Inside Pitch May 6-12

The problem in Minnesota's Metrodome concerns too little lighting on one side of the field and too much on the other. The Yankees filed an unsuccessful protest last week after losing a game in which they had difficulty finding a few pop flies to the left side, where there isn't enough light. However, the Twins say they signed a contract for $100,000 well before the protest to add lights in time for this year's All-Star game. The problem in right is that lights installed just before the season are too bright because no one remembered to preburn them. So until they fade a bit, rightfielder Tom Brunansky is playing with sunglasses, an odd sight in an indoor stadium.

"What takes place in the Metrodome," says George Steinbrenner, "is not a ball game, it's a circus."

"We might have to protest when we play at Yankee Stadium because that sky is very distracting," retorts Twins manager Billy Gardner. "I've had outfielders tell me they've lost balls in the Big Dipper."

Recently, INSIDE PITCH offered its second annual Managers Most Likely To Be Fired Sweepstakes. White Sox skipper Tony LaRussa was the favorite in the betting, at 8-5. Jerry Reinsdorf, the White Sox' chairman of the board, disagrees with that morning line, and he sent a telegram to prove it.

"I'll put up whatever money you're willing to cover at 8-5 that Tony LaRussa will not be ['the next manager to go,']" Reinsdorf said in his wire.

Now that's a vote of confidence.

Julio Franco, who used to be the Indians' very talented but erratic shortstop, is now their very talented but erratic second baseman. In a move that defies logic, the Indians traded for Johnnie LeMaster, the veteran Giant shortstop with the .226 lifetime average, and benched Tony Bernazard, their weak-fielding but stronger-hitting second baseman. "For us to improve," said general manager Joe Klein, "we have to catch the ball better. LeMaster will be a steadying influence and all the input from the staff is that Julio can play second."

Perhaps he can. But LeMaster is only slightly better than average at short, he's 2 for 27 so far this year and he hit .217 last season. Bernazard, who batted .221 in '84 after averaging .266 the previous three seasons, has only one error this year and is hitting .318 with a team-leading three homers.

Franco's first reaction to the trade: "I never played second base before in my life and I'm not going to play it now."

After his second game at second, Franco, still in uniform, met with manager Pat Corrales and batting coach Bobby Bonds in the club's executive offices. "I don't think there will be any more stink about Julio playing second," Corrales said after the meeting.