American League Notes : TV Replays Just Might Be a Sight for Sore Eyes

TV replays?

Dave Phillips, crew chief of the six-man umpiring team working the American League playoffs, addressed the subject Wednesday at Toronto.

In the aftermath of second-base umpire Ted Hendry’s inability to make a call on Lloyd Moseby’s attempted catch of Frank White’s sinking liner to center in the 10th inning of a game won by the Blue Jays, 6-5, Phillips had come from the right-field line to call it a trap.

The TV replay seemed to show Moseby making a shoestring catch, but Phillips said he welcomed replays, that they generally supported and enhanced the credibility of umpires everywhere.

Not Friday night as the Royals defeated the Blue Jays, 6-5.

The replays seemed to show that the umpires missed three calls.

They seemed to show that Kansas City’s Willie Wilson was safe on an attempted steal of second base in the first inning (George Brett followed with the first of his two home runs); that Moseby had beaten Bret Saberhagen’s pickoff throw to first in the third, and that Toronto’s George Bell was safe on an attempted steal of second in the eighth.

Vic Voltaggio called Wilson and Bell out on their steal attempts, while Hendry made the call on Moseby, again exasperating the Toronto center fielder.

At least for the moment.

Neither Moseby nor Bell was critical of the umpires when it was over, except to say that the calls were wrong.

Said teammate Jesse Barfield: “They’re human. You don’t blame the umpires when you lose.”

The call that hurt came on Bell in the eighth. He would have been at second with one out.

“Voltaggio said the throw beat him,” Blue Jay Manager Bobby Cox said. “I don’t have to see the replay to know it didn’t. We should have had a runner on second with two outs.

“But what more can I say? Normally, the umpires don’t beat you.”

Toronto catcher Ernie Whitt has had a sore shoulder since midseasn. Don’t tell it to the Royals. Whitt has thrown out three of the four Kansas City base stealers.

The grapevine:

--Bobby Wine, who succeeded Eddie Haas as manager of the Atlanta Braves and has since been replaced by Chuck Tanner, may be in line for a coaching or instructional position with the Angels. Wine played for Gene Mauch at Philadelphia and has been a longtime favorite of the Angel manager.

--If the Angels elect not to re-sign free-agent candidate Juan Beniquez, agent Ray Negron is expected to first try to place Beniquez with the Royals, then with the Boston Red Sox.

--The Detroit Tigers, apprehensive about their ability to re-sign pitcher Jack Morris when he becomes eligible for free agency at the end of next season, will reportedly attempt to trade him before the ’86 season begins. The Tigers are looking for a defensive-oriented center fielder with base-stealing potential. They would then trade Chet Lemon for a front-line pitcher.

--The Yankees would lose 207 RBIs, 39 home runs and 28 pitching victories if they lose all of the players who have asked to be traded or are eligible for free agency. Catcher Butch Wynegar and both Niekros, Phil and Joe, are eligible for free agency. Don Baylor, Ken Griffey and Ed Whitson have asked to be traded. Billy Sample has not asked to be traded, but reportedly thinks he will be.

--It’s being reported that Toronto’s designated hitters platoon of Cliff Johnson and Al Oliver will not be back in 1986. Johnson was reportedly reacquired Aug. 29 only to bolster the Blue Jay attack against the Royals’ left-handed pitching. Oliver, who is eligible for free agency, wants to play regularly again in a bid for 3,000 hits. He has 2,743.