Andujar Becomes One Penitent Dominican

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[i:92fe709ba0]by Kit Stier
originally printed: The Sporting News, March 17, 1986
photo: Rich Pilling[/i:92fe709ba0]

<img src="http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/images/baseball/stratomatic/1986/story_photos/joaquin_andujar_150x230.jpg" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" /> PHOENIX—Joaquin Andujar isn't sure why trouble seems to follow him wherever he goes, but it sure followed him into the Oakland A's training camp.

"Why me?" Andujar said with a grin. "Maybe because I'm so popular, maybe because it's a lovely name... Joaquin."

Despite penalties imposed on him by Commissioner Peter Ueberroth, the Dominican righthander insisted he would pitch this season for Oakland.

"You got that right, when the bell rings I will be there," Andujar said after completing his first workout with his new team at Phoenix Stadium. "I will be there and give you 100 percent. That's one thing I can promise you right now."

Traded from the St. Louis Cardinals to the A's last December for catcher Mike Heath and pitcher Tim Conroy, Andujar was one of seven players conditionally suspended for one year by Ueberroth for involvement with illegal drugs. After speculation that he might appeal the suspension, Andujar said he would abide by the commissioner's three-pronged penalty on March 7. He must donate 10 percent of his 1986 base salary - $123,333 - to a drug abuse program, do 100 hours of community service in each of the next two years and submit to random drug testing for the rest of his career.

"The choice that I've made is desgned to minimize the effects of the commissioner's proposal so that I can put this affair behind me and proceed playing baseball for the Oakland A's," Andujar said in a prepared statement.

He did, however, question why he was singled out.

"I do not believe I belong in the group the commissioner placed me in," he said. "I did not testify in Pittsburgh and I never have had a drug addiction. I am extremely concerned about my public image and wish to make clear to the baseball fans of America and the Dominican Republic that Joaquin Andujar is free of any drug use."

Andujar also apologized for his actions during the seventh game of the World Series last year, when he was ejected by umpire Don Denkinger after a heated exchange. Ueberroth imposed a 10-day suspension at the start of the '86 season, which Andujar has appealed.

"I wish to apologize to the baseball fans of America, the Dominican Republic and especially the fans in St. Louis for my conduct in the seventh game," he said. "I was frustrated by the outcome of the sixth game and by the course the seventh game was taking."

Andujar used charm and wit as he talked to reporters on a number of items, ranging from Denkinger to Cardinals Manager Whitey Herzog to his new team.

On leaving St. Louis, where he won 20 games in 1984 and 21 last season, and joining the A's: "Alfredo (Oakland shortstop Alfredo Griffin) told me they have a good group here, especially sportswriters," said Andujar, who contended that he had trouble with the press in St. Louis. "He told me we had a good manager and a good club. We just need pitching and that's why I'm here.

"When you are a professional baseball player you shouldn't be surprised when a club trades you. It's just like the army - they can send you to Alaska or the Dominican and you have to be ready mentally.

"Whitey promised me that I wasn't going to get traded. And I believe Whitey. I think Joaquin Andujar got traded because of the seventh game of the World Series. But I don't care, I'm happy here. Remember, it's Budweiser (the Cardinals are owned by Anheuser-Busch, which brews Budweiser). Don't forget that (they've got to sell beer)."

On the Denkinger incident: "It's not going to be a problem. Everybody got mad because the World Series was over. We are all human, we all make mistakes.

"I think the umpire stained the whole thing. I called (catcher) Darrell Porter to see if the pitch was high, low, inside or outside. The umpire said I was talking to him. If you see the game you can see I call the catcher."

Andujar and Denkinger had a more cordial meeting when they crossed paths again March 7 in Phoenix before the exhibition game between the A's and the San Francisco Giants. Andujar, who carried out the lineup card before the game, apologized to Denkinger for his behavior last October.

"He's my friend. He's the boss," Andujar said of Denkinger. "I know I do wrong. Hey, I'm human. I don't put myself down to apologize to him."

Will Andujar calm down because of the Series incident? Will Oakland fans see a different personality?

"How can I relax?" replied Andujar without hesitation. "If I'm going to win 20 games two years in a row, how can I change? I might lose 20 and win one. I will be the same Joaquin Andujar. I'm not going to change. The big thing I'm going to change is that I'm going to talk to you guys a lot."

How many games will Andujar win this year?

"One," the pitcher said with a wide smile. "You can't win 20 if you don't win one. If I win one and you ask me the same question, I will say two."

A's Manager Jackie Moore has said he wants Andujar, a 10-year veteran, to work with the youngsters on the staff.

"If they tell me to work with some guys, I will help," said Andujar. "We have to get them to pitch. No more five innings, no more six innings. This is the American League and pitchers don't get tired because they don't have to run and they don't have to hit."

Andujar might have a special influence on 20-year-old Jose Rijo, a fellow Dominican, who was 6-4 with the A's Iast year.

"He can be just like (Dwight) Gooden, he's got the arm," said Andujar. "But he has got to show he can go nine innings. I talked to him in the Dominican and he said he's going to listen to me. He'd better."

"He's crazy," said the young pitcher. "He'll make people work hard and he is smart. He told me to pitch the right way and to use my head a little more. Not just my arm."

[Proverbial Psalms]

Andujar was definitely "Mr. Spitfire" in his day- I wish he would have focused it better on the opposing batters in 1986, so my A's replay team would have a better shot if winning.

I did read where Ueberroth shortened his suspension (from Game 7 WS tirade) from 10 days to 5 days, without much of an explanation.

I remember watching the 1985 world series, my first while away at college, and how unbelievable it was that KC won, and HOW they won.