European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 26, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday april 26, 1992 the stars and stripes b Page 25first $10 million Man on deck Picen Bonds have Best Chance to hit Mark by Ben Walker a baseball writer now that Ryne Sandberg has reached the $7 million Mark baseball a first $10 million Man is on deck. So who will it be maybe the Lucky player will come from the next crop of free agents because the potential list is simply sensational. Cal Depken Barry Bonds Kirby Puckett Ruben Sierra Wade Boggs and Doug Drabek Are among those eligible to file after the world series and some of them surely will be available. A Cal Ripken is positioned As Well As a player possibly could be with free Agency staring the orioles in the face a ventured agent Jeff Moorad who represents will Clark Gregg Olson and others. Eric Davis Mark Mcgwire David Cone John Smiley and Randy Myers also might be on the move although there a still time for teams to work out new contracts with their stars. There a also time for the players to work on driving up their Worth. A Good season in a players final year before free Agency can Send his Price zooming As Danny Tartabull did in earning a $25 million five year Deal from the new York Yankees. Ripken is off to a slow Start following his map season. He says his main focus is hitting and catching the Ball not catching Sandberg and hitting the $10 million Mark. No matter what hell do a lot better than his current Deal which averages barely $2 million per season. A i done to want to get involved in contracts numbers and that kind of stuff a Ripken said. A a in a signed through the end of this  it is a common feeling among baseball people that Many players automatically do better in their Safary drive seasons and several stars have done it. Last year Bobby Bonilla and Wally Joyner hit for career highs Dave Winfield enjoyed his Best Power season since 1983, Mike Morgan was Over .500 for the first time Ever and Jack Morris became the world series map All leading to Rich free agent contracts. But that a not to say anyone can simply turn it on in a drive for dollars. Frank Viola went from being a 20-game Winner to a loser last season Tom Candiotti was merely a break even Pitcher and Eddie Murray dipped and they All did Well in the free agent Market. Before them Terry Pendleton Ted Higuera and Kirk Gibson also did not distinguish themselves in their set up seasons. Still its a lot easier to remember the players who boosted their value Guys like Darryl Strawberry Bob Welch and to Quot will j a a a Ltd 0 4 1 v 1. It 0 x a i \ x i v a it # # a a a a a 0. I Quot s  a x it y f it i a a a n # a # a a it i. I a Quot a a. F 0 a a a a a a a 0it a it a a. F no % s 4 a # Ltd a a a s it s # a. Wow i. Despite a slow Start from his map performance of �?T91, Baltimore a Cal Ripken could still be baseball a first $10 million Man. Franklin Stubbs in the previous free agent crop and Nick Esasky Mark Davis and Mark Langston before them. Problem is that tends to Lead to an simple conclusion As in its easy for a player to turn it on for one season. Instead its More Likely that a potential free agent someone who a been in the majors for at least six years and is around age 28, is in the prime of his career and probably getting better. Just How much Money teams will be willing to spend next fall is in doubt. With the average salary for major leagues More than $1 million for the first time there is talk that the spiral May not continue at least not so rapidly. Besides there could be plenty of top players available. A the Market always corrects itself a san Francisco general manager a1 Rosen said. A a it a Supply and demand and Supply is going to outstrip  what should have no effect on free agent prices is the notion held by Many that As soon As a player signs a Long term contract his production declines. That a wrong. Studies show that in the first year of a new contract free agents usually do slightly better than in the previous season. But it is True that those free agents Are Likely to play slightly fewer games a whether that a because of the extra Security or just older age is  Brown learns to finish what he starts by Arnie Stapleton Arlington Texas apr Kevin Brown Hasni to wasted any time taking care of some unfinished business. After tying an american league record by going 33 starts without a Complete game last year the Texas Ranger right hander finished first two starts this season. Brown Hadnot gone nine innings since july 23,1990, but he said he never gave the Streak much thought a probably because he was thinking too much about his mechanics. A you done to Ever want to concentrate on mechanics a said Brown who did just that last Spring and spent most of the season trying to undo the harm. A a it a just a bad habit i got into a Brown added. A i tried to change my mechanics when i was up in Spring training and i just got out of whack and it pretty much took until about mid season until i straightened it  Brown consulted a sport psychologist late last year to Stop himself from thinking too much on the Mound and fading late in the game. The numbers show he got his Money a Worth. Heading into tonight a game against the Oakland athletics Brown who went 9-12 last year with a 4.40 Bra is 2-0 with a 1.50 Era. Last year Brown gave up More hits 233 than he had innings 210.2 and barely threw More strikeouts 96 than walks 90. So far this year he has Given up 10 hits in 18 innings while striking out 12 and walking six. A the big thing is in a facing batters and not facing myself a Brown said. Brown said the Complete games Are a result of his new attitude not to dwell on motion and mechanics. But he said the 39-game Streak without a Complete game really did no to bother him that much. A it was not that big of a thing a Brown said. A there was a couple of times i had to Opportunity to throw a Complete game last season but it was a situation where we needed to get some Guys some  Brown 27, said this Spring he was going to revert to his younger Days when he threw with Tittle thought and much abandon an approach that earned him All american honors at Georgia tech and made him a first round draft Choice in 1986. A a lot More of my Energy is going toward my pitches instead of what my body is doing a Brown explained. A a it show i threw in College. Its Nice to feel that Way  Brown has been called upon to take a leadership role in the rangers rotation because of injuries to Nolan Ryan. Ryan is on the disabled list for the fourth time since 1990, this time with a strained left calf muscle and an inflamed right Achilles Tendon. Pitching coach Tom House himself a psychologist said Browne a therapy in the off season gave him Confidence to accept that responsibility. A it used to be that you had to hide to do that or not let anybody know a House said. A and now its part of the performance curve. Its just something that a accepted. Other pitchers have had Success with it and even if it Only helps a Little bit its better than no help at  Brown said his sessions with the psychologist taught him that a i just have to Trust myself and not worry so much about trying to be perfect. I had to accept that what my body does naturally is enough to go out and get the Job  House said he thinks Browne a troubles stemmed from him having to Fine tune his game in the big leagues. A in this organization we asked some Young pitchers to mature on the major league level who under Normal circumstances probably would have spent an extra two or three years in double a and triple a Ball a House said. A but that a the Price you pay when you accelerate Young Talent. A a it a never been a question of tools. Its been a question of experience to go with the tools and i think what you re beginning to observe now is the meshing of experience and