Designated Hitter May Be Called Out
In the next 10 days, baseball management may put in motion the beginning of the end of the designated hitter.
The DH, part of the American League game since the 1973 season, could be eliminated after this year. Under Article 18 of baseball’s collective bargaining agreement, owners can unilaterally change a playing rule one season after they propose the change to the players’ association.
A management official, speaking on the condition he not be identified, said last week that owners intended to make the proposal before the start of the season on March 31.
The real intent of owners is to gradually eliminate the DH within a few years. For instance, they could bargain with the players and announce the DH will disappear within 10 years.
The union is unlikely to give up the DH easily. In 1997, the seven full-time DHs averaged $3,583,788, more than double the overall average of $1,336,609 and the second-most of any position behind first base ($3,717,579).
In addition, union leaders think having older stars such as Paul Molitor around is good for the game, outweighing the loss of strategy caused by not having to pinch hit for pitchers.
The last time owners took a straw poll, N.L. owners were unanimously against the DH and A.L. owners were split 7-7.
In the end, the DH situation probably will be settled during bargaining on the future of interleague play. The deal between players and owners was for 1997 and ‘98 only, and a new agreement must be worked out if it’s to continue after this season.
‘El Duque’ welcomed
Orlando Hernandez walked into the New York Yankees clubhouse and saw a table filled with food. The pitcher was puzzled.
The Cuban defector wondered who the buffet was for, and wanted to know whether he had to pay for it.
From the plentiful spread to the players alongside him, it was all new for “El Duque.”
“The first day of workouts with the New York Yankees and being next to so many stars is what I’ll always remember,” Hernandez said. “This what I always wanted to do.”
Hernandez, 28, was greeted warmly by Hideki Irabu, Darryl Strawberry and other Yankees, and got a nice reception from fans as he went through his first workout.
Hernandez received a loud ovation from approximately 100 fans who watched his 73-pitch, 13-minute bullpen session.
Irabu has tendinitis in his right elbow and is likely to stay in Florida when the team leaves to begin the regular season.
Irabu, who worked 12-2/3 shutout innings in his last three starts, was scheduled to start the third game of the regular season.
Stieb throws some heat
Former Toronto star Dave Stieb, trying to make a comeback at age 40, pitched two innings and allowed two unearned runs in a Triple-A exhibition game for the Blue Jays.
Stieb allowed one hit, walked two and struck out one for Syracuse in a 6-3 win over Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, Philadelphia’s top minor-league team. His best fastball was clocked at 87 mph.
Shoulder bothers Appier
Royals pitching ace Kevin Appier has been sent back to Kansas City for an examination of his ailing right shoulder.
Appier, injured in an off-season fall, had some soreness during a 15-minute workout on Friday. He had already been scratched from his traditional role as the team’s opening-day starter. Manager Tony Muser says there’s now a 50-50 chance Appier will open the season on the disabled list.
Abbott sinks Mariners
Jeff Abbott drove in four runs and Frank Thomas homered for the second straight day as the Chicago White Sox beat the Seattle Mariners 7-2 at Tucson, Ariz.
Abbott had a run-scoring single in the third off Randy Johnson, a two-run triple in the fifth and an RBI single in the seventh. Thomas homered against Johnson (2-2), who gave up five hits and three runs in four innings.
On other fields
John Burkett (4-0) pitched seven strong innings and Will Clark and Ivan Rodriguez homered as the Texas Rangers beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-1.
The Montreal Expos lost their 12th straight exhibition game as Todd Zeile and Thomas Howard hit home runs that gave the Los Angeles Dodgers a 7-4 win.
Manny Ramirez, playing his first game since slapping a clubhouse attendant in the face, hit a tiebreaking, three-run double as the Cleveland Indians beat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-2.
xxxx SINKING SHIP As the host for last week’s owners meetings, Vince Naimoli staged a dinner for owners and officials on Wednesday night. In honor of St. Petersburg’s exhibit on the Titanic, the Devil Rays recreated the ship’s final meal (cutting the courses in half from the original 11, according to the commissioner’s office, which said no one would remain for a meal that lengthy). Many suggested that the last meal of the Titanic was a poor image for baseball, still trying to overcome negative images left by the 1994-95 strike.