gave up on him and offered him his outright release. He took it and his agent immediately went looking for another team willing to hire him. So far, no luck. His antics on and off the field scared other GMs away.
Molly had Sparky Hooper issue a press release near the end of March to announce the names of the 25 players who had made the team, and those who had been sent to the minors or given their release. She had already spoken to those who were not to be on the team. Bobby Joe Comingo had a lock on the starting catcherâs job, with Gratzi Harango, an eager second year pro who had been with the old Las Vegas 51s, now moved to Vancouver, working hard to learn the job as his back-up. Gratzi was a natural, and the pitchers liked him as a receiver.
The infield was made up of former free agents, all of whom Molly had personally scouted and chosen. Thirty year-old Jerry Lyons, a .300 hitter and a good fielder who had played all his career with the Blue Jays, was at first. Horatio Littleton, known as âTubby,â a former Cardinal, was a second baseman who could turn a double play with the best of them, and whose batting average over eight years stood at .283. Shortstop Danny Johnson was long and lanky, had a good range, and an arm almost as accurate as a sniperâs rifle. Why the Red Sox had let him go was a mystery. Digger Hazen, another long-time pro who had played with three different teams, a year older than Johnson at thirty-one and thus the oldest of the infielders, was like a vacuum cleaner at third. How he had escaped from the Oakland Aâs into free agency puzzled many baseball people. The consensus was his salary had gotten too large for the Aâs to handle, but the Gold had not hesitated to sign him to a five-year contract for a total of forty million dollars.
In the outfield, rookie Diego Martinez was undoubtedly the star attraction. He was flanked by Corry Van Dyk, a one-time Yankee, in left and Porter Kipping, for the last few years with the Tampa Rays, in right, with his great throwing arm still throwing strikes to the plate eight years after becoming rookie of the year. All three could hit, run, and make impossible plays look routine. Steve Hostetler, for many years a stalwart with the Braves, signed as fourth outfielder and elder statesman on the team. He could have played as a regular on many teams, but the contract offer was good enough to snag him, and Molly promised him playing time every week. The outfielders felt good about having a day off from time to time, and all four got along well together.
Horace Mayhew, nearing the end of a long career with seven different teams, was to be the regular left hand designated hitter, and the right hand DH would be rookie Judd Matthews, who could hit, but whose fielding still left many things to be desired. Third base and outfield coach Jerry Haley was working with the youngster on his fielding. The three utility infielders and benchwarmers were all experienced players in the twilight of their careers.
Molly was especially pleased with her pitching crew. To begin the season she was going with just four starters, like the old days. Tabby OâHara was obviously the ace of the staff. The other right-handed starter was Damaso Gonzalez, who had gone 14-10 with the White Sox the previous season, his seventh full season in the Majors. The two southpaws were T.Y. Hollinger, 12-8 the previous year in Triple A, and Connie Armstrong, 16-5 the previous season, a Cardinal his entire career. He had decided to test the free agency pool and was happy with his decision. In the bullpen, Lynn Meriweather, a journeyman reliever with three former teams on his resume, was the long man and spot starter. Lefty Kenny Styles, also a well-traveled journeyman, and right-handed Quincey OâDonnell, a rookie, were the set-up men, and a right-handed rookie nobody had ever heard of, Mac Driscoll, had won the closerâs job hands down. The previous year he had been playing
Molly had Sparky Hooper issue a press release near the end of March to announce the names of the 25 players who had made the team, and those who had been sent to the minors or given their release. She had already spoken to those who were not to be on the team. Bobby Joe Comingo had a lock on the starting catcherâs job, with Gratzi Harango, an eager second year pro who had been with the old Las Vegas 51s, now moved to Vancouver, working hard to learn the job as his back-up. Gratzi was a natural, and the pitchers liked him as a receiver.
The infield was made up of former free agents, all of whom Molly had personally scouted and chosen. Thirty year-old Jerry Lyons, a .300 hitter and a good fielder who had played all his career with the Blue Jays, was at first. Horatio Littleton, known as âTubby,â a former Cardinal, was a second baseman who could turn a double play with the best of them, and whose batting average over eight years stood at .283. Shortstop Danny Johnson was long and lanky, had a good range, and an arm almost as accurate as a sniperâs rifle. Why the Red Sox had let him go was a mystery. Digger Hazen, another long-time pro who had played with three different teams, a year older than Johnson at thirty-one and thus the oldest of the infielders, was like a vacuum cleaner at third. How he had escaped from the Oakland Aâs into free agency puzzled many baseball people. The consensus was his salary had gotten too large for the Aâs to handle, but the Gold had not hesitated to sign him to a five-year contract for a total of forty million dollars.
In the outfield, rookie Diego Martinez was undoubtedly the star attraction. He was flanked by Corry Van Dyk, a one-time Yankee, in left and Porter Kipping, for the last few years with the Tampa Rays, in right, with his great throwing arm still throwing strikes to the plate eight years after becoming rookie of the year. All three could hit, run, and make impossible plays look routine. Steve Hostetler, for many years a stalwart with the Braves, signed as fourth outfielder and elder statesman on the team. He could have played as a regular on many teams, but the contract offer was good enough to snag him, and Molly promised him playing time every week. The outfielders felt good about having a day off from time to time, and all four got along well together.
Horace Mayhew, nearing the end of a long career with seven different teams, was to be the regular left hand designated hitter, and the right hand DH would be rookie Judd Matthews, who could hit, but whose fielding still left many things to be desired. Third base and outfield coach Jerry Haley was working with the youngster on his fielding. The three utility infielders and benchwarmers were all experienced players in the twilight of their careers.
Molly was especially pleased with her pitching crew. To begin the season she was going with just four starters, like the old days. Tabby OâHara was obviously the ace of the staff. The other right-handed starter was Damaso Gonzalez, who had gone 14-10 with the White Sox the previous season, his seventh full season in the Majors. The two southpaws were T.Y. Hollinger, 12-8 the previous year in Triple A, and Connie Armstrong, 16-5 the previous season, a Cardinal his entire career. He had decided to test the free agency pool and was happy with his decision. In the bullpen, Lynn Meriweather, a journeyman reliever with three former teams on his resume, was the long man and spot starter. Lefty Kenny Styles, also a well-traveled journeyman, and right-handed Quincey OâDonnell, a rookie, were the set-up men, and a right-handed rookie nobody had ever heard of, Mac Driscoll, had won the closerâs job hands down. The previous year he had been playing
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