Allentown Morning Call - March 14, 1980

Green definite on Phillies’ pitching order – but not batting

John Kunda, Executive Sports Editor

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Now that the "game" part of spring training is about to start for the Phillies, Manager Dallas Green 's concerns turn to the orders of the day – the pitching and batting orders, that is. 

Green is definite on his pitching assignments for the weekend games, which begin at 1:30 p.m. today against the Detroit Tigers. However, he's not so sure about his batting order. 

Yesterday, Green had lots of time to think about it, and to talk about it. It rained here – very heavily, at times – and a scheduled intrasquad game was washed out at Jack Russell Stadium. 

One of the truly bright spots since the Phillies arrived here is the way the injured arms have reacted. The pitching situation looks so good that one of the Phillies coaches said, "It's scary." 

It looks as though Paul Owens's evaluation two weeks ago was on target. The Phils' general manager said, at the time, We could walk out of here (spring training) with 22 strong arms, or we could walk out of herein big trouble." 

It's been "strong arms" all the way. 

For today's opener against the Tigers, Green's pitching order will look like this: Steve Carlton, Scott Munninghoff Doug Bird, Burke Suter and Ron Reed.

For tomorrow's game against Toronto in nearby Dunedin, Green has decided on Randy Lerch, Bob Walk, Paul Thormodsgard and Tug McGraw. And for Sunday's game, again against Toronto, but at Jack Russell Stadium, the pitching lineup will look like this: Larry Christenson, Carlos Arroyo, Jose Martinez and Lerrin LaGrow. 

LaGrow, by the way, appears almost certain to be a new face on the pitching staff. He could be the club's big find for 1980. 

"Three teams wanted him," a Phillies' man said. He didn't come here just to take a chance." 

Translated, that means he's almost sure of sticking. And from the way this 6-5, 225-pound righthander has been throwing down here, there-is no other way. 

While the pitching appears to be in order, Green has been wrestling with his batting order. "We're gonna do some fooling around with the order," he said. "I have my preferences, but I'm open-minded. We're gonna see what some guys can do with the bat." 

One of the issues in batting has been Larry 'Bowa disenchantment with the possibility of batting in the No. 8 spot. Bowa isn't happy about it and has said so, but he's taking a "let's wait-and-see" attitude. 

At any rate, Green has posted the lineup by position and it reads this way: Pete Rose, at first; Luis Aguayo, at second; Bowa, shortstop; Mike Schmidt, third base; Greg Luzinski, left field; Lonnie Smith, center field; Greg Gross, right field and Keith Moreland, catching. 

While Manny Trillo isn't slated to start this afternoon, his name was mentioned when Green discussed the possible batting order. "Pete Rose is the leadoff man, and Trillo will hit second," 

Green said. From there, things are up in the air. "We're not sure about fourth and fifth," said Green, also mentioning about his three fastest players, Garry Maddox, Bake McBride and Bowa: "Maybe we'll put all the speed together," said Green. "We're just gonna fool around and see what happens." 

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Trade on the way?

The Phillies and the Orioles are supposedly "very alive" in a trade that would send Baltimore infielder Billy Smith to Philadelphia. Originally, it was mentioned that two Smiths were involved – the Phils' Lonnie Smith and Baltimore's Billy Smith, an even-up deal. 

But Lonnie Smith has been taken out of the talks, a Phillie spokesman said. But. he added, "we're pretty close to getting Billy Smith." 

For the Orioles' Smith, the Phils would have to give up a couple of young players, two of whom were mentioned – Orlando Isales, an outfielder, and Dan Larsen, a pitcher. A third player would be a fringe minor leaguer.

Garry Maddox would not be involved in this deal. 

The Orioles' super scout Tom Russo has been around the Phillies' camp for a week or so and has said his team "is close to a deal." 

Any interleague trading would have to be completed by tomorrow's dead line. 

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The Phillies have vacated the Carpenter Complex and have moved to Jack Russell Stadium, about four miles west of the complex. The complex has been taken over by the Phillies' minor leaguers who were scheduled to open training yesterday, but were rained out.

Howie Bedell will be in charge of the minor league sessions. He has taken over the job held by Dallas Green when the club moved Green up to the managerial post.

One of Bedell's coaches will be Elmer Valo. the former Palmerton outfielder who spent 23 years in the majors. In recent years, Valo has been on the Phillies' staff as a scout. He is a hitting coach with the minor league development program here.