Sea Dogs Drum Bums, Pull from Table September 5, 1999
(AP) VERO BEACH, FL---The Washington Sea Dogs, admist turmoil and injury,
aren't resting yet. Using their full lineup, they pounded Vero Beach
yesterday in a doubleheader, taking both sides 13-7 and 5-2.
The fact that the Sea Dogs used their full regiment of players was
unusual, as most of them have yet to have a day off in September.
However, Larry Walker explained the players' stance.
"We read the quotes on the wire, and so we talked to Aaron (Weiner, the
manager) yesterday," Walker said. "We told him that until this thing was
in the bag, we didn't need a rest."
Weiner was moved by his team's enthusiasm.
"With the final Phoenix series of the year coming up," Weiner said, "there
was no reason that we had to rest right now," Weiner said. "Plus, we'd
just had a day off."
Weiner said that if Washington won two of their next three games, it was
likely that they would use a scaled-down lineup against Phoenix's fifth
starter, Chan Ho Park.
"The history between me and Park in no way suggests that I would go
all-out to try and disgrace him," Weiner said in response to a question
concerning the previous strategy. "The fact that I have frequently
knocked Park does not mean that I lack respect for him as a professional."
Should Washington complete the sweep against Vero Beach and also sweep
Phoenix at the X-RAY, the Sea Dogs will clinch at least a tie for the
division title.
"We're looking forward to trying to close out he year right now," second
baseman Chuck Knoblauch said. "We're just hoping that Phoenix gives us
the opportunity to do so."
However, before WAshington can tackle Phoenix, they have one more against
Vero Beach. Washington's first game against Vero was an all-out blowout,
as they teed off against the recent ex-Sea Dog Shawn Boskie for seven runs
in the first two innings.
"Yeah, of course playing with Shawn helped," third baseman Bill Mueller
said. "It always helps when you've seen a guy throw in practice."
Washington's Nealy Becker's ineffective sixth inning, when he allowed four
runs on two homers by Dave Hollins and Jim Collins, allowed Vero to close
within four runs, but that was as close as they got.
Becker, making his second start, was roughly as effective as in his last
outing besides the homers. He allowed seven hits and two walks in six
innings, striking out four.
"I left him in too long," Weiner said. "Honestly, I wanted him out of
there by the end of the fifth, and his pitch count was way up there, but
he was cruising. I thought I'd let him test his limits; it's the kid's
second major-league start ever."
Becker, whose ERA as a starter is now 6.00 in twelve innings, said that
the change in role hasn't really bothered him.
"Well, put it this way, I'm not feeling any more pain right now than
normal," Becker said. "It'll take me a while to get used to it, but I
don't see why I can't do this in the future."
Washington has quite a bit invested in Becker, as John Burkett and Tim
Belcher are on the wrong side of thirty and Washington is virtually
without starting pitching prospects, so, as GM Weiner put it, a little
success wouldn't hurt either.
"We're counting on him to be one of our rotation guys in the future," said
the GM. "He's looked pretty decent so far, only allowed nine baserunners
in each start."
Washington was led offensively by Mickey Kelly, who had three hits, and
Chuck Knoblauch, who had four steals in the game, a career high.
"We knew we'd be running a bit on Collins, but I saw lots of openings
today," Knoblauch, who had two hits and scored three runs, said.
The second game featured not only a superb pitching performance by
Mackenzee Leefenhaufenhauz, but his first win in several starts. Despite
his ERA remaning at or around 2.5, Leefenhaufenhauz has just a 3-7 record
since the All-Star Break.
"It's kind of funny; Shawn (Estes) is winning on any kind of pitching
performance and Mack can't buy a W," catcher Mike MacFarlane said. "If
Mack was getting the support that Shawn has been, he'd be in the running
for the Cy Young."
Leefenhaufenhauz, who threw seven innings of five-hit ball, allowing just
one run in the process, said that he didn't mind the losses so much
personally.
"I don't really care about my own losses, I just hate to see the team
lose," Leefenhaufenhauz said. "I'm glad we were able to put up a victory
in the game."
Lance Johnson's three runs and three steals and Jim Eisenreich's three RBI
led the scoring path for the Sea Dogs.
Johnson is making an early play for Player of the Month, as he homered in
the first game for his third of the month. He also won POM last September
after being acquired from Anchorage.
"I'm just glad to be on the field this year," Johnson, who suffered a
broken hip earlier this season, said. "Heck, a hip ended Bo Jackson's
career. Player of the Month isn't even on my mind."
Paul Kilgus got his fourth save for the Sea Dogs, pitching one and
two-thirds scoreless frames. Kilgus, who was in the minors for much of
the season, has provided a tremendous 1-2 punch with closer John Wetteland
since being recalled from AAA Towson.
"Listen, I'm just trying to prove that I shouldn't have spent a day in the
minors," said the lefthander, who has a 1.76 ERA in 30+ innings. "I've
got all kinds of experience to call from."
Washington, with the victories, raises their record to 95-41 (.699). The
ninety-five wins is already three more than last seasons' total of 92.
Their magic number for the Data Division title is down to nine with their
two wins, their magic number for the wild-card is at four.
"We're going to start preparing for the playoffs as soon as we're in
them," said shortstop Barry Larkin.
Notes and Quotes:
"We're not going to grow complacent - what was the question again?"
-Ernie Young
"Aw, he's not such a bad guy."
-Aaron Weiner
* * *
The Washington Sea Dogs' owner, Aaron Weiner, has been a firey leader for
a more democratic system of PVBL government since his enlightenment.
However, Weiner wishes to announce that despite his prior actions for the
last few days, Weiner does not hold any personal ill will against Matthew
Peck, the league's commisioner.
"Listen, I think he's a good guy," Weiner said. "He's got a sense of
humor, and he really understands the game."
Weiner said, however, that it was Peck's management style that he
resented.
"Well, it's just always been my opinion that the commisioner's there for
the owners and not vice versa,' Weiner said. "And he's done some very
good things. But he asks us for opinions on the unimportant topics, like
trading of future draft picks, and then re-designs the free-agent plan
without a vote."
While Weiner seemed enraged a few days ago, he said that his actions were
mostly overreaction to his deadline deals being put on hold.
"I'm not pleased that there have been rule changes mid-season, but I'm
certainly not as angry as I sounded about the nature of the rules
changes," Weiner said. "Besides. I know that Matt understands that I'm
not knocking him as a person when I say things."
However, Weiner did announce that it was possible that despite
reconciling with his own feelings, he might find it difficult to resume
his push for rule changes.
"Even if I haven't lost credibility with the commisioner, which I feel I
haven't, I don't feel comfortable with the idea of pushing for different
rules," Weiner said. "Certainly, I will not attempt to add any further
ideas than the ones I have already suggested until the offseason. I just
don't feel like it's the time or place."
Several of Weiner's past ideas have been adopted, including the trade
board, first adopted in AVBL and then in PVBL, parts of the free-agent
plan and the opening of the discussion to diversify the plan two years
ago, and was a part of the fight to make the potentials of current PVBL
players known to the league.
"I mean, I want to see some semblence of democracy in all of this," Weiner
said. "Even tyrannies usually have a Parliament or a Cabinet from which
they derive advice; Matt's most recent rule sounds more like random
personal sympathy."
Weiner is somewhat sympathetic to Peck's role in the league, but does
think that he would be better off in a different role.
"He's got it tough; he's gotta run a team and still maintain creditability
as a commisioner, which is not easy," Weiner said. "Of course, it would
be easy if he dropped one or the other. Of the two, I would definitely
recommend the latter; he's a tremendous owner, fair and decent to deal
with."
Weiner notes that if someone else was willing to become commisioner and
run the games, it might alleviate the pressure from Peck the owner
entirely.
"I'm not just saying this because of my stance recently; it's an idea I've
had a while," Weiner said. "I can't imagine he's enjoying seeing his name
thrown around the media."
Weiner also believes that the role of a commisioner should be considerably
smaller, regardless.
"Listen, the idea of a commisioner running things is kinda weird," Weiner
said. "I mean, my view of a commisioner is somebody who runs the games,
lets us all know they're up, and tells us when there's business, not a guy
who makes rules."
While Weiner is blatantly for democracy, he does understand one basic
economic concept.
"Listen, there's no taxation, and thus in a sense, there doesn't HAVE to
be representation," Weiner said. "Puerto Rico doesn't have a senator
either."
* * *
Stats:
Washington has two players in the top 10 in runs created, one of only two
teams with that distinction. The other, Binghamton, acquired Ken CAminiti
mid-season.
The Sea Dogs now have five pitchers with fifteen wins. Ben McDonald had
fifteen by the break, but Shawn Estes has won his last six decisions and
Alex Fernandez has been 15-6 in a Sea Dogs uniform.
The Sea Dogs have more players on the disabled list, six, than any other
team has injured.
