Aviles’ magical night is probably too late

By Ray W. Kelly of the Courier-Post

PHILADELPHIA – For 11 years he waited and prayed for a night such as this, a night when he would start a game for a major league team and he would hit, field and throw like a man possessed.

Yet, when it finally happened, Ramon Aviles of the Phillies found himself talking about dipping into his meager savings and pumping gas to survive the summer.

Make no mistake, the proud native of Puerto Rico was not looking for sympathy. If he had to dig ditches to give his family a good life, he would do it gladly with his head held high. For him, dignity was something you brought with you to work, whether it be at a dusty gas station in South Carolina or at Veterans Stadium.

Of course he felt frustrated at the thought of being caught in the crunch of the impending strike of baseball by the Players Association. But, he couldn't help smiling when his Philly teammates called to him after last night's 9-8 victory over the Cincinnati Reds, "At least you're leaving the game in style."

It was true. If this turns out to be the Phils' final performance of the 1980 season, the hustling, little utility infielder will at least know that he gave the men who will decide his fate something to remember him by.

"I have never played a big league game such as this," he said, recalling how he kept his composure enough to walk with the bases loaded in the first inning, how he lined his first home run in the majors over the left field fence in the third inning, how he took a bad relay throw and gunned a runner out at third base in the sixth and topped it off with two dazzling defensive plays at shortstop.

Such days are made for celebrating. But, in a grimly-silent locker room filled with teammates trying to swallow the reality of the word "strike," there was only gloom mixed with irony.

With Larry Bowa sidelined with back problems and rookie hotshot Luis Aguayo ticketed for Oklahoma City, where he could get a chance to hone his budding talents, Aviles saw the opportunity for his anticipated short stay in Philly to turn into something more permanent.

"The way I played tonight... hitting the ball hard three times... going to both my left and right on defense... I feel they would keep me in the lineup until Bowa is sound enough to play once more."

Play where? Baseball was headed into the twilight zone. And, a lot of guys like Ramon were being asked to pay the price.

"Yes, I've been caught in the middle," he said. "In the spring, I could not vote because I was not a rostered player. But, I'm going to back my teammates. I would vote today to strike with them because it will help the players on their way up.

"After 11 years in the minor leagues, I don't want to go back. It is a little depressing that after I worked so hard for so many years, this is happening."

The possibility of the strike helping bim were minimal. And, when the fans thought of the striking players, they would not think of him, but of well-heeled athletes lounging by the pool soaking up the sun.

"I'm in better shape than some guys," he said with a grin. "I don't have to pay any big bills. I made good money (it's not that good) playing winter ball in Puerto Rico. Since I live at home, I was able to save.

"I don't spend much, because I don't drink, smoke or gamble. I just buy groceries and put the rest in the bank. I handle my money good. It will come in handy."

Aviles will start dipping into his savings next week when he returns to his wife's home town in South Carolina. He will help coach the local college team and begin looking for a job to keep him busy.

"I will spend time with my little daughter, Amy. It doesn't matter what kind of work I do. Ill pump gas or whatever. As long as it is an honest job. I don't care how tough it is. If I have to do it to support my little girl, I will do it."

It was 11 years ago that a scared kid who understood English, but couldn't speak the language very well, got on a team bus. He sat near the talkative players. He listened. He learned. He asked to be corrected. He never compromised his high morals in order to be popular. He dreamed of the majors and a magical night.

Somebody should have told him baseball is big business.

Baseball has reached D-Day

NEW YORK (AP) - With a strike deadline only hours away, baseball negotiators faced a nearly impossible task today, meeting for one last time in an effort to reach an agreement on a new contract that would prevent a play stoppage.

There was little hope that a strike could be averted after another round of fruitless talks yesterday.

"Unless there is a complete change of heart, we're headed pell mell for a strike," said federal mediator Kenneth Moffett. "We're in deep trouble."

MOFFETT SAID no progress had been made at yesterday's session when the players association presented a revised proposal to owner representatives.

"Sitting at the end of the table and hearing the two sides, it sounded to me as if we were a month away from a deadline instead of 30 hours," the mediator said.

Marvin Miller, executive director of the union, said there would be no avoiding the deadline in his talks with management.

"A strike creates pressure," Miller said. "Removing the deadline creates no pressure."

MILLER SAID player representatives of all 26 major league teams had been sent telegrams restating the will of the union's executive board which voted unanimously on April 1 to strike unless a contract is negotiated by May 23.

"Games Thursday night will be completed. The strike begins May 23," Miller said. "Nothing changes that except an agreement."

But the two sides seem miles away from any settlement.

"We did not make any progress," Miller reported. "We have, negotiated for six months and produced nothing even approaching an agreement, even with a strike deadline. That's the best shot for progress. Now they propose removing the deadline and then work for an agreement. They say if we reach one, it would be retroactive. Well I learned a long time ago that if you're offered zero retroactively, it's still zero."

RAY GREBEY, chief of the management negotiating team, dismissed a player association proposal made yesterday which Miller said had "substantially revised downward" a number of union demands.

"It contained nothing new or that we hadn't already talked about," Grebey said. "And there was a serious omission. It didn't deal with compensation."

Miller bristled at that description.

"I love the way he obscures the truth," the union chief said. "It's true that the proposal dealt with no issues not discussed before. But he led you to believe it didn't change anything and that's misleading."

MILLER SAID the players had offered reduced demands in the areas of minimum salaries, pension contributions and "split" contracts for players who perform both in the major and minor leagues in a single season.

"There were other important revisions and deletions," Miller said. "It produced virtually nothing in the way of movement."

The movement management still insists on from the players is acceptance of a formula for compensating clubs losing "premium" free agents. The last proposal on that matter was made last week. At that time the owners suggested ranking players by pitching or batting appearances in order to determine whether they would qualify for compensation as free agents.

THE PLAYERS association rejected that idea, saying such a formula would classify .222 hitters and pitchers with earned run averages of over 6.00 as "premium" free agents.

Management responded yesterday with a four-page information sheet distributed to all players. It said that only nine of last winter's 44 free agents would qualify for compensation under their proposal. Some who would not have fallen into "premium" classification, the owners said, included Rudy May, Fred Norman, Tony Perez and Rennie Stennett.

Meanwhile, clubs prepared for what seemed an almost certain interruption in the season. Although weekend advance ticket sales remained strong in many cities, teams were readying refund plans.

"OUR TICKET sales have never been better," said Jack Schrom, vice president of public relations and marketing for the Pittsburgh Pirates. "The threat of a strike has not put a dent in us in the least. In fact, we have well over a half million seats sold for future games, conservatively speaking. The money's in."

The Pirates expected about 80,000 fans this weekend for a series against San Diego. If the strike comes, the team said refunds would be made.

Cincinnati hoped for 100,000 for a three-game series against Montreal, slightly higher than the team drew over Memorial Day last year. Fans have not asked for refunds yet and the club has not made any refund plans yet.

IN BALTIMORE, the Orioles sold 37,000 advance tickets for a weekend series against Detroit. It would be the club's first weekend home series this season. "We don't want to say anything at this moment about refunds," said General Manager Hank Peters. "We'll make those announcements at the proper time."

Milwaukee has sold between 65,000 and 70,000 seats for a six-game home stand against Minnesota and Seattle which was to begin tomorrow night.

"Seattle and Minnesota traditionally don't draw that well anyway," said Dick Hackett, the Brewers' vice president for marketing. "Right now the team isn't playing all that well. That has a bearing on ticket sales. There's the threat of a strike, that has a bearing on it."

Hackett said no fans have asked for their money back and the team would have an announcement Friday concerning refunds.

As the Curtain Falls?

Phils Don’t Knock Opportunity This Time, Tip Reds 9-8

Philadelphia 9, Cincinnati 8

By Harry Hoffman, Press Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA —  It was a helluva way for the baseball season to end. 

After blowing an early 7-3 lead, the Philadelphia Phillies came back with two runs in the bottom of the ninth to nip the Cincinnati Reds 9-8 Wednesday night at Veterans Stadium. This despite the player's strike threat at midnight tonight hanging over their heads. 

Mike Schmidt started the decisive inning with a bat, legs and bellyflop-slide double off loser Tom Hume, the fourth Redleg pitcher. Schmidt’s hard ground ball exploded past third baseman Ray Knight into the left field corner, and never broke stride until he slid around second baseman Junior Kennedy. 

“The Manager (Dallas Green) wants us to play aggressive baseball this season. I just figured it was an aggressive play. (Reds’ left fielder George) Foster doesn’t have the best kind of arm, and I thought I might catch him a bit by surprise," Schmidt said. 

Greg Luzinski, who earlier had hit his 11th homer and a single, lined another single to left to score Schmidt with the run that tied it at 8-8. 

“Sure, being in this kind of groove, I’ll feel a little frustration if we stop playing,” Luzinski admitted. “But I'm behind what we are doing all the way. 

“It might even help me in a couple of years when I can become a free agent. But the main thing is, we must stick together and battle for what we think is right.” 

Lonnie Smith ran for Luzinski and went to second as Hume walked pinch-hitter Del Unser. Garry Maddox twice fouled off sacrifice bunt attempts before flying out to right field. 

Manny Trillo followed with a line drive toward right field. Dave Collins charged the ball, had it in his glove then dropped it for an error which allowed Smith to score the winning run. Had Collins caught the ball, he would have had an easy double play, with both runners on the move.

Ron Reed, the fourth Philadelphia pitcher, wound up with his second victory in as many decisions. Hume is 3-4. 

Two other Phillies, catcher Keith Moreland and shortstop Ramon Aviles, wound up with their first major league home runs. Moreland, starting in place of Bob Boone, followed a two-run homer by Luzinski in the second inning with his solo blast.

Aviles, who started for the ailing Larry Bowa, made it 7-3 with his solo homer in the third. 

“A pitcher gets a heart attack when I hit a homer off him," said Aviles, an 11-year veteran of the minor leagues. “I’ve been waiting a long time to get up here. I hope we keep playing. But I know the strike is for the best.” 

Phillies’ starting pitcher Larry Christenson had another sub-par outing while giving up six runs on six hits in the first three innings. Knight tripled home three runs in the top of the first. He also contributed another triple and a single to the Reds’ attack. 

Three runs figured to be enough for Cincinnati starter Tom Seaver. But Maddox singled home two runs in the bottom of the first, and a bases-loaded walk to Aviles tied it up. 

A two-out double by Schmidt and Luzinski’s 11th homer, followed by Moreland’s shot made it 6-3 in the second, and Aviles made it 7-3 with his solo blast in the third. 

But John Bench doubled home two Cincy runs in the fourth inning, went to third on a single by Ray Oester and scored as Collins grounded into a force play at second to make it a 7-6 game. 

Cincy tied it off southpaw Kevin Saucier in the sixth inning when pinch hitter Rick Auerbach tripled and scored on a double by Kennedy. With Reed pitching in the seventh, the Reds went ahead on a walk to Dan Driessen and Knight’s second triple.

But unlike Tuesday night, when the Phils wasted four homers in a 7-6 loss, they grabbed the victory with a little help from Collins. 

Now what happens? No one can be sure until the midnight hour tonight.

Talks Make No Progress, Strike Deadline Is Midnight

NEW YORK (AP) — Deadlocked talks between owners and players in the continuing baseball contract dispute made no progress Wednesday, leaving the two sides about 24 hours away from a threatened strike which would interrupt the 1980 major league season. 

The players association offered a new proposal in an effort to settle the dispute, according to Marvin Miller, executive director of the union. “They noted the proposal with no comment,” said Miller. “We did not make progress today.” 

Miller described the negotiations as taking place in “a tense atmosphere.” 

The two sides met for less than an hour before adjourning to separate caucuses which lasted about 90 minutes. They returned for another 1½ hours before finishing for the day. 

“I’m guardedly optimistic,” said Ray Grebey, chief negotiator for the 26 clubowners. “This is a tough emotional problem.” 

Grebey described the union proposal as containing nothing new. 

“The players association proposed what it considers the basis for a settlement,” Grebey said. “It contained nothing we had not already talked about and there was a serious omission. It didn’t deal with compensation.”

Management had insisted throughout these talks that the union agree to a system of compensation for teams losing free agents in the reentry draft. The players association has balked at that suggestion.

"Our proposal revised a number of items downward substantially,” said Miller. “To say as Mr Grebey did that it contained ‘nothing new,’ well technically that’s true. But he led you to believe that it didn’t change anything and that’s misleading.  We made important revisions and deletions and reduced many of our demands. I love the way he (Grebey) obscures the truth.” 

Asked if the talks had been productive, Miller frowned.

“There was nothing in the way of movement,” he said. 

Miller said he would meet with Grebey again today. The players’ strike deadline is midnight tonight.

“I’m never going to give up,” he said. “Telegrams have been sent to the player representatives setting forth the unanimous decision of the executive board on Apr. 1 that if there is no agreement prior to May 23 a strike begins May 23. Nothing changes that except an agreement.” 

Miller said that management has proposed removing the strike deadline in order to permit contract negotiations to continue. 

“A strike creates pressure,” he said. “Removing the deadline creates no pressure.”

Issues To Be Settled

NEW YORK (AP) — Major unresolved issues in the baseball contract between the Major League Players Association and the club owners’ player relations committee include: 

1. Compensation for loss of free agent — Owners are asking that a team losing a “premium” free agent in the reentry craft be compensated by a roster player from the signing team, replacing in certain cases, the present compensation, a choice in the amateur free agent draft. Under the clubowners’ proposal, the team losing a roster player would be able to protect a certain number of players, 15 or 18 depending on the circumstances, from selection by the team losing the free agent. 

At issue is the definition of “premium player." 

2. Pension plan — The players want the clubowners to increase their contribution (from television revenue) to $16.5 million from the present $8.3 million. The clubowners have offered to increase their contribution to $14.4 million 

3. Minimum salary — The players want the amount raised to $30,000 from the present $21,000 The clubowners have offered to increase the amount to $27,500.