Torre Forced To Give Irabu Another Chance

Joe Torre isn’t ready to give up on Hideki Irabu just yet.

Torre said Saturday he was leaving the Japanese pitcher in his starting rotation and that Irabu would start Monday against the Philadelphia Phillies.

After Irabu was hammered in his last start against Oakland last Wednesday, allowing five runs and eight hits in 3-1/2 innings, a “confused” Torre said he was considering demoting Irabu to the bullpen.

But because David Cone is on the disabled list and with potential No.4 starters Irabu, Kenny Rogers and Ramiro Mendoza all unreliable, Torre is going to give Irabu another look.

“I need starters,” Torre said before Saturday’s game against the Montreal Expos. Especially with David Cone out. “And because of Anaheim and the stuff he showed then.”

Before his disastrous outing in Oakland, Irabu had beaten the Angels in Anaheim with a solid 6-2/3 innings. But in that game, he displayed some of his fiery temper by throwing his glove at a ball he misplayed and kicking dirt on the mound after being called for a balk.

Torre had hoped it would be a breakout game for Irabu, signed to a four-year, $12.8 million contract but who has been nothing but a headache for Torre since his arrival.

Irabu has already been demoted to the minors once to clear his head and, despite a 4-2 record, he has a 7.07 ERA and has allowed 11 homers in 35-2/3 innings.

Red Sox sign Pride

The Red Sox signed outfielder Curtis Pride, only the fifth deaf player to make it to the big leagues, to a Triple-A Pawtucket contract.

Pride, 28, batted .210 with two homers and 19 RBIs in 79 games for Detroit this season. The Tigers outrighted him to the minors Aug. 23, but Pride declined the assignment and decided to become a free agent.

The Red Sox awarded Pride the 1996 Tony Conigliaro Award, given for overcoming adversity. Conigliaro, a Red Sox outfielder, came back to play after suffering serious injuries when he was hit in the head by a pitch in 1967.

“Curtis is a solid, left-handed hitting outfielder who we feel will be a good complement for our ballclub,” said Red Sox general manager Dan Duquette. “Curtis is a great inspiration for people, especially for kids.”

The first deaf player in the majors since 1945, Pride signed with the Mets in 1986 and reached the majors with Montreal in 1993. In 232 big-league games in four seasons, he has batted .257 with 13 home runs, 57 RBIs and 21 stolen bases.

Brewers pick up Jackson from Twins

The Minnesota Twins traded outfielder Darrin Jackson to the playoff-hopeful Milwaukee Brewers for a player to be named.

The Twins, out of postseason contention, made their third trade in three weeks.

Jackson, 34, hit .254 with three homers and 21 RBIs in 49 games for the Twins after they promoted him from Triple-A Salt Lake on May 16. He had six RBIs, including a grand slam, in his first game.

Mets bid Harnisch adieu

The New York Mets decided to give pitcher Pete Harnisch what he wanted, designating him for assignment with the intention of ending his association with the team.

The Mets recalled pitcher Paul Wilson from his rehabilitation assignment and dropped Harnisch from the 40-man roster. Wilson was then optioned to St. Lucie of the Florida State League.

Harnisch was 0-1 with an 8.24 ERA in four starts since missing four months because of depression. Overall, the 30-year-old right-hander is 0-1 with an 8.06 ERA in six games, including one relief outing after his return from the DL.

Avery hasn’t been a bargain

Boston general manager Duquette needed a bad year from the departed Roger Clemens and a good year from his $4.85 million replacement, Steve Avery. He has gotten neither.

While Clemens continues to roll toward a 25-win season and a fourth American League Cy Young award with the Blue Jays, Avery is staggering along with a 6.30 ERA and a .322 opponents’ batting average, both the worst marks among A.L. starting pitchers.

Worse yet, Avery, a 27-year-old left-hander who seemed destined for superstardom four years ago with Atlanta, needs to make only two more starts to earn the call on a $3.9 million option for 1998.