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Sunday, March 16, 1997

Struggling Deion gets cheers and boos

By JOE KAY Associated Press

PLANT CITY, Fla. - When the Cincinnati Reds' leadoff hitter was introduced to the home crowd Saturday, Deion Sanders heard an undertone of boos poking through the cheers.

When he swung through Darryl Kile's first pitch, Sanders heard applause.

It's been that way all spring for Sanders, who has struck a nerve with his return to two-sport status. Fans - even those wearing Reds caps - seem divided by his comeback.

Some wear Sanders' No. 21 Cowboy jersey and yell for his attention. Others revel in his failures and scream: "Go back to football, Deion!"

"I've been having a great time, really enjoying myself with the guys," Sanders said Saturday, reflecting on his comeback. "Everything's been great - except the fans.

"I'd rather play on the road right now. It's more pleasant. I get boos here and on the road, and I'd rather have 'em on the road."

Until the past few days, Sanders hadn't done much to win them over. In his first 11 games, Sanders went only 5-for-30 (.167) with two walks and seven strikeouts and an on-base percentage of .219.

The rust from a year's layoff and the lingering effects of an eye injury sustained in the NFL playoffs showed in his swing.

"I'm trying to get it together. It's coming slowly," he said.

Things have been much better the last four games. He got five hits in a span of six at-bats and finally started hitting the ball up the middle. His average was at .244 after he went 1-for-5 Saturday in a 7-5 loss to Houston.

"He's hit the dog out of the ball," manager Ray Knight said. "It's starting to look like he's getting his baseball legs."

"It's just really being patient," Sanders said. "I had been jumping at the ball instead of just sitting there using my hands. When I start hitting the ball up the middle, that's my game."

Patience has been Sanders' biggest problem throughout his career. He's one of the most exciting baserunners in the game; the problem is, he's not on base nearly enough.

The best leadoff hitters get on base close to 40 percent of the time. Sanders' on-base percentages throughout his career: .280, .236, .270, .346, .321, .342 and .327.

The New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves and the Reds have coached him to be more patient and take more walks. Sanders prefers to swing away, his main flaw as a leadoff hitter.

At this stage, he's not about to change.

"The thing about it is, people say, 'He should take more pitches,' " Sanders said. "I sit over there and take pitches, and the count is 0-2 or 1-2. You don't want to lose your aggressiveness.

"I've never been one to work the count unless the count's in my favor."

Sanders had to change his stance when he arrived at training camp because the peripheral vision in his right eye was still blurry from the football injury. He's gone back to his usual stance as the eye has improved.

"I don't think about it," he said. "The only time it really bothers me is on some balls in the outfield."

Sanders hasn't tried to steal this spring. His bunt attempts have tended to fly towards the seats behind the plate instead of skimming the infield grass. Both are going to get some work the last two weeks of spring training.

That's when the fans - those that cheer and those that boo - will get a better idea of what to expect from the Reds' most visible player.

"The last two weeks you really want to get into your game, to start doing the things you're going to do," he said.