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.
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SCONA
Perspectives on
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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.