The Michigan Daily-Saturday, March 31, 1979--Page 7
ANGELS, RANGERS WILL TRAIL KC
Royal season in
store for
AL
West
By LIZ MAC
The old, graying scientist sat in his dusty lab, bending
over a volume of chemical formulas.
"What is it? What is the answer?" he pondered. "Keep
trying the same stuff and hope that the old ingredients do
the trick? What is the answer?"
a The answer? Ask the Kansas City Royals.
Some tough competition will come from California, but
the Royals' pitching and balance should put them on top of
the American League West again.
The Royals have made virtually no changes in a lineup
Which has brought them three straight division titles. They
really didn't need to, as they shook off the effects of injuries
to key players incoming out on top last year.
One of those players was George Brett. He managed to
overcome an injured thumb, however, to bat .294 and
should be back in top form this year.
"Frank White handles the duties at second, turning in a
.x75 performance last year. Shortstop Fred Patek isn't
known for his stick power, but contributed 38 stolen bases.
Elsewhere around the infield, manager Whitey Herzog
platooned the first base job in 1978. Pete LaCock saw most
of the action, batting .295 in 128 games.
It was the Royals' starting rotation that served up con-
sistently solid performances. Rookie Rich Gale was a
pleasant surprise at 14-8, while Dennis Leonard (21-17),'
Larry Gura (164), and Paul Splittorff (19-13) add the
ingredients of an impressive starting four.
Amos Otis leads the KC outfield both offensively and
defensively. A .298 average (22 HR, 96 RBI) gave the cen-
terfielder one of his best years yet.
Rightfielder Al Cowens sagged to a still respectable .274.
due to injury problems. In the other outfield spot, Herzog
will have to choose between Willie Wilson-a standout
defensively and on the base paths but weak at the
plate-and Clint Hurdle, a little more threatening at the
plate.
Mac's Mistakes
1. Kansas City 5. Seattle
2. California 6. Minnesota
3. Texas 7. Oakland
4. Chicago
Darrell Porter returns as catcher, and DH Hal McRae
will have to bounce back from off-season shoulder surgery
if he is to match his 1978 performance (.273).
Two major additions have insured California's status as a
legitimate contender: the acquisition of Dan Ford and Rod
Carew from Minnesota. Not only did the Angels end up with
the top hitter in the American League in the mighty Carew
(.333) and a solid batsman in Ford (.274), but they lost very
little in the process.
Carew is joined in the infield by last year's very suc-
cessful rookie, Carney Lansford, at third. He contributed a
.294 average and 20 stolen bases to the Angels' second place
finish.
Second base is held down by Bobby Grich, rather disap-
pointing at .251 last year. But even that spot is more
assured than the shortstop position, which as of now is up
for grabs among Dave Chalks (.253) and two in-and-out
major leaguers, Rance Mulliniks and Orlando Ramirez.
More offensive help should come from Joe Rudi and Rich
Miller, who will join Ford in the outfield, .256 and .263 hit-
ters, respectively. And one of the league's most consistent
designated hitters is Angel Don Baylor, who capped a .255,
99 RBI season with 22 stolen bases, besides encoring in the
outfield and at first.
California's pitching continues to be strong, led by fast-
ballers Nolan Ryan (10-13) and Frank Tanana (18-12). Jim
Barr (18-11) was an off season acquisition from the Giants,
and righthander Chris Knapp rounds out the bunch at 14-18.
Formidable though they are, their performance last year
doesn't quite match up to Kansas City's, and thus the'
Royals have the edge.
A considerable number of new ingredients have been ad-
ded to the Texas Rangers' brew, the most conspicuous
being Buddy Bell of Clelveland fame. Bell fills a gaping hole
at third with a .282 average.
Bump Wills suffered from a sophomore slump at .250, but
remained demonic on the basepaths with 52 steals. The rest
of the infield poses problems for manager Pat Corrales,
however.
New acquisitons Sarky Lyle and Jim Kern, another for-
mer Indian, beef up the Ranger bullpen. Fergie Jenkins (18-
8) and John Matlack (15-13) form the core of the starting
squad, and Jim Sundberg will -once again be on the
receiving end.
Chicago should be able to slide up a notch to fourth place,
simply because the rest of the pack have all the makings of
cellar dwellers.
Player-manager Don Kessinger is* counting on a few
rookies to take up much of the pitching slack. And although
there were some bright spots in this respect at the end of
last season, the hurling situation remains tenuous.
Injuries plagued the White Sox last year, and Thad
Bosley (.269) and Chet Lemon (.300) will have to shake off
some aches and pains to once again give the team some of-
fensive spark.
It won't take much for Seattle to improve from their wor-
st-in-the-majors finish last season. Wheelings and dealings
have caused quite a shakeup in the Mariner roster, but
returning are top hitter Leon Roberts (.301) and speedsters
Julio Cruz and Ruppert Jones (59 and 22 stolen bases,
respectively).
Reliever Mike Marshall is one of the few valuable com-
ponents for Minnesota, a team scourged by the free agent
market, and the Twins fall two notches to sixth.
An unbelievable amount of front office buffoonery con-
tinues to surround Oakland-Alameda Coliseum, and the A's
lack everything it would take to avoid landing in the AL
West basement.
THE SPORTING VIEWS
I&
HAS CONNECTION WITH AD KRAMER:
Vanderbilt eyes
i
t
I
:A
Swim coach Stager...
eo. tough but honest
by MARK MIHANOVIC
Swimming Coach Gus Stager is calling it quits after 25 years at
Michigan. While covering the swim team during this, his last year, I've ob-
served Stager in a number of situations. My prevalent impressions of him as
a person come, as they likely would, from his relationships with the press.
Gus Stager is not always an easy man to interview. He can be very gruff,
very tight-lipped. He can also be congenial and cooperative, however,
depending on his mood. The only thing a reporter can be sure of is that he
will be straightforward and honest.
Total honesty is not a common trait among athletic coaches. Bo Schem-
bechler will tell you how worried he is about Northwestern's rugged defense
before he beats them, 59-0. Stu Isaac (women's swimming coach) is at the
opposite end of the spectrum, promoting his team with every statement.
Like Isaac, most minor sports coaches radiate optimism in an effort to get
more exposure for their teams, thereby improving morale, thereby im-
proving recruiting possibilities, thereby improving their teams, etc. These
factors all interact and can only improve a program.
Stager has"never been one to project false optimism, however. "It cat-
ches up with ypu after a while," he explained. "I just don't believe in lying.T
don't franikdy think that (Brian) Eisner (men's tennis coach) or Stu are
always honest.
"How good are the girls? Stu was asking for a lot more publicity and get-
ting a lot more, and our kids were really getting upset about it because they
know how good the girls are, and they aren't better than us. According to
Stu, they were a helluva lot better than us. I don't go telling you that our guys
are better than the girls, and we are better.
"I admire Stu; this is just a difference in our natures. I don't par-
ticularly want to be caught in a situation where I can't put my money where
my mouth is. I admire him for going out of the Big Ten, where he obviously
reigns supreme, and finding competition where he knows he's going to get
beat."
By GARY KICINSKI
Michigan assistant coach Bill Frieder
is rumored to be one of three candidates
still under consideration for the vacant
basketball head coaching position at
Vanderbilt.
Frieder admitted yesterday that he
had interviewed for the job, but was as
yet undecided as to whether he would
accept t#e position if it were offered to
him. "I'll cross that bridge when I come
to it," he said. "Right now my main
concern is recruiting."
FRIEDER has long been recognized
as one of the top assistant coaches in
the country, but has always expressed a
desire to remain at Michigan. "It would
have to be a great situation to lure me
away from here," Frieder said. "I love
it here."
A decision is expected next week and
Vanderbilt athletic director Roy
Kramer has been quoted in the Ten-
nessee papers as saying he was
"nearing the end of the search." '
'"We're getting close," Kramer said.
"There are still a lot of loose ends to tie
but I think it (the announcement) will
be coming around soon."
ANOTHER Vanderbilt spokesman
said that "there are a lot of favorable
things being said about him(Frieder)"
and added that Frieder may have an
edge since Kramer, a former Central
Michigan football coach, is from the
area and knows Frieder.
Other names being tossed around in
Frieder
the Tennessee press for the job include
Lee Hunt, an assistant coach at the
University of Alabama-Birmingham;
and Richard Schmidt, an assistant at
Virginia. Hunt has impressive creden-
tials, having served as an assistant
coach to Gene Bartow at both Memphis
State and UCLA.
for job
Former coacR Wayne Dobbs had
guided Vanderbilt to an 11-7 third-place
finish in the Southeastern Conference
this year and an 18-9 , record overall.
The spokesman said that Dobbs neither
resigned nor was fired, but rather "it
was decided that he would be
replaced."
Coaches hopeful as-
cage recruits decide
i I
Overlooked Blue nett ers
surprise Northwestern
By GEOFF LARCOM
Clark Kellogg, billed as the
recruit who could turn the
Michigan basketball program
around if signed, is due to make
his decision in the near future on
whether he'll attend Michigan or
Ohio State next fall.
In a story appearing in the
Cleveland Plain Dealer last Sun-
day, Kellogg was quoted as
saying, "I'm going to' talk more
with my folks over next weekend.
No date has been set. It's down to
Ohio State and Michigan."
So the day of reckoning is very
near for the Wolverines.
Assistant Coach Bill Frieder is
still optimistic about signing
Kellogg, whose Cleveland St.'
Joseph team- went to the Ohio
AAA finals before losing to
Columbus East last Saturday.
"We just feel we' have a good
chance," said Frieder. "I'm sure
Ohio State feels that way too. It
still could go either way."
Kellogg was nothing short of
phenomenal in his high school
finale, as he accounted for 51 of
St. Joseph's 65 points, while
grabbing 24 rebounds.
Playing against Kellogg for
Columbus East in the state final
was another highly-sought
Michigan recruit, seven-foot
Granville Waiters. Waiters, who
had 17 points in East's 74-65 wind,
is due to visit Michigan April 13th
and 14th.
Frieder says Waiters is the
number one candidate among
this year's recruits to fill the
long-vacant role of the big man in
the pivot for Michigan.
"Waiters is of the caliber Herb
Williams (Ohio State center) was
when he graduated," said d
Frieder. "We would very much
like to sign him."'..,
Along with Waiters and
Kellogg, voted this year's out-
standing AAA player by the
Associated Press,' Michigan is
pursuing two other highly-touted
Ohio players.
Joe James, Ohio's AP AA
player of the year, along witirLeo
Brown, AP's Class A player of the
year, are both due to visit the
Michigan campus next week.
James, a 6-5 forward-guard
from Youngstown Raven High,
will visit this Sunday and stay
through Michigan's annual
basketball bust Monday night,
while Brown, a 6-8 forward from
Mansfield St. Peters, will visit on
Wednesday.
"Brown is a hard worker, very
aggressive under the boards and
a good shooter," said Frieder.
In addition to the Ohio con-
tingent, Michigan is hoping to dip
into the Illinois talent. Kevin Bon-
temps, a 6-2 guard who visited
this past Wednesday, and Ike
Person, a 6-7 forward from Ben-
nington, are both high on the Blue
wanted list according to Frieder.
PF",
Stager is a winner. His overall dual meet
record at Michigan is 169-39-1, and he has
coached the Wolverines to three Big Ten
championships and four NCAA titles. He is
widely respected as a swimming coach,
illustrated by the fact that he served as head
coach of the 1960 U.S. Olympic team in Rome.
He can be an engaging personality, as he is
when talking to parents of the swimmers and
other boosters of his program. Some of the
swimmers and Stager himself agree that he
has mellowed in his handling of the team.
Stager
Stager's last team obviously holds a special place in his heart. Led by
diver Matt Chelich and swimmers Fernando Canales and Bob Murray, the
Wolverines compiled a 12-1 dual meet record, including their first victory
over Indiana in 18 years. They finished second in the Big Ten Championships
and tenth in the NCAA's. Stager emphasizes the team's attitude as the basis
for their success.
"It was my last year, so my attitude was a little more relaxed," Stager
said. "However, we had a group of young men on the team who didn't take
advantage of the relaxed attitude. It just made them work and try harder."
Daily dealings: Strained
A group of individuals with character such as that are rare in today's
athletic world. They deserved recognition, and midway through the season,
Stager decided that they weren't getting adequate recognition from, none
other than, The Daily.
"I said I didn't want to see you guys down here anymore, and that's the
way I felt," Stager recalled. "But a couple of guys on the team said, 'Jesus,
Gus, what're you doing?' I told them how I felt, and they agreed with me, but
then I cooled off."
Stager has been unhappy with Daily coverage for the past several years.
If Daily coverage has been below par (and I'm not in agreement that it has),
could the reason lie in Stager's lack of enthusiasm for dealings with the
press?
Men's swimming received greater coverage by The Daily than did
women's swimming ths year, but Stu Isaac never quit talking, never lost his
enthusiasm and optimism when speaking to the press. I'm not saying that
Stager lacked enthusiasm where his team was concerned. Anyone who wit-
nessed the look of exultation and pride on the coach's face after the Indiana
win at Matt Mann Pool knows better than that.
But I am suggesting that by refusing to cooperate with the University's
daily student publication, Stager was unintentionally hurting his own cause
and that of his tem His swimmers rani7dit a und Pantn. e d a A
By PETE BARBOUR
In a much closer match than was
indicated by the final score, the
Michigan women's tennis team
defeated highly regarded Northwestern
yesterday at the Huron Valley Tennis
Club, 7-2.
Despite an impressive overall record
of 9-1, 3-0 in the Big Ten, the Wolverines
had been overlooked as a serious Big
Ten contender.
The idea of the Wolverines being
ignored stemmed from a remark by
Ohio State coach Barb Mueller.
"Wisconsin and Minnesota aren't yet
the Big Ten threat Indiana and North-
western have become," she said.
MICHIGAN SHOWED coach Mueller
and the Wildcats that it is indeed a
legitimate contender.
The performance nearly had coach
Theo Sheppard flabbergasted.
"Everyone just played beautifully. I
think our team really showed its
resiliency out there by coming back in
some of the close matches," she said.
While top seeded Kathy Karzer
breezed by Northwestern's number one
seed Mary Boyer, 6-1, 6-3, and Whit
Stodghill beat Dimee Conlan in the bat-
tle of third seeded players, 6-2, 6-4,
other Wolverine victories were of the
come from behind variety.
THE MOST interesting match of the
meet occurred when Michigan's second
seed, Sue Weber, defeated North-
western's Donna Lies, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2. It
appeared as though Weber would lose
to Lies after falling behind in the third
set 2-1 and love-40 in the fourth game.
That's when Weber made her move.
"Winning the fourth game from love-
40 definitely was the turning point of the
match for me. I started getting my
returns lower. When the returns were
up high, she (Lies) put the points away
without much trouble," Weber said.
After losing the first set, 4-6, fourth
seeded Barb Fischley roared back to
overtake Sandy Keenan, in the next two
sets, 6-4, 6-1. "Barb has been doing that
for us all year (coming from behind),"
said Sheppard. She continued that the
senior transfer from Eastern Michigan
has "made a big difference in the
team's performance."
FIFTH SEEDED Kathy Krickstein
rounded out the Wolverines' victories in
the singles, by defeating North-
western's Claire Roehan 7-6, 6-4.
In the doubles competition, the teams
of Stodghill-Krickstein and Ann
Kelcher-Lisa Wood emerged victorious.
While noting that her team didn't
play up to its potential, Northwestern
coach June Booth gave the Wolverines
credit for playing good tennis.
"When you play at this level, con-
fidence is important in determining the
outcome. When we beat them last year,
we had it. This time, we didn't and we
lost," Booth said.
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