Baseball / Ross Newman : Attention, Bill White: Charlton Case Awaits Action

It seems so simple.

Norm Charlton of the Cincinnati Reds, who has three degrees from Rice University but none in common sense, acknowledged that he intentionally hit Mike Scioscia, the Dodger catcher, with a pitch.

Paul Runge, the plate umpire at the time, said he didn’t warn or eject Charlton because nothing had happened before that to make him think the pitch was retaliatory.

Runge’s report has no bearing--or should have none--on the possibility of disciplinary action by Bill White, National League president.

All White seems to need is the confession by Charlton, but almost a week has passed, and White has failed to respond with either a fine, a suspension or both.

White took a three-day weekend, his office said Friday, after attending the owners’ meetings in Baltimore Wednesday and Thursday. He did not return calls to both his office in New York and his hotel in Baltimore after the incident in Cincinnati Monday.

Accessible and articulate as a player and broadcaster, White has been an enigma as a league president, shirking his media responsibilities to the open consternation of high-level baseball officials and generally creating the impression that decision-making is not a strong suit.

When the Reds’ Rob Dibble fielded a bunt by Doug Dascenzo of the Chicago Cubs, took what seemed to be dead aim and hit Dascenzo in the leg with his throw to first base, White deliberated for more than two weeks before levying a modest fine against Dibble.

In that case, certain facts may have mitigated against a stronger penalty.

Dibble had been suspended twice by White this season; he had agreed to seek therapy for his behavior and he insisted that he hadn’t thrown at Dascenzo intentionally--intent always being difficult to determine unless the defendant admits to it, as has Charlton.

In this case, the facts are clear, even if White doesn’t seem to discern them.

His delay only serves to compound speculation that White, uncomfortable with authority that often is supported only by loosely defined rules and precedents, and angered last year when Commissioner Fay Vincent seemed to undermine his role in a league matter involving umpires, has been looking for a dignified way to leave the position.

An official familiar with the league office said he doesn’t think White wants out.

“I do think he is uncomfortable with authority, but I haven’t heard anything that would make me believe he doesn’t intend to fulfill his term,” the official said, referring to White’s five-year commitment ending in March of 1994.

Presumably, White will deal with Charlton before then, but it is interesting how personal stakes tend to affect perspective.

Neither the Dodgers, thinking about the six games that the Atlanta Braves have remaining with the Reds, nor the Braves, thinking about the two games that the Dodgers have remaining with the Reds, want Charlton suspended until next year.

Who knows?

White might grant their wish without really taking it into consideration.

SCHOTT DOWN

What a year it has been for Marge Schott, the Cincinnati Reds’ owner.

Her Reds collapse in defense of their National League championship, her beloved St. Bernard, Schottzie, dies and now a member of the family, cousin Stephen, has resigned as the club’s executive vice president.

Resigned?

That’s the way his announcement read Thursday, but it is believed that he was fired in merely the latest bit of zaniness by the owner, who reportedly didn’t approve of the woman Stephen Schott plans to marry on Nov. 4, nor of his attempts to buy the Toledo Mud Hens of the American Assn., an effort that surfaced 24 hours before his apparently forced resignation.

“It has been a pleasure working with someone from the Schott family,” Marge said in a terse statement.

The body count of front-office people who have resigned or been fired during her tenure still is being compiled, but this much is certain: None would say that having worked with a member of the Schott family was a pleasure.

WHITEY’S PLANS

The portrait, as painted by some publications, has been that of an absentee vice president, working by phone from his new home in suburban St. Louis.

Whitey Herzog maintains this isn’t accurate. He said he will spend part of the winter in St. Louis but operate out of Anaheim Stadium during the summer.

“I’ll do what has to be done,” the Angels’ new general manager said--yes, by phone from St. Louis, where he marks his final day as a 12-year employee of the Cardinals today.

Herzog will accompany the Angels to Texas and Chicago starting Tuesday, represent the club at part of the World Series and oversee the annual organization meetings in Arizona in October.

“I’ll go to spring training with the team and be in Anaheim when the season opens,” he said. “When the club goes on the road, I want to take a good look at the farm clubs, but the point is, I’ll be a full-time employee of the Angels. I’ll be where they need me.

“I can also assure you that the phones work just as good in St. Louis as in Anaheim.”

THE OMEN?

The Braves have played three games since Kent Mercker and two relief pitchers combined on a no-hitter Wednesday night. Have they escaped the pitfalls encountered by the other six teams that had pitchers throw no-hitters this year?

Consider:

--The Texas Rangers lost five of seven games after Nolan Ryan’s no-hitter on May 1.

--The Philadelphia Phillies lost five in a row and eight of 10 after Tommy Greene’s no-hitter on May 27.

--The Baltimore Orioles lost four of five and seven of nine after Bob Milacki, Mike Flanagan and Mark Williamson combined on a no-hitter on July 13.

--The Montreal Expos lost seven in a row after Dennis Martinez’s perfect game on July 28.

--The Chicago White Sox lost 14 of 17 after Wilson Alvarez’s no-hitter on Aug. 11.

--The Kansas City Royals lost six of 10 after Bret Saberhagen’s no-hitter on Aug. 26.

And the Braves?

They beat the San Diego Padres, 5-1, in the game after their no-hitter, then opened the three-game series with the Dodgers certain that the strength of their pitching would enable them to handle the pressure of the race and the no-hit jinx, such as it is.

Charlie Leibrandt, winner of six consecutive decisions, reflected on the caliber of that pitching before the start of the Dodger series and said: “You know you’re not going to give games away. That’s a comfortable feeling down the stretch.”

THE ROOKIE WHO ISN’T

The battle between Texas teammates Julio Franco and Rafael Palmeiro for the American League batting title has obscured the brilliance of Ranger outfielder Juan Gonzalez, who is fulfilling expectations in his first full season in the majors.

Gonzalez is batting .276 with 30 doubles, 95 runs batted in and 26 home runs and would be the American League’s runaway rookie of the year if he hadn’t compiled too many plate appearances when called up each of the previous two Septembers.

“He’ll throw in some 0 for 4s, but they’re all quality at-bats,” Manager Bobby Valentine said in Anaheim the other day. “There’s nothing about him that would make you think he’s 21, and the thing I like is his durability and toughness.

“He’s been hit and hit hard by Bobby Thigpen, Eric Plunk and Mark Gubicza recently, but he doesn’t come out. Some guys would walk around with an ice bag for three days.”

BABY TALK

With a 46-59 record as the Orioles’ manager, John Oates’ patience already is wearing thin. The Orioles had hoped to salvage a measure of respectability and build for 1992 by turning their second-half rotation over to the best of their young pitchers, but Oates said they have required more pampering than expected.

“They’re men,” the former Dodger catcher said. “They should be able to handle it. If they can’t, they should go and do something else. I shouldn’t have to walk them to the bathroom.”

Oates is particularly concerned with his should-be ace, Ben McDonald, who was scratched Friday, has been on the disabled list twice and seems to have some form of arm trouble every time he pitches--a pattern needing to be addressed, Oates said.

“I told him I expect him to pitch 200 innings next year,” he said. “That’s the goal he should have. He shouldn’t go home (to Louisiana) and only fish and eat gumbo. He should continue to work out and come to spring training in shape and ready to pitch those 200 innings.”

McDonald has been told by the team orthopedist not to pitch again this season.

A FAREWELL

With the Orioles down to their final few games in Memorial Stadium, Commissioner Fay Vincent waxed nostalgic while in Baltimore for the owners’ meeting last week.

“I have a great fondness for that stadium,” he said. “I came there a lot when I worked in Washington and often brought my twin sons. We saw Earl Weaver in action several times. It isn’t easy explaining that to a 7-year-old.”