American League Notebook : With Silence Gone, Bell Rings Only Sour Notes

Blue Jay left fielder George Bell did not speak to the media for most of the 1985 season. Now that he has been talking in the playoffs, some reporters are suggesting that he return to his previous pattern.

John Robertson, a Toronto Sun columnist who covers the Blue Jays regularly, wrote Monday that someone in authority has to tell Bell to shut up.

Robertson was responding to Bell’s statements Sunday that implied that the umpires working the American League playoff are anti-Canadian and anti-Dominican. Bell is a native of San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic.

Robertson wrote that Bell should be made to wear a sign that reads:

“WARNING: Quoting this man, every time he sets himself up as an authority on racial interaction in baseball, is hazardous to the mental health of anyone who might be gullible enough to believe it.”

Robertson wrote that Bell’s “irresponsible” attack on the umpires was merely the latest in a series of such outbursts.

Bell reportedly accused Toronto baseball writers of being anti-Latin when they chose Dave Collins as the Blue Jays’ most valuable player in 1984.

He reportedly accused former Angel Bruce Kison of being anti-Dominican when Kison, now with Boston, hit him with a pitch in June. He made the same charge against Kansas City’s Bud Black when Black nicked him with a pitch in Game 2 Wednesday.

Bell, who had earlier told reporters that no one can tell him to shut up, exchanged words with Robertson as the Blue Jays worked out Monday. He told Robertson that he should not plan on entering the clubhouse if the Blue Jays defeat Kansas City and win the American League pennant tonight.

Asked if he had been reprimanded by club or league officials for his statements regarding the umpires, Bell shook his head and said, “What did I say? I didn’t say anything wrong.”

Of writers, Bell said most were s.o.b.s, but that the worst were in the Dominican. “You say water and they write Lake Ontario,” he said.

Anti-Canadian? For the record, there are no Canadians on the Toronto roster.

Said center fielder Lloyd Moseby: “I still think George was kidding, that he just got carried away. I’m American. I know these guys (the umpires). I know they’re not against us.”

Former Angel shortstop and manager Jim Fregosi, a successful manager at Louisville in the St. Louis system for the last three years, is said to be the probable replacement for Tony LaRussa if LaRussa does not return as the Chicago White Sox manager for new general manager Ken Harrelson.

LaRussa is expected to give Harrelson his decision next Monday. It’s also expected that he will agree to return in ’86.

Mark Gubicza, no small man himself, is ready for the biggest game of his life.

“I’m excited,” the 6-5, 210-pound right-hander said before running off for a muscle-loosening lap around Exhibition Stadium’s outfield. “I feel good about going out there.”

Gubicza is Kansas City manager Dick Howser’s moderately surprising choice to pitch Game 6 tonight.

Left-hander Bud Black, who started Game 2, was the anticipated starter. But Howser had him warming up Sunday in the 2-0 victory Kansas City used to send the series back to Toronto.

“This is a chance for me. . . . A chance for me to let everybody in our organization know I can start a game like this and pitch well,” Gubicza said. “If we go on to the World Series, they’d know I can handle two roles for them, starting and relieving.”

George Brett does not like the situation his Royals are in. But, he’s seen it so many times that he thinks it might work to their advantage.

“Maybe it’s the experience of losing so many playoff games and the only World Series we were in. It could help,” Brett said. “No one’s up-tight about it.”

Once again, the Royals will be facing elimination in the American League playoffs when they go into Game 6.

“If we can’t win one out of two, we don’t deserve to be there,” said Toronto’s Jesse Barfield, who has six hits and four runs batted in through five games.

Veteran Kansas City Royals’ catcher Jim Sundberg has three jobs in the game tonight against the Blue Jays--hit, catch the game and keep young Mark Gubicza from turning into a wild man.

“He calms me down,” Gubicza chuckled. “We have a sign. When I get excited, I start overthrowing, throwing too hard.”

“So he holds out his hand,” Gubicza said, showing his palm to a couple of reporters and moving his hand away from his chest in what is generally understood as a “Stop” sign.

“He’s responded better and better as the season has gone along,” Sundberg said. “He has a tendency of getting wild. That’s when he throws the ball harder.

“I have to try to keep him under control.

“Basically, what I try to do is encourage him. When he’s throwing good pitches, I give him support.

“He’s a rah-rah type of personality. He’s a very emotional kid. But I believe he’s learned to control it better this year.”

Right-hander Ron Romanick of the Angels underwent successful surgery Monday for the removal of a small spur in the back of his right ankle.

Dr. Lewis Yocum performed the surgery at Centinela Hospital Medical Center in Inglewood, an Angel official said.

Romanick, 24, will wear a splint and remain on crutches for approximately two weeks before further evaluation.