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IV: fitiiii SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5,1995 PAGE B-5 iillliiiil .;f.,-^,- A J.-.-.v;^. >--y,,L; J ,,.i,;^,--^.,.-iu>i;.; .ivw-u-i^,-:. :v'.l-.'.--;,i\.,.;,!:*; ,-i:-.•*•','(.! Photo Editor/Dave Paczak The Cleveland Indians came up short in their first World Series appearance in 41 years, but it was still exciting. times for longtime fans like Willsboro cartoonist Sid Coucney, shown displaying artwork signed by 1948 Indians, foreground, and 1995 Tribe. Cleveland faithful like Couchey, Plattsburgh's Ken Hoeltzel and Phil Leonidas of Saranac Lake are already look- ing forward to next season. Starting Gboden displays some of old form in Winter League debut By JAVIER MAYMI Associated Press Writer SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Dwight Gooden, hoping to jump- start his stalled career, took the mound Saturday for the first time in nearly a year and a half and showed glimpses of the form that once made him one of the best pitchers in the National League. Gooden, who rose to greatness with the New York Mets before drug and physical woes eroded his performance, started for the San Juan Senators in their Puer- to Rico Winter League game against the. Caguas Criollos and allowed two hits and an earned run over five innings. Still showing the same pop on his fastball, Gooden retired the first 10 batters he faced. His per- formanc'e didn't help the Senators much as Caguas bat- tered San Juan's bullpen for a 16-3 victory. The first batter to get the ball out of the infield against Gooden was his former Mets teammate Howard Johnson, who flied out to left field to start the fourth in- ning. \I felt good out there, but it's going to take time before I get full command of my pitches,\ said Gooden, who was on a 60- pitch count. Johnson, who is also trying to rekindle his major league career in Puerto Rico this winter, joked around with Gooden before tak- ing the field. \Hey Buddy, take it easy on me out there,\ Johnson yelled at Gooden. Gooden, who has signed with the New York Yankees, was 157-85 in 10 seasons with the Mets.\\ His appearances in Puerto Rico, which .ended what Gooden called \17 months in hell,\ will serve as a precursor to spring training. The 30-year-old right- hander became a free, agent after sitting out lVfe seasons for vio- lating his drug after-care pro- gram. Gooden realizes both his skills and character will be under close scrutiny as he attempts his com- eback. \I know people, are watching and doubting,\ he said prior to his appearance against Caguas. \But I can't worry about that right now. \On the field, baseball is just baseball and I'm a pitcher. It's what I do for a living. \Off' the field, I'm thinking about Dwight Gooden and Dwight Gooden's future.\ He's not alone. Gooden's ongoing rehabilita- tion calls for meetings as often as needed with a sponsor. Gooden's is Ron Dock, a recovering addict from the South Bronx. Dock is in Puerto Rico with Gooden, trying to help the pitcher deal with stress and re- main focused. Dock, who sits behind the dugout every day, thinks Gooden's addiction to co- caine and alcohol is rooted in his early success. \Dwight never had a chance to be young,\ Dock said. \He was 19 when he got to the majors. He went from teen to adult with no transition. \We talk about that. He lets all his feelings out and he has come to grips with his reality.\ Dock and \Doc Gooden's AP Photo Dwight Gooden delivers in first start for San Juan Saturday. nickname while with the Mets, have known each other nearly a year. Dock said Gooden's de- meanor has changed. \He knows he doesn't control everything and he's learned to take the good with the bad,\ Dock said. \That's important.\ Dock insists positive rein- forcement is the only way to re- covery. He has a simple credo for re- covering addicts: \Dealing with it without ex- cuses. Dealing with life, and knowing who your friends are.\ Gooden's well-wishers include Reinaldo Paniagua, owner of the Santurce Crabbers who recently signed Darryl Strawberry — Gooden's friend, former team- mate and also a recovering addict whose status for 1996 is yet to be determined by the Yankees. \Of course he deserves another shot,\ Paniagua said of Gooden. \We can't just shut the doors. He (Gooden) has come to grips, so why should baseball be deaf?\ At this time a decade ago, Gooden was coming off a 24-4 season with the Mets and was about to be chosen the National League's Cy Young Award win- ner. He was a year shy of New York's last World Series title and a year removed from a record- setting Rookie of the Year per- formance. Gooden came off the suspend- ed list Oct. 2, and Yankees owner George Steinbrenner two weeks later signed him to a one-year contract for $1.15 million. \It wasn't a very tough deci- sion,\ said Ray Negron, Gooden's agent. \Dwight felt he was ready to go to New York, and he likes Steinbrenner because of his charity work in Tampa.\ Both live in Tampa, where Gooden threw on the side with little fanfare while waiting out his suspension. On Saturday, much of the crowd at Hiram Bithorn Stadium was focusing on him. \It's only pressure if I let it become pressure, and to me, it's not,\ he said of his return. \There's no need to run away from it, like there used to be. \I'm happy being Dwight Gooden and I'm happy doing what I do.\ Baseball notebook: Ryne Sandberg made the Chicago Cubs an offer they couldn't financially refuse. But Sandberg*s decision to come out of his 1^2-year retirement puts the Cubs in a bind on the field. In returning, Sandberg voided what would have been the final year of the contract in effect when he retired in mid-1994 .• It - would have paid him $7 million in 1996; ifhepiayed^— - He signed a new deal that guarantees him $1.5 million in 1996 plus $500,000 if he is on the opening day roster, and plate- appearance incentives. In other words, the Cubs and Sandberg get a look at each other during the spring at no cost. Under the voided contract, the Cubs would have paid Sandberg $1.5 million for personal services in 1996. But that doesn't mean every- thing is comfortable. Sandberg's contract says he has to play second base, which is fine if at 36 Sandberg can make a comeback. Remember, at the time of his retirement, Sand- berg's range had diminished and he was not much of an offensive threat. He had only 14 home runs in his final 679 at-bats. In 223 at-bats in 1994 before his retirement he hit .238 with five home runs. The uncertainty about Sand- berg's ability complicates what already was going to be a winter of major decisions for the Cubs. Do they re-sign free agent short- stop Shawon Dunston? Do they tender a contract to arbitration- eligible third baseman Todd Zeile, who made $3.7 million in 1995? If they knew Sandberg could come back they could choose be- tween Dunston and Zeile for third, and move Ray Sanchaz, who replaced Sandberg, back to short, his natural position. But what if they let Dunston or Zeile go, and Sandberg can't handle thejob? \I don't want to get into what ifs, but I know if it doesn't work out it don't be from a lack of try- ing,\ said general manager Ed Lynch, a teammate of Sandberg with the Cubs in 1986-87. \This is quite a gamble on his part. His legacy is set in Cubs history. He showed a lot of guts doing this.\ Why would Sandberg insist that his contract include a clause that he play second base? Could it be that Sandberg wants to set the all-time record for home runs by a second baseman? He is cur- rently fourth on the list at 240, behind Joe Gordon (246), Rogars Hornsby (263) and lot Morgan (266). But* former teammate Rick Sutcllffe thinks it is a deeper decision than the record books. \He's doing what he's doing because it is in is blood,\ Sutcliffe said. \He's a competitor. That's why he is coming out of retire- ment. He doesn't need the money. He needs thejame, and the game needs him.\ • • • Hall of Famer Rod Carew has found a challenge bigger than anything he faced on the field. His 17-year-old daughter Michelle is suffering from a rare form of leukemia, and has been , unabjtetojteceiveja life-saving DdhW'niarrow transplant because medical officials have been un- Cubs in tricky position Michelle. . Michelle's sisters, Stephanie, 20, and Cherise, 22, were a match for each other, but not Michelle. Carew is hoping someone who is not registered with the national donors program will Come for- ward and provide a match. \Because of the bi-racial parents it is harder to find a match,\ said Carew. \The doctors say there is a chance someone will match, a slim chance, but there's always the possibility. That's why we are trying to get the word out. Even if we can't help Michelle maybe someone will turn up who can help another child.\ Carew is Panamanian. His wife Marilyn is Caucasian. \There's a misconception a lot of people have about bone mar- row transplants,\ Marilyn said. \There is no removal of an organ or bones. If you have a simple blood test and it is a match, you'd go to a hospital and they extract the bone marrow. The body reproduces that. The odds of fin- ding a match are one in a million but we just need the one.\ Anyone interested in being tested can call 1-800-MARROW2. • • • There are seven players with a special interest in seeing negotiators get busy and settle on a new Basic Agreement. They each signed contracts last off- season that included signing bonus, which are payable upon \ratification of a new Basic Agreement.\ Seattle outfielder Jay Buhner gets $1.4 million as soon as a deal is made. The other six are all pitchers — California reliever Lee Smith ($800,000), St. Louii reliever Tom Henke ($500,000), Colorado reliever Mark Freeman ($400,000), Texas starter Kevin Gross ($400,000), Pittsburgh reliever Don Plesac ($200,000) and Cleveland reliever Jose Mesa ($50,000).... Brian Goldberg, agent for Seattle out- fielder Ken Griffey, Jr., em- phatically denied his client asked Seattle for a four-year, $45 mil- lion deal that would include $1 million a year for 25 years after his retirement. \Whoever said that either heard things wrong or made; it up,\ Goldberg saii \It's not even dose. And (Griffey) doesn't appreciate it coming out. It's not true and it puts him in a bad light.\ . The New York Mets have iden- tified outfielder Ron Gant and second baseman Craig Biggio as their free^gent priorities. ... r Tracy Ringolsby Rocky Mountain Now? Reliever Rick Aguilera, who con- verted 21 of 22 save oppor- tunities for Boston after being acquired in a July 6 trade from Minnesota, was expecting the Sox to negotiate a contract ex- tension. Not only did the Sox decline to talk long-term, but they declined to exercise their option for 1996 at $4.2 million, making Aguilera a free agent. \I'm still open to going back there,\ he said, \but this will give me some time to see how things unfold and which organizations are making the effort to win.\ Toronto already has been in con- tact. ... Free-agent Paul Molitor has his sights set on the 211 hits he needs to reach 3,000. But he wants to play on familiar ground. His interest is with Milwaukee, the team he broke in with, Toron- to, the only other team he has played for, or Minnesota, which would be a homecoming for the St. Paul native. • • • The expansion Arizona Diamondbacks don't play their first game until 1998 but they could have a manager in 1995. They are courting ex-Yankee manager Buck Showaltor, feeling he could help them prepare for the expansion draft and create a \Diamondback way to play\ for the minor-league system that will start play next season. Oakland and Detroit also have in- terest in Showalter. He was con- sidered a lock for the Tiger job two weeks ago, but Buddy Bell, Cleveland's bench coach, is now considered the Tiger frontrunner. ... San Diego president Larry Luc- chino plans to have a new gener- al manager by next weekend. Florida assistant general manag- er Frank Wren has emerged as the leading candidate. Lucchino is impressed with his ties in Latin America, where the Padres feel they need a stronger presence to create a fan following among area Hispanics. Wren was director of Latin operations in Montreal before joining the Ex- pos exodus to Florida in the fall of 1991. Is Cincinnati owner Marge Schott trying to catch up' with Yankees boss George Steinbren- ner? Joe Torre is the 21st manag- er of the Yankees since Stein- brenner took control in 1973 (al- though that does include several encores for the likes of Billy Mar- f : tin, Bob Lemon, Gene Michael and Lou Piniella). Well, Ray Knight is the sixth manager in six years in Cincinnati. Knight admits he began lobbying for the job in 1993, when he was hired as a .coach for Davey Johnson, and he has no qualms about having no experience. \I told (general man- ager) Jim Bowden in 1993 that I could manage the club then,\ he said. \Managing is not that dif- liciuVnbt that tough. Morow this game of baseball. It's been my life, I managed every game I ever played in my entire life, and I have great coincidence in my ability. I believe I can make a dif- ference with my attitude.... Winning is an obsession — checkers, whatever. It doesn't matter. I know how to win.\ ... The Houston Astros are trying to talk pitching coach Mel Stot- tlemyre out of his decision to resign. He also is being mention- ed as a candidate for Torre's staff in New York. That would be in- teresting. Stottlemyre has hard feelings from his playing days in New York, which ended early in the Steinbrenner regime. When the Yankees drafted son Todd in the fifth round of the 1983 ama- teur draft, Mel told a Yankee scout there was no sense even trying to negotiate a deal. • • • NUMBERS — 3: 1-0 games in the deciding game of the World Series since it became a best-of-seven; the win- ning pitchers were Tom Glovine of Atlanta in Game 6 this year, Jack Morris of Toronto in 10 in- nings in Game 7 of 1991 and Ralph Terry of the Yankees in Game 7 in 1962. — 4: players the Dodgers have signed for 1996, and one of them is Rudy Seanez, who was taken off the roster in the pennant stretch but given a $650,000 deal for 1996 to accept a AAA assign- ment. Also under contract are first baseman Eric Karros ($3.15 million), catcher Mike Piazza ($2.7 million), and reliever Todd Worrell ($4.4 million). — 60: day-notice clauses being put in the contracts of Houston's minor-league managers and coaches, allowing them to be dismissed if there is a 1996 work stoppage that carries two months into the season. * • • — Steinbrenner said the hold- up in deciding whether to exer- cise the $1.8 million option on Darryl Strawberry is strictly over concerns about Strawberry's back. Strawberry will play in Puerto Rico beginning Nov. 15. The Yankees want to watch be- fore deciding. — Cleveland has a $1.5 million option on Orel Hershiser for 1996 that it plans to exercise. Her- shiser, however, may be looking for leverage. He says he might retire and pursue one of what he claims are \several\ television of- fers. — Ozzie Smith, 41, has a $3 million contract with St. Louis for 1996 if he passes a physical. So far, howevdr, Smith hasn't found a doctor that is acceptable to both himself and the Cardinals. • •'• » QUOTES — Broadcaster Jack Buck on the St. Louis Cardinals being for sale: \If you jump off a building, jump off the Empire State Building. If you &wim, swim the English Channel. If you buy a ballclub, buy the Cardinals.\ — Harris county commis- sioner Steve Radnick on owner Drayton McLane saying he needs a new stadium to keep the Astros in Houston: \There is no guaran- tee whatsoever that if you im- prove the Astrodome or build a new stadium that the team will sell more tickets. The Dome is perfectly suitable for baseball because it was built for baseball.\ — Reds manager Ray Knight on coaching for Davey Johnson: \I handled all of Davey's problems, including discipline, but I'll han-| die them myself as manager. Davey has an awful lot of talent and maybe he was too lenient. He only won that one champion- ship (with the Mets in 1986).\ • e • WHAT'S AHEAD Headed into its third off- season without a Basic Agree- ment, baseball doesn't know what the economic structure of the game will be, but teams do know what they need. Here's a look at what the NL Central teams will be looking for this winter: • White Sox: General manager Ron Schueler has been told to cut $10 million from a $39 million payroll that was fifth highest in baseball. It won't be easy with six players already guaranteed --$24^7.5 million. They wilLcount on young starters rebounding from disappointments of 1995, although Schueler would like to add a veteran to the rotation if the price is right. DH is needed, but Tim Raines and Frank Thomas could alternate between that and playing in the field. * Indians: Ken Hill, an in- season addition to strength the post-season rotation, is a free agent, but the Indians have an interest in keeping him. The same can't be said for veteran OF Dave Winf ield, who wasn't even kept on the post-season roster. Eddie Murray, who reached 3,000 hits in '95 and needs 21 home runs for 500, could return if he will take half his $3 million of 1995. If not the Paul Molitor or Julio Franco, who spent 1995 in Japan, will be pursued. (Tracy Ringolsby is a sport - swriter for the Rocky Mountain News in Denver.) r TEAMWORKS^
