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Home , Bob Welch (baseball), Carney Lansford, Dave Henderson, Dave Parker, Dave Stewart (baseball), Don Robinson (baseball)

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OCTOBER 17. 1989 HE RETRIEVER/PAGE 13

Holton rates Series sluggers really seen them this year (except by Rich Scherr ball in on him so he doesn't get those to pitch them all, because with the editorial staff on t.v. a few times) but Mitchell arms extended." Dodgers I pitched against these seems to me like he's a lot of But the one man who has given guys an awful lot. I would have had off-speed stuff. Holton more fits than any, isn't one the advantage." and Kevin Mitchell — "Last year, I threw him a lot of of the "big bangers." the I989 Giants' version of Ruth And it's this advantage that will breaking balls but I think this year "The guy who makes that team help recent A's acquisitions Storm and Gehrig — are considered by I'd crowd him with up and go is ,"he says. many enthusiasts as the Davis (from Padres), Dennis Eck- in." "You can't pitch him any one way. ersly (from Cubs), and Rick Honey- fiercest three-four combo in the On Will Clark (a.k.a."the hitting He hits the ball where you pitch it. majors today. cutt, , , and machine") however, says the You throw it outside, hell go to (all from the Dodgers) This season, they combined for McKeesport, Pa. native, it would right. You throw it in, he'll go to in their bid to chop down the a .313 batting average while slam- be in the A's best interest to just left." Giants. ming 70 round trippers and driving stay away and let the slugger beat Holton says the book on Lans- For this same reason, as well as in 236 runs in leading San Francisco them to left field. But warns Holton, ford is just to mix up the pitches to the pennant. their possesion of what he feels is "I really wouldn't give him too and hope he'll hit the ball at a vastly superior pitching staff, Enough to make the A's much to hit right now because he's somebody. crawl back into their alphabet soup? Holton picks the A's to win it in so hot." But textbook strategies can go six. Not if they listen to the preach- Of course, Holton has tangled just so far. As Holton found out "The Oakland hitters are stronger ings of Brian Holton. Holton, who with the A's, as well, and has this season, his first in the American by far, but that doesn't really mean came to the Orioles from Los theories on how to harness their League, it's experience that counts. anything as the Dodgers proved last Angeles last December as part of potent lineup. After last year's stellar season on year, "he says. "Oakland had the the deal, led last On a team filled with all-stars like the senior circuit, he came to the better team on paper, but we just year's World Champion Dodgers Mark McGwire, Rickey Hender- Orioles ignorant to the idiosyncra- happened to play the better baseball by pitching to a minuscule 1.70 son, and , one name sies of batters. for those five games. Anything can earned average while winning has risen to the top (by clobbering "I felt like I was at a disadvantage seven out of 10 decisions. happen in a seven-game series, but Orioles' reliever Brian Holton moonshots like the one to the third because I didn't know anybody and ultimately pitching is going to be The Dodgers' main adversary — tier of Toronto's Skydome, 480 feet I didn't know how to pitch to their the bottom line." you guessed it, the San Francisco from home plate in this year's strengths and weaknesses." So who is Brian Holton rooting Giants. If anybody in the American ALCS), "My heart goes to the I might change my mind there. I'll Conversely, if the Orioles would for? His one time National League Giants, "states the ex-Dodger. "But League knows how to stop "Will Stopping last year's 40 homerun, probably root for the A's." have made the Series, Holton felt rival , or his with the A's, I've got four former Whoever he chooses to back, one Power" and "Mitchell Mayhem,' 40 man, Jose Conseco, he would have had a field day. it's this 29-year old veteran. West advisary, teammates." thing's for sure." He'll be doing his could be the key to poisoning "I think I would have known how the Oakland A's. So what's Holton's initial reac- Oakland. - He laughs,"Just thinkin' about it, share of second guessing. tion to the question of how to stop "With Conseco, I'm gonna pitch these cannon shooters? "I would say him fastballs in,"says the Orioles' pitch around them,"he says long reliever. "I'm gonna pitch the laughing. Some fanatics do anything "Na,"the hurler rethinks,"they've been trying that all year. I haven't s&ofi to get in their nine innings feif by Mitch Teich -Iff OH^ 6* staff writer Even if this doesn't prove partic- The Keys' debut was rather an BM w ularly useful to you, it ought to be auspicious one, as they had been The is here, and I entertaining. no-hit in their season opener by the 6 t0« don't know about your, but I sure Durham Bulls two days earlier. In don't have tickets. It's not too early, APRIL 11, 1989: McCurdy Sta- fact, it was a perfect game. By the REFUNDS however, to think about taking a dium, Frederick, time the Keys made it to Frederick, ml tour around some East Coast It's the first professional game in their record stood at 0-2, and they c ■ 2a ^ 1989 „ ballparks next season. What fol- Frederick since the Philadelphia had amassed a whopping two hits. £\Pete Rose, Jr. Whatever rr*^." o "SEN -Hfc! reason for a day trip from the friend, and 3,349 others to watch their reasons for coming, the fans seat.«*X prtcettex^..® — Baltimore-Washington Area. A toe [named after were treated to Frederick's first couple aren't really recommended, Frederick's most famous son, Fran- [Hector Bautista], first RBI unless you don't mind leaving really cis Scott Key] take on the Kinston and [Ricky Gutierrez], and early or getting home really late. Indians. first win. The fans found out why the city is looking to build a new ballpark. McCurdy Field is a converted Little League park that, while comfortable and quaint enough, is just too small for pro- Battle by the Bay fessionals. Any foul ball over the third-base bleachers either lands on a busy street or on someone's lawn. It kind of reminds one of Wrigley Pitching powers A's to 2-0 lead as Series heads Field, but not quite. By the way, despite the Keys' early troubles, they finished both halves of the Class A season just missing the play- Game 1 — Saturday — Oakland Moore gave up just three hits and staff ace Dave Stewart shut down Who's Hot... offs. Stay tuned: The Keys are two walks in his seven innings of Giants — Mitchell 3 for 8 the Giants on five hits as he treated scheduled to move to the all-new work, as his club took a 2-0 series Uribe 2 for 5 the hometown crowd of 49,385 to lead with a 5-1 victory. Harry M. Grove Stadium sometime a 5-0 A's shutout win. Stewart It didn't take long for the A's to A's — R. Henderson 5 for 8 next year. collected six while only get on the board, as Rickey McGwire 4 for 8 yielding hits to Will Clark and Henderson led off the bottom of APRIL 16, 1989: The Diamond, Kevin Mitchell (two apiece) and the first with a walk. Two pitches Richmond, Virginia Jose Uribe. later, he stole second and scored Who's Not... Game time on Sunday afternoons The A's took the lead in the on a Carney Lansford dou- Giants — everybody but Mitchell in Richmond is 2:00, but having no second when, with one out, Tony ble.Athletics 1, Giants 0. and Uribe 4 for 52 Phillips singled to right scoring But San Francisco battled back idea exactly how long it would take A's — Canseco 0 for last 34 World to get to Richmond, we set out at . Then, after Walt to tie it in the third. Series at bats Weiss's fielder's choice, an error led off the inning with a . He 10:30. From Washington, it took a by Terry Kennedy allowed was then forced out at second on little over two hours to get to The to score, making Jose Uribe's comebacker to Diamond, a jewel in the rough of it 2-0. followed Moore. Uribe advanced to third on and UMBC picks... Virginia's capital city. with a single to right scoring 's single, and came A picture-perfect sky, the Phillips. Athletics 3, Giants 0. home on Robbie Thompson's sac- "San Francisco in seven squeeze-bottle give-away, and a rifice fly to center. Athletics 1, because they play better in the Richmond Braves vs. Toledo Mud Giants 1. fog." — Assistant Athletic Hens—Class AAA International In the fourth, however, Oakland Director for Operations, Tom broke it open. Jose Conseco Maier League game was the cause of all started the inning with a walk and the driving. The Diamond sits in Dave Parker followed with a RBI "Oakland in seven because their the middle of kind of a bland, double to right, which missed Director of Publicity is a former industrial area, and just looking at being a homerun by inches. The student of mine." —Athletic Direc- the outside, it looks incomplete. It next batter, Dave Henderson, drew tor Dr. Charles Brown looks like the builders were going a walk, and two batters later, Terry to build a huge stadium, but they Steinbach slammed a three-run "I think Oakland will take it in only went one-third of the way homer to left. Athletics 5, Giants seven. Although I think people are around. 1. under- rating the Giants, Oak- Once you peek inside the sta- land's pitching is just too strong." S.F. 001 000 000 —140 — Sports Information Director, dium, though, you're completely A's 100400 OOx -570 Steve Levy Sleeping won over. The facility is gorgeous. Real seats throughout, an immac- "I'll go with San Francisco in six ulate, natural grass playing surface. because I like their hitting." — Sure, the Braves' parent club is Men's soccer John Ellinger giant hopelessly mired in the NL West Game 3 — Tonight @ San Fran- cisco (8:31 p.m.) cellar, however Richmond has a "Oakland in five. Clark and Mit- quality ball club, enthusiastic fans, Oakland (Bob Welch, 17-8, 3.00) chell can't carry the Giants, and vs. San Fransisco (, the A's staff is just too strong." — and a great park. We had great 12-11,3.43) Rich Scherr, Sports Editor seats, right behind home plate, close 1 onight's starter Bob Welch enough to hear the Toledo catcher Game 4 — Tomorrow @ San As the A's hold a repeatedly swear at no one in Francisco (8:28 p.m.) commanding 2-0 lead over particular after wild pitches. Rich- Then in the third, Dave Parker the Giants, San Fransisco fans mond won easily, 5-2, more than gave Oakland a four-run lead with Game 5 — (if necessary) Thursday can only pray that Canseco remains compensating for the fact the a solo homer to right Athletics 4, @ San Francisco (8:28 p.m.) in his slumbering state. Oakland's Braves have the most awkward Giants 0. slugger is steadily approaching a Game 6 — (if necessary) Saturday, scorecard-program in the country. The A's closed out the scoring World Series record after going It's an all-paper, tabloid-sized in the fourth with a solo Oct. 21 @ Oakland (8:28 p.m.) hitless in 34 consecutive at-bats. shot to right. Athletics 5, Giants 0. publication that is just about worth Game 7 — (if necessary) Sunday, the $1.00 they charge. But at five S.F. 000 000 000-0 51 Oct.22 @ Oakland (8:28 p.m) dollars for box seats, who cares? A's 031 100 OOx-5 11 1 MAY 14, 1989: RiverSide Stadium, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Game 2 — Sunday — The A's Mike (see FANATIC, page 15)