Ken Harrelson hasn`t exactly been overwhelmed by trade inquiries this spring. But he expects there will be some activity in the final two weeks before Opening Day.
”We`re definitely in a mode of inactivity,” said Harrelson, the Sox front-office boss. ”It`ll change. The phone will start ringing.”
Harrelson said the Sox don`t have to make a trade, but added that he would like to put together one or two deals before the end of spring training. Harrelson made a few calls in the last couple of days, but isn`t close to making a move.
The apparent comeback of Richard Dotson from chest muscle surgery has given the Sox some pitching depth. The Sox will start the season with nine or 10 pitchers, leaving a few for trade bait.
”It puts us in a strong position,” Harrelson said. ”The calls are coming, but they`re not coming hard enough.”
Boston hasn`t called recently about Tom Seaver. The 304-game winner wants to be traded to an East Coast team, but Harrelson isn`t anxious to make the trade at any price. Seaver has looked impressive this spring. He has thrown nine straight shutout innings.
”I don`t want to move a guy like that,” Harrelson said. ”The price has gone up on him.”
Harrelson might get a call from the Yankees on Seaver if the condition of ex-Sox pitcher Britt Burns doesn`t improve. Burns complained this week that his chronically bad hip is hurting more than usual.
— Joe Cowley had his first impressive performance of the spring Thursday, when the Sox squad was split for games against Toronto and Minnesota. Cowley pitched five innings in a 5-2 victory over Toronto in Dunedin, Fla. He allowed one run, three hits and only one walk. Cowley had walked 13 men in 10 innings before Thursday`s outing.
Rudy Law earned some points in his battle for the starting center-field job with two hits and three runs batted in.
— Law`s competition, Daryl Boston, also had a good day, singling twice as the other half of the split squad dropped a 3-2 decision to Minnesota in Sarasota.
Sox manager Tony LaRussa was pleased to see Joel Skinner pick up two hits. The catcher came into the game with only one hit in 18 at-bats.
”He showed me something with those hits,” LaRussa said. ”When he swings best, he usually goes to left-center and right-center. He stayed with the ball today and hit two good ones up the middle.”
— The game in Sarasota was a big one for Bruce Tanner, who knew he was going to get a long look Thursday. Rookies have to make the most of those opportunities.
Tanner looked good, giving up three runs, two earned, in five innings. A bad-hop single that got past shortstop Ozzie Guillen led to another run.
”I know a lot is on the line,” Tanner said. ”I`ve been thinking about it for a couple days.
”I thought I pitched good. I hope when they`re evaluating it, they see that most of the balls weren`t hit hard. I don`t know what today did for me. It`s up to them.”
Harrelson came away impressed. ”The guy can pitch in the major leagues,” Harrelson said. ”I can name 14 or 15 teams he can pitch on.”
But the White Sox might not be one of them. Tanner has his work cut out for him to earn a spot on the roster.
Tanner, though, said he wouldn`t get down if he is sent to the minors. He received a lifetime of lessons in positive thinking from his father, Chuck, the Atlanta Braves` manager.
”I think I`m ready to pitch up here,” said Tanner, a 24-year-old right- hander. ”Maybe I still need a little experience. I`m learning every day. I`d be disappointed if I got sent down, but I don`t think it would be for the entire year. Hopefully, I`d be back.”
— Dotson will try for his longest outing of the year Friday when he pitches against Kansas City. Dotson threw 4 2/3 innings against Cincinnati Monday.
The Sox also bring a split squad across the state to play an evening game with the Yankees in Ft. Lauderdale. Joel Davis, who has a chance to make the starting rotation, will start, followed by Dave Schmidt, Gene Nelson and Jerry Don Gleaton.
