In New York, They Throw Away Games

The pursuit of Sammy Sosa has dominated the media madhouse that is the New York market, but the real story of the Yankee summer might be titled “A Farewell to Arms.” Like Chuck Knoblauch’s. Like David Cone’s. Both continue to struggle with their deliveries--bigger problems, perhaps, than the lack of production in left field that has generated the interest in Sosa and several other possibilities, including Juan Gonzalez, B.J. Surhoff, Rondell White, Jose Canseco, Matt Stairs and Bobby Higginson.

Knoblauch, whose 26 errors last year revived memories of the Steve Sax throwing siege with the Dodgers in 1983, took himself out of Thursday night’s loss to the Chicago White Sox after he had made three more for a total of 12 in less than half a season.

At the urging of Manager Joe Torre, he left Yankee Stadium before the game was over and woke Friday to tabloid headlines that read “Chuck E-E-E” and “Yip-EEE.” The tabloids were bound to have more fun after a wild throw by Knoblauch hit a woman in the stands Saturday.

A Gold Glove winner in 1997, Knoblauch had acknowledged in late May that he was near the breaking point and considering quitting, that he was not in it for the money, of which he is owed $6 million again next year. However, he didn’t quit then and he didn’t quit Friday, returning to the Yankee lineup to confront the ongoing battle with a malady that Sax had talked about last fall as the Yankees faced Atlanta in the World Series and Knoblauch’s problem was a major topic of conversation.

“It’s the classic case of a guy with a mental block and a loss of confidence,” Sax said in an interview with The Times, adding that at times in ’83 he had felt as if he was a prisoner to the problem.

Knoblauch’s best friend on the Yankees, shortstop Derek Jeter, said: “If we’re going to win, we need Chuck. We’re here to support him, and I think it’s time the fans did too.”

The Yankees continue to support Cone as well, but then they are as thin on pitching options as they are at second base, which is a reason they are looking hard at Ismael Valdes as part of a Sosa deal with the Chicago Cubs and Hideo Nomo as either part of a Gonzalez deal with the Detroit Tigers or a singular acquisition.

Cone, 1-6 with a 6.49 earned-run average, is 37. So is Roger Clemens, who is on the disabled list because of a groin injury. Only one team in history has had two pitchers 37 or older make 30 starts apiece--the ’84 Phillies, with Steve Carlton and Jerry Koosman. Cone has 13 starts and Clemens 15, and it’s doubtful either will make 30.

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The Yankees would be Valdes’ third team in two years, but the former Dodger said he would welcome the opportunity to pitch for a contender.

“I hear New York is tough, but why not?” said a man not known for his fortitude.

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How desperate are the injury-wracked Cleveland Indians for pitching? Well, of the 11 pitchers they used in losing three in a row to the White Sox last week, six started the season in triple A. They also signed left-hander Jim Poole last week, the same Jim Poole they have released three times over the last two years.

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The White Sox continue to impress despite leading the league in errors.

“It gives me heart trouble,” Manager Jerry Manuel said, “but so far our offense has been able to overcome it, so we don’t dwell on it. Everyone is good about encouraging each other, and we’ve had the ability to turn the double play at very important times.”