European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 24, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Err tit tuesday March 24, 1992 the stars and stripes b Page 21 baseball 92 a s won t come Back Stewart does missing Ace Dave Stewart says hell be ready in �?T92. A file by Ben Walker a baseball writer Phoenix a so Many things went wrong for the Oakland athletics last season that its impossible to pick Only one reason Why they failed to win their fourth straight Pennant. By Young Winner Bob Welch became a loser and Rickey Henderson was not an map. Dennis Eckersley gave up More runs homers and walks than he had in the previous two years combined Mark Mcgwire barely hit .200 and Carney Lansford and Walt Weiss were injured. Still when the athletics talk about their future Only one name pops up. A we need Dave Stewart to come Back a manager Tony la Russa said. Stewart following four straight 20-win seasons saw his death stare turn into a Grimace last year. He had the worst Era in baseball and his jump from a 2.56 Era in 1990 to 5.18 in 1991 was the biggest single season increase in major league history among full time starters. Stewarts struggles included an 11-11 record even though he got the second Best run support in the majors 5.63 runs per Start and his first Ever Stop on the disabled list. How bad was it at one Point Stewart got mad at the Way the Oakland writers were criticizing his performance a he said they weren to being harsh enough. A i deserved it a Stewart said. A i Wasny to doing the  now after an 84-78 record that was Good enough Only for fourth place in the Al West the athletics Are wondering whether Stewart will resume his role As the games top Winner in the past five years or whether he a finished at age 35. After last season Stewart who was sidelined for two weeks in May because of a pulled rib Cage muscle revealed that he had pitched despite an injured knee. Stewart said he a healthy this Spring even if his exhibition stats Are not. In three starts he has a m2 Era having allowed 15 hits in 13 innings with Only four strikeouts. A i feel Fine Quot Stewart said. A a in a throwing the Ball the Way i want to be. Ill be  pitching coach Dave Duncan said he is not worried about stewarts numbers this month and is encouraged by the Way the athletics Ace has pitched. A i done to see any reason Why we should expect that he  do Well this season a Duncan said. A physically he a Fine and that was a big problem last  la Russa is sure which Stewart hell Sec this season. A the does no to like to get beat a la Russa said. Red sox Wallop Blue jays in preseason showdown by the associated press Winter Haven Fla. A the exhibition game Between the Boston red sox and Toronto Blue jays had All the makings of an Al East showdown. The matchup had Roger Clemens starting for the red sox against Jack Morris of the Blue jays. There was a capacity crowd and an esp National to audience. The red sox won 11-4 and everybody had a Good time with no pressure in the air. Morris who gave up four runs in four innings would have none of the regular season hype being attached. A it does no to mean anything. It Means get your work in have some fun with it a said Morris who gave up All four runs in the second inning when the red sox batted around for five hits including a Lead off Homer by Ellis Burks. Wade Boggs doubled Home two runs in the sixth inning snapping a 4-4 tie. Boggs had two hits and three Bis. Clemens gave up two runs on six hits including John Olerud a Homer leading off the second. In other games sunday mariners 8, Angels 5 Palm Springs Calif. A Pete of Brien drove in the go ahead run with a two run double to key a seven run Seattle rally in the top of the ninth inning against California. Pitching in his first a a a exhibition game of the Spring Angel left hander Chuck Finley tested his sore toe with mixed results. He retired the first six batters he faced then gave up three consecutive hits and was removed from the  10, cubs 3 Mesa Ariz. A Dave Stewart who is coming off knee surgery had his first solid Outing of the Spring in the Oakland a Victory Over Chicago. Stewart 1-1 came into the game with a 6.92 Era but allowed the cubs Only three runs on five hits in six innings and looked the Best he has this Spring. The athletics meanwhile pounded four cubs pitchers for 10 runs on 12 hits including a seven run fourth inning against starter Mike  4, Phillies 3 Clearwater Fla. A Don Mattingly drove in three runs in a game shortened to five innings by rain As the new York Yankees won their fourth straight. Yankee owner George Steinbrenner who was ordered to give up Day to Day operation of the team in August 1990 by commissioner Fay Vincent attended Bis first Yankee game since then. Mattingly who had a .219 average and three rib Spring training entering the game drove in Bemie Williams with a sacrifice Fly off Philadelphia loser Jason Grimsley in the third  7, pirates 2 Bradenton Fla. A Rich gedman and winning Pitcher Juan Agosto drove in two runs each in a six run St. Louis sixth inning against non roster left hander Mike Dalton in an exhibition game called after seven innings by rain. Doug Drabek named by manager Jim Leyland As the pirates opening Day starter limited St. Louis to one run and three hits in five innings but Dalton immediately got into trouble in the sixth with the pirates leading 2-1.tigers 14, royals 3 Lakeland Fla. A Travis Fryman hit a three run triple and Cecil fielder a two run Homer in Detroit a five run fourth As the tigers Defeated Kansas City in a rain shortened six inning game. Bill Gullickson the tigers 20-game Winner last season gave up All three royals runs on three hits and four walks Over five  5, orioles 0 St. Petersburg Fla. A Baltimore a Rick Sutcliffe gave up five runs in the fourth inning As Texas beat the orioles in a game called after five innings by rain. In four innings Sutcliffe allowed five runs on six hits and two walks in what was by far the worst performance by an Oriole starter in Spring  7, astros 3 Plant City Fla. A Joe Oliver hit his second grand slam of the Spring to help Cincinnati defeat Houston. Oliver also had a third inning single. His 2-for-3 Day pushed his batting average to .375. He is tied with Reggie Sanders for the reds team Lead in Home runs with three. He also leads the team with 13  9, braves 3 West Palm Beach Fla. A Bret Saberhagen pitched six Strong innings and Chris Donnels drove in three runs As the new York mets had 14 hits in beating Atlanta. Saberhagen who May be the Metsy starter on opening Day gave up three hits and one run. He walked none and struck out  0, White sox 0 Sarasota Fla. A Minnesota and Chicago ended in Bostons Phil Plantier wipes the mask off the face of Toronto Catcher Greg Myers while scoring sunday. A scoreless tie in a game called after 5 i innings because of rain. White sox starter Charlie Hough pitched two hit Ball Over five innings fanning four. Sammy Sosa had two hits for the sox. Indians 8, giants 2 Scottsdale Ariz. A Junior Ortiz and Jerry Browne each drove in three runs As Cleveland banged out 16 hits in beating san Francisco Ortiz just 2 for 12 entering the game drove in his first run of the Spring with a Homer off left hander Rafael Quirico in the fifth. He added a two run triple his third hit of the game off Jeff Brantley in the indians four run  7, padres 3 Yuma Ariz. A Milwaukee scored seven runs in the first inning against san Diego Ace Bruce Hurst and went on for a Victory against the padres. Brewers Winner Bill Wegman gave up four hits and one run in five innings