BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : WORLD SERIES : Leibrandt Not Talking About Game 6

One day after being victimized by Kirby Puckett’s game-winning home run for the Minnesota Twins in the 11th inning of Game 6, Charlie Leibrandt was still refusing to speak to the media before Sunday’s Game 7.

Teammates and coaches have attempted to console him, but one former World Series star said Leibrandt might be haunted by that high changeup for a long time.

“He’s a nice guy. I caught him in his first game, but he is going to have to live with this,” said Johnny Bench, former Cincinnati Reds catcher who is working the Series for CBS Radio, before Game 7. “If the Braves lose the series, they will be writing about it this winter in Atlanta, and they will be writing about it next spring. A Braves’ win would be his salvation.”

Leo Mazzone, the Braves’ pitching coach, said he spoke to Leibrandt in the clubhouse before Sunday’s game.

“I told him we didn’t like him any less than when he was winning 15 games for us and throwing 229 innings for us,” Mazzone said. “What are we going to do, ignore him because he gave up one home run? In 1992, I believe Charlie will pitch 240 innings and get 15 wins and be one of the most solid pitchers in the National League again.”

Some think Leibrandt, perhaps the most cordial member of the team, is not talking to the media because he is angry at Braves’ Manager Bobby Cox.

Cox abruptly removed him from the World Series rotation after his Game 1 start, then put him in a difficult position Saturday in Leibrandt’s first relief appearance since 1989. Cox said Sunday he would still bring in Leibrandt to pitch to Puckett.

Cox also had something to say about criticism of Leibrandt, especially in Georgia newspapers. “It’s very weak. Bush,” he said. “I just feel bad for Charlie. He’s a class guy.”

Jack Llewellyn, the sports psychologist who is given much credit for Braves’ pitcher John Smoltz’s good second half of the season, had a two-hour lunch with Smoltz Sunday afternoon before Smoltz’s Game 7 start.

“We just talked about the playoffs, and the Series, and some ‘keys’ that might help him,” Llewellyn said. “John has already come so far. He used to be at the point where he was pitching not to lose. Now he is pitching to win. He feels like to beat him, you have to shut him out.”

When Llewellyn was asked how he was able to acquire a ticket for his normal seat behind home plate--Smoltz looks for Llewellyn’s red shirt when he is trouble--he just smiled.

It turns out that Bob Gebhard, the Twins’ vice president of player personnel, used to study under Llewellyn at Mankato (Minn.) State University.

“But that has nothing to do with it,” Llewellyn said.

Phil Niekro, who pitched 18 years for the Braves without appearing in a World Series, visited their clubhouse before Game 7 and gave a short but sentimental speech.

“I told them I just wanted to thank them on behalf of all Braves who have ever worn a uniform,” said Niekro, manager of the Braves’ triple-A team in Richmond. “I told them there were a lot of good players that had come through the organization and not done what they did.”

Niekro, who was asked to speak by Braves’ Manager Bobby Cox, said he did not feel jealous after pitching on so many poor Braves teams.

“I pitched in two playoffs. I’ve had my shot. I’ve had my time,” he said. “And besides, I’m throwing every pitch with them now. I’m stealing every base and making every catch.”