From: dxf12@po.CWRU.Edu (Douglas Fowler)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
Subject: Opening day games (ATAS)
Date: 25 Jan 1993 15:11:44 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: dxf12@po.CWRU.Edu (Douglas Fowler)
NNTP-Posting-Host: slc12.ins.cwru.edu


     I'm going to post game highlights for the 1st 2 days, then single game
scores for each day of the 1st couple months.  I used the N.L. schedule of
1988 & the A.L. schedule of '90, but pushed the dates back on the one so
the season wound up ending on the same day.  BTW, Pirate catcher Petway,
signed from the Negro Leagues, is named Bruce, not TOm.  I don't know why
the article I read in Mazeroski's baseball annual in '88 listed him as Tom,
but he's called Bruce by the players who mention him in "Great Voices of
Black Baseball," so I'll go with Bruce.  Not that it matters - for years I
thought Yogi was the Yankee catcher's real 1st nema, and that didn't distract
from my enjoyment. :-)

     Opening day, April 2:  Cincinnati
     "Well, Satch, I guess we'll find out pretty early which one of us is the
best," boasted Dizzy Dean as both pitchers took batting practice before the
game in Crosley Field.  Abraham Lincoln was on hand to throw out the first
ball; he attempted to throw a curve, but it hung like a clothesline.  He later
quipped that "even one of my generals during the war could have hit that
thing; and, other than Grant, they were like the Mariners."
     Racial harmony was the theme of this season, so it was only fitting that
the Great Emancipator threw out the first ball.  His curve was not only one
of the few that hung, it was one of the few that was thrown.  Both hurlers
relied on heat, which was comforting since the thermometer read 48
degrees at game time.  After five innings, neither man had surrendered a
baserunner.
     In the bottom of the sixth, however, Dave Parker led off with a home run
that reached the seats in under five seconds, by some estimates.  "Man, that
thing was scary," RF Stan Musial shouted as the team re-entered the dugout.
The Cards tied it an inning later, when Brock singled and went to third on
Rogers Hornsby's single.  Vince Coleman ran for Hornsby.
     "I don't think Brock's as fast as James (Bell)," Paige remarked to Johnny
Bench on the mound.
     "Well, be careful, because Vince might be," the catcher replied.
     Sure enough, Coleman stole on the first pitch.  Bench threw to Paige, who
threw home to nail Brock.  Hernandez grounded out, but Musial singled to
score Coleman.  The score stood at 1-1 until Joe Morgan's tenth inning homer
won it.  Both hurlers went the distance, and - after the loss - Dean warned
Paige that "I'll be back, and come out on top next time; hopefully in the
playoffs!"
     Montreal: One for the Hall
     The Mets expected a Seaver-like pitcher when they arrived in Montreal;
what they found was a performance like few had ever seen.  "Smokey" Joe
Williams lived up to the pre-game hype by surrendering one hit - a fifth
inning single by Darryl Strawberry.  However, his teammates couldn't score
until the thirteenth, when Andre Dawson slammed a two-run homer off
Roger McDowell, New York's third pitcher.  Queen Victoria threw out the
first pitch, but was reportedly "not amused, and quite confused" about why
batters were standing at the plate doing nothing while the flamethrowers
fired balls right past the hitters.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
     Baltimore-The Tradition Continues:
     An airplane flew over us trailing a banner that proclaimed:  "Washington:
First in war, first in peace, last in the American League."  While the
Senators' chances looked bleak, I felt it was in rather poor taste.  April is
supposed to be a time of hope.
     Still, George Washington couldn't help but grin as he threw out the first
pitch.  Mindful that the fellow once threw a silver dollar across the
Potomac, Lance Parrish stood at home plate while the President threw from
short center field.  The ball arrived in his mitt on one bounce.
     Once the game began, Hilton Smith dazzled the fans with more pitches
than an energetic car salesman.  Unfortunately, the Senators could only
muster two hits - one being Frank Howard's long home run in the eighth -
and the score was tied at one entering the bottom of the eleventh, when
Smith was lifted.  Jim Palmer had been replaced after nine.
     Paul Blair immediately launched a double off Jim Kern, and Mark Belanger
sacrificed.  A pinch-hitter for Ed Watt walked, and Max Lanier relieved,
surrendering a 500-foot home run to pinch-hitter Doug DeCinces.  "I felt so
sorry for the Negro League starter," President Washington admitted.  "He
waits so long to make the majors, and then his bullpen can't do anything!"
     Boston-A Happy Ty Cobb=A possible pennant:
     Ty Cobb largely ignored the Negro League presence on his Tigers, saying
that "as long as I'm the biggest star, I don't care who I play with."  Launching
a homer on the first pitch of the American League season, he watched it for
several moments while slowly circling the bases, prompting Cy Young to
comment:  "There isn't enough mustard in the world to cover that hot dog."
     Young surrendered three runs, but Mickey Lolich was understandably
nervous about being the opening day starter, and exited after five runs in
four innings.  The Tiger bullpen looked good, though, holding the Sox to one
more run on four hits.  The Tigers lost, 6-3, but "look like real contenders if
only Cobb can keep his mind in the game," according to Buck Leonard, who
went 2-for-4 with 2 r.b.i.'s.  Ray Dandridge was 2-for-3, and John Lloyd was
1-for-4 but played sparkling defense.
     Milwaukee:  The Tribe's type of game
     The 3-1 contests Al Lopez said the Indians needed lots of are coming
early.  Bob Feller outdueled "Bullet" Joe Rogan by that score, although
Josh Gibson collected only one hit.  "Rogan's tougher than you folks think,"
Gibson remarked afterwards.  "He's a notch below Lemon and Wynn with the
fastball, but his curve is monstrous."  Rogan grabbed two hits and the lone
run off Feller.  "I'm just glad we don't have the DH, or we'd be sunk when I
pitch."
     Kansas City:  A Royal Offense
     Dave Stieb is a very good pitcher; he would start on an all-80s team.
However, he surrendered eleven hits in seven innings, and constantly worked
out of jams in a 4-2 loss.  "The Royals' offense is superb," Bobby Cox
declared.  "If they get any pitching at all, they'll really challenge the A's.
     That may be a problem, though.  Dan Quisenberry threw often in spring
training games, and notched the save today by inducing grounders from Lloyd
Moseby and Fred McGriff with two runners on base.  He can pitch 80-90
games, but "may have to go many more than that, because we don't have the
old-timer who can throw 25 complete games," noted Bret Saberhagen.
     California at Chicago:
     Nolan Ryan fanned thirteen, Oscar Charleston made two great running
catches, Turkey Stearnes went two for four but erred once, Donnie Moore
tossed the ninth for the save.  These things were expected.
     What was not, though, was that Ed Walsh left after five innings and only
a 3-1 deficit, that three other hurlers would shut out the Angels the rest of
the way, and that Leon Day - the ace short reliever - would be so good.  He
fanned Doug DeCinces and Bobby Grich with the bases loaded and one out in
the eighth, and struck another out in the ninth.  If he continues this pace,
and if the rest of the 'pen performs well by committee, he may start before
the end of April.  He is an overlooked, but excellent, Negro League pitcher.
     Seattle at Oaksaselphia:
     No surprises here; a powerful Athletics' lineup triumphed 6-0.  Shibe is
something of a pitchers' park, but batters don't have a huge disadvantage.
The Mariners' main problem was too many lefty hitters versus Lefty Grove.
They didn't look as bad as the Senator hurlers, though, and - given all these
players in their best years, or during a regular campaign - might win the A.L.
West.  However, they may be buried here.
-- 
Doug Fowler: dxf12@po.CWRU.edu  : Me, age 4 & now: "Mommys and Daddys & other
    Ever wonder if, after Casey : relatives have to give lots of hugs & love
missed the 3rd strike in the poem: & support, 'cause Heaven is just a great
he ran to first and made it?     : big hug that lasts forever and ever!!!"
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