Sammy Ellis is Randy Johnson’s pitching coach with the Mariners. With the Sox, he was Jack McDowell’s pitching coach in 1990 and ’91. In between, he was the Cubs’ bullpen coach.
“I’ve never seen a pitcher dominate a game as well as Randy,” said Ellis, who likened Johnson to Ron Guidry, another former pupil. “If Randy gets his breaking ball over, forget it. The best `pitcher’ I’ve ever been around was Greg Maddux. He could take his game plan to the mound and execute it.”
McDowell?
“He doesn’t have way, way above-average stuff,” Ellis said. “What Jack has is real good stuff and a great big heart and one of the best wills to win I’ve ever been around. He’s got tremendous concentration, good intellect and absolutely no fear.”
No thanks: Robin Ventura, who homered for the first time in nearly three weeks Friday, got a rest against lefty Johnson on Saturday. He wasn’t thrilled. “I want to play,” said Ventura, 5 for 24 life time against Johnson. He was a late defensive sub.
Why stop now? Joey Cora, still leading off most games, began Saturday’s batting .389 over his last seven games. Does that mean the Cora-Tim Raines flip-flop in the order is permanent? “I hope it’s permanent,” manager Gene Lamont said, “because that means it’s going good.”
Try something else: Scott Sanderson, with eight strong innings in Friday night’s 6-2 victory over the Mariners, improved his career record at the glorious Kingdome to 5-1. A former player-his name is being withheld for his own protection-suggested it was hard for hitters to pick up curveballs in the park. Sanderson had a good one Friday night.
The Mariners’ Jay Buhner said that was nonsense, that he saw the ball fine. “That’s his theory,” Buhner said. “God knows there’s enough of them.”
Sanderson, too, dismissed it. Curveballs are curveballs. “Hang them,” he said, “they’ll get hit.”
Down: Seattle put Greg Hibbard (1-5, 6.69 ERA) on the 15-day disabled list with a sore shoulder. Tests are scheduled for Tuesday. There are fears it’s a tear. Also put on the DL: outfielder Eric Anthony.