White Sox manager Gene Lamont, en route to a flag, was expounding on the age-old question of youth vs. experience.
“Everybody talks about experience,” Lamont observed. “But I’d rather have inexperienced guys with a lot of ability than experienced guys who are slipping.”
Which brings us to Jason Bere, 22, and Wilson Alvarez, 23, the young pitchers who have been carrying the White Sox staff in the last month. Following Monday night’s 10-2 victory over the California Angels, Bere and Alvarez, combined, have a 10-0 record since Aug. 23.
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How good is 10-0? This is how good: The other White Sox starters in this same stretch are 4-7.
I asked Lamont where the Sox would be without Bere and Alvarez. Like any good manager, Lamont didn’t want to undervalue Jack McDowell, Alex Fernandez and Tim Belcher, comparative veterans who have made major contributions, particularly McDowell, who has won 21 games, and Fernandez, 17.
“We would have found somebody, we would have found a way,” Lamont said.
He laughed. “I’m glad we didn’t have to reach into our bag of tricks.”
I mentioned that Bere, a right-handed power pitcher, could be the new Tom Seaver. He has some of Seaver’s mannerisms, especially the way he pushes off the mound.
“I don’t remember Seaver,” Lamont said.
I remember him well. Like Seaver, Bere has a 94-95 mile-an-hour fastball, and can pitch up in the strike zone and get away with it.
“We knew he had a good arm,” Lamont said. “What we didn’t know is how he’d handle it, if the bad games would affect him. You see guys but you’re never sure what’s going on inside. It boils down to what’s going on in their minds.
“But I think I know him now. He’s a pretty tough kid. I’ve seen him flustered once or twice, when we first brought him up. But now he’s relaxed. And his control has improved. I wish I could take credit for it but I can’t. He’s just got what it takes. A lot of guys who have good enough stuff to pitch in the big leagues never made it.”
Lamont, of course, had equal words of praise for Alvarez, a left-hander who also has a hard fastball and a good variety of breaking pitches.
“I didn’t know how well they would pitch,” Lamont admitted. “It would have been hard for me to put a number on their wins.”
The number is 22-13 for Alvarez, who has made 28 starts, and nine for Bere in 21 starts.
The White Sox, of course, still haven’t won anything. But they’re in the stretch and winging. They have reduced their magic number to 10-any combination of 10 White Sox victories and Texas Rangers losses and they will win their first division championship in 10 years.
Still, Lamont began speculating on the playoffs. He said he would go with a four-man rotation-McDowell, Fernandez, Bere and Alvarez. Belcher would be used in long relief.
“If it ended today, Belcher would be out of the rotation,” Lamont said. “But I think very highly of Belcher. He’s done the job for us. He’s a tough guy, a good pitcher.”
In another corner of the clubhouse, Robin Ventura was dressing for the game. Ventura’s two-run, ninth-inning home run against Oakland Sunday enabled the Sox to expand their lead to 4 1/2 games over the pursuing Texas Rangers in the American League West.
Ventura was asked his opinion: Where would the Sox be if Bere and Alvarez hadn’t picked up the club?
“That’s tough,” Ventura said. “They’ve been great for us. Who knows? We could be a few games back.”
Ozzie Guillen, dressing nearby, observed:
“I don’t like left-handers. I’m glad I don’t have to hit against Wilson.”
Outside, the Angels were taking batting practice. I renewed acquaintances with Bobby Knoop, the long-time California coach who put in two years at second base with the White Sox several years ago.
Said Knoop: “One of our kid pitchers, a kid who we just brought up, told me how surprised he was by what he’s been seeing. He said, `That guy’s ball sinks, it sails, it runs. I don’t know if I can be that good.’ “
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I asked if he was talking about Bere or Alvarez.
“I’m not saying,” Knoop replied. “But I told him, `Kid, this isn’t a college round-robin.’ “