent working with them, and the advice we were offering.

To be honest, I don’t think any of them will be impact pitchers in the major leagues. I have been wrong before, and I hope I am wrong again this time. When you only get to see a guy throw on the side a few times and pitch a few innings, it’s hard to render judgement. With the older players, it’s a little easier. Their track records speak volumes.

           

Darryl Kile pitched well today. Jeff Bagwell had a couple of doubles, and Derek Bell hit his fourth home run. Craig Biggio scored three runs. The Killer Bs were stinging the Indians, and we won easily 10-4 to go over .500 at 6-5.

Listach played better at short, and he contributed a two-run double. He also laid down a bunt, and it took a perfect play to nip him at first base.

It is nice to know that you don’t have to outsmart the other manager every day. Most of the time, it seems, the players will win or lose on their own. I might be able to finish .500 in absentia. Still, the best managers make $1 million a year or more. I guess it’s because the pennant can swing on those few games where the manager makes a difference.

I still don’t feel like a master strategist, but I am beginning to feel more like a leader — even without the pep talk. Perhaps all this winning has gone to my head.

           

I worked out after the game today, and I seem to be making some progress on my weight-loss-and-conditioning program. Afterward, I answered some mail and was just ready to leave the park at about six o’clock when Vern came in. He had been across the hall at a minor-league coaches’ meeting, helping them with their pitching evaluations.

“Let’s go get some dinner,” I said.

“Well, I was going to eat with Paul (one of our clubhouse helpers), but I can do that another night.”

“Bring him along,” I said. “Do you think I like to listen to you all the time?”

Vern laughed. He’s starting to get to know me, I guess.

“Let me take a shower and tell him to get ready, and we’ll go.”

Paul is from Canada. This is his spring avocation. When we decided on Mexican food, he went along. But when we got there, we found that he had never been exposed to the fine food from south of the border.

Vern asked me what my biggest surprise was, so far.

“You,” I said. “All of you guys. The staff. Minor- and major-league both. I’ve been away from the field for 18 years. Things have really changed — the dedication and professionalism. The long hours, the knowledge. That’s been the biggest surprise for me. And it has been a pleasant one.”

Paul ordered chicken with rice and beans, and he was somewhat surprised that it was hiding under salsa and cheese. He dug in and found it, however.

I guess the North American Free Trade Agreement is working, after all.