Witt Hopes the Nightmare Is Over

The pitcher wakes up in the middle of the night, in a cold sweat, breaking from a recurring nightmare: He can’t get anybody out in a never-ending inning.

For Mike Witt, nightmare played too close to reality his last two seasons with the California Angels, as he fell from one of the premier right-handed starters in the American League to an unwanted pitcher demoted to the bullpen.

“I hit rock-bottom,” said Witt, traded to the New York Yankees in a much-publicized deal for Dave Winfield. “I never thought it would happen to me. I never thought, after the years I had, that I’d lose 16 games in the majors leagues.”

From 1984-1987, possessing what many thought to be the best curveball in the league, Witt compiled an impressive 64-44 record, a .593 winning percentage that included a perfect game against Texas on Sept. 30, 1984. But then the problems began: He went 13-16 in 1988, 9-15 in 1989, and started the 1990 season at 0-3 in 10 relief appearances.

Word spread around the league that Witt just wasn’t the same, that he’d lost his confidence. And, according to Witt, it was true.

“I started thinking too much and was getting hit harder and harder,” the Angels’ second-winningest pitcher said. “And I don’t care who you are, the less batters you get out, the more confidence you lose. I started wondering if I’d ever get outs consistently again on this level.

“I thought maybe I had a tired arm. I thought a lot of things. I had too many doubts. During my good years, I was just on a roll. Everything was automatic.”

Witt, 29, finally lost his spot in the rotation this spring after being the Angels’ Opening Day starter for five straight seasons. He was dropped to the bullpen with no guarantee he could work his way back.

“I knew I needed to get my confidence back from out of the pen,” he said, “but still my goal this year was to get back to starting again. And my feeling was, I wasn’t going to get that chance with the Angels. I didn’t think I’d ever start a game for the Angels again.”

Witt became excited, rather than annoyed or distracted, by the growing number of trade rumors. In a three-week period, he heard he was being sent to Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, St. Louis, San Francisco, and Montreal.

The wish arrived on May 11, but for five days, Witt was held in limbo until the trade was completed. Winfield, with no-trade status, originally contested the deal but then agreed to it on May 16.

It was surprisingly Witt’s second controversial go-around with the Yankees.

In 1987, as a free agent, Witt and his agent, Steve Kay, negotiated seriously with the club before doing an about-face and re-signing with the Angels. Yankees owner George Steinbrenner was reportedly upset with Witt’s backing away at the last second, and as recently as this spring training said: “There’s no way Mike Witt will ever pitch for the Yankees. There’s no way he can play here. Believe me, I know.”

Steinbrenner referred to Witt as a “country type” who couldn’t survive in the high-stress, high-profile surroundings of New York City.

Witt, refusing to comment on a reamrk he’s heard only indirectly, said, “I’m just happy to be here, and I’d like to stay here.” He paused before adding with a smile: “I just don’t think I can live here because of the cold weather. I’m from California, and our winters are pretty warm.”

Witt made his Yankee debut last Saturday, a start against Kansas City in which he allowed only three hits and no earned runs in a six-inning no-decision. He said afterwards that it felt like a new beginning.

“I knew leaving the Angels was the best thing for me professionally,” he said. “But, personally, I have mixed emotions. I hated to leave those guys. They were like family.”

But Witt admitted his former club was far too laid back.

“I really noticed the difference my first time on the Yankee bench,” he said. “The guys are really gung-ho here. They root for one another, they’re a team. With the Angels, it was just another day at the ballpark. And it’s been like that since the end of last year. A lot of the guys seem like they’re just going through the motions. Before I left, they had already conceded the season. Here, I’m with a team that think they’re going to win.”