American League Notebook : Stewart Says Blue Jays Play Game Incorrectly

It was supposed to be a compliment to the preparedness and thoroughness of Oakland A’s Manager Tony LaRussa, but it came out as a rip at the Toronto Blue Jays and their noted disregard for fundamentals.

Thus, A’s pitcher Dave Stewart joined the war of words that the Blue Jays ignited when they accused Rickey Henderson and Dave Parker of hotdogging in Game 2 of the American League playoffs.

“When we play the game properly, we do have the type of club that can embarrass another club naturally,” Stewart said. “We play the game the way it’s supposed to be played and it creates intimidation and embarrassment for the other club.

“These two teams have equal amounts of talent, but there’s always small areas of the game where it seems like (the Blue Jays) don’t play the game the way it’s supposed to be played.”

Of the Blue Jays’ comments about Henderson and Parker, Stewart chalked them up to frustration.

“When things go bad, you find excuses and sometimes overlook the real reasons,” he said. “If Rickey gets on base, you let him get on. If Parker hits a home run, he hit your pitch.

“That’s sometimes hard to admit when you lose.”

Frustration?

“Maybe there’s some frustration,” said Toronto catcher Ernie Whitt, who did most of the complaining about Henderson. “But there’s also the fact that Rickey is a hotdog, and I don’t think anyone will argue about that.”

Among the Blue Jays, Mookie Wilson seemed to have the best perspective on the hotdog issue.

Wilson, before Friday night’s game, said that the Blue Jays have to focus on playing the Oakland Athletics and not on Rickey Henderson and Dave Parker.

“We’ve got to understand, this is the way Henderson and Parker have always been,” he said. “I mean, I think Parker’s home run trot is great. I almost came in from right field to shake hands with him.

“Of course, I’ve always loved Dave Parker. When I first came up, he asked me if I needed a car and offered me the keys to his Mercedes. And he didn’t even know me.”

American League President Bobby Brown met with the umpires before the game to discuss the verbal commotion and make sure that any incidents were dealt with promptly.

“No one’s going to be allowed to have a hair trigger because of this,” Brown said.

The league president also said that SkyDome’s roof would be closed for this afternoon’s game.

It was 68 degrees in SkyDome Friday night and 50 outside when the game started.

“If I knew it was going to be 75 with people headed for the beach tomorrow, I’d have it open,” Brown said. “But I don’t know how you can improve on the conditions we have in here tonight.”

Rumor mill: John Hart, who replaced Doc Edwards as the Cleveland Indians’ manager on an interim basis in September, is not expected to be retained.

John McNamara, the former San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox and Angel manager, and A’s third base coach Rene Lachemann are said to be the leading candidates.

Later, Bob Costas: Put NBC’s Bob Costas behind the microphone during baseball’s postseason, and apparently a controversial time is guaranteed for all.

During last year’s World Series, Costas got the Dodgers’ dander up by calling the Los Angeles batting order in Game 4 possibly the worst ever to appear in a World Series. Never mind that Costas was probably right. The Dodgers still ranted and raved and cursed Costas’ bloodlines--generally working themselves up into an Oakland-bashing frenzy.

Now, Costas has incurred the wrath of Blue Jay fans, who were disturbed by his commentary during Games 1 and 2 of the playoffs.

Among Costas’ purported offenses:

--He said that Toronto first baseman Fred McGriff, who has not hit a home run since Sept. 4, is in a slump.

--His call of Dave Henderson’s home run in Game 1 was “louder” than his call of Ernie Whitt’s home run in the same game.

--With Oakland leading, 6-3, late in Game 2, Costas quipped that Elvis Presley had a better chance of coming back than the Blue Jays.

By the time Costas showed up at SkyDome for Game 3 Friday, he was greeted by these kinds of bedsheet-banner welcomes:

“Nuke Bob Costas”

“Costas Go Home”

“Dear Costas, Elvis Is Alive”

“Kostas, Welcome to the . . . King Dome.”

In Friday’s Toronto Sun, Costas said that the Blue Jay furor “make(s) no sense at all. (The accusations) are as predictable as the sunrise. It happens in every playoff or World Series.

“My job is not to announce for Toronto fans or Oakland fans . . . but to take fans everywhere inside the dynamics of the game.”

Inside SkyDome, however, the mere mention of Costas’ name on the center-field message board drew a chorus of boos in the middle of the fourth inning.

Costas, showing a better sense of humor than the Toronto folks, stood up in the NBC broadcasting booth and, with arms upraised, acknowledged the jeers with a couple of good-natured bows.

Times staff writer Mike Penner contributed to this story.