Can A’S Bash Brothers Bring Back The Hit Parade?
Oakland’s fabled Bash Brothers are back together in the Oakland family.
But according to Mark McGwire, it was really never a close-knit kinship.
“We really didn’t know each other personally, and we never hung out,” said McGwire, the “Brother” who never left the nest. “People just associate us because of all the Bash Brothers stuff. That was a big thing for the A’s at a time when the team was winning. … but things have changed. We’re older, we’re wiser, we’re the veterans - that’s really the big difference.
“We’ve come a long way,” said McGwire. “To think we’d ever play together again, well, it’s surprising.”
McGwire is 33, Canseco 32. It’s been eight years since they won a World Series with the A’s. It’s been five since they played in the same lineup. Still, they will forever be linked in Oakland history - the young guns with the big bats who smashed home run after home run for the A’s during their glory run in the late 1980s. Canseco was a rookie in 1986. He hit 33 homers and drove in 117 runs. McGwire came up to stay the following season, banging 49 homers and driving in 118 runs. In the four years that followed, they hit a combined 215 homers, despite injuries to both.
“Right away, people got excited about having him (Canseco) back,” A’s manager Art Howe said. “They’re excited about having him and Mark back together.”
Irabu heads back to Japan
Hideki Irabu took his 100 mph fastball and went home.
The star right-hander, unable to sign with the New York Yankees as he wished, got on a plane in Los Angeles and followed through with his threat to return to Japan.
Even if the San Diego Padres don’t deal his rights to the Yankees, Irabu could end up pitching in North America this summer, albeit at a much lower level.
The Regina Cyclones of the independent Prairie League sent a letter to baseball officials in both New York and Tokyo notifying them they will pursue Irabu for the 1997 season and asking whether such a deal would jeopardize his future in the majors.
“I don’t believe anybody knows of a rule,” Cyclones owner Dave Ferguson said. “I think the independent leagues would be a perfect place to play until all his problems and controversies are rectified.”
Indians ask for exemption
The Cleveland Indians, who expect to be without Jose Mesa when the season opens April 2, have asked the American League for a roster exemption while the star closer is on trial for a rape charge. Cleveland opens the season at Oakland. General manager John Hart said he had hoped Mesa could return to the team the following Saturday or Sunday.
If the exemption request is granted, Cleveland would replace Mesa on the 25-man roster with another pitcher, probably Danny Graves.
Clearing the bases
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Barry Larkin got a cortisone shot in his sore left heel and was told to rest for a few days. Also, the Reds sent minor-league infielder Ray Brown to San Diego to complete the trade for reliever Joey Eischen. … Center fielder Roger Cedeno, frustrated with the Dodgers organization, has asked to be traded. … Former Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Al Campanis, who nearly died of pneumonia two weeks ago, underwent surgery to have a feeding tube inserted in his stomach. … If the Orioles and Cal Ripken agree on a contract extension, the signing could be delayed until after April 1 to work around baseball’s new payroll tax system.