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PRINT THIS PAGE | E-MAIL THIS PAGE Sunday, September 20, 1998 Wetteland's workload scrutinized By T.R. Sullivan Knight Ridder Newspapers (KRT) ARLINGTON, Texas -- Rangers manager Johnny Oates sought out closer John Wetteland for a heart-to-heart chat before Saturday night's game with the Oakland Athletics. The subject was Wetteland's workload. Wetteland had pitched four days in a row, and Oates left the meeting with the idea he was going to give his closer a night off. "I certainly don't want to get John where he's not available for the final eight games," Oates said. It was not an easy decision. Oates has to fight temptation and a pitcher who does not like to refuse combat assignments. Wetteland has a 1.95 earned-run average and a club-record 41 saves, and Oates knows there's nothing worse than blowing a division title without his best pitcher on the mound. But that's part of life as a closer. Wetteland had pitched in four consecutive games, but prior to that, he had appeared just once in 10 days. "It's been a strange year that way," Wetteland said. "I remember remarking to a couple of guys in the bullpen, I haven't logged a ton of innings, and I don't understand why sometimes I hurt. But then I realize, this year it's been where I pitch four out of seven games, then zero out of seven. It's been spurts. It's been interesting but fun." Wetteland has been used on four consecutive days twice this season and three times in his career. Oates is reluctant to use any closer more than four consecutive days, even one who is in good shape, as Wetteland is. "We've got guys in this game who, for whatever reason, after three days they'll say, I can't go out again," Oates said. "Not John. He's in pretty good shape ... and he eats a lot." Said Wetteland: "I want to go out there. All day long I've been a little short-tempered. I'm anxious to go, I want to keep going. I don't want a day off. I can't wait to throw the baseball and see what I've got. If I can't throw, that's one thing. But if I can throw and if I have stuff, then I don't see any reason why I shouldn't be out there. "I praise God my body has been durable as far as my arm responding and being able to do stuff. The times I've been on the disabled list have been for a broken toe and a pulled groin muscle. I don't worry about that aspect or even pain. To me, it doesn't say anything if a player has pain. We all have that, we just deal with it and see what can get out of it." X X X (c) 1998, Fort Worth Star-Telegram Visit the Star-Telegram on the World Wide Web: www.star-telegram.com. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.   Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story Send the URL (Address) of This Story to A Friend: Enter their email address below: texnews.com Reporter OnLine Local Sports Texas Sports Copyright ©1998, Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications Send the URL (Address) of This Story to A Friend: Enter their email address below:

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