Williams Hopes Right Field Is Right Spot for Tartabull

If Dick Williams doesn’t hold the record, he’s at least tied. Williams has managed a father and a son in the same position in the same ballpark.

When he managed the Boston Red Sox to the American League championship in 1967, Williams played Jose Tartabull in right field on occasion.

Now, 19 years later, Williams pops back into Fenway Park as manager of the Seattle Mariners. His right fielder? Danny Tartabull, son of Jose.

“That’s what ages you,” Williams said. “When you’ve got his kid in right field.”

How good is Danny Tartabull? As an outfielder, not very. But he’ll get better. He has a good arm, good speed, good baseball instincts and very little experience at the position, having spent most of his time in the infield.

“He was just a little stiff, not fluid, at second,” Williams said. “So we switched him to right. And you know, the ball just jumps off his bat. He’s a lot bigger than his dad.”

Jose Tartabull was 5-foot-11, 165 pounds. Danny Tartabull is 6-foot-1, 185 pounds. And while Jose Canseco, Pete Incaviglia and Wally Joyner get all the ink, Danny Tartabull might wind up with the best rookie numbers.

Danny Tartabull eclipsed his dad’s career home run total (2) in his two September trials (1984 and 1985).

Next comes pop’s career RBI figure--107 for his nine seasons, most of which were spent as a reserve outfielder. Danny Tartabull had 46 RBIs, 13 home runs and a .284 batting average through games of July 6--excellent when you consider he missed about a month’s worth of games due to a vitamin deficiency.

Boston’s trade of Steve Lyons took away the club’s biggest contributor to the Kangaroo Court, presided over by designated hitter Don Baylor. Baylor’s response to the removal of his favorite patsy? He fined Boston general manager Lou Gorman an unspecified amount for trading away the court’s principal source of income.

History Dept.: Babe Ruth’s career earned run average was 2.28. The league ERAs for the principal years in which he pitched, 1915-1919, were 2.94, 2.81, 2.66, 2.77 and 3.21.

Doyle Alexander got his wish -- getting out of Toronto. The veteran right-hander is eligible to become a free agent at the end of the season and was seeking terms greater than the Blue Jays were willing to offer.

Alexander has a history of not pitching well when he’s not happy. It will be interesting to see how he does with Atlanta.

It’s no coincidence Alexander and another Toronto pitcher, reliever Jim Acker, went to Atlanta. The Braves’ general manager, Bobby Cox, talks with his ex-boss Pat Gillick, general manager for the Blue Jays, several times a week.

Toronto is also reportedly disenchanted with Damaso Garcia but will have trouble trading him because his large contract gets even bigger if he goes to another team.

The Blue Jays also have a problem at first base, where Willie Upshaw has not been productive for more than a year.

Nobody has been as banged up as the Los Angeles Dodgers this year. It hurts even to think about it.

In one early week game, Los Angeles started only one player--second baseman Steve Sax--who was expected to be at his position when the season began. Ouch!

Congratulations to Kent Tekulve, who soon will have the record of Elroy Face, who appeared in the most National League games in relief, 819.

Hang in there, Kent, the major league record can be yours in only 200 more appearances after that. Hoyt Wilhelm appeared in the most games in relief, 1,018.