Baseball

The Joan of Arc Trophy: To Lou Piniella. To have the fifth-best record in baseball with shipwrecked starting pitching and constant speculation about his future is a truly remarkable accomplishment.

The Nat King Cole Warm Winter Team: The Reds, with Barry Larkin, Eric Davis, Kal Daniels, Kurt Stillwell and Tracy Jones, may be the most interesting NL West team for the rest of the decade.

LETTING BYGONES BE BYGONES

When Dick Wagner was the general manager in Cincinnati, he had to fire current Red Sox manager John McNamara and pitching coach Bill Fischer. When Boston clinched first place, each received warm telegrams from Wagner, the current Houston G.M., saying, "I'm proud to have known you." Says Fischer, "Contrary to what anyone may think, Wagner's one of the best people I've ever worked for."

...The Red Sox face a major loss to an organization that has been very productive over the last two decades. Ed Kenney, the farm director for 30 years, has decided to retire....

Two years ago, Tom Trebelhorn was brought in by Rene Lachemann to coach with the Brewers. This season Trebelhorn was ticketed for Helena of the Pioneer League when a gas explosion damaged the Brewer spring training clubhouse. Tony Muser was seriously injured and Trebelhorn was brought up to replace him. Now Trebelhorn is the Brewer manager....

Don't be surprised if Cardinals player personnel director Lee Thomas takes Ken Harrelson's place as head of the White Sox front office....

And the Hawk, who made many trades with George Steinbrenner, may very well wind up in New York as part of the Yankee broadcasting team....

Reds owner Marge Schott was charging players $50 per box of baseballs—they have their teammates sign the balls and then take them home for the winter. But the Reds found out that the balls only cost her $33, so when the furor hit, she had to lower the price by $17.

[This article contains a table. Please see hardcopy of magazine or PDF.]