Sutton To Cooperstown?

OK, time to play Hall of Fame voter again. On the eve of the announcement of the newest residents of Cooperstown, let’s get right down to business.

Don Sutton - in or out?

So far, his 324 career wins and 3,574 strikeouts have not been enough to get him to Cooperstown. Now, on the ballot for the fifth time, he’ll find out Monday whether he makes it this year (Phil Niekro was elected last January on his fifth try).

Sutton’s supporters say he was an excellent pitcher for a prolonged period. His critics claim his 23 seasons just make him a testament to longevity.

“I do believe I’ve earned it,” Sutton said recently. “I am disappointed not to already be there, and I’m not expecting it this year.”

Sutton got increased support last January, missing by just nine votes. This might be his best shot for a while - next year, the ballot gets crowded when Nolan Ryan, George Brett, Robin Yount, Carlton Fisk and Dale Murphy become eligible.

There are 26 players on this ballot, nine of them for the first time. Gary Carter, Bert Blyleven and Jack Clark are among the rookie candidates, and Tony Perez, Jim Rice and Ron Santo are among the holdovers.

A quick look at the lineup:

Sutton. Was 324-256 with a 3.26 ERA. Won 20 games once. A four-time All-Star.

Perez. Ranks 16th lifetime with 1,652 RBIs. Hit 379 homers and batted .279.

Rice. Hit 382 homers with 1,451 RBIs. Batted .300 seven times, finished at .298. A.L. MVP in 1978, three-time A.L. home run champion and an eight-time All-Star.

Santo. Hit 342 homers with 1,331 RBIs. Batted .277. A nine-time All-Star and a five-time Gold Glove third baseman. On the ballot for the 15th and final time.

Bruce Sutter. Led N.L. in saves five times, finished with 300. Six-time All-Star, 1979 N.L. Cy Young winner.

Tommy John. Went 288-231 with a 3.34 ERA in 26 seasons. Three 20-win seasons.

Dave Parker. Hit .290 with 339 home runs and 1,493 RBIs. A seven-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glove outfielder and 1978 N.L. MVP. Won N.L. batting titles in 1977 and 1978.

Steve Garvey. A 10-time All-Star first baseman. A two-time NLCS MVP, a two-time All-Star game MVP and the N.L. MVP in 1974. Hit .294 with 272 home runs and 1,308 RBIs in 19 seasons. Won four Gold Gloves.

Dwight Evans. Hit 385 homers and won eight straight Gold Gloves in right field. Batted .272 with 1,384 RBIs in 20 seasons. A three-time All-Star.

Among the new candidates:

Carter. An All-Star catcher 11 times. Hit 324 home runs with 1,225 RBIs in 19 seasons. Won three Gold Gloves. Holds major league record for putouts and chances by a catcher.

Blyleven. Went 287-250 with a 3.31 ERA in 22 seasons. Two All-Star teams, one 20-win season. Ranks third lifetime in strikeouts (3,701) and ninth in shutouts (60). Great curveball.

Clark. Hit 340 homers with 1,180 RBIs in 18 seasons. A two-time All-Star.

Pedro Guerrero. Batted .300 in a 15-year career. Hit 215 home runs with 898 RBIs. Five-time All-Star.

The Veterans Committee, which often is not as strict as the writers when it comes time to giving out tickets to Cooperstown, is scheduled to meet March 3.

Will Jack be back?

Former Cy Young Award winner Jack McDowell, who did not pitch for Cleveland after undergoing surgery on his right elbow May 20, wants another chance to prove he can still play.

McDowell and his brother-agent, Jim, have sent a letter to every team in the majors saying the one-time ace plans to work out for clubs in late January.

The Yankees, for whom McDowell went 15-10 in 1995, are among a few teams showing interest in seeing him.

McDowell, soon to turn 32, signed a $9.6 million, two-year contract with the Indians after the 1995 season.

Hit and miss

The Milwaukee Brewers may find advantages to joining the National League next year - more fan interest, for example - but getting offensive production from their pitchers might not be one of them.

Milwaukee pitchers were 0 for 18 at the plate in interleague games, the worst mark in the majors.

“I just sent out my Christmas cards and told them I hope they’re all taking batting practice,” Brewers manager Phil Garner said before the holidays.

“You’re going to see our pitchers be able to handle the bats and do some things,” he said. “Given that we’re going into spring training with the idea they’re going to have a bat in their hands, you’re going to see better results.”

Job security

Even though no manager’s job is ever safe, Dusty Baker seems to be pretty secure in San Francisco. At least, that’s how it sounded recently when Giants GM Brian Sabean spoke to a crowd at the groundbreaking of the team’s new Pacific Bell Park.

“In the year 2000, on opening day, when Shawn Estes pitches seven innings of shutout baseball and Barry Bonds hits a three-run homer in the first inning and Bill Mueller makes a diving catch to save the game, I’ll make this promise to you: When you look in the dugout, Dusty Baker will be the manager,” Sabean said.