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Robson has Rangers’ offense riding highBy Mark RudaDaily Herald Sports WriterMaybe Tom Robson needs to tell Texas‘Rangers hitters to keep their heads down, or develop an unorthodox yet patented swing.But manager Bobby Valentine was giving the former injury-plagued, power-hitting minor-leaguer the bulk of the credit for the Rangers’ 11-game winning streak entering Saturday night.“If the White Sox were hitting .285, leading the league in hitting and were on a streak like this, don't you think it’d be ‘Walt Hriniak’s offense?’ So why isn’t it Tom Robson's offense?” Valentine said.While Robson has gone unnoticed since taking over as Rangers hitting coach following Art Howe’s departure after the 1988 season, his hitters were averaging 8.2 runs a game during the winning streak after producing 4.7 a game in starting the season 13-14.The Rangers weren't doing it with pitching — Nolan Ryan has started just once during the streak. Although they posted a 3.12 ERA in winning 10 straight, they survived a 17-hit, 10-walk performance by their pitchers in their 10-6 win Thursday at Minnesota.“In my eyes, we had no business winning that game,” Steve Buechele said. “But when you’re going good, you’re going good.”As much as the California Angels tried to deny it, their signing of Fernando Valenzuela was perceived as an attendance booster as well as an attempt to lure the local Hispanic community to Anaheim Stadium.Not to mention a potential jab at their cross town rivals who overwhelmingly dominate the Southern California market, the Los Angeles Dodgers.“It’s not a crazy move and it's not a gimmick,” outfielder Dave Winfield said. “I saw a lot of that in New York. Here, they like to win and they’ll do what they can do make it happen. If Fernando’s got somethingAL NOTEBOOKleft, he knows how to get people out.”The Dodgers didn't think so in spring training, when they released the popular left-hander after 10 seasons. Bothered by shoulder problems since 1988, Valenzuela still threw a no-hitter last year, when he went 13-13 with a 4.59 ERA.The Angels recently started a youth baseball program for Orange County Hispanics. Before becoming the latest baseball comeback story, Valenzuela's tale was of a rags to riches hurler discovered by the Dodgers in Sonora, Mexico.“Fernando enjoys the love not only of American baseball fans but of Mexican-Americans, said Tony DeMarco, Valenzuela's agent. “All who followed him will get a chance to come to Anaheim Stadium and see him pitch.”With a payroll just under $32 million, the Angels are on pace to suffer their second consecutive attendance decline, to less than 2.3 million.It also will mean overflow crowds at Class A Palm Springs, where Valenzuela is rehabbing, and give minor-league catcher Mick Billmeyer something to remember even if he doesn’t ever become the pitcher’s major-league batterymate.“This is great,” said Billmeyer, in his seventh minor-league season. “This is something I'll be able to tell my son about someday.”■ ■ ■While Hal McRae jumped at the chance at becoming the new Kansas City Royals manager, Brian McRae was less than ecstatic about the prospect of playing for his father.“They (teammates) started teasing me on the plane already. It’s something I’ll have to get used to,” the younger McRae said. “It’s going to be a big adjustment. I'll have toget used to it.”■ ■ ■Ex-White Sox Floyd Bannister posted a 1.69 ERA in his first eight games with the California Angels, al-Fernando Valenzuela can turn into an attendance bonanza for the California Angels.lowing 15 baserunners in his first 16 innings back from a one-year stint in Japan.“I was throwing harder than I ever had,” said Bannister, traded to the Kansas City Royals in December 1987 for Melido Perez and Greg Hibbard.The Angels put Bannister on the disabled list Monday night with shoulder tendinitis.■ ■ ■Since going 0-4 in April, Jim Abbott is 4-0 in May and has not given up a homer in 42‘A innings.Abbott, who got a win Tuesday thanks to Dave Parker’s homer off Bobby Thigpen, had a 6.00 ERA in April with 40 baserunners in 24 innings. In May, his ERA is 1.82 with 36 baserunners in 292/3 innings.But if Abbott is going to win pitcher of the month, he'll have to beat teammate Mark Langston, also 4-0. Both had at least one more start this month entering the weekend.
Newspaper Details
Arlington Heights Daily Herald Suburban Chicago
Arlington Heights, Illinois, US
Sun, May 26, 1991
Page 178
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