Catchers Are a Bit Off Target : Steinbach, Tettleton Have Trouble With Hitting, Throwing

Monday wasn’t exactly a banner day for the American League All-Star catchers in the home run hitting and skills contests, but it did nothing to lessen the moment.

Starting catcher Terry Steinbach of the Oakland Athletics failed to get a single bull’s-eye in the catcher’s throw for accuracy contest. And backup Mickey Tettleton of the Baltimore Orioles had similar problems in the throwing contest. And he hit only one home run.

But they were both smiling afterward.

When you’re in the midst of an All-Star season and your team is at or near the top of the standings, it’s difficult to get down about a less-than-spectacular performance in an exhibition.

“The batting practice and the skills contests are the most fun,� Steinbach said. “Just being with the guys and everything . . . it’s great. I couldn’t throw one through the hole, though. But it’s still fun to be involved.�

Tettleton certainly wasn’t the star of Monday’s workout, either. But that did little to negate the kid-in-a-candy-store attitude he brought into the AL clubhouse.

“It was over too fast,� he said. “I don’t know about the other guys, but I was really overswinging in the home run contest. I was nervous.�

Steinbach, who was a major factor in Oakland’s decision to release Tettleton during the final days of spring training in 1988, was the fan’s choice to start last year’s All-Star game despite an embarrassing first-half--a .217 average with five home runs and 19 RBIs.

He made the voters look as if they knew what they were doing, though. He homered in his first at-bat, drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and walked away with the most valuable player trophy after the American League’s 2-1 victory.

It was a turning point for Steinbach, who finished 1988 with a .265 average, nine homers and 51 RBIs. And he has maintained that momentum in 1989, bringing a .322 average with four homers and 28 RBIs into tonight’s 60th All-Star game.

“If the fans pick you, you go,� Steinbach said. “I just took the attitude that I’d go and have fun. I had missed a month with injuries and was struggling, but I went out and played hard and proved what I’m capable of.�

Steinbach convinced more than the fans in that game. He made a believer of himself too.

“I went into the game just starting to swing the bat well,� he said. “I’m sure winning the MVP was a confidence booster. It helped me get going in the second half. I had overcome adversity, and when you hit .200 for half a season and then come back, you know how to do it. You know you can do it.�

When it comes to adversity, Tettleton can write a book. He was the Athletics’ starting catcher in 1986 and ‘87, before getting the heave-ho when Oakland decided to go with Steinbach and Ron Hassey.

But Tettleton signed a contract with the Orioles’ triple-A affiliate in Rochester shortly after he was released and was called up May 9. He had the fourth-highest home run frequency among major league catchers while playing 75 games with Baltimore in 1988. And he has stepped up the pace this year, with 20 homers, 51 RBIs and a .255 batting average.

“It all started last year when I got a second chance,� he said. “I’ve just been trying to get my self-confidence back.�

So which AL catcher is having the best year?

“What would you rather have?� Steinbach asked. “A guy who’s hitting .250 with a bunch of homers or a guy who’s hitting .320 with fewer homers. I’ll leave it up to the managers and (the media) to decide.�

Tettleton took an equally diplomatic approach.

“We’re both having the best year,� he said. “Put those numbers together and we’d be having a (real) good year.�

Milwaukee Brewer reliever Dan Plesac was selected to his third All-Star team this year, but he sat in front of his locker Monday wondering how it all came about.

“Everything has happened so fast,� he said. “In ‘86, I was a starter in spring training who didn’t want to be switched to the bullpen. But it was sure a blessing in disguise.

“I’ve just been in the right place at the right time and made the most of it.�

The 27-year-old left-hander, who has 22 saves and a 2.35 earned-run average this season, thought he was in the wrong place at the wrong time during last year’s game. He got the call to face New York Met slugger Darryl Strawberry.

“I went in thinking, ‘Be careful!’ � Plesac said. “I knew he liked the ball low and my first pitch was a low fastball. He took it for a strike. I guess I was lucky because he wanted to get a look at me.�

Plesac eventually struck out Strawberry, the only batter he faced, on a chin-high fastball that wasn’t close to the location he was aiming for.

“It looked great,� he said. “I looked like a genius.�

Seattle Mariners’ Jeffrey Leonard was named to the 1987 All-Star team when he was with San Francisco, but he says this time around the selection means more.

“It feels a lot better,� he said. “A lot of people had written me off. I was down and out and they said I was done. But I’ve worked hard to get back and this is my reward.�

Leonard, who signed as a free agent with the Mariners on Dec. 8, 1988, has hit 15 homers with 58 RBIs this season.

“I’m proud because I’ve put myself in the position to be here,� Leonard said. “It was easy to be motivated when people were making statements about me being washed up, but I worked hard to show them I could still play.�

New York Yankee first baseman Don Mattingly, when asked if there was anything he would rather be doing than playing baseball: “I wish I could play the drums or sing like Randy Travis, but I can’t so I can’t think of anything I’d rather be doing. I get a lot of enjoyment out of this game.�

Boston Red Sox third baseman Wade Boggs on his new three-year contract: “There are no guarantees in life. When you work out a contract that you like, why not take it. I didn’t want to be a free agent. I’ve been in the Boston organization for 13 years and I was happy to get it done.�