European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 10, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 26 the stars and stripes sunday july 10,1988 maps Trammell Strawberry Nyji Odonaghy a sports writer the baseball season is similar to a presidential Campaign. The front runner in july in t always the Winner in the fall. But certain trends have developed during the first half of the 1988 season that seem certain to continue. For instance Cincinnati s scrappy third baseman Chris Sabo is running away with Rookie of the year honors in the National league. A closer race is developing for the american league map with Dave Winfield Jose Canseco and Alan Trammell in the running. Here s a Survey of some of the winners and losers in baseball s first half american league map the Detroit tigers were counted out when they lost Catcher Lance Parrish in1987 and again this year when outfielder Kirk Gibson signed As a free agent with los Angeles. Shortstop Ala Trammell has emerged As the heart and soul of the team. Trammell is hitting .330 with 10 homers and 40rbi. His biggest Homer was a two out ninth inning grand slam to lift the tigers Over the new York Yan Kees on june 21. National league map new York mets right fielder Darryl Strawberry leads the no with 21 Home runs and has emerged As a team Leader. His average with runners in scoring position in t All that great but analysis when the mets have needed the big Homer Strawberry has delivered. Although Montreal is far behind in the standings no one has been More consistent than first baseman Andres Galarraga. He is in Contention for a triple Crown and also leads the league in hits runs and slugging percentage. This is my Best time of my life said Galarraga a native of Venezuela. I play outside the United states and a lot of people Don t see me in Montreal. We Don t have too Many fans. They re getting to know by Young award Minnesota s Frank Viola has earned his Success in the world series into the1988 season. Viola is 14-2 and has won 18 straight games at the metronome. The left hander has a 2.24era and 104 strikeouts. Viola s main Competition figures to come from two time incumbent Roger Clem ens of Boston. Clemens leads the league in strikeouts and has six shutouts. Any time Frankie takes the Mound it s like Roger Clemens does for Boston twins Center fielder Kirby Puckett says. He always keeps us close and we take it from by Young award Chicago s Greg Maddux has been one of the big surprises of the 1988 season. Mad Dux is 14-3 with a 2.15 Era. He has allowed Only six Home runs in 146% innings a remarkable number for a starter at Wrigley Field. Last season Maddux was 6-14 with a 5.38 Era. Unlike the two Man race developing in the Al there Are several chasing Maddux including Dwight Gooden and David Cone of the mets and Orel Hershiser of los Rookie of the year no one seems interested in this race. The Early favorite was Milwaukee slugger Joey Meyer but he s hitting .233 with four homers and 13 Bis in a Utility role. Last september Chicago Jack Mcdowell was uni table but he s 4-6 with a 3.98 Era. The Best Al Rookie at the Halfway Point is to Ronto reliever David Wells. Wells has three victories and four saves and has struck out 51 in 59 /3 Rookie of the year in a landslide it s Sabo. Sabo was suppose to be a temporary replacement for the injured buddy Bell but he took the Job away an forced the reds to Trade the Veteran third baseman to Houston. Entering weekend action Sabo had reached base safely in 62 of the 72 games he started and led the league with 31 fireman of the year Oakland s Dennis eckers Ley a 20-game Winner for Boston in 1978, is on record Pace with 26 saves. He also has a 1.55 Era and has allowed Only one Homer in 42% fireman of the year Randy Myers of the mets has become the most feared left handed reliever in the league. He is 5-0 with 13 saves and a 1.26 Era. In 35% innings he has 36 strikeouts. Lasorda Given Extension through 1990 los Angeles a to Lasorda the Dean of major league managers was Given a contract Extension through 1990 by the los Angeles dodgers the club announced , 60, is in his 12th year As the dodgers manager and 39th wit the organization for whom he was also a player scout minor league manager and major league coach. A Multi year contract Worth $500,000 annually was schedule to expire at the end of this season. We just Felt the timing was right dodgers general manager Fred Claire said. There was t Aneed for much discussion. Tom s record Speaks for said he agreed to the Extension during a meeting thursday night with owner Peter o Malley. I m extremely honoured that Peter would allow me to manage this Ball club for two More years Lasorda said during a dodger stadium news conference. I m a very very Lucky Man. I love the dodgers very much. I m going to die a after finishing Well off the Pace in the National league West the past two seasons both times wit records of 73-89, the dodgers finished the first half of this season with a 48-33 Mark and a 5 a game Lead Over defending Divisio Champion san Francisco. Lasorda hired to succeed Chelate Walter Alston As the dodgers manager on sept. 29, 1976, has guided the team to five division titles three pennants and the 1981world series championship. Boy have those years gone by so fast Lasorda said. I be Bee very fortunate Over the last 12 years. I am right where i belong. 111 be starting my 40th year in the dodger organization next Yea which i love very trails Only Alston 23 years and 2,042 victories and Wilbert Robinson 18 and 1,375 in Victo Ries and years of service among dodger managers. Entering this year the dodgers were 926-805 under Lasorda who is bidding to become the 38th manager in base Bali history to win 1,000 games. Champ Curry dreams of Leonard bout san remo Italy a now that he s a Champion again Donald Curry has his eyes on a big payday. Curry showing the form that once car ried him to the world boxing association welterweight title knocked Dow Italy s Gianfranco Rosi five times in nine rounds Friday to take the world boxing Council Junior middleweight title. The 26-year-old from fort Worth Texas showed no effects from his last two fights knockout losses to Britain Lloyd Honeyghan in a welterweight title bout and to Aba Junior middleweight Champ Mike Mccallum. Rosi battered and bleeding did not answer the Bell for the 10th round wit the american leading on Points by a wide margin. Now Curry said he s thinking about Multi million Dollar defense against sugar Ray Leonard who according to matchmaker Bob arum has said he May come out from retirement. I trained hard for five months for this Opportunity which i could not miss said Curry who earned $200,000 for the fight,$100,000 less than Rose. Now i want to relax and think of Rosi went to his Knees seven times inthe nine rounds though two were regarded As slips before losing the title in his second defense. Curry floored Rosi for the first time inthe second round with a Sharp left Hook that caught the Champion on the jaw an sent him Down for an eight count and appeared to give Curry Confidence. Rosi never Hurt me but i could feel his strength said Curry. I was sur prised when he quit. But the More knocked him Down the stronger i Don Curry raises his arms after winning the wac Junior middleweight title. A photo Ferrari s Berger nabs pole for British up Silverstone England a Austria s Gerhard Berger broke the Mclaren pole domination of this season s formula one championship by streaking to the fastest qualifying time saturday and taking no. 1 Grid position for Sun Day s British grand prix. And with his Ferrari teammate Mich ele Albreto clocking the second fastest time it meant that for the first time this season the Mclaren duo of Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost would be off the front Row of the starting Grid. After Albreto had dominated prac Tice for the second successive Day Berger produced two late fast laps to steal the pole position from his italian teammate. His fastest time set on his last Lap at the very end of the session was 1 min Ute 10.133 seconds which represented an average Speed of 152.402 Mph. That last Lap shaved a thousandth of a second off his previous Best time and pulled him further ahead of Albreto whose Best was 1 10.332. Albreto had held the provisional pole after Friday s practice and looked set to hold on until Berger s late burst. Senna moved ahead of his Mclaren teammate Alain Prost of France to take third place on the Grid. His Best time was 1 10.616, ahead of Prost s 1 10.736.Prost leads the Drivers championship race with 54 Points to Senna s 39. Bergeris next with 21 in a title race that has been dominated by the two s brazilian countryman Mauri Cio Gugelman solidified his no. 5 Posi Tion on the Grid with a faster time of 1 11.745, ahead of Italy s Ivan Capelli who recovered from a suspension prob Lem to clock 1 12.006. World Champion Nelson Piquet of Brazil improved two places from Friday to take seventh place
