At this time last season the Houston Astros were en route to the title in the National League Central and Larry Dierker, their rookie manager, was keeping a daily journal for the purpose of publication. But baseball’s latest Samuel Pepys decided against publishing.
“I had written 500 pages,” Dierker explained. “They told me I’d have to cut it in half.”
There was another problem.
Dierker was fearful of offending the “sensitivities” of some of his players. “I didn’t think I offended anyone, not that badly,” Dierker said.
Before sending his troops Saturday against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, Dierker revealed that his literary career is on hold.
“I used to send people postcards,” he said. “I don’t even do that anymore.”
Dierker has been one of baseball’s best player chroniclers. He had a long and distinguished career as a big-league pitcher and before climbing into the manager’s seat had written a twice-weekly column that had a 10-year run in the Houston Chronicle.
Dierker conceded that since he abandoned his journal–it still is stored in his computer–he has had much more time for himself. Moreover, the enjoyment is still there because his Astros have expanded their lead to 8 1/2 games over the pennant-panting Cubs.
A reporter mentioned that if he were still keeping a diary he would probably have a lot to say about Randy Johnson, the American League strikeout king whom the Astros acquired July 31, the day of the trading deadline.
“It was a shoot-the-moon deal,” Dierker said. “We don’t get to the launching pad very often and we were already there.”
Dierker went on to say he doesn’t expect Johnson to pitch a shutout every time out, but when Johnson is on the mound the likelihood of a victory is much greater. Johnson is 3-1 in his four starts since joining the Astros, including a pair of shutouts.
“I don’t expect him to go 12-1,” Dierker said. “But it’s comforting to have him on our side.”
And so Dierker and his Houston players had another day of comfort. Johnson stopped the Cubs 8-3 with a seven-inning two-hitter. Both hits came in the second inning, a leadoff home run by Glenallen Hill and an inconsequential single by Scott Servais.
Johnson held Sammy Sosa without a hit and after the game said it didn’t matter to him whether Hill or Sosa had hit a home run. Johnson’s only concern was being in control. His command, after the early going, was such that he retired his last 11 batters in order.
Johnson insisted he didn’t do it alone and gave more than ample credit to his teammates.
“When they score eight runs they’re doing their job and that makes it a lot easier for me,” he said.
The victory helped the Astros solidify their divisional lead. But Johnson, like any smart player, raised the caution flag.
“I never count anybody out until they’re mathematically eliminated,” he said. “And we’ve still got a long way to go before the playoffs.”
Unlike many players, Johnson has a rare appreciation of baseball history: “I enjoy playing in ballparks that have a lot of history.”
He mentioned only two parks, Wrigley Field and Fenway Park in Boston.
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Drayton McLane Jr., the Astros’ owner, was in attendance Saturday and was complimented on approving the Johnson trade. To acquire the 6-foot-10-inch left-hander, the Astros gave up three minor-league prospects. In addition, they had to pick up one-third of Johnson’s $6 million salary.
“Giving up good prospects is tough to do,” Dierker said. “But you never know what’s going to happen in the future. A lot of good prospects, maybe 50 to 75 percent, never make it to the big leagues, and if they do they don’t stay very long.”
After the game McLane went into the Houston clubhouse and gave Dierker a congratulatory handshake.
“He (Johnson) just makes us a much better team,” McLane said. “We’re moving forward.”
Only minutes earlier Dierker was explaining his philosophy, which he insisted includes not only baseball but life in general.
“If you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse,” he said.
As for the Cubs, they have made considerable progress this season but would have made much more if they had acquired Johnson. Especially since he was out there for the asking.