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Page 19 - PLAINDEALKR-HERAU>. FRIDAY. JANUARY 25,199$ winningest pitcher on the South Side since equally-rotund Wilbur Wood, but was traded to San Diego for three players - in­ cluding promising shortstop tough one, but it *1. What itell the wasa3*fer-l deal. fans is wait until July 1 and see what wct've got," LaRussa said. "As much as I've heard, he (Guillen) has as much talent as any player in the American League. I'm sure someday he'll be a very good player for us." With Guifieh, who had a good winter under Sox pitching coach Dave Duncan in Puerto Rico, seemingly destined for the in­ field, where does that leave current starters Scott Fletcher and Julio Cruz? "Scott, along with Harold (Baines), (Greg) Walker and Vance (Law) did a job up to his ability, ̂ cott lacks a bit or range and speed. I think maybe second might be a better spot for Urn (than shortstop,)'1 LaRussa said. * CRUZ, WHO signed a six-; contract last year, started all year at second base in 1984. He was supposed to be in Crystal Lake Monday but instead was in LaRussa's doghouse. Cruz, who underwent foot surgery after the season, had called in sick. "I was told his knee was puffed up from basketball. I thought his feet were all right, so I'm a little surprised he isn't here," LaRussa told a group of South students. Cruz hit a disappointing .222 last year after sparking for Sox to the title in 1983. The doghouse might seem crowded with reports of designated hitter Greg Luzinski and the management being far apart in contract talks. LaRussa would love to see the big slugger back in Sox threads. "It's funny. I think the time Bull was with us he was very professional. I respect him as much as anybody. He's a real pro, and we still need a right- handed hitter to drive in ruiids,." LaRussa LUZINSKI HIT .288 - 48 points below his career avenge + with just 13 homers RBl'Jast " veteran drove in 95 lijttllfMi 32 homer* in 1983. "The dub offered him a cut with incentives and « doesn't want to take a cut. He's at the point were he doesn't need to play if he doesn't want to play," LaRussa added. Britt Burns knows what he wants. The left-handed pitcher who straggled most of last season voluntarily accepted a pay cut. With Hoyt gone, Burns will play a big rale. "Britt has paid the price. I don't want to sound too corny, but he was the first player to start working out one week after the season ended. He's in Florida now throwing," LaRussa said. "Britt will get the ball this season and be one of our four starters. We'll give someone else the ball in the bullpen." Last year, Burns volunteered for relief duty and played in 34 games. He savedjust three, lost 12 of 16 and had an 5.00 ERA. "This guy has a lot of ability, but he's had a tough time, un­ fortunately, in the big leagues. I believe he will be what he was early in his career. That's one reason why LaMarr was traded," LaRussa said. Ex-Padre Tim Lollar former Expo reliever James, for whom Vance was traded, will be key hurlers. BESIDES FILLING lineup cards and explaining one-run defeats, managers have another duty - keeping players happy. With 25 men wanting to play as often as possible, it's not an easy job. LaRussa will have his hands full thin season. After hitting .294 with 24 homers and 75 RBI, Greg Walkers might appear to have a lock at first base but doesn't. Tom Paciorek, Mike Squires and even catcher Carlton Fisk may see action there. At third, former Padre Luis Salazar is the leading candidate. But Tom O'Malley, Roy Smalley and young Tim Hullett will also be around. sRudy Law has been roaming Comiskey Park's spacious centerfield for several years, but Darryl Boston seems ready, LaRussa said, to take over. Law would move to left, but Paciorek and Ron Kittle -- whom LaRussa doesn't want to limit to DH duty if Luzindti doesn't return - will also play left field. "THE BIGGEST pressure on the club will be on Ron," LaRussa said. "Last year, his defense was worse than his first year. He had a tough year of­ fensively and took it to the field. It's important to the club that ' Ron gets defensive work in this spring because we need him "You like to have extra punch as far as ran production goes. Left field has always been a ran production guy. That's why I'k like to add another right-handed hitter for better balance," LaRussa added. After winning the division title by 20 games, most of the spots were secured before 1984's spring training. The Sox ap­ peared to be a sure bet of repeating, but finished 74-88 and 1 • (Continued from page 20) 10 games behind Kansas City. "LAST YEAR, I'll start with myself. I took too much for granted. I assumed we'd do things that we had been and that's a bad assumption," LaRussa said. "At the start of spring training we'll remind players about what has to be done and we'll be more specific so we don't repeat the same things (mistakes). "I think this will be the most interesting team we'll take to >ring training. Last year, we i't have many open spots and had won 99 games (in 1983) . This year, there's a lot of places where interesting names will be bantered around for a job." If the summer is as eye- grabbing as the spring promises to be. LaRussa and has team might not be taking another dive next October. 2k iiMS. ussa, Richard Dotson and Harokt Baines address a group of students Monday . and scored 72 -- all team highs. In Comiskey Park, not a hitter's paradise, Baines batted .330. His 39 career game-winning-RBI are the most in the majors. Bill Veeck obviously knew what he was doing. FORMER SOX owner Veeck spotted Baines as a Little Leaguer in Maryland and filed the name in his memory. In the 1977 draft, Veeck insisted on passing up eventual Brewer star Paul.Molitor and future Padre catcher Terry Kennedy. Instead, the draft's first pick was high school senior Harold Baines. The Sox' first view of Veeck's "find" wasn't impressive. "I missed the ball 10 straight times," said Baines with a laugh. "The next day, I missed it 11 straight times." But something special was there, and the Sox stuck with Baines. After a rough start in 1980, he's blossomed into a team leader.Baines credits late bat­ ting instructor Charlie Lau and the Sox coaching staff for smoothing down his swing. "I've always been an ag­ gressive hitter. I've learned when to be aggressive in certain situations, especially with men in scoring position," he said. "Basically, when there's two out and men in position, I try to tell the pitcher it's going to be hard to get me out. The ball will be outside, but I don't try too much to pull it. I've learned to be patient and try to drive the ball to left-center," the left-handed batter said. Patience has led to success. Baines has averaged 99 RBI per year over the past three seasons. He led the Sox last year in hits J171), game-winning RBI (17), doubles (28), triples (10), multiple-hit games (48), extra- bare hits (67), total bases (308) and slugging percentage (.541). -• His 97 career homers tie him for fourth on the Sox' all-time list with Pete Ward. Baines* next blast will make him the most PlaladMler-Herald News Service photo by Phil English ;> b hi BAINES- (Continued from page 20) prolific left-handed home run hit­ ter in Sox history. DESPITE ALL THE good numbers, Baines has played just one taste of post-season fun. The Sox won the American League West in 1983, but slumped to fifth place last year. "Last year there were a lot of injuries. We lost a lot of close games. In '83, when we had the lead in the seventh inning it seemed like we'd never lose the game," Baines said. Slumps hit sluggers Greg Luzinski, Carlton Fisk, Ron Kit­ tle and Tom Paciorek. But Baines kept plugging away, as though he could single-handedly bring home a title. "I'm pretty much happy here. I'm here five years now, and I haven't had any regrets," he said. . . . When he's not touring Illinois in mid-winter, Baines lives near Baltimore with his family. "1 work out with a lot of Nautilus and free weights. I run and throw. There's not much hitting because of the weather," he said. After 1984's disaster, there are plenty of openings on the Sox' lineup card. Only right field and No. 3 in the batting order are fill­ ed for certain. AN ALL-STAR berth would please Baines, as would a World Series appearance: "It'd be nice for the city if we played the Cubs, but as long as we're there it ddesn't make a dif­ ference who we play against." First, of course, the Sox must win the West. "The ballclub has to be ready to play and give 100 percent. For Harold, that's going about his job the best way he know how -- that is playing good defense and driv­ ing in the runs," he said. Finally, is Baines really the silent type he's considered to be? "I am," he said. "I like to do my talking with my bat and glove." Enough said. JS DOTSON and Bob Law Doston is surprised at how fast the years have gone by, and how muchhe Still has to learn. "I REMEMBER hearing Tom Seaver say one day that he's been pitching for 18 years, but as long as you're still playing the game, you still learn something new every day," Dotson said. "Now this is something I really love to do. I never thought I'd ever be in the big leagues like this. I never thought I'd get paid for doing what I liked the most. It's a pretty good profession." Dotson, temred the team's most eligible bachelor by an­ nouncer Lorn Brown, has put together a sort of rags-to-riches story which travels a large part of the country in terms of mileage and has given him knowledge of the ropes he never picked up in college. Just like any other boy pit­ ching his years through Reds country, Dotson had visions of joining the likes of Johnny Bench and Pete Rose in the white and red uniform. But attending high school in a limiting baseball atmosphere and unusual practice times stood in his way. "In high school, I thought that the idea of going to play ball in college was the greatest thing," Dotson said. "I signed a letter of intent to go to the University of Miami of Ohio, and then i got grabbed in the seventh round of the (1977) draft." WHEN HE was finally given his big break, at the wise old age of 18, Dotson was picked up in the seventh round of the major league draft by the California Angels. From there he was im­ mediately shipped by bus to Idaho City, Idaho, and then Calgary, Ontario. UI never really stayed away from home, never lived away, and then one week later, I ws on an 18-hour bus ride to Idaho," Dotson said. "Then I found out what playing pro ball was really like.0 "From Cincinnati to Idaho Falls to Calgary, it took a big adjustment," he continued. "You're playing with guys you don't know, and you're learning all the time." Now, thanks to a busy schedule that has him training in Sarasota, Fla., living between Chicago and California, and traveling throughout the country, Dotson still learns his trade from the seat of a traveling coach. One thing that will be missing from Dotson's upcoming season will be his best friend and for­ mer AA minor league com­ panion, LaMarr Hoyt, traded to the San Diego Padres last month. "I'LL MISS him. He was a nice guv and he has a nice wife, but he'll be moving into a good organization," Dotson said. "And if you really know baseball, you know that you won't be in the same place during your whole career." Looking to the future brings out the dager side in the cheery star hurler. Coming off a self- proclaimed disappointing 14-15 season with the team finishing in fifth place. Dotson has nothing but praise for the Sox of 1985. "We had so much pressure to repeat in '84, and we wanted it bad, but didn't do it," he said. "Now the pressure is off and, besides, anything would be better than last year. 'I'm looking forward to playing on a winning team again," Dotson said. "When you look at the past four years, we've been a great ball club for the last three years. Things will take care of themselves, and I'm just here to help in any way that I can. "And it doesn't hurt to be on the greatest team in baseball." WAS M 5,701 ONLY i AVAILABLE! Th«M b««vtl«a mrm «Hfe »v«ry mrilaMs •pttoa T.f . ««••••••• i •»•«* m v ill mtim ••• Front St. («. Rt. SI) (SIS) 185*11 •• Sandy McKie & Sons Proudly offers... • .nANCING! NOBODY SELLS ior LESS! SANDY McKIE and SONS !MCHENRY CHRYSLER-PLYMOUTH ̂ AND DODGE TRUCKS 8 9 S O U T H R T E . 1 2 F O X L A K E ( 3 1 2 ) 5 8 7 - 6 4 7 3 REPORT OF CONDITION Consolidating domestic and foreign subsidiaries of the First National Bank of McHenry in the state of Illinois, at the close of business on December 31, 1984, published in response to call made-by Comptroller of the Currency, under title 12, United States Code, Section 161. Charter Number 15765 Comptroller of the Currency Twelfth Dis­ trict. ASSETS Thousands of dollars Cash and balances due from depository institutions Noninterest bearing balances and currency and coin 1,424 Interest-bearing balances 3,000 Securities * 20,266 Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell in domestic offices of the bank and of its Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and in IBFs 1,000 Loans and lease financing receivables: Loans and leases, net of unearned income 12,508 LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses 141 Loans and leases, net of unearned income. allowance, and reserve 12,367 Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases) 552 Other assets ; 761 Total assets . 39.370 LIABILITIES Deposits: In domestic offices 36,087 Noninterest-bearing.. 5,505 Interest bearing 30.582 Other liabilities 480 Total Liabilities 36.567 EQUITY CAPITAL Common stock 670 Surplus. 885 Undivided profits and capital reserves. 1,248 Total equity capital 2.803 Total liabilities, limited-life preferred stock, and equity capital 39.370 I, William J.'Busse, Executive Vice President of the above named bank do hereby declare that this Report of Condition is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief. William J. Busse January 15, 1985 We, the undersigned directors, attest the correctness of this statement of resources and liabilities. We declare that it has been examined by us, and to the b£st of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions and is true and correct. O^ /id T. Kent Donald C. Stinesprinl) M.J. Marty, Jr. Publish in the Plaindealer Herald January 25,1985 No. M1074 " • (Continued from page 20)