Gettysburg Times - October 17, 1980

Brett Is Expected To Play Tonight

KANSAS CITY. Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals rested a little easier today when they learned they probably would have the services of George Brett in tonight's third game of the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Trailing 2-0 in the Series, the Royals face a virtual do-or-die situation. A loss would all but hand the Phillies their first World Series title on a gilded platter. No team in the 78 years of World Series play has rebounded from a 3-0 deficit to win the best-of-seven- game set.

Brett, who hit .390 during the season and drove in 118 runs, underwent minor surgery Thursday to have a painfully swollen hemorrhoid lanced. The operation, performed by Kansas City proctologist John Heryer took about 20 minutes. 

Heryer said Brett would remain in the hospital until this morning.

"It was a simple operation," Heryer said "We simply lanced a blood clot and removed it, thereby removing the pressure and hopefully the pain."

Heryer said Brett would soak in hot tubs and keep off his feet until this morning. Heryer said Brett probably would not be 100 percent for the game but that he should have no problems playing. 

Kansas City Manager Jim Frey had to replace Brett in the sixth inning of Game Two when the problem became too painful. Brett was limping and had trouble running.

At the same time, the Phillies, who won the first and second games of the Series at home, had problems with their own casualties.

Slugging outfielder Greg Luzinski, who was used as a designated hitter in the Series opener, missed Wednesday night's game with the flu and did not make the trip to Kansas City. He had a temperature of 103 Wednesday night and 101 Thursday morning.

Phillies Manager Dallas Green said Luzinski probably would join the team today.

Green said he planned to use rookie Keith Moreland in the designated hitter's role, as he did Wednesday. Also slightly injured were center fielder Garry Maddox and catcher Bob Boone.  Also slightly injured were center fielder Garry Maddox and catcher Bob Boone.

Maddox injured his left knee when he fouled off a pitch against it in Game Two. X-rays were negative, but there was some fluid in the knee. He was expected to play. 

Boone still is recovering from an injured left foot sustained in a home plate collision in the playoffs with Houston.

The Phillies arrived here Thursday afternoon and headed immediately to Royals Stadium for a brief workout. The Royals, who traveled home right after the game Wednesday night, cancelled their plans to work out Thursday because of rain and thunderstorms in the morning.

Frey planned to start righthander Rich Gale, 13-9 in the regular season, against Phillies right-hander Dick Ruthven, 17-10, tonight. Gale did not pitch in the Royals’ American League Championship playoffs against New York. His last start was on the final day of the regular season, Oct. 5.

A 6-foot-7 fastballer, Gale won 11 straight games for the Royals from June 17-Sept. 1.

"Our basic problem in this Series is we have not been able to control Philadelphia's offense," Frey said.  The Phillies scored 13 runs in the first two games against the Royals.

"Gale had tendinitis early in the year, but his statement to me was that his arm feels better now than at any time during the season," Frey said. "He's the kind of guy who can keep them down for five or six innings.  If he does that. I'll be happy."

Ruthven, whose last appearance was in relief in the final game of the playoffs, had a strong finish in 1980. He is a fastball, curveball, changeup pitcher who relies on location.

"He's gotten progressively better this season." Green said.  Green also said lefthanded reliever Tug McGraw, who had his streak of consecutive-game appearances snapped at six on Wednesday, would be ready.

"Tugger's had two days off, and he's claiming he's rusty already." Green said. "We'll crank him up if we need him."

Green was asked if overconfidence could become a problem with his team now.

He admitted it could, adding: "We won two in a row, but that just proves one thing, it's possible to win two in a row. Kansas City's a good ballclub, and they could do the same thing."

McGraw Enjoying Series

By Ralph Bernstein, AP Sports Writer

KANSAS CITY (AP) —Tug McGraw is as zany as a fox.

McGraw. the ace reliever of the National League champion Philadelphia Phillies, is an easy going guy who likes to have fun. Bubbles over with enthusiasm.

He's an accomplished writer, an astute businessman. He's not what he seems to the average person, cocky or arrogant.

McGraw's antics, such as leaping in the air after a victory or save, are calculated. He believes they help give his team the enthusiasm that is so necessary for winning.

There were those who wrote off the 35-year-old lefthander as all-washed up. But as he said the only time he’s washed up is when he takes a shower.

McGraw has been one of the major catalysts in the Phillies" drive to the NL pennant and a 2-0 lead in the World Series against the American League champion Kansas City Royals.

He went through a season in which he posted a 5-4 record with 21 saves, despite spending some time on the disabled list. He was unreal in September and October, making 17 appearances, winning his five and saving six.

Now. all he hears are the questions, "how long can you keep it up? isn't your arm tired?"

"Contrary to what people think, my arm doesn't feel fired or achy." McGraw said after saving the first game of the Series in Philadelphia.

"If it did I'd be the first to go and tell Dallas (manager Dallas Green)." said McGraw.

The reliever explained that bullpen types are conditioned for the kind of work they do.

"It's the nature of the beast. I can spend two weeks getting up and down in the bullpen and never get in the game and be more tired than if I pitched."

McGraw said he learned a long time ago how to warm up efficiently. He lists his main concern as getting his pulse rate up.

"I like it to be between 120 and 140 when I'm ready to throw." he said. "That's my
exercise rate."

McGraw observed that he gets ready for a season by running eight miles every other day. He runs a lot in the early season, then backs off.

He is different from a lot of relief pitchers. He sits in the dugout through the first seven innings, because he likes to watch the game closely.

"I love this game. I only wish I could play another position so I could play every day."

Most short relief pitchers are interested only in the seventh, eighth or ninth innings when they may be needed.

McGraw is always ready with a clever line for the media.

Typical of the McGraw wit was his remark after one of those close games against Houston in the NL playoffs. There were many weird plays.

He summed it up by observing. - It was like riding a motorcycle through an art museum. You don't remember seeing the pictures."