White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen made a great analogy last week, comparing being a manager at the end of a game to being a passenger on a plane in rough weather, unable to do more than fasten your seat belt. If you want total helplessness, however, try being a general manager.
Nobody is more invested and less involved than a GM in the late innings. San Diego’s Kevin Towers put that situation in focus in his response to Trevor Hoffman’s 500th career save, which happened last Wednesday in a 5-2 victory over Los Angeles.
“As I told Hoffy, it’s the greatest 500 saves I’ve never seen,” said Towers, who always turns away once Hoffman enters a game. “I’ve yet to see one live, and I’m not going to jinx it.”
Hoffman is going strong at age 39, reeling off 14 consecutive saves entering the weekend. As good as San Diego’s pitching is, he still might be piling up saves in October.
“Five hundred [saves],” Padres reliever Doug Brocail marveled. “[Goodness], I don’t even have 500 appearances. I never thought Lee Smith’s record (478) would be broken. I’d like to see Hoffy get 600. Why not add [another 100].”
Glove love
All things come to an end, even Luis Castillo’s streak of consecutive games without an error. The Minnesota second baseman was at 143 before inexplicably dropping a throw from shortstop Jason Bartlett on a force at second base Wednesday.
Castillo’s streak was 20 more than Ryne Sandberg’s previous record. He had gone 373 days between errors.
Castillo was at a loss to explain the streak-buster.
“It was an easy play, and something happened,” he said.
Castillo, who was only 22 when he helped Florida win the 1997 World Series, has had only 20 errors in the last four seasons.
“I feel happy and I feel proud of myself,” the quiet Castillo said about the record. “That’s a long time. [Now] we start again.”
Hello up there
You have to love the language of the dugout. On a recent Cubs telecast, Bob Brenly referred to high-and-inside pitches as “buzzing the tower.”
Sticking with that vernacular, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa was looking to ground Cincinnati ace Aaron Harang after he threw up and in to Gary Bennett on Tuesday.
Harang’s pitch smacked off Bennett’s helmet, knocking the Waukegan product out of the game. La Russa used the occasion to repeat his belief that any pitcher who hits a batter in the head should be suspended — two weeks for a first offense, a month for a second offense and a full season for a third offense.
Harang was shocked by La Russa’s logic, saying the pitch that hit Bennett was simply one that got away. La Russa agreed there was no intent but still didn’t excuse Harang.
“It was accidental because he didn’t mean to hit him, but he meant to throw the ball up and in, and that’s very dangerous,” La Russa said. “I’ve said it 100 times in the 20 years I’ve managed so it ain’t new material. If you’re a big-league pitcher you should be able to get the ball below the shoulders. If you don’t, you should have a big consequence.”
Reds manager Jerry Narron wouldn’t get into the discussion.
“There’s a lot worse things in life than an accidental hit by a pitch,” said Narron, who is as low-key as you can get while still having a pulse.
Still waiting
The Royals remain firmly in the corner of rookie third baseman Alex Gordon, who ended a 1-for-24 slump with a 4-for-4 game at Cleveland on Thursday.
His average jumped 17 points but still stood at only .190 entering the weekend.
Gordon’s average has never been above .195, but manager Buddy Bell says he never has been close to getting shipped to the minors.
“I still feel the same way about him,” Bell said before the 4-for-4. “I’m really not interested in his numbers. I just want to see him get better.”
Gordon appreciates the support but still feels under the gun.
“I need to pick it up,” he said. “I know that.”
The last word
“There’s not a lot of guys in baseball who intimidate you. I think Gary Sheffield was always one, Barry Bonds was one, Derrek Lee, [Albert] Pujols is definitely one. When it’s all said and done, Prince is going to be one of those guys opposing managers look to see what he’s doing.” — Brewers manager Ned Yost on Prince Fielder, who hit .321 with 13 homers and 28 RBIs in May.
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