It Will Be a Busy Winter for Baseball and Uberroth

With his 10-day suspension of St. Louis pitcher Joaquin Andujar, Commissioner Peter Ueberroth established an off-season tempo that may never slacken.

In fact, this winter could prove more lively than some regular-season games. By the time it ends, Ueberroth may have announced the most important decision of his tenure.

Also, the team owners may have formulated a new drug policy; the San Francisco Giants might know where they are playing their next home game, and expansion could be on the way. In between, the 26 clubs should find time to make some trades and to find a home for such free agent stars as Kirk Gibson, Carlton Fisk and Donnie Moore.

Ueberroth nailed Andujar for charging home plate umpire Don Denkinger in the World Series finale, but the commissioner’s action goes well beyond simply cooling the temper of a 21-game winner.

If a tantrum in the World Series is worth $500 and 10 days on the sidelines, then what remains for those players involved in a less desirable showcase: the summer’s drug trials in Pittsburgh?

Ueberroth has said little about what he plans for the players who testified under immunity in the trials of accused drug dealers. The commissioner’s decision is awaiting scrutiny by a disillusioned public, an alarmed ownership and a militant players’ union.

This issue could wind up defining Ueberroth’s commissionership more than any other. Some people still believe Ueberroth is too much style and not enough substance. They believe him to be using a cosmetic tenure to construct a foundation for a political career.

Players who stand to be affected by Ueberroth’s decision are: Lee Mazzilli of Pittsburgh, Lee Lacy of Baltimore, Dale Berra and Rod Scurry of the New York Yankees, Dave Parker of Cincinnati, Keith Hernandez of the New York Mets, Lonnie Smith of Kansas City, Tim Raines of Montreal, Enos Cabell of Los Angeles, Al Holland of California and Jeff Leonard of San Francisco.

During the postseason, major league owners voted to end the Joint Drug Agreement they negotiated with the players. Exactly why they did that, and exactly what they hope to put in its place, remain among baseball’s most intriguing questions. A clue to their thinking may emerge this winter.

As for the Giants, owner Bob Lurie has said his team will never again play in Candlestick. The ballclub wants to have a downtown stadium built. However, the only plan currently under consideration would not see the stadium built before the end of the decade.

Ueberroth and the Long Range Planning Committee are to meet this week in New York. As many as 12 cities hope for an expansion franchise and the meeting could narrow the field.

What the fans really want most from the winter is this: Has my team improved itself? The best ballplayer among the potential free agents is Gibson, and the World Series champion Kansas City Royals would love him in their outfield. So would other teams.

All 26 have the next few months to make the moves they believe are necessary for improvement.