Tony La Russa, the dugout wizard who apprenticed at Comiskey Park, returns to the scene of the crime Tuesday night when his Oakland Athletics open a three-game set with the White Sox. La Russa’s A’s are hot–five wins in their last six games–a recovery that has lifted them to the .500 mark.
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It’s a long season, too early for predictions. Later, perhaps it may be obvious that the A’s have the stuff to win the American League West, which they did four times from 1988-92.
They have the necessary bullpen star in Dennis Eckersley, an aging ninth-inning warrior who, as usual, is among the league leaders in saves with five. One more and it will be No. 300 for Eckersley who, in 1990, had the most impressive stat in bullpen history: 48 saves while allowing only 45 baserunners.
Eckersley already has lost two games, unusual for him. He has not been throwing as hard as in the past, but there is no reason for concern. Both defeats were on fly-ball singles, which can happen to anyone.
“He’s getting them out and that’s all that counts,” said Lon Simmons, a member of the A’s broadcasting crew. In his youth, Simmons was a big minor-league pitching prospect, property of the Phillies. An arm injury forced him to withdraw from the field.
The Oakland starters–former Cub Mike Harkey, who won his last start, plus Todd Stottlemyre, Dave Stewart and Steve Ontiveros–have had better fortune, each with two victories. Ontiveros, who led the league in earned-run average last season (2.65) and has a wide assortment of pitches, will make Tuesday night’s start.
In Minneapolis on Sunday, Stottlemyre went eight innings in a 12-3 victory, the longest stint by an Oakland starter. Stottlemyre could have finished but La Russa, always looking ahead, likes to keep his relievers warm and finished with Dave Leiper.
Going into the fourth week of the season, it appears that the bullpen may be the A’s principal strength. Because of this there is no need, except in special circumstances, for a starter to go more than five or six innings.
Jim Corsi, who has been bouncing around since 1982, made the club during the last days of spring training. Troubled with arm problems, Corsi has changed his style and is now getting a lot of ground balls, the result of a new sinker and palmball.
Also in the pen, and effective, is Mark Acre, a huge (6 feet 8 inches, 240 pounds) young right-hander who listens to and takes the advice of Dave Duncan, La Russa’s pitching coach. Duncan is generally regarded as one the wisest of the many mound tutors. The veteran Rick Honeycutt has also returned and is summoned against left-handed hitters.
Todd Van Poppel, now in his third full big-league season, is also among Duncan’s special projects. He was ineffective as a starter, so La Russa has assigned him to the bullpen. Instead of winding up, Van Poppel now throws all of his pitches from the stretch position. The more compact delivery has improved his control.
La Russa has a good defensive club, particularly in the infield. Slugger Mark McGwire can pick it at first. Mike Bordick, a slick-fielding shortstop, has been out with a sprained ankle but is expected back soon.
Mike Gallego, who is among the best defensive second basemen in the league, has replaced Bordick at short. Brent Gates, filling in at second, has been an asset in the field but hasn’t contributed to the offense. Batting coach Jim Lefebvre, the former Cub manager, has been working overtime with Gates in an effort to push his average to .200.
Many years ago, Lefebvre, when he was a coach with the Dodgers, taught me how to hit to right field with some power, and if he can help me I am certain he will have even more success with Gates. Keep your eye on the ball, lad, and don’t overswing.
McGwire, who leads the league in runs batted in, and Geronimo Berroa–and lately Rickey Henderson–have been carrying the offense. Henderson drove in the winning run in three consecutive games.
Berroa, at 30 in his 12th season as a professional, has found the key. He hit .308 and drove in 65 runs with the A’s last year in only 340 at-bats.
The A’s are Berroa’s seventh major-league connection. He was originally signed by Toronto. The Atlanta Braves acquired him in the minor-league draft. Released by Atlanta, he hooked on with Seattle, which sold him to Cleveland. His career also included stops in Cincinnati and Florida.
Berroa is a bad-ball hitter who seems to find everything to his liking. He is hitting .344 with seven home runs and is coming off a big weekend series in the Metrodome. He was 6 for 13 in Minneapolis, including two home runs and five runs batted in.
Jason Bere, beware!