Tony Phillips was back in the lineup Monday after a three-day stay in manager Terry Bevington’s doghouse for arriving late at the ballpark Friday night.
Before Monday’s game, both Bevington and Phillips insisted the reason Phillips didn’t start in Sunday’s game was because of a sore left shoulder. He said Phillips told him Saturday night the shoulder was bothering him.
“He has had the problem for years,” Bevington said. “He just plays through it.”
Phillips simply confirmed Bevington’s excuse. On July 14 in Kansas City, Phillips smashed into the wall of Kauffman Stadium while making a catch and continued to play for days after that with no complaints whatsoever. During the second inning of Monday’s game, he did likewise on a drive by Bernie Williams.
Phillips expressed his philosophy of playing hurt on April 21 in Oakland, after Jason Bere complained of feeling elbow soreness.
“Anytime somebody goes out there, they’re not at 100 percent,” Phillips said that afternoon. “Position players, pitchers, whoever. Over the course of 162 games, something is not going to feel well. You’re going to be hurting.”
Which is exactly why Phillips wouldn’t ask to come out of the lineup during a pennant race unless a gun was put to his head. Though no one will say it, it’s more than likely Bevington was showing his authority by sitting Phillips for three games, risking his team’s chance of winning games to show Phillips who’s boss. That is Bevington’s prerogative, and the Sox won two of three from Baltimore without Phillips in the starting lineup. Phillips is toeing the company line and not making any noise, playing the good soldier this time.
As the Sox slogan for ’96 goes: “No big deal.”
The other side: An official for security at Comiskey Park said two items in Sunday’s Tribune story on how to improve the atmosphere at the ballpark are in need of clarification. Though coolers aren’t allowed into the park, soft-sided bags are allowed, as are fruit juice boxes. As for the suggestion to install a shower in center field as in the days of old Comiskey Park, the official said new Comiskey has a “Rain Room” in the outfield where people can cool off under a fine spray.
Waiting game: Kevin Tapani will become a free agent after the year and figures to get a sizable raise from the $1.1 million he signed for in ’95. He hopes to re-sign with the Sox, though he’s certain to get offers from several teams, including his former team, Minnesota.
“The reason I signed with the White Sox is for what we have in here,” Tapani said. “It’s playoff-type baseball, and it gives you a good reason to come to the park every day. That’s what I’m looking for. So that pretty much wraps it up.”
In the middle: New York’s Mariano Rivera, the best middle reliever in the majors this year, refused to believe he was in a slump last week, even though he allowed seven runs in just 2 2/3 innings against Texas and Kansas City. He blew a 3-0 lead in the 10th inning, and the Royals went to win 4-3.
“The ball is just falling in against me,” he said. “I feel bad, real bad. I blew it. But I’m still throwing the ball good.”
One member of the Yankees hierarchy noted with some concern: “Hitters are starting to lay off Rivera’s high fastball, making him keep the ball down in the zone a little more. He’s going to have to make an adjustment, too.”
Not ready yet: Danny Tartabull said he’s getting closer to a return from his right hip flexor injury that has sidelined him since Aug. 5. Originally, Bevington said he’d miss three to five days. It’s already been a week. Bevington said he only knows what he hears from trainer Herm Schneider in regard to a player’s health. Meanwhile, Lyle Mouton has excelled in Tartabull’s absence, which may be prolonging his absence.
