resday, June 141 1977 THE MICHIGAN DAILY Poge Eleven Chance to pitch aids Foucault Oh, what a relief. DETROIT TIGER RELIEF ARTIST Steve Foucault has come out of the bullpen to save the Tigers six times this season. The righthander, acquired from the Texas Rangers in April could see some action tonight when the Tigers open a three game home series against the Toronto Blue Jays. tets ready to deal lo Reds for star firei By DON MacLACHLAN Special To The Daily DETROIT-It used to be com- monplace for Detroit manager Ralph Houk to signal for a lefty whenever he strode to the mound to change pitchers. But times have changed at Tiger Stadium. THE LEFTY? Old reliable John Hiller of course. However, that was the past and now the B e n g alI s possess a reliable right-hander to compliment Hil- ler-Steve Foucault. "With Steve we've got a left- hander and a right-hander in the bullpen which gives us ma- neuverability," Houk said. "He's really done a fine job every time he's been on the mound for us. He's been outstanding." Foucault has posted a 3-2 rec- ord with an ERA of 2.17 along with six saves in 15 appearances this year. His success has allow- ed Houk to move Hiller to the starting rotation. HOWEVER, BEING the ace of the bullpen is nothing new for Foucault. With Texas in 1974 he was 8-9 with a 2.24 ERA and posted 12 saves. He followed up in 1975 with an 8-4 record in 107 innings of work. But last year in Texas things just didn't go right for the right- handed reliever. The Rangers acquired Adrian Devine from the Atlanta Braves and as a re- stilt Foucault was replaced as the Ranger ace. In fact, he Seaver man to trade Tom Seaver," said Grant. "He has told us he is dissatisfied and he wants to be traded. If that's what he wants, we are trying the best we can to satisfy a dissatified Seaver. "All he has to do is tell us he is satisfied and he is perfectly welcome to stay. We'd be de- lighted to have him keep pitch- ing for us." The major league trading deadline is Wednesday mid- night. When trade talks for Seaver were initiated, the Mets asked the Reds about players like Ken Griffey and Dan Driessen, but were told they couldn't be had. Nobody with the Mets was say- ing whether the Reds had since changed their minds. wasn't even assured a spot on the roster. "They got Devine and put him in my place," Foucault said. "That made me expendable. Last year I pitched alright. I didn't pitch real bad or real good-it was just one of those things. Inconsistent might be the word." "HEY, HE HAD some good years with Texas," said Tiger pitching coach Fred,,Gladding. "He had an off year last season and a change of scenery some- times helps. He certainly has pitched great for us." For Foucaul: last season was a year to forget. But this April P. new opportunity arose for Foucault when he was dealt to the Tigers in exchange for Ben- gal slugger Willie Horton. Foucault was happy with the transaction. Having to pitch in Tiger Stadium - a hitters park with small dimensions - didn't worry him a bit. "IT NO DIFFERENT pitchhig here," Foucault susd. "If you niike the good pityhes you will get them out aiyh w." Foucault is very happy to be throwing a lot of pitches this summer rather than watching teammates warm-up in the bull- pen while he sits like a lone- some teenager waiting for the phone to ring. "It's tough to pitch once a week because you don't know what to expect of yourself-you might be wild," said Foucault. "The best way for a reliever to pitch is three or four times a week for one or two innings." FOUCAULT HAS never start- ed a game in his five year ma- jor league career. However, he doesn't r e a l1 y prefer long stretches on the mound, such as earlier this year when he shut out the Chicago White Sox on one hit for four and two thirds innings. "I don't prefer long relief but I'll pitch when Ralph needs me," Foucault said. "I would rather pitch like the other night when I came in to finish up. It's what- ever Ralph feels is best for the club. "I enjoy relief pitching be- cause you come to the park and know you have a chance to pitch every day," Foucault added. "Being a starter would be a bet- ter job if you are a good one- pitching every five days and making a lot of money." WHEN THE 27-year old Du- luth, Minnesota native is sum- moned from the bullpen he's got to take the slab and be raring to go--especially in tight situa- tions. "Concentration is most impor- tant for a reliever,' Foucault said. "I'd rather pitch with guys on base rather than start the inning tecause you'll he concen- trating-and if you aren't con- centrating you can get whupped bad. "I know most of the hitters pretty well except for the young guys I face for the first time," added Foucault, w h o s e best pitch is his fast ball. "The only thing you can do in that situa- tion is to go with your strongest pitch. If you have to get beat you wanna get beat with your best pitch." SEEING FOUCAULT chug- ging in from the bullpen to take the mound is frequent nowadays and he certainly enjoys the chance to hurl regularly. "The trade to Detroit was a break for me," Foucault said. "I don't like to sit around and not pitch. Pitchers like to pitch and hitters like to hit." And Foucault will be doing a lot of pitching for the Tigers in the future. Welcome Students TO THE DASCOLA HAI RSTYLISTS ARBORLAND-971-9975 MAPLE VILLAGE--761-2733 E. LIBERTY-668-9329 l. UNIVERSITY-662-0354 NEW YORK (UPI) - T o m eaer will become a member the world champion Cincin- ati Reds within the next 48 ours-unless he kills the deal imself by telling the New York lets he has decided to stay rith them for the same salary hey are paying him now. The Mets are understood to be getting three players for their three-time Cy Young Award-winner, the best known of which is right-handed re- liever Rawley Eastwick; the national League's "Fireman of the Year" last season. Infielder Doug Flynn also has een ientioned as one of the eds' players involved. Seaver had asked the Mets to trade him when they refused to renegotiate the three-year con- tract he signed with them last year calling for $225,000.a year. He gave his approval to a deal with the Reds over the week- end. Before beating the Astors, 3-1, in Houston Sunday, Seaver said, "There is a strong possibility this-could be my last game for the Mets." M. Donald Grant, the Mets' b o a r d chairman, acknowl- edged Sunday a deal was in the process of being comn- pleted but- still left the door open for Seaver. 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