A Late Bloomer

A year ago Billy Taylor was mired in baseball purgatory, a 34-year-old pitcher with the Triple A Edmonton Trappers. Then on the morning of April 27, after getting word in Salt Lake City that he had been called up by the Athletics for a game that day against the Tigers, Taylor flew to Denver and got a connecting flight to Detroit. Unfortunately his luggage didn't make the connection. So when Taylor arrived at Tiger Stadium in the seventh inning of that afternoon's game, he borrowed a glove from Oakland pitcher Ariel Prieto and reported to the bullpen. One inning later he was summoned to the mound and got the last four outs to earn the save. The next afternoon he got another save. An unlikely closer was born. "Once Billy got his foot in the door," says As manager Art Howe, "he pushed his way inside and slammed the door shut behind him."

Last year Taylor wound up saving 17 games in 19 chances and allowed only five of 34 inherited runners to score, the best percentage (14.7%) in the majors. At week's end he already had five saves in 1997, giving him the American League lead, and had not yielded a run in seven innings. His first four saves came in a span of five days. "When you've been down a road as long and winding as mine, you pitch with abandon," Taylor says, "because you know at any moment someone can sneak up behind you and take your job."

Taylor's accomplishments are difficult to fathom considering he played 14 seasons in the minor leagues with five organizations. A 6'8" righthander with a sidearm delivery, he spent the last several of those years developing his out pitch—a nasty sinker. "I don't blow people away like [Rangers closer] John Wetteland, but that doesn't mean it's fun to hit against me," Taylor says. "Ask any hitter if he would rather face a 95-mile-an-hour fastball or an 88-mile-an-hour sinker running down and in on the hands. He'll choose the straight fastball."

Taylor is one of several early surprises among saves leaders. The Pirates' John Ericks, a 29-year-old journeyman and former starter who during his pro career once moonlighted as an asbestos remover, had closed all four of Pittsburgh's victories through Sunday. And the Brewers' 39-year-old Doug Jones, who has pitched for 17 teams in 10 leagues over 19 pro seasons, saved three games in three days during the first week of this season, allowing just one base runner in three innings. Jones, a stand-in for injured closer Mike Fetters, was once released by Milwaukee because the Brewers believed he could no longer get hitters out. That was 13 years ago.

Missing Persons

If you build it, they will come. That's the reasoning behind the rush to get new ballparks built in seemingly every major league city. After all, in 1992 the Orioles sold out 67 of 80 home games in their first season at Camden Yards. Two years later The Ballpark in Arlington hosted 21 sellouts in 62 dates after the Rangers had sold out only 59 games in the previous 22 seasons; that same year the Indians played to 36 full houses in 51 dates at Jacobs Field. In '95 the Rockies sold out all but 17 of 72 home games in their inaugural season at Coors Field. However, if early attendance is any indication, the Braves (one sellout in the first six games) won't be as successful at filling their new stadium, Turner Field (chart), despite the added attraction of fielding a perennial National League East winner.

Atlanta's season-ticket sales actually fell by more than 10% in the move to the new stadium—team officials blame the drop-off mostly on the price of going to a ball game. The cost of some field-level seats increased from $17 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium to $30 at Turner Field, and only 1,200 parking spaces are available each game to the general public at $7. (Private lots in the area generally are available for $10.)

So as a public service for those Atlanta fans who may have missed it, you should know that shortstop Jeff Blauser is off to an uncharacteristically torrid start. Last week against the Cubs and the Astros he had hits in eight consecutive at bats, two shy of the National League record. "It's like facing Tony Gwynn right now," Houston pitcher Mike Hampton said of Blauser. "Maybe you should throw it down the middle and see if he will get himself out."

Says Blauser, "I have never had a streak like this, not even in Little League. When you haven't been hitting for two straight years, eight consecutive hits seem like 80."

Blauser, an All-Star in 1993, struggled in '94 and '95, primarily because of hand and knee injuries. He hit .224 the last two years while committing 38 errors and assuming the role of whipping boy for Atlanta fans. But this season he has been a welcome spark for a sputtering Braves offense. At week's end he was leading the National League with a .450 average and was third in doubles, with five. Last Saturday in Chicago, Blauser cracked a game-winning single in the ninth against Cubs closer Mel Rojas. "The people who ripped Blauser don't understand the injuries this guy has played through for this team," says Atlanta manager Bobby Cox. "I believe you stick with guys who help you win ball games, and all Jeff has ever done is win."