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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 11, 1982)
sports Battalion/Page 19 February 11, 1982 Baseball fever Major League teams set for spring training TANK MCNAMARA f; ARE AWEP 0V STAR JOQC& ? NOT REALLY. BUT COACHES . The sports pages have come to life once After five months without earned run av- ‘raKes, runs batted in, and bases-loaded- lith-two out-in-the-bottom-of-the-ninth uspense, life has meaning again. Baseball season is about to begin. Day after day, stories of spring training hve football-weary sports sections a breath ol excitement. I In the world of professional baseball, leanis are making their way to the sunny Sit-Ids of Florida and California to begin the ritual of loosening arms and getting used to Lnning again. Spring training serves a number of pur- ioses. For some teams, like the Houston stros, the spring is a time to work out the inks in what promises to be a champion- hip team. However, the Astros’ chances to produce a World Series winner are running out. ■ Everyone knows about the talent the Houston ballclub has, especially in the pitch- iig department. Averages of hitters if the Rational League last year showed that Nolan Ryan, Joe Sambito. and Dave Smith were among the hardest pitchers to hit. With a fast outfield, a strong infield, and reliable hitters, the Astros are always a threat to the other members of the National League. So why don’t they win the pennant? One of the first explanations is the some times great, but most of the time puzzling, strategy of Manager Bill Virdon. Virdon may have been voted Manager of the Year in 1980, but his methods for chang ing pitchers in a game are enough to give a loyal fan ulcers by the time the playof fs roll around. He’ll leave in a game a starting pitcher who is struggling with his fastball, wonder ing where his curve has gone, and finally realizing that his change-up has already gone back to the dugout. Instead of putting the pitcher out of his misery, Virdon leaves him in the game until it is too late for the Astros to ever catch up. Maybe the spring season will give Virdon practice in recognizing a a dying pitcher in time to save him and the game. The Astros’ relief pitching staff of Joe Sambito, Dave Smith, and Frank LaCorte is considered by most to be the best in the country. Virdon also has a peculiar habit of using several different lineups throughout the season. Using different players every day is fine if a team lacks a talented set of starters. But the Astros were not deficient in any position after they acquired Phil Garner at second base and used the since-departed Caesar Cedeno at first base. Maybe spring training will give Virdon a chance to get rid of his itchy fingers when it comes to making out the lineup card. by Jeff Millar & Bill Hinds A&M (continued from page 18) J^Todd Tschantz, K, Richardson Lake Highlands — 6-1,212 (4.8) i^Gary Rogers, DF2, Dallas Roosevelt, blue chip — 6-3, 220 (4.6) ►"David Dowell, DE, Bryan — 6-4, 215 (4.9) ►"Ben Zachry, DE, San Anto nio Alamo — 6-3, 200 (4.7) ►"Chris Lammers, DT, San Antonio Churchill — 6-5, 225 (5.0) ►"Terry Thompson, LB, Midland Lee — 6-3, 220 (4.8) ►"Greg Shepperd, LB, Austin Anderson — 6-3, 195 (4.8) ►"Paul Leventis, LB, Houston Statford — 6-4, 215 (4.7) ►"Chris Vaughn, CB, Dekalb aTm FLAGS 2'x3' NYLON with your class number Contact Jon Burt 260-1477 or Tom Joseph 260-6150 ^ cLiijdsey’s JEWELERS NO« 21^ ’ fim^anD' versar ^ Don ''^to°^ manv0< celetotahon ^ r^ e - ced ' ...... for tt ^ 1&K ,exWtedg°^ 1^982 Manor East Mall Bryan, Texas 77801 Monday thru Saturday 10-9 ►"Jimmy Lipscomb, CB, Navasota — 6-1, 185 (4.6) ►"Domingo Bryant, S, Garri son — 6-3, 180 (4.6) ra Valentine, S, Marshall — 6-foot, 180 (4.6) ►"Jared Marks, S, Houston Dulles — 6-foot, 185 (4.7) Texas A&M has apparently lost Douglas, Ga., fullback George Smith to the University 5-11, 175(4.5) of Georgia. * **********************************************-./ ■X- 7*" ■X* | strength and individuality. I learned that I can choose J 7e “The mountains in winter provide a rugged test of | * to reach my goals. ” ■X- | COLORADO I OUTWARD BOUND I BACK COUNTRY SKIING * Co-sponsored with MSC Outdoor Recreation. $ t Ski adventurously Spring Break at a special f | discount rate — $430 total. Sign up in #216H* | MSC or contact Morris Salge at 779-9095. * A <4 o ^ ^ % «$> ^ A <3 0 SCONA Perspectives on .<Z° A <4 O ^ 'S'. 9" A O V 0° v ^ A. ^ Soviet Foreign Policy MARGIN SAR Visiting Research Fellow at the Rockefeller Center Roger Kanet — University of Illinois: Russian Institute Peter Osnos — foreign editor of the Washington Post Friday, February 12th 8:30 a.m. Rudder Theater Friday, February 12th 1:30 p.m. Rudder Theater Saturday, February 13th 11:00 a.m. Rm. 201 MSC ALL SPEECHES ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.