RF SINGLES REP
King Kong now
CHICAGO (AP)-Watching Dave Kingman try to hit to
right field is as weird as suddenly realizing you're driving the
wrong way on a one-way street.
But the lanky Chicago Cub slugger says, somewhat
(petulantly, that's the way it's going to be.
THE CUBS certainly didn't hire Kingman as a $200,000-
a-year free agent to hit singles to right field but the right-
handed hitter says he's been criticized by someone in the
organization for not going to right field.
"Don't try to find out who told me," Kingman said.
"That's all I'm going to say about it. But it's permanent. I'm
going to do it all year ... forever."
That's somewhat of a turn-around for Kingman who,
before the Cubs embarked on a recent road trip, said "I just
keep going up there to do what I can. I'll always be the same.
I might strike out two or three times and then hita home run.
That's the way it's been for seven years and I don't see it
changing."
So why the change with Kingman hitting to right quite
successfully against shifting defenses?
NOBODY SEEMS to know.
"I haven't said anything to him," said Manager Herman
Franks. "He does what he wants to do. I've always said that
The Michigan Daily-Friday, June 30, 1978-Page 15
LACE LF BLASTS
crashes clunkers
he's never reached his potential."
Could it be Bob Kennedy, the general manager who last
summer said he'd never take Kingman-in the free agent draft
and then did an about face and signed him?
"I don't care what field he hits to as long as he hits and we
win," Kennedy said. "I think Herman and the coaches talked
to hind about it. But the intent wasn't for him to go to right
field on every pitch. There's a time to go for a single and a
time to swing natural."
SO FAS AS home runs and runs batted in go, Kingman has
had his share. He has, 15 homers and 45 RBI's, a ratio which
is as much as can be expected.
He has been getting his share of hits going to right field
and in a 9-8 victory over the New York Mets Wednesday,
Kingman hit a pair of sacrifice flies and a two-run single
while swinging flat-footed and trying to go to right.
Whether opposing teams will shift their defenses to adjust
too the new Kingman swing or the whole project will be
disbanded remains to be seen. So far Kingman is doing it his
way. Or is he?
The first thing you should do today
(after you finish reading your Daily) is
fly on down to the IM Building to get
your softball team registered for sum-
mer term-today is the deadline, and
the Libels are looking for some stiffer
competition.
The second thing you should do today
is make a note of the following gym
hours for this coming Monday, July 3rd.
CCRB will be open from 7:45 a.m. to 7
p.m.; the IM Building will be closed,
and the NCRB will keep its normal
hours.
The third thing you should do today is
call 763-3084 and get the scoop on the
PAIFS classes, for which registration is
being held now through July 17. Classes
are offered in disco dancing, water
safety instruction, and other fun areas.
And if that's not enough to keep you
busy, go back and read yesterday's
Daily, and the one from the day
before ...
BUT STILL ROCK BOTTaMAS ALL-STAR
Puhl surfaces as NL's top hitter
HOUSTON (AP)-There may not be
a position for Houston's Terry Puhl on
the National League All-Star team this
season but the surprising second year
outfielder has "voted" himself to the
top of the NL batting race.
Puhl is losing out in the All-Star
balloting to Cincinnati's George Foster,
Philadelphia's Greg Luzinski and Los
Angeles' Rick Monday, the top three
outfield picks in voting by fans. In fact,
he isn't even on the ballot.
But following Wednesday night's
game in the Astrodome against Cincin-
nati, Puhl was leading everyone in the
league with a .322 batting average and a
nine-game hitting streak.
INTRAMUR
"I get myself into a frame of mind
that they are not going to get me out,"
said Puhl, who has taken on the added
responsibility of playing center field for
injured Astros star Cesar Cedeno. "I
just think about hitting the ball hard.
"Of course, you've got to have the
technique and not swing at bad pitches
but it's mostly a mental thing. I'm a
streak hitter and once I geta few hits it
increases your confidence. When you
believe you're'going to get hits you
will."
Puhl was sidelined briefly with a foot
injury and his eight-game hitting binge
started with the first game after his
return to the lineup.
"You have to be careful not to press,"
Puhl said. "The balls are just dropping
and theyrwill drop if you hit it good."
Baseball's Top Ten
AMERICAN LEAGUE NATIONAL LEAGUE
G AB R H Pct. G AB R H Pct.
Carew Min ................ 66 247 40 85 .344 Puhl Htn .................. 63 259 35 86 .332
Sundberg Tex ............. 67 233 23 76 .326 Madlock SF ...............55 201 32 65, .323
Rice Bsn .................. 73 303 54 98 .323 Bowa Phi.................. 67 285 40 92 .323
Reynolds Sea .............. 70 247 26 79 .320 Burroughs At............. 66 218 30 70 .321
CubbageMpn ..............57 176 18 56 .318 ParkerPgh................69 273 42 85 .311
Lelcana Mil ............... 62 202 34 64 .317 Griffey Cin ................ 74 299 44 93 .311
LynnBsn . ....... 66 241 34 76 .315 ILenLA ...... .. 63 232 47 72 .310
Cooper Mil . . ........51 195 32 61 .313 RSmihLA . . .5...... 4 196 36 61 .366
RoJacksonCl.............. 57 195 27 61 .313 WhitfieldSF............... 71 236 37 72 .305
BBell Cie.................. 68 264 37 82 .311 GMaddoxPhi.............. 67 243 25 74 .305
y ;",C."'+S yU + U' ' r , 4 . % .'. a5 l .i. ;iy
AAV C CIUDIL14
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A L OFFICIALS
NEEDED
Learn a Lifetime
Sports Activity
Come to the following clinics
at the
Intramural Sports Bldg.
606 E. Hoover
July 6& 7
Softball 7 pm-S pm
Basketball S pm-10 pm
ConteactSandy Sander7-1313
Dept. of Rcrsatlonal Sports
Au vI WIIn.W
5x7 Sunliner Two-Man
BackPack Tent
609N Reg. $60.98
SALE $49.98
5x7 Sunshine Two-Man Mountain Tent
Reg. $24.98 NOW $19.98
Sunshine Dome Pack Tent
Reg. $50.98 SALE $39.98
Straw Hats-many styles
$1.98 and up
Bota (Wineskins) 1-2% qt.
$2.98 and up
We carry inflatable rafts $26.98 and up
Full line of freeze-dried foods
Sale Ends 7-1-78
2011E. WashIngton pt Fourth--94-3M7
nf -t nnrK arkI f ~c .'66.naAS £
I GO- J, I
Vrt MVNUAT:0AJ *-1- t-0%I s0