European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 13, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse Saturday june 13, 1992 the stars and stripes b Page 25 baseball 92o Sanderson toss Surprise party by Peter Pascarelli the sporting news it might not Surprise some experts that the Baltimore orioles Are staying right with the talented Toronto Blue jays in the american league East. But the sight of orioles outfielder Brady Anderson among the league leaders in a number of offensive categories including Bis surprises even Anderson. In a season that has been full of unexpected twists not to mention sprains and fracture none has been More surprising than Andersons remarkable production. Other players who have joined the Surprise party include san Diego padre third baseman Gary Sheffield Oakland athletic infielder Mike Bordick Philadelphia Phillie first baseman John Kruk and Catcher Darren Daulton and St. Louis Cardinal right hander Bob Tewksbury. This shaped up As a make or break season for Anderson who had never realized the Promise he showed years ago As a Prospect in the Boston red sox organization. But Oriole manager Johnny Oates has Long been a supporter of Anderson. And when Anderson played relatively Well late last season Oates made up his mind to give Anderson an Opportunity As the everyday Lead off hitter. A the never got a Chance to show what he could do for an extended period of time a Oates says. A because of his Speed i just Felt that he was an asset we needed to give every Chance of Anderson set a career High for Bis by memorial Day and is among the league leaders in that category despite his status As a Lead off hitter. He also leads the league in triples. Andersons career batting average was .219 entering the season and now it is .291 after he went 2 for 4 against the Boston red sox on wednesday night. Through it All Anderson 28, has kept things in perspective. A i know that in a not Likely to keep up this Pace for the whole season that there will be times when i struggle a he said. A the one thing in be done this year is try not to put any pressure on myself. I decided right from the Start that it was time to Stop worrying and pressing and listening to everyone and just go out and play the Way i feel the orioles feature other major surprises. Catcher Chris Hoiles has blossomed into a bonafide Power threat and a solid everyday player. And in the process he is paying dividends on a 1988 Trade in which he was acquired from the Detroit tigers for since retired Fred Lynn. And then there is Baltimore right hander Rick Sutcliffe who was a pumped by Chicago cub general manager Larry Himes and was signed by the orioles As a free agent. Himes and others thought Sutcliffe was through but he has proven them wrong by posting a 9-4 record including a 3-1 Victory Over the red sox wednesday night. The out of nowhere award goes to Bordick who was batting .339 after going 1 for 4 against the Milwaukee Brewers on wednesday. Bordick the Pride of Maine had a career average of .229 entering the season. The Phillies also feature big surprises. Kruk is a career .290 hitter so no one should be shocked that he is hitting Well. But no one could expect him to be leading the major leagues with a .372 average. Not surprisingly the earthy Kruk downplays the hoopla surrounding his Start. A but if you want to know the truth a he said a i sort of wish that Tony Gwynn would get hot and catch me so i could Stop getting asked so Many perhaps even More stunning was Daulton a remarkable Brady Andersons Speed and hitting have helped the orioles Fly with the Blue jays atop the american league East. Production. After hitting .196 in an injury troubled �?T91 season Daulton has emerged among the leaders in average and Bis. A i guess in a ruining the seasons of a lot of people who did no to think id do Well this year Quot Daulton said. A i always Felt i could be where i am right among National league pitchers Tewksbury has emerged As the seasons biggest Surprise. Tewksbury was unemployed four years ago after being released by the cubs. Several clubs would not even give him a tryout but the cardinals signed him to a minor league contract. Tewksbury went on to become a solid Pitcher for the cardinals winning 21 games in 1990-91. But he has ascended to prominence this season. Tewksbury 6-1 has a 2.00 Era and has walked Only seven in his first 82 innings. A the should serve As an example to Young pitchers everywhere that you can become successful if you stick with it and learn How to throw strikes a cardinals manager Joe Torre said. Near Tewksbury in the National league Era Chart is the san Francisco giants Swift acquired from the Seattle mariners in the big Kevin Mitchell Trade. Swift was placed in a regular starting role for the first time and reeled off six consecutive victories to begin the season. However Swift was placed on the disabled list with a sore shoulder May 23. That did not come As a Surprise to some experts who had predicted he would not be Able to endure the number of innings required of a starting Pitcher. Swift is not expected to return until later this month. A it May be just fatigue from being overworked a Little Quot Swift said. A maybe it was coming out and pitching the Way i did three Complete games right away. Maybe it was t a it much work too . Pete caught in big league tug of War by Murray chass the new York times maybe if they scheduled enough doubleheaders All of the teams that Are mentioned As prime candidates for moves to St. Petersburg a forlorn domed stadium could play there. The Long deprived fans of Florida a West coast could Root for the St. Petersburg giants on fridays saturdays and sundays the St. Petersburg mariners on mondays and tuesdays before baseball approved the mrs Sale and a Why not a the St. Petersburg astros on wednesdays and thursdays. A a a Ell take them All a said Rick Dodge St. Petersburg a assistant City manager who has worked feverishly for years to lure just one team to the City. But schedule makers hopeful fans and the Sun coast dome ground Crew make their plans just yet. While commentary there May seem to be logical and economic reasons for several teams to relocate none is packing its balls and bats in boxes marked a for 1993 the reason is that no team qualifies in an irrefutable Clear Cut Way under commissioner Fay Vincent a requirements for relocation 1. Declining attendance and Lack of fan support. 2. Out of Date stadium with no Chance of improvement or replacement in the near term. 3. Loss of Money Over an extended period. 4. Demonstrated Lack of Community corporate and political commitment. Because voters in san Jose rejected a stadium referendum last week the giants Are today steam on the verge of moving. Baseball officials View the san Jose defeat As another show of no sup port in the Community three previous referendums two in san Francisco itself were also Defeated. Candlestick Park is considered a poor Park. Attendance last year was the giants lowest in five years. But the total of 1,737,479 also was the seventh highest in the teams 34 years in san Francisco and attendance is up this season. So do the giants have an obvious Case for relocation Lurie for one is not saying. The giants owner has refrained from discussing his future plans publicly preferring to talk first with the commissioner and Bill White the lame Duck National league president in new York this w Eek during the owners quarterly meetings. John Mcmullen who salvaged the astros for Houston 13 years ago has been trying to sell the team for More than a year. The astros have a Good stadium refurbished at the owners expense and they make Money because they have one of the majors smallest payrolls. But they have no Community support and last year they had their lowest attendance since 1978, 1,196,152. An owners desire to move could face a Roadblock even if the commissioner were to approve the franchise shift. Each league s owners have reason to want to keep a team out of St. Petersburg. The National league might not want an established team playing in Florida while its expansion team tries to establish itself in Miami. The american league might not want a National league team in St. Petersburg because it would leave the Al out of the state. So will the giants the astros or anyone else become a Tampa Bay team a
