Baseball / Ross Newhan : Cubs’ Frey and Green Both Hoping to See Light Down the Road

There was the hint of a threat in the vote of confidence that Chicago Cub President Dallas Green gave Manager Jim Frey the other day.

“I don’t think that every time we lose two or three games in a row we need to bring up whether he is going to be fired or whether he won’t,” Green said.

“I told him to forget all the baloney that’s been going around and win some games.”

Green gave no vote of confidence to the storied stadium where Frey is employed as he announced that the Cubs would play playoff and World Series games at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, providing they advanced to the postseason tournament, an unlikely event.

He said it was another nail in Wrigley Field’s coffin and that something would have to change if Wrigley Field is to survive. It’s all part of a power play, an ongoing attempt by the Cubs to get lights at Wrigley. Permanent lights.

If it were only a question of October, Musco Lights of Muscataine, Iowa, a specialist in auxiliary lighting, has already surveyed Wrigley Field and assured the Cubs that it could provide sufficient illumination on a temporary basis. The Iowa firm has helped light space launches, Super Bowls and night football games on several college campuses.

The Cubs have promised to play only 18 night games a year if there is revocation of the city ordinance and state law against lights at Wrigley. Green said that a recent survey of the Wrigley neighborhood showed that home owners and apartment occupants now preferred lights over the possible departure of the Cubs.

He said there was also support for lighting Wrigley rather than having postseason games played elsewhere, but he didn’t think it could be done on a temporary basis, no matter what Musco said.

That’s part of the ploy, of course. The other aspect is very real.

Commissioner Peter Ueberroth might have strong-armed NBC into relenting on the contract clause that calls for postseason games to be played at night, but he reportedly confronted tough opposition from the 26 owners, who share in the TV revenue.

A series of postseason night games, with higher ratings and increased advertising revenue, nets each of the 26 clubs between $500,000 and $1 million more than they would receive from a day series.

None of that appeased Chicago Mayor Harold Washington, who provided the liveliest rhetoric.

Washington said he couldn’t even spell the name of the guy who runs the National League.

“My answer to the National League is: ‘Who the hell are you to be telling us where our team plays?’ ” Washington said. “My answer to the Cubs is: ‘We’ll talk about it.’

“We’re not lump-lump here. We’re not peons. Don’t take our team down to that sweat area.”

Sweat area?

Said the beleaguered Frey, who hopes to be still employed in October:

“I’d be happy to play the playoffs in St. Louis.”

Speaking privately while attending a drug seminar for sportswriters in San Diego Monday, Ueberroth said he believes that the latest--and last, perhaps--stadium proposal in San Francisco may prove workable.

“I’m optimistic,” he said. “I think this has a chance.”

The proposal calls for a $36-million, 42,000-seat stadium in the downtown area of 7th and Townsend. It would be financed by lease revenue bonds and an increase in the hotel tax.

The 14 acres on which the stadium would be built is part of a larger parcel owned by Santa Fe Railroad, which hopes to develop 200 acres into a shopping and housing complex called the Mission Bay Project.

The Santa Fe has told the city that it will lease the 14-acre stadium site for 66 years at $1 a year in exchange for approval of the overall project.

The entire concept is now being studied by the city and club.

“On the one hand,” Giants’ Vice President Corey Busch said, “it’s a very positive, very encouraging development.

“On the other, we don’t know enough yet about the suitability of the land or the nature of the stadium.”

Busch said that 42,000 seats fit the Giants’ needs, but for $36 million, “we don’t think you’re going to get much more than a bare bones stadium. We want to be sure that the fans have the proper amenities, state of the art comforts. We want the opportunity to sit down (with the city) and see if we’re on the same wave length on this.

“I mean, the city is now spending $30 million on improvements for the 49ers at Candlestick. They’re adding about 10,000 seats, building luxury boxes and modernizing the restrooms and concession stands.

“If that alone costs $30 million, it’s hard to see how you can build a 42,000-seat stadium for just $6 million more.”

The San Francisco concept fits what Ueberroth calls his “smaller stadium criteria.”

His office has designed a 40,000-seat stadium that it hopes will serve as a prototype for future stadiums.

“A combination of Wrigley Field and Fenway Park,” Ueberroth said. “We want fans to have a good view.

“We don’t want 60,000 crowds in Cleveland because there’s only 35,000 good seats.

“There’s also a positive psyche to sellout crowds.”

And, of course, a smaller stadium is less expensive to start with and less expensive to maintain.

For the first time since 1979, when he was an unheralded rookie, Dan Quisenberry is no longer the Kansas City Royals’ relief ace. He now shares the role with Steve Farr, who was 2-0 with three saves and a 1.69 earned-run average in midweek, and Bud Black, who had not allowed a run in his first nine relief innings after losing his starting job to Dennis Leonard.

Farr, Black and Quisenberry will be used as the situation dictates.

“I’ll have to get used to the idea of tying my shoelaces earlier in the game,” the inimitable Quisenberry said.

Said Manager Dick Howser, cautiously:

“It’s not a demotion, it’s an adjustment. It’s more the result of what the others have done than what Quiz hasn’t. I mean, I want to say this in a nice way. . . . he’ll now be more versatile for us.”

Semantics aside, Howser started to lose confidence in the workhorse Quisenberry during the 1985 regular season when he saved 37 games but blew 12 other save chances, lost 9 of 17 decisions and was hit hard by left-handers, who batted .320 against him.

Then there were critical moments in both the playoff with the Toronto Blue Jays and World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals when Howser failed to use Quisenberry, who is 1-4 with three saves in five chances. Left-handed hitters have batted .387 against him while right-handers have hit .303.

Was Quisenberry bitter? Did he cite his career accomplishments as reason enough for retaining his stopper role?

“I don’t think I’ve ever quoted my stats,” he said. “Stats don’t get people out today. That’s in the past. I’m sure Dick wants me to throw the ball better than I have. I’m sure I can. If I do, I’m sure I’ll regain my status.”

Don’t tell Pete Rose that his Cincinnati Reds are dead. Not when they’re playing in the National League West.

“I had a fan call me the other day, a friend of mine,” Rose said. “He’s telling me, ‘you guys have to play .800 ball to win 97 or 98 games.’

“I said, ‘who needs to win 98 games? I don’t even know if you need to win 90 games to win this division.’ ”

It’s not yet the number of games which they trail the Boston Red Sox by in the American League East that has the New York Yankees concerned.

It’s more the fact that they trail the Mets in attendance by about 10,000 per date.

The Yankees still view Tom Seaver as a panacea for both ills, but their ongoing pursuit has been derailed by Seaver’s shoulder injury and the revival of the Chicago White Sox, now less inclined to part with a proven winner.

The White Sox won nine of their first 11 games after the announcement of Manager Tony LaRussa’s retention, the reorganization of the coaching staff and the return of Carlton Fisk to catcher.

“We’re getting back to playing baseball,” Fisk said. “It (the LaRussa uncertainty) was such a distraction no one could concentrate on what it takes to win--let alone even play.

“It’s no coincidence that we’re playing well now that we know who’s running things.”

Disregard the Billy Martin to Minnesota rumors. They seem strictly self-created, though Martin has denied it.

As Minnesota Twin Manager Ray Miller said:

“Martin creates his own interest. I’m not worried about him. He’s screwed up enough teams already. I’m not worried about my job. I’m going to win with this team.”

No way, Ray. Not with a bullpen that had a 2-8 record, 3 saves and 7.73 ERA through 40 games.

The Twins, in fact, have now shipped out every member of their opening day relief staff except Ron Davis. However, the beat and the beatings go on, with Davis, the alleged ace, setting the tone.

He’s 1-4 with 2 saves and a 9.64 ERA.

The collapse of a St. Louis offense that led the National League in runs and team batting last year remains one of the major stories of the early season.

The Cardinals scored three runs or less in 25 of their first 35 games. Three regulars--Tommy Herr, Terry Pendleton and Mike Heath--were still hitting less than .170 as of Thursday. Vince Coleman, the catalytic leadoff man, had reached first base in the first inning of only 10 games. There had been only one home run by a left-handed hitter.

“We’re terrible,” Manager Whitey Herzog said.

A trade? A change for change’s sake?

“That cosmetic stuff doesn’t cut it with me,” General Manager Dal Maxvill said. “If all these guys are .150 hitters we’re in trouble.

“I mean, we can’t go out and trade for seven guys. We’re stuck.”