Joyner Reaches 98 RBIs as Angels Beat Royals, 8-4

In the autumn, with his team already assured a berth in the American League playoffs, a young man’s thoughts turn to other things. And for Wally Joyner, that means the AL Rookie of the Year race.

It is generally conceded to be a two-man competition, Joyner and Oakland’s Jose Canseco. And each has taken turns nudging his way into the lead.

Canseco, riding a blast of spring training publicity, began April as the odds-on favorite. By July, when a six-week, 16-home run splurge made him a starter in the All-Star Game, Joyner had emerged as the people’s choice.

Down the stretch they came. And in August and September, Canseco began to pull away.

While Joyner struck his last home run on Aug. 5 and managed but 20 RBIs in two months, Canseco kept slugging away. He entered the season’s final week with 33 home runs and 117 RBIs, the latter topping the major leagues.

Joyner is once again the dark- horse. But after driving in three runs during the Angels’ 8-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals Tuesday night, Joyner announced where he’d throw his support if a Rookie of the Year ballot were his.

“I’d vote for me,” Joyner said.

Yes, honesty does indeed survive in major league baseball.

“We both have our pros and cons,” Joyner explained. “He has more home runs and RBIs, I have more hits and a higher average. I’ve been in the spotlight a little more by breaking up no-hitters, things like that. Maybe I have an advantage because my team is in first place.

“How much that plays in the voting, who knows. I’m a little biased, and I’d like to get it. But if I don’t, I can see why.”

Voters like numbers. And among the most pertinent concerning Joyner and Canseco are:

--Batting average: Joyner .291, Canseco .247.

--Home runs: Canseco 33, Joyner 22.

--RBIs: Canseco 117, Joyner 98.

Joyner closed the gap slightly with his three RBIs Tuesday, but more importantly, has crept up to within a two-run single of the magic number.

One-hundred RBIs. A nice, round number.

“I’ve thought about it,” Joyner said. “A hundred looks better than 98, but I think if you’re in the vicinity, that’s all that matters. Whether you’re in the high 90s or the low 100s, it’s just about equal. Either way, it shows you’ve gotten the runs in.”

A week ago, Joyner and 100 RBIs seemed a million miles away. He entered last Monday’s doubleheader with 92--a figure he had been stuck on for a dozen days.

“Earlier in the season, it looked like I’d be a shoo-in,” Joyner said. “But then I got stuck on 90 . . . and 91 . . . and 92. You start to think it’s not gonna happen.

“Then, I get six quick ones and all of a sudden, I may be able to get it again. If I continue to work hard, good things will happen.”

As run-producing swings go, Joyner’s threesome were pretty flimsy. As Manager Gene Mauch described them, “A couple of pop flies and a bloop with a man at second.”

Joyner had a pair of sacrifice flies, neither hit particularly far, but they had two distinct advantages. One, they were hit with the Angels’ two swiftest runners, Gary Pettis and Devon White, on base. Two, they were hit into a light but steady rain. Ever try throwing a baseball in the rain?

Joyner, who also drove in Jack Howell from second base with a single to right in the fourth inning, wasn’t about the throw them away for lack of artistic merit. He remembers how the rain robbed him in Detroit in late May, washing out a second-inning home run in a game that was eventually postponed.

“I’m not even yet, but I’m getting close,” Joyner said, grinning. “Glad to get this one in.”

So was Mauch.

“It’s good to see Wally get some of the things you want,” Mauch said, referring to RBIs No. 96, 97 and 98. “I’m glad he’s smiling again. He looks comfortable at the plate again.”

Just in time, too, according to Joyner.

“I really didn’t do too much to get three RBIs, but a game like this really helps you,” he said. “It picks you up.

“I was talking to Reggie after the game and was saying how I felt a little more relaxed tonight. I only had to worry about one thing tonight, instead of two.

“A week ago, I didn’t even have a good swing. I had to worry how I was going to get the runs in, as well as when. It’s good to get rid of some of those problems.”

Angel Notes

Ray Chadwick failed in his final bid to win a major league game in 1986, pitching the first 3 innings Tuesday and leaving the game down, 4-2. He allowed four runs on five hits, although only one of the runs was earned. Kansas City scored three runs in the first after right fielder Mark Ryal dropped a fly ball by Royal leadoff hitter Rudy Law. “He was nice and loose,” Gene Mauch said of Chadwick. “After that ball got away from Ryal, Chadwick came back and he put some stuff on the ball. He came within inches of getting out of it.” But the Royals went on to collect three more hits in the inning, and Chadwick went on to his fifth defeat. There are better numbers for a young pitcher to mull over during the winter than 0-5. “I don’t think it will affect him,” Mauch maintained. “If it does, he’s not going to be as good a pitcher as I’m satisfied he will become. He knows what happened to (Kirk) McCaskill last year.” McCaskill began his rookie season 0-4 before finishing 1985 at 12-12 . . . Chuck Finley (3-1) earned the win by pitching 5 innings of two-hit ball. Finley is scheduled to pitch this winter in Puerto Rico, where the Angels will experiment with him as a starting pitcher. “We have some plans that intend for him not to pitch from a stretch,” Mauch said. “He’s got to work on it.” And that’s fine with Finley. “I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “I need to work on a third pitch, a split-finger to go with my fastball and curve. I’d like to start, but I’d also like to be a closer. I just want to keep throwing well and leave the decision to them.”

Playoff Update: Boston Manager John McNamara will announce his starting rotation for the playoffs today and it’s expected he’ll use just three pitchers, with Roger Clemens scheduled for Games 1, 4 and 7, if necessary. With Tom Seaver (knee) ailing, Clemens volunteered to pitch with three days’ rest during the playoffs, an offer McNamara may consider too good to refuse. Clemens has not, however, pitched on three days’ rest once this season. McNamara is expected to start Bruce Hurst in Game 2 at Boston and Dennis (Oil Can) Boyd in Game 3 at Anaheim. Hurst is a left-hander, and pitching a left-hander at Fenway Park is always a gamble, but Hurst is 6-0 at home since returning from the disabled list in July. He has thrown four shutouts this season, all of them at Fenway.