Jerry Mumphrey wants 300 at-bats. It could be tough.
Rafael Palmeiro almost certainly will get a shot at being the everyday left-fielder in 1988. If he`s platooned, it will be the left-handed Palmeiro and a right-hander, possibly young Darrin Jackson, sharing the duty.
That leaves Mumphrey on the bench.
”I certainly hope to get as many at-bats as I got last year,” said Mumphrey, 35, who hit a career-high .333 in 309 at-bats a year ago, .343 as a pinch-hitter. Until Palmeiro was recalled from Triple-A Iowa in mid-June, Mumphrey and Brian Dayett were sharing time in left field.
”I really haven`t been told what my role will be, so we`ll have to see what develops,” Mumphrey said. ”The type of hitter I am, I should get at least 300 at-bats. Maybe I`ll get it here, or maybe someplace else.”
Cub manager Don Zimmer is confident he can keep Mumphrey happy.
”I don`t care how good Palmeiro`s going, I`ll put Mumphrey in left field once a week,” Zimmer said. ”I think Mumphrey is the type of guy and the type of veteran who understands that.”
”I`ve never been a problem player,” Mumphrey said. ”I`ll help out as much as I can. But I hate being just a pinch-hitter.”
– Someone mentioned to Zimmer that the Cubs` minor-league system has a cluster of quality defensive outfielders and started rattling off names . . . until Zimmer stopped him.
”Wait a minute,” Zimmer interrupted. ”You named a couple who weren`t very good outfielders defensively. There`s a guy that`s in this camp who`s not gonna get any credit, but he`s gonna get credit from me: Piersall.”
Jimmy Piersall has been a special instructor assigned to the Cubs`
outfielders throughout the system for the last couple of years. Not even a second heart-bypass operation last winter has slowed him down.
”This guy`s a worker,” Zimmer said. ”He`s making these guys better outfielders. And they like him. He makes them work their butts off at times, but they like him.
”He talks baseball with them, talks situations, and now he`s proud as a peacock when he sees them play.”
– When Leon Durham went home to be with his ailing wife for a few days last week, rookie first baseman Mark Grace went on a tear that brought his batting average up to .500.
That sparked talk about old-time Yankee first baseman Wally Pipp, who sat out one game, was replaced by Lou Gehrig for the next 2,130 and became one of baseball`s great trivia answers.
It also put Zimmer on the spot. Again.
”Everybody asks me the same question: Grace and Durham, Grace and Durham,” said Zimmer, more amused than irritated by it all. ”Well, the minute I tell you that Durham is gonna play first base, that eliminates Grace. I don`t want to do that at this point.
”Nor do I think it`s fair to say, `Grace has a helluva chance to make this team.` I just stay away from it, that`s all.”
– Sunday`s Cub-Seattle game will be the first of four spring games to be televised on WGN-TV (Ch. 9). Game time is 2 p.m.
