He Tries to Chip Away at Pitcher’s Weakness

Nobody has stolen second without starting at first base. But Otis Nixon may be the first to start at a database.

Like many successful base stealers, the Atlanta Braves’ outfielder has kept a notebook on opposing pitchers for years. But now he is attempting to take an even bigger lead on the opposition by going high-tech.

With the help of Mike Carter, a computer programmer, Nixon has entered the material from his notebook into a personal computer, setting up the “Otis Nixon Pitcher Database.”

Explained Nixon: “I want to be the best base-stealer in the league, and this gives me an edge on the competition. I think all this research means 10, maybe 15 stolen bases a year.

“The main reason is just in case I lose my book. Heck, I’ve got everything else on my personal computer, so I figured I’d try it.”

Nixon missed the first 16 days of the season because of a drug suspension but is among the National League leaders with 13 stolen bases in 21 games. He has stolen 277 in his career.

Nixon has data on how long a pitcher takes from delivery to the plate, his move to first, his variations in the throw to first and details on his fielding ability.

“I also have a special notes section on each pitcher, what type of pitch they throw in steal situations and how hard they throw,” Nixon said.

He would not reveal any of his information on current pitchers, but did allow a look at the data on former pitcher John Tudor, a left-hander with the Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals.

The entry read: “ Very high leg kick, but different from most left-handers. Throws over to first 3-4 times. Can steal third base easily because of his big leg kick and doesn’t have spin move. “

Said Nixon: “Some guys rely on their memory. This is better than relying on your memory.”

Unless a virus should kill your computer’s memory.

Trivia time: The Indianapolis 500 traditionally draws sports’ biggest one-day crowd. What event draws the second-largest crowd?

Kids say the darndest things: In a recent baseball game involving mostly 7- and 8-year-olds, the home team had a runner on first base and none out. A single to left field sent small bodies scampering in every direction, including one of the visiting team’s infielders, who threw himself over second base and refused to budge.

His teammates tried to pull him off the bag, but to no avail. The coach finally had to come onto the field.

“What are you doing?” the coach yelled.

The confused little boy replied: “You told me to cover second.”

Add darndest: A younger group, 5- and 6-year-olds, were playing T-ball in the San Fernando Valley.

The batter hit a ball to the second baseman, who scooped it up and cocked his arm to throw to first. Before he could, however, the shortstop came flying over and tackled his teammate.

As the second baseman lay on the ground crying from anger and shock, rather than injury, the exasperated manager came rushing out, angrily asking his shortstop what in the world he was doing.

Proudly beaming, the six-year-old said: “I sacked the guy with the ball.

Trivia answer: The first day of qualifying for the Indy 500.

Quotebook: Former college basketball coach Jim Valvano on the tendency of the powerhouse teams to schedule weak opposition for their first games: “At that point of the season, I would rather play three priests and two nuns than a really good basketball team. Any coach who says otherwise is not giving his true feelings.”