Mets third baseman Howard Johnson was exonerated of wrongdoing when his bat was X-rayed by the National League office and proved not to be filled with cork.
”We`re going to find out the effect of X-rays on wood,” said Johnson, whose bat was seized by the umpires during Thursday night`s game after be belted a Les Lancaster changeup off the base of the scoreboard for his 27th home run.
Johnson entered the season with one home run for every 29.6 at-bats. This year, he has homered once every 13.6 at-bats.
Andre Dawson and his agent, Dick Moss, huddled Friday afternoon in Manhattan to discuss endorsement opportunities for the Cub slugger in Chicago.
Regarding a new contract with the Cubs, Moss replied: ”I think it was determined at the owners` meeting in Philadelphia this summer that no teams would talk about contracts for their players until the season is over. If that`s the case, fine. Andre is having the kind of year where he will win a record arbitration hearing salary if we don`t receive an offer from the Cubs.”
Former Cubs pitcher Steve Trout is having his problems with the Yankees. Obtained in a July 12 trade for Bob Tewksbury and two minor-league pitchers, Trout has an 0-3 record and a 5.66 ERA. He has given up 20 hits, 14 walks and struck out 13 in 20 2/3 innings.
”I know I haven`t done what they expected of me. It bothers me that I haven`t,” said Trout, who allowed five walks, three hits, two runs and three wild pitches in 3 2/3 innings Monday night against the Indians.
On this trip, the Cubs` opposition is 6 for 9 with respect to two-out hits with runners in scoring position. The hits have accounted for six RBIs. The Cubs are 2 for 12 with two RBIs in that situation.
Mets first baseman Keith Hernandez said he misses seeing his close friend, Gary Matthews, since he was traded from the Cubs to the Seattle Mariners.
”I`m happy for him, because he needed a chance to play,” said Hernandez.
”He can still hit.”
Left-hander Mike Mason (3-1) will start for the Cubs Saturday night against the Mets` Don Schulze (1-1). Scott Sanderson (4-6) will oppose Dwight Gooden
(9-3) Sunday.
Following this series, the Cubs travel to Philadelphia for three games before returning to Wrigley Field for a four-game series against the Mets beginning Thursday.
Three Cubs have established career highs in home runs: Dawson (34), Keith Moreland (20) and Manny Trillo (8).
The Cubs have hit a league-leading 147 homers in 108 games and are on a pace that would put them at 220 by season`s end. The NL record for a 162-game season is 207, set in 1966 by the Atlanta Braves. The Cubs` record is 182, set in 1958.
Frank Maloney, the Cubs` director of group sales, has been named director of ticket operations. He replaces Lamar Vernon, whose resignation is effective Aug. 28.
The Mets are on target to break their all-time attendance mark of 2,762,417 set last year.
