Cindy Sandberg keeps telling her husband he`s the greatest baseball player in the world.
So does his manager, Jim Frey.
And his agent, Richie Bry.
The whole world marvels at the baseball acumen of Cubs` second baseman Ryne Sandberg, but he won`t hear of it. He only works harder.
”People tell me how good I am, or how good I could become, but to me, every season is a new season and I have to go about proving myself all over again,” said the 26-year-old Sandberg. ”Sometimes I think I might set my sights too low. When I was a rookie in the Phillies` organization, it was Cindy who predicted I`d make the 40-man roster to go to spring training. In 1984, Cindy called the shot when she said I`d make the All-Star team. Same thing with winning the Most Valuable Player award at the end of the year.
”I thought she was hoping for things too quickly. But she was right all along. She`s always been the one to say things out loud that I maybe only dreamed about.”
It was Frey, of course, who saw a potential power hitter wrapped up in the lean, muscular body of the 6-foot-2-inch, 180-pound Sandberg during spring training of 1984. Frey moved him away from the plate and encouraged Sandberg to try to pull more inside pitches. The result was 19 homers, 19 triples, 36 doubles and 84 runs batted in to go with his .314 batting average.
Sandberg`s power statistics improved last season when he slugged 26 homers, his best single-season total as a pro, and wound up with a .305 batting average. He supported his slugging performance with 54 stolen bases.
”I really don`t think this kid knows how good he is,” said Frey. ”He`s already one of the best in the business. He`s probably the best at his position defensively and one of the best offensive players in all of baseball. Now, the only thing for him to do is put consistent years back to back.
”I think there is a small element of insecurity within Ryne Sandberg that makes him work harder and harder so he doesn`t disappoint anybody or embarrass himself. That quality is not altogether bad.”
Once Sandberg steps on the playing field, whether it is during a routine spring training drill or before a big series with the Cardinals, he is all business. He rarely talks to anyone, even teammates, while he prepares himself.
”It is part of my program to be a good practice player,” said Sandberg. ”Once I`m on the field, I work at what I`m doing because I know it`s important to stay at the top of my game. If I start sloughing off and not working hard, I don`t think I`d get the most out of myself. That to me would be a letdown.”
Sandberg is in the third year of a six-year contract that will pay him about $600,000 in 1986. Compared to other top National League second basemen, such as Tommy Herr of the Cardinals, Steve Sax of the Dodgers, Ron Oester of the Reds and Johnny Ray of the Pirates, Sandberg is underpaid. He`s a bargain for the Cubs. Yet Sandberg has not talked of renegotiation.
”There is no question in my mind that Ryne is grossly underpaid at this point, based on his value to the organization,” Bry said. ”Ryne, however, is realistic enough to recognize that at the time he signed that contract, he had not exhibited the skills that burst from him the following years. At the time he signed it, the contract was at the top of the heap of second base contracts. I think Ryne felt the security he so desperately wanted for his family at that time was a big reason he flourished on the field in the years that followed.”
Sandberg feels he`s young enough to reap the financial reward for his outstanding seasons.
”When I signed that contract, I had two years under my belt in which I hit .271 and .261,” Sandberg said. ”Signing that long-term contract did have something to do with the way I relaxed and started to play better. I have security for my family and myself.
”I`m happy with the contract, but it doesn`t necessarily mean the contract has to go the full six years. If the Cubs don`t want me to go to free agency, they might want to sign me to an extension one or two years from now.”
Bry has not talked to the Cubs recently about a contract extension. But there is an apparent mutual understanding.
”I cannot say enough about the fairness of the Cubs, and Dallas Green in particular, with regard to their young players,” said Bry, whose other clients include Cubs` shortstop Shawon Dunston and Mets` outfielders Darryl Strawberry and Mookie Wilson. ”They were fair with Ryne at the time the contract was signed. When and if Ryne`s contract is extended, I have no doubt the Cubs will place him in the pecking order that he deserves.”
While Green mulls the pecking order, Frey looks at his batting order and sees Sandberg hitting third this season as he did toward the end of 1985. With Bobby Dernier leading off and Gary Matthews second, Sandberg should have more opportunities to drive in runs. Sandberg previously batted second.
”I`m sure Sandberg will do some damage batting third, but I don`t like to talk in terms of numbers and statistics,” said Frey. ”I don`t like to say a guy should drive in 100 runs or 120 runs. He might drive in 90 and it could turn out to be perfect. Whether you`re hitting second or third or fourth or fifth, you still have to play situation baseball.”
Sandberg was moved to the No. 3 spot last Aug. 12. Before the move, he was batting .293 with 15 homers and 41 RBIs in 101 games. In his last 52 games, Sandberg hit .332 with 11 homers and 42 RBIs.
”When I`m batting second, I tend to be more defensive at the plate than when I`m hitting third,” said Sandberg. ”Sometimes I have to worry about advancing the runner or giving myself up with a sacrifice. Batting third more or less puts me on my own, trying to get base hits and driving in runs.”
Sandberg is an accomplished second baseman, a three-time Gold Glove winner. But there has been talk of eventually switching him to third to fill the void when Ron Cey retires. Sandberg played third for the Cubs in 1982, his rookie season, committing only 11 errors in 140 games. That was second in the NL only to Atlanta third baseman Bob Horner`s 10 errors in 137 games.
”I haven`t given that any serious thought at this point,” said Frey.
”Winning the MVP is a career thing. Not many people win that more than once. He might win it more than once if our ballclub plays well. Of course, he might win it at third, too. Who knows? He`s an exceptional fielder because he is very methodical and precise. He`s probably got the most accurate arm I`ve seen.”
”I feel comfortable at second and I think I`ve done a good enough job there not to be moved to third,” said Sandberg. ”I hope I`m not moved to third.”
If Sandberg has exhibited any flaw over the past two seasons, it would have to be his slow starts offensively. He batted only .192 (14 for 73) last April with two homers and three RBIs. But he hit .308 in May, had an 18-game hitting streak in June, batted .355 in July, went over the .300 mark in August and never dipped below .300 the rest of the season. He hit .347 in September. ”I think the slow start last year resulted from me trying to hit for too much power too early,” said Sandberg. ”I found myself trying to pull everything instead of hitting line drives like I need to do early in the year. I know that`s what I do wrong when I`m in a slump.”
