Jerry Manuel didn’t lose a moment of sleep worrying that his Saturday night tirade would result in a suspension.
“I just didn’t think it would,” he said.
He was right. American League spokeswoman Phyllis Merhige said Manuel won’t be suspended. But she wouldn’t say whether the rookie manager was fined.
“They didn’t mention that to me,” said Manuel, who spoke to both Merhige and AL President Gene Budig. “They just said, `Be careful,’ and that they looked forward to meeting me.”
Manuel hopes the decision will close the book on his team’s recent sparring with umpires.
“We shouldn’t be battling the umps,” he said. “When you’re losing, you invent frustration.”
On a roll, then rolled: Keith Foulke is not being superstitious. Really.
The right-handed reliever says he has a better reason than that for not wanting to talk about his recent success.
“As soon as you think you’re going good, you could go out on any night and give up the house,” he said.
That’s what happened Wednesday night, when he gave up Dan Wilson’s three-run, game-tying homer to raise his earned-run average to 3.68. Before that setback, Foulke had been keeping the house secure. He had thrown 7 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings, dating to April 14, and had retired 13 straight batters, eight by strikeout, and had an ERA of 1.88.
“I’m not trying to strike people out,” he said. “I’m just trying to keep the ball off the fat part of the bat and make hitters swing at my pitch.”
Foulke was one of six prospects acquired from San Francisco in the so-called “White Flag” trade last July 31. Foulke, 25, was a starter in the minors, and that’s how the Giants used him most of last season. He made eight mostly unsuccessful starts, going 1-5 with an 8.26 ERA for the Giants.
But the Sox saw his future as a setup man.He likes his role as a bridge to closer Matt Karchner. He has no particular desire to close games himself. “Honestly, I don’t care,” Foulke said. “I’m happy being a guy who keeps it going for the next guy and goes unnoticed.”
If he resumes his good work, going unnoticed might be his toughest task.
What, him worry? Robin Ventura was characteristically blase about a Tribune report that had the Mets seeking to acquire him.
“I don’t care,” he said. “I’ve been through this before. I’ve been (supposedly) traded five times already, but it hasn’t happened once.”
General Manager Ron Schueler said teams have inquired about Ventura’s availability since spring training. But Schueler said the Sox have no interest in trading their third baseman, who is in the final year of his contract. “Those rumors have been going on for two years. They’re inaccurate.”
Said Ventura: “I just play the game. If they do it (trade me), they’ll do it.”
Parting shot: As he addressed reporters in the dugout before the game, Manuel stopped to admire Ken Griffey Jr., who launched consecutive home runs to right and left field.
“There’s a different sound when it comes off his bat,” Manuel said.
Griffey seems to have a similar respect for Manuel. Before the opening game of the series, the All-Star center-fielder approached Manuel and said: “Hi, sir, how are you?”
