Valdes Will Let Others Do the Talking

Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax was talking about the Dodgers’ talented pitching staff when the name of Ismael Valdes came up.

Koufax smiled, rolled his eyes, and slowly shook his head.

“He’s got a chance to be a good one,” Koufax said. “I mean, a real good one. He has everything you’d want in a pitcher.”

Valdes pitched four scoreless innings in the Dodgers’ 3-1 victory in a five-inning, rain-shortened game against the Montreal Expos Sunday at Vero Beach, Fla., drawing more rave reviews. He has yet to permit a run this spring in seven innings.

Atlanta Brave Manager Bobby Cox predicts Valdes, 22, will one day be the finest pitcher in the National League. Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda says Valdes could one day be mentioned in the same breath as Koufax and Don Drysdale. Teammates predict he’ll be a perennial 20-game winner.

“He’ll go as far as he wants to go,” Dodger catcher Mike Piazza said. “He just needs to learn on the job. He can be outstanding, no question about it.”

The only one who needs convincing on just how great he could become is, well, Valdes.

“I see myself just as a normal pitcher,” Valdes said. “I don’t think I’m one of the best pitchers in baseball. But even if I have a lot of success, will I say, ‘I’m the best pitcher on earth?’ No, that’s not me. It’s good to hear those type of things, but let those people talk for me, I won’t say it.”

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Left fielder Billy Ashley struck out three times in four at-bats in the ‘A’ and ‘B’ games, and has struck out 11 times in 20 at-bats this spring.