Bill Madlock did more than win four National League batting titles.
He also taught Bip Roberts how to hit. He would be pleased to know Roberts needs only one more hit for a .300 lifetime average.
Roberts enters the new season with a .299 career average. He batted .323 last season, .007 points behind Gary Sheffield, the National League champion. Tony Perez, Roberts’ new manager, insists his man can do even better during the season ahead.
“He’s very consistent,” Perez explained. “And he knows how to hit.”
Perez, previously the Reds’ batting coach, has helped the switch-hitting Roberts improve his swing from the right side. But it was onetime Cub Madlock who sent the 5-foot-7-inch Roberts to the big leagues.
“I was in the Pittsburgh system, in the minor leagues,” Roberts recalled. “I had a big, looping swing.”
Madlock was then a batting instructor with the Pirates.
“He told me if I kept hitting the ball to third base, I’d never make it,” Roberts said.
So Roberts closed his stance, shortened his swing and began trying to use the whole field. It took him two years of almost continuous practice to complete the adjustment. He hit off a batting tee, moving the tee on the outside of the plate, then inside and down the middle.
And what has emerged is a Madlock clone, with one exception. Roberts is a switch hitter and has more speed. He stole 44 bases last season, helping lead the Reds to 90 victories and a second-place finish behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL West.
Roberts is only average defensively. Primarily a second baseman, he also was used at third base and in left and center field. He has been working hard here, fine-tuning the double play with All-Star shortstop Barry Larkin.
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Perez, who plans to keep Roberts anchored at second base, is on his maiden managerial voyage. A former Cincinnati star, he put in six years as a coach with the Reds. He replaced Lou Piniella after the 1992 season.
Despite the loss of pitchers Greg Swindell and Norm Charlton and outfielder Paul O’Neil, Perez expressed confidence the Reds can catch the Braves.
“We had a lot of injuries last year,” Perez said. “We have a good club and the guys are playing hard. So far everything’s going good. Maybe too good.”
The Reds still aren’t 100 percent. Tom Browning, one of the league’s best left-handed pitchers, missed the second half of last season and hasn’t recovered completely from a knee injury. But he is expected to be ready, if not for the opener, then soon thereafter.
With or without Browning, the Reds appear to have a capable rotation of Jose Rijo, John Smiley, Tim Belcher and Tim Pugh. The bullpen is first-rate. Rob Dibble, who averages 1 1/2 strikeouts an inning, is the closer. Jeff Reardon, the all-time save leader who hooked on as a free agent, will be Dibble’s setup man.
Dibble is the most overpowering pitcher in baseball. Last season, for example, in consecutive appearances, he struck out seven batters. Dibble also has been involved in annual controversies. Last year, he tamed down somewhat, but two weeks ago he said, “My days as a nice guy are over.”
Like his teammates, Roberts insists Dibble has been misunderstood.
“What people don’t understand is that he’s a very caring person,” Roberts said. “He’ll give you the shirt off his back. But once the game begins he’s fierce. If you’re not wearing the same color uniform, you’re his enemy.”
There also may be an enemy within. The Reds lack home-run power. Their only established slugger is Kevin Mitchell, acquired from the Seattle Mariners in a winter deal for Norm Charlton. Plagued by injuries, Mitchell played in only 99 games last season. He had only nine home runs and 67 runs batted in.
Mitchell, below average defensively, will be in left field. Roberto Kelly, excellent in the field, is in center. Reggie Sanders, who is improving, is the regular right-fielder.
Perez concedes Mitchell is the Reds’ only genuine power hitter but insists: “We don’t have to win on the home run. We have some good hitters, and we will use our speed.” Then he added, “Of course, we’ll take the home run when it comes.”
Assuming Roberts hits .330 and improves on the double play, the Reds should have a strong infield. Larkin is the best all-around shortstop in the league. The Reds also are strong at the corners with the steady Hal Morris at first and Chris Sabo at third. Joe Oliver is the No. 1 catcher.
Sometimes, when a veteran coach takes the manager’s chair, the players don’t show the proper respect.
“I won’t have that trouble,” said Perez. “The players know I’m the boss.”
It was two hours before game time here and Perez was enjoying his sudden good fortune. He was visiting with Hall of Famer Al Lopez, the former White Sox manager. Lopez lives in nearby Tampa and was seeing his first game of spring training.
After Lopez departed, Perez was asked what kind of manager he would like to be.
“Like Mr. Lopez,” Perez said.
Could he elaborate?
“You don’t have to talk to your players in a loud voice,” Perez explained. “But if I begin raising my voice, they’ll know they’ve pushed me to the wall.”