Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 30, 1997)
Pags January 30,1 JEI The Battalion ORTS Page 7 Thursday • January 30, 1997 inter Caravan stros have busy off-season with 10-player deal rolls through Dierker moves from booth to dugout iiatn MONTHS Cfff:7 UAS Ail m tiew there m IN TO GMir ?ON‘T Y00 6CW W CRAfmmi NES ON ITfiDE, cou-p ysewrl By Chris Ferrell The Battalion he Chicago White Sox and Florida Marlins ived most of the free-agent press for their season shopping sprees. But the Houston os feel the signings they have made will help t> make another run at the St. Louis Cardi- and the National League Central Division /vn for the 1996-97 season, luring the Houston Astros’ winter caravan, ch made a stop at Post Oak Mall Wednesday, ers and coaches looked back on the off-sea- and ahead to spring training, the Astros focused most of their attention re-signing current players and filling holes, (heir lineup. [The biggest news of the winter came in the In of a 10-player trade with the Detroit Tigers, (largest trade in baseball since the Astros and idres made a 12-player deal in 1994. [Houston gave up two starters from their 5 squad, outfielder Brian Hunter, dubbed next Kenny Lofton but never developed as ected, and shortstop Orlando Miller, n exchange, the Astros received help for a pen that struggled, at times, last season. Addi- s to the roster included young pitchers CJ. kowski, who was the ninth pick overall in the 4 free-agent draft, Jose Lima and Trever Miller. ,e team also acquired catcher Brad Ausmus. New Astros manager Larry Dierker said the /v pitchers will be difficult to keep up with in ing training. “You know, I don’t know what to expect,” Dierk- said. “I don’t want to say it’s going to be difficult, 's going to be impossible in spring training just to t a read on some of the pitchers that we have. “We have 27 pitchers coming to camp and Ve got three or four spots that could be won omebody has a really eye-popping spring.” Dierker Tim Moog, The Battalion Three-year-old Vicky Jo Wilhelm had Astros' outfielder Luis Gonzalez sign her baseball at Post Oak Mall yesterday. In another attempt to bolster the bullpen, the Astros signed 34-year-old left-hander Sid Fernan dez. Fernandez spent last season with the Philadel phia Phillies but is best remembered for his days with the New York Mets, where he was a key figure in the team’s 1987World Series title. “A lot of people think [Fernandez] is one of the best left-handed pitchers around when he’s healthy,” pitcher Shane Reynolds said. “He’s gonna be out there helping us a lot. He’s got some leader ship ability that’s going to help us a lot as well.” Houston also addressed its needs in the field. The Astros signed shortstop Pat Listach to re place the traded Miller. Dierker said the team will look to Listach to fill a gap in the batting lineup as well as in the infield. “One of the things we’ll find out at spring training is whether Pat Listach can hit at the top of the lineup, probably second,” Dierker said. “(We want] to see if he can get himself on base and help move other guys around some. It would be good to have his speed up there.” Astros’ management also took steps to en sure some familiar faces would be playing in the Astrodome this year. See Astros, Page 10 By Jeremy Furtick The Battalion L arry Dierker had better watch his criticism of the Houston Astros this season, especially second- guessing the man ager — he is the manager now. Dierker will call his 18-year broadcast ing career quits this season as he puts on the oldblue and gold and heads to the dugout. Managing the Astros will be the newest chapter in the storied history between Dierker and the ball club. He began his professional baseball ca reer on his 18th birthday in 1964 when he pitched for the Colt .45s. Dierker went on to play for 13 years in Houston and even directed the Group and Season Sales Office in 1978. Since then, he has observed the game from behind the microphone. “Managing won't be as much fun as broadcasting,” Dierker said, “but I think there will be more satisfac tion in the end.” The Astros broke the news of the deal in early October to a banage of negative feedback. But Dierker contends the lo cal fans respected the decision. “The Houston people have em braced this well, even though it’s been criticized around the country,” he said. “We’ll have a little honeymoon period in April where the fans will re alize we aren’t going to win every game, but I think they will be happy to have the old guys back together.” “The old guys” Dierker refers to are former Astros Alan Ashby, Jose Cruz, Vern Ruble and Bill Virdon, all of whom will be part of Houston’s coaching staff this season. Dierker said his personality was the key reason Houston wanted him to follow Terry Collins as the Astros’ field general. “They (the Astros) probably know I understand the technical side of the game from listening to my broadcast for all these years,” he said. “But 1 think they wanted a guy like me to take over for Terry. He’s a ‘fire-up’ guy and they wanted a mood change in the clubhouse.” Dierker has no former coaching experience, but he said there is more to successful managing in the Major Leagues than experience. “Managing will be tough and I will be on a learning curve for a while,” he said. “There are some procedures and basic elements of managing that I will have to learn, but I think the most im portant aspect of it isn’t managing the game, it’s managing the players.” Astros outfielder Luis Gonzalez said this summer will be a challenge for both Dierker and the team. “He’s been on the field before and he’s been watching this team for a long time,” Gonzalez said. “He knows the players and knows the game, but he will struggle some at first with the strategic moves and pitching changes, but he’ll definitely be up for the challenge.” See Dierker, Page 9 Superstitious Janssen brings laughter, consistency to diving team T Stew Milne, The Battalion odi Janssen finished just short of second lace in the SWC Championships last year. By Sara Duesing The Battalion Ihe water is still and dark. She looks straight ahead, concentrating and preparing. She draws a deep breath and dives. Jodi Janssen, a member of the Texas A&M Diving Team, has a serious com mitment to her sport and her team, in ad dition to a cheerful and upbeat personality. As the first diving scholarship recipient for A&M, Janssen has become a leader and a role model for her teammates. A&M Diving Head Coach Kevin Wright said it is important to have someone like Janssen to keep building and recruiting an infant program. “Jodi is skilled at making people feel com fortable,” Wright said. “When we’re trying to build, she represents the school well. She is a nice girl, very positive and intelligent.” Janssen, who is from Papillion, Neb., said at first it was a difficult decision whether to come to A&M. Narrowing her choices to the University of Nebraska and A&M, Janssen said it was the potential of A&M's diving program that ultimately excited her. “I saw a lot of opportunities here,” Janssen said. “I love this school, its traditions and how friendly the other Aggies are. Plus, the weath er is warmer.” A definite strength for _ the team and its progress, Janssen has posted im pressive victories in her years here. Her freshman season, Janssen was the highest finishing diver in the Southwest Confer ence in the one-meter, three-meter and platform finals. She finished third in last year’s champi- “She is fun to be around and it is easy to work off her positive mood.” Jennifer Spychalski A&M diver onship, just one point shy of the second-place title. This year, she finished second against the University of Southern California, first against Nebraska, and first in the Rainbow Invitational in Hawaii. “Jodi is a real solid individual,” Wright said. “Teams need that — particularly young teams. She is a team builder, happy day in and day out. She is a good athlete for building a program around.” Her teammates describe her de meanor as upbeat and hap py. Janssen’s attitude has made her success even more special. “I’ve had a lot of obsta cles to overcome,” Janssen said. “You can look at things with a negative atti tude and make it harder to do better, or you can be positive. When things don’t go my way, it’s my goal to stay positive.” Wright said it is difficult for the team to be in a bad mood when Janssen is around. “Jodi is always in a good mood,” Wright said. “It carries over into practice and is fair ly contagious.” Janssen first found herself diving com petitively when she was eight years old, having already participated in both swimming and gymnastics. Despite plans to attend dental school, Janssen said she is sure diving will always be a part of her life. “Jodi is a consistent diver,” sophomore diver Jennifer Spychalski said. “She is fun to be around and it is easy to work off her positive mood.” Janssen, who has quite a few supersti tions, said her teammates have fun laugh ing at her rituals. “I have to listen to my Top Gun tape be fore every meet,” she said. “I bring a stuffed animal with me and I wear a green rubber band in my hair.” Hoping to medal at the Big 12 Confer ence meet and then qualify for the NCAA’s, Janssen will face some stiff competition but has a good chance to succeed, Wright said. “I think she can do it,” Wright said. “Jodi has matured tremendously here, and she just continues to move forward. She is a real contribution to this team.” 3ILLY 3 ART 1 BILLY PART 2 TJE Feb 4 PART 3 neone recenl' a Center was lend thatyoi d you can tat ose acquat ices. I wont eto knowaiL s-Emily, afl d Josie, etc ho have gout is great ell andstronj ;sful blend ol ndly service Tinner. C.f E. University!! 2 68-6050 !3 Wellborn Rt 846-8855 Independent Study Lab (The ISL provides students with study materials to prepare earning credit by examination. This is available through cooperative arrangement between the Center for Acade- fnic Enhancement (CAE) and the Office of Measurement and Research Services (MARS). bourses for which exams and study ma terials are available: Center for Academic Enhancement 529 Blocker 845-2724 Academic CHEM 101/111: Fundamentals of Chemistry I ECON 202: Principles of Economics HIST 105: History of the United States MATH 141: Business Mathematics I POLS 206: American National Government PSYC107: Introduction to Psychology 1NA207: Business Information Systems Concepts 1EM 102/112: Fundamentals of Chemistry II X)N 203: Principles of Economics ST 106: History of the United States MH166: Topics in Contemporary Mathematics II DLS207: State and Local Government Cl 205: Introduction of Sociology Resources available to support independent study for course credit: Independent Study Laboratory ✓ test anxiety workshops ✓ test preparation material 526 Blocker Measurement and Research Services ✓ test administration 1 Agriculture Building Student Counseling Services %/ test anxiety workshops Henderson Hall #■ - ouse n ' FREE academic 1 I ■ | If 1)11/7I If assistance provided by TAMU departments. CHECK IT OUT http ://www. tamu.edu/aac/ (SI times and locations are updated daily) i Supplemental Instruction What is SI? organized group study FREE begins the first week of the term study sessions led by a trained undergraduate peer guarantees study time attendance is voluntary all students in the course section may attend Check out SI!!! Improve your grades and study with others who are serious about coursework. Check the Academic Assistance Clearinghouse for time and locations, http://www.tamu.edu/aac/ Spring Semester SI Courses AGRO 301-506 through 510 BICH 411-501 BIOL 114 all sections CHEM 101 all sections CHEM 102 all sections CHEM 107-501 through 553 CHEM 222 all sections CHEM 227 all sections CHEM 228 all sections ECON 202-511 GENE 301 all sections HIST 105-505 HIST 106-502 HIST 106-507 HIST 106-508 POLS 206-507 POLS 207-505 HORT 201-500 MATH 142-502 MGMT 105-501 MGMT 105-502 PSYC 107-501 PSYC 107-505 PSYC 107-508 VTTP 423 all sections ZOOL 220-501 through 511 PSYC 202-517 through 520 POLS 206-502 POLS 206-506