Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, August 26, 1993 TAG: 9308260133
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Jack Bogaczyk
DATELINE: BALTIMORE LENGTH: Medium
It has nothing to do with the short right-field porch or the Baltimore lineup. What has occupied Leftwich's mind for his mound turn today for the California Angels at Oriole Park is his ticket-request list.
"I've got it down to about 40," said a laughing Leftwich, the first Radford University product to play in the majors. "I've had to turn down another 20 or 25."
How did the right-hander decide who got seats? It was pretty much relative. "I know some of my mother-in-law's friends are going to be disappointed," Leftwich said, "but I had to draw the line somewhere."
His mother and father are up from Lynchburg, where Leftwich, 24, attended Brookville High. His wife, Ann, a Radford grad, will drive over from Oakton, Va., where the couple lived last off-season. However, this family affair docking near the Inner Harbor for today's 12:30 getaway game really doesn't seem to faze Leftwich.
Little wonder. It's Leftwich's sixth start since being called up by California from Class AAA vancouver on July 28. His first three starts were against Bob Welch, David Cone and Nolan Ryan. Now, there's a big gulp.
"He had a tough first inning against Texas," said Angels manager Buck Rodgers. "I think pitching against Nolan may have stuck in his mind. Otherwise, I haven't seen any intimidating at all. He's a nose-to-the-grindstone pitcher."
Fear struck out when Leftwich faced his first hitter in the majors. It was Rickey Henderson, then still with Oakland.
Fastball, fastball, hard slider. Called strike. Called strike. Check-swing strike. Rickey turned and walked away. Leftwich turned to fellow rookie Eduardo Perez, playing third for the Angels, and grinned.
"I think that said a lot about Phil," said Roanoke Valley native Billy Sample, one of the Angels' broadcasters. "He gets Rickey with his matchbox-size strike zone. Went right after him."
Leftwich stunned himself.
"All I was worried about was walking him on four straight pitches," said Leftwich, a second-round draft pick by California in 1990, after his junior year at Radford. "So, I threw it right down the middle."
Leftwich is only 1-3 for the hitless Halos, but his 3.31 earned run average is impressive. He's had only one bad inning in 35. Already, after only a month in the majors, he's California's No. 3 starter, behind Mark Langston and Chuck Finley. Not bad for a guy who wasn't even on the 40-man major-league roster last winter.
"I'm kind if surprised I'm here now, considering everything that's happened in the past, but when I look back at the way I've thrown the ball, I figure I deserved a shot," Leftwich said.
"My record wasn't great in Triple A [7-7, 4.64 ERA], but what was killing me were the big innings now and then. I'd go games where I'd give up only two or three hits in six innings, then I'd have a bad one."
In his last eight starts at Vancouver, Leftwich went 5-1 with a 1.48 ERA. He figured if he wasn't called up sooner, it would come with roster expansion on Sept. 1.
"The tough losses aren't bothering me yet," said Leftwich, also the first pro draftee in Radford's nine-year baseball history. "My concern is throwing well. i know what I'm doing here is trying to win a job for next year."
Rodgers confirmed that. From among youngsters Leftwich, Russ Springer, Hilly Hathaway and Mark Holzemer and two veterans coming back from arm problems, Joe Magrane and John Farrell, the Angels' are looking to fill three spots in next year's rotation.
"After Phil makes eight or nine starts, it would be nice to be able to sit down and say we can count on a third guy, behind Langston and Finley for next year," Rodgers said. "I do know Leftwich has pitched the best of any of our young guys so far.
"I can't say I'm surprised with what he's done because until he walked into the clubhouse the day he was called up, I didn't know Phil. i never saw him in spring training.
"He's not overpowering. He doesn't have any outstanding pitches. He's got a solid fastball, a good breaking pitch and a solid changeup. He has good command of his pitches. Phil's best ability is that it appears he knows how to pitch."
And about those complimentary ticket requests in a ballpark that's had 36 consecutive sellouts?
Leftwich has more than a few guardian Angels helping him with the numbers.
Now, if they'd only get him some hits.
Keywords:
BASEBALL
by CNB