Gossage Case--A Big Silence Follows the Big Chill

Ballard Smith and Rich (Goose) Gossage got together Monday and agreed not to comment.

So it is unclear if they agreed on Gossage’s future as a member of the San Diego Padres.

Gossage, the relief pitcher who had continually and openly criticized Smith, the team president, and was subsequently suspended without pay on Friday, went to Smith’s La Jolla home Monday with his agent, Jerry Kapstein, and his lawyer, Bob Teaff. They met for an hour with Smith, Padre owner Joan Kroc and General Manager Jack McKeon, and the only news came from Teaff, who said later: “Ballard Smith and Jerry Kapstein will remain in close communication.”

But there was little else.

Gossage: “I can’t comment.”

Smith: “We had a meeting, and beyond that, no comment. I’m sure at some point (there will be comment), but right now I have no plans to make any comment.”

Kroc couldn’t be reached.

Kapstein: “I can’t comment.”

McKeon couldn’t be reached.

Gene Orza, general counsel of the Major League Players Assn., had wanted to file a grievance against Smith, but he hadn’t been been told what to do as of Monday night.

“I don’t know anything,” he said. “The grievance is all typed up and ready to roll. I’ve got to see what happened at this meeting before I do anything.”

Smith has never said precisely what it would take for Gossage’s reinstatement, but he did admit this weekend that he wanted Gossage to publicly apologize to Kroc for “repeated public attacks.” And he also said Gossage would never again play for the Padres if he didn’t curtail the attacks.

Much interest surrounded the meeting, and three San Diego television crews stood outside Smith’s home Monday afternoon. A newspaper reporter saw one of Smith’s daughters and asked her to get her father.

Out he came.

He would only say how long the meeting lasted and who attended. He said he was flying today to join the Padres in Philadelphia. He began to walk inside as a reporter asked: “Is Goose going (to Philadelphia) with you?”

Smith closed the door without responding.

Meanwhile, Gossage drove back to his home in Tierrasanta and--for a portion of his trip--was escorted by a police car.

Rod Vandiver, a policeman who is a friend of Gossage’s, said: “I recognized him coming down Tierrasanta Boulevard. This is my beat. I thought I’d stop by and say hi. I didn’t know there’d be a horde (of reporters) there.”

Television lights flashed at Gossage’s face as he spoke.

Question: How did it go?

Answer: No comment.

Q: What took place?

A: No comment, really.

Q: What was the feeling at the meeting?

A: I can’t comment. Not at this time.