Baseball

THE PIRATES' SHOPPING LIST

Though they lost both of their most recent series with the Mets three games to one, the Pirates learned a valuable lesson. "We knew we weren't great, yet," says manager Jim Leyland, "but we found out we're damn close. And the Mets learned that we sure as hell aren't going away."

The Pirates are convinced that their three young stars—third baseman Bobby Bonilla, centerfielder Andy Van Slyke and leftfielder Barry Bonds—are as good as or better than their counterparts on the Mets, and that newly acquired outfielder Glenn Wilson will drive in 80 to 90 runs next season, as he has done in the past. The Pirates also believe that: Righthander Doug Drabek (11-5, with a 3.29 ERA) has blossomed into one of the league's best starters; lefthander John Smiley (9-8, 3.31 ERA) is on the brink of stardom; and reliever Jim Gott, whose fastball has been clocked at 97 mph, is a legitimate closer.

What the Pirates need, according to everybody from the coaches to the general manager, are:

1) A shortstop. Rafael Belliard, when he's rested, can field as well as Ozzie Smith, but the Pirates could use a shortstop who can bat second behind Bonds—perhaps Seattle's Rey Quinones, Texas's Scott Fletcher or California's Dick Schofield. That would allow second baseman Jose Lind to bat eighth instead of second and strengthen the bottom of the order.

2) A stronger bench. Mets manager Davey Johnson can roll out Tim Teufel, Lee Mazzilli, Mackey Sasser, Dave Magadan and Mookie Wilson. But Leyland has to rely on a bunch of no-names such as Tom Prince, Al Pedrique R.J. Reynolds, Orestes Des-trade and John Cangelosi.

3) Variety in the rotation. The Mets still have the toughest staff in a short series because their starters have such different styles. The Pirates' acquisition on Saturday of changeup specialist lefthander Dave LaPoint from the White Sox for reliever Barry Jones gives them a pitcher in the mold of Bob Ojeda and should add depth to a rotation made up primarily of fireballers.

"We're in a position where we're looking for pieces, not a foundation," says Pirates general manager Syd Thrift. That's a long way from where the Pirates, in second on Sunday, were at this time last year: dead last.

YANKEE KNOW-HOW?

In the hope of shoring up their beleaguered pitching staff, the Yankees brought in Clyde King on Aug. 9 to replace Stan Williams as pitching coach. But by now it should be apparent that it's not the coaching that is the problem, but the person making the pitching-personnel decisions. Consider some recent Yankee blunders: