Wetteland Excited Baseball Finally Back

American League

For the first five innings or so, John Wetteland wasn’t much different than the 50,245 fans who ventured to Yankee Stadium on Wednesday afternoon for the sunsplashed opening of the baseball season.

He had no popcorn or hot dogs, but his view from the dugout was better than from the box seats and the feel was as comfortable as his own living room.

“It felt great to sit in the dugout and watch major league baseball again,” Wetteland said. “It was exciting. The bell rang and everybody answered the call.”

Wetteland, a righthanded closer acquired in an April 5 trade from Montreal, earned his first save as a Yankee in the season debut.

Stable Indians

The long-term plan that turned the Cleveland Indians into one of baseball’s great stories of 1994 ought to keep them competitive for at least a couple more years, general manager John Hart says.

“Stability? It’s the rock of Gibraltar. This club isn’t disappearing,” Hart said as the Indians prepared for today’s regular-season opener in Texas.

The Indians, the misadventures of the previous four decades behind them, were poised for their first pennant race since the 1950s when the strike ended the season last August. At the time, they were 66-47, one game behind the A.L. Centralleading Chicago White Sox and in position for a wildcard playoff berth.

Their 35-16 record at new Jacobs Field, where they won a franchise-record 18 consecutive home games in May and June, was the best in the game.

And Hart has every reason to think the Indians will be in the race again this year and next, thanks to some well-conceived player signings that guarantee he’ll be able to keep at least eight of his nine starting position players and six of his best pitchers through the ‘96 season.

The plan, put together in 1990 and ‘91 by then-team president Hank Peters along with Hart and assistant general manager Dan O’Dowd, had the added benefit of letting Cleveland fans become familiar with their team.

“That’s the way baseball should be,” said Hart. “Over the last couple years, we’ve seen that what we did was correct.”

Red Sox 9, Twins 0

Boston

Bases loaded. Game still up for grabs. A perfect situation for Jose Canseco, the new hero for the Boston Red Sox.

And he came through for the supportive opening-day crowd, hitting a two-run single that sent Boston toward a shutout win.

Yankees 8, Rangers 6

New York

A smaller-than-usual crowd and a replacement umpire with an unusual chest protector watched New York do what it usually does on opening day - win with Jimmy Key on the mound.

Key won his third straight opening-day start for the Yankees and improved his career record in openers to 6-0 as Danny Tartabull homered and drove in three runs.

Royals 5, Orioles 1

Kansas City, Mo.

Kevin Appier was pulled after 6 innings with a nohitter in progress and reliever Rusty Meacham gave up a hit with one out in the eighth during Kansas City’s win.

Brewers 12, White Sox 3

Milwaukee

John Jaha hit his first career grand slam and Pat Listach had three hits and three RBIs as Milwaukee routed Chicago.

Blue Jays 13, Athletics 1

Toronto

Toronto tied a team record with an 11-run second inning during its seasonopening victory.

Devon White had four RBIs in the big inning and rookie shortstop Alex Gonzalez also drove in four runs.

Tigers 5, Angels 4

Anaheim, Calif.

With $1 tickets drawing a record opening-night crowd of 51,033 to Anaheim Stadium, Juan Samuel’s three-run homer and Cecil Feidler’s two-run blow carried visiting Detroit.