European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 10, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 22 the stars and stripes thursday april 10, 1986 mets royals count on a Dairy i by Mike Tully new York up two right fielders named Dar Ryl loom As keys for the 1986 major league baseball sea son. In fact if Darryl Strawberry and Darryl Motley deliver Strong seasons then the new York met and the Kansas City royals could Well meet in the 1986 world series. The two players Are among the six individuals named by up As keys to the Pennant races. Joining Strawberry As a key National league player is Cincinnati right hander Mario Soto. The key no manager is Chuck Tanner who escaped a difficult situation in Pittsburgh and inherits another one in Atlanta. In addition to Motley in the american league Detroit shortstop Alan Trammell is a key along with Baltimore a photo mets Darryl Strawberry. Needs 30-35 hrs 100 Bis in 86 manager Earl Weaver. Motley the survivor of a right Field situation that looked unclear All Winter can enhance the royals chances by complementing George Brett and Steve Balboni in the lineup. In 1984, Motley enjoyed a productive season hitting .284 with 15 homers and 70 Bis. He spent much of last year Plato Ning in right Field with Pat Sheridan and hit .222 with 49 Bis. During the off season the royals made no pitch for free agent right fielder Kirk Gibson and they failed to fill the position in a Trade. Moreover they released Sheridan As the left handed hitting platoon in right Field. If at age 26, Motley can return to his 1984 form he would add punch to a team that appears to have enough pitching to win the Al West. Trammell managed to Lead the tigers to a world series Triumph in 1984 despite shoulder problems but they have worsened since then. Now Detroit manager Sparky an Derson has said Trammell must either prove he can play shortstop or not play at All. I told him if i were a betting Man i d bet it does t go away Anderson said. I think hell have it the rest of his career. The decision he has to make is Clear. Either play shortstop or Don t play at All because i can t use him at do. There s no room at do. You either play or you Don t play. If he can t play i want to know about it. I la put him on the disabled  if trammels shoulder leaves him unable to perform then Anderson would use Doug Baker As his starting shortstop. Weaver managed the orioles with great Success for More than a decade before retiring. Joe Altobelli led the orioles to a world series Victory in 1983, but the club slipped. Now Weaver is Back but he s expressing reservations about having the same intensity he once brought to the Field. A fully dedicated Weaver is a Winner. A burned out Weaver won t solve the orioles problems. Strawberry is entering his fourth full big league season and so far the right fielder has Only teased the mets with his ability. He has hit 81 career Home runs and never less than 26 in a season. He can steal a base and has shown above average ability in right. Nevertheless he has never played More than 147 games in a season and he lacked mental toughness in the 1984 season. By hitting 30-35 homers with More than 100 Bis Strawberry 24, could Lead the mets to the East division title. Soto 29, picked the wrong year for his first major league slump. The right hander had steadily increased his Victory total every year since coming to the majors to stay in 1979. In 1984, he went 18-7 with 13 Complete games. Last year the dominican native Slid to 12-15, a Depar Ture of seven games from the previous year. The reds not so coincidentally finished 5 /2 games behind the West Divi Sion Champion dodgers. During the off season the reds traded for right hand ers John Denny and Bill Gullickson to strengthen a Start ing rotation already including Soto and 20-game winning Tom Browning. If Soto returns to form he will provide leadership to that group. Tanner is one of baseball s most experienced managers having made his debut with the 1970 Chicago White sox. He won the world series with the 1979 pirates and has shown an ability to motivate players. Tanner left a Pittsburgh franchise damaged by last summer s drug scandal and has come to one damaged by poor play. Nevertheless he inherits a solid nucleus led by Center fielder Dale Murphy. If he shows his trademark patience with the pitching staff Atlanta could be the sur prise of the season. A photo royals Darryl Motley. Won t platoon this season of 36, Buckner looks for improvement Boston s Bill Buckner by Dave o Hara Winter Haven Fla. A an ankle injured nearly a dozen years ago throbs constantly and Bill Buckner walks As if he s stepping on egg shells. But at 36, the Boston red sox first base Man is a Tough old Warrior thinking of improvement As he Heads into his 16th major league season. I had a pretty Good season last year but 1 think i can do better in just about every area except stolen bases Buckner said recently. I think i still can steal every now and then but i Don t know about More than 18." Buckner the 1980 National league Bat Ting Champion lost his regular Job with the Chicago cubs in 1984, and was traded to the red sox for right hander Dennis Eck Ersley on May 25. He became Boston s Resi Dent first baseman immediately. I knew i still could play and hit when they gave Bull Durham my Job in Chicago and i knew some clubs were interested in me Buckner recalled. However you have to be a Little concerned when you re 34 and making a pretty Good salary. Fortunately i found a Home in Boston. Playing with the red. Sox is almost like a second career for me after so Many years in the National league six in los Angeles seven plus in Chicago Buckner hit .278 with 11 homers and 67 runs batted in while playing 114 games for Boston in 1984. 162 games in 1985 with 110 Bis then he acted like a Young Colt batting a photo .299 with a career High equalling 16 Hom ers and an All time High 110 Bis. He tied a career High with 201 hits including 46 doubles. And he played in All 162 games As a to Stonmon Man. I Don t want anyone to take my Job away and the Only Way to prevent that from happening is to play every game Buckner said with a smile. He Tore the ankle so badly while with the dodgers in 1975 that it required two operations. The ankle still hurts but Buckner is used to the pain. It hurts All the time but i Don t worry about it he said. The pain is not so bad that i can t play with it. I think More of the possibility of broken Bones or pulled mus  leading the club with 18 stolen bases is no big Deal either according to Buckner. Probably the most important Factor is that it shows other Guys on the club you can do it and they might Start thinking they can too he said. Really though stealing 18 bases is no big accomplishment even at 35. Anybody who plays major league base Ball should be Able to steal at least 10bases." Buckner says that his personal goal is to rack up As Many hits As i  he went Over the 2,000 career Mark last season. It s getting to the Point that there Aren t Many Guys who have been around As Long As i have he said. In another year or two there probably won t be anybody so i want to keep getting base