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Tuesday, February 25, 1997

Astros' pitcher has his hands full staying in the big leagues

By CARLTON THOMPSON

Houston Chronicle

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Donne Wall spent seven seasons trying to make it to the major leagues.

During that epic journey, which included more than three years at the Class AAA level, Wall became all too familiar with the long bus rides, the relatively small paychecks and the often sub-par playing conditions that are a way of life in the minor leagues.

If anyone appreciates what it takes to make it to The Show, it's Wall.

But making it is one thing; staying there is another, and Wall will have his hands full trying to hold off rookie Chris Holt for the No. 5 slot in the Astros' starting rotation.

Rule V draftee Ramon Garcia and lefthanders C.J. Nitkowski and Trever Miller, both acquired in the nine-player deal with Detroit, also could figure into the mix.

But for the most part, it's a two-player battle between Holt and the incumbent, Wall. And new manager Larry Dierker has said the job is Wall's to lose.

"It's nice to know the manager believes in you, but you don't want to get too overconfident," Wall said. "I feel like I have to go out there and prove myself again. You can't go out there with a lackadaisical attitude and act like your job already has been given to you."

That's a typical response from Wall, who guided his career from the sandlots of Festos, Mo., to the glory of the major leagues.

The only thing out of character about Wall's remark is that it consisted of more than four or five words. The soft-spoken righthander isn't one to waste words unless he's joking around with Billy Wagner, his best friend on the team.

"You guys (the media) just don't know how much Donne really talks," Wagner said. "You should let me have that tape recorder so I can show you how he never shuts up."

Holt, a baby-faced righthander from Dallas, has the gift of gab and isn't shy about sharing his opinions on the possibility of a sixth year in the minors.

"I really do feel like I've done everything I can do in the minors," said Holt, 25. "I'm ready for the major leagues. It's just a matter of getting an opportunity and being in the right spot at the right time. If I throw my game, I'll be there. It would be tough to go back to Triple-A whenever you feel like you're ready. I'm tired of the minor leagues, and I don't want to be there.

"I feel I've pitched myself into a position to have a chance to make this team. After getting a taste of it last season (he pitched 4-1/2 innings after the September call-ups), I know I want to be here. But if I have to, I'd go down there and pitch my butt off."

If the decision came down to which pitcher had the best arm, Wall would be the odd man out. The 29-year-old doesn't throw hard and has to rely on his mound savvy to maneuver through opposing lineups.

Fortunately for Wall, Dierker is a believer in intangibles and past results. The manager, a pitcher of note during his playing days, is impressed by the fact Wall has won at every level, and he points to Wall's 75-44 minor-league record as a testament to the pitcher's ability to win.

Wall is the first to admit he doesn't have a cannon for an arm or a dominant pitch to rely on when he gets in a jam.

"I make some adjustments toward the hitters," he said. "I have confidence that when I go out there I'm going to do well. I don't throw very hard, but I have confidence that I can make a good pitch when I have to. You have to outthink some of these hitters."

And he did just that when the Astros promoted him from Class AAA Tucson last season. Wall went 6-0 with a 3.51 earned run average in his first 10 starts, all of which resulted in victories for the Astros.

But he fell on hard times - as did most of his teammates - in September, losing all four of his starts and posting a sky-high 8.74 ERA.

The dropoff created doubts going into the off-season and opened the door to Holt, who bolstered his bid for a spot in the rotation with a solid winter season in Puerto Rico.

"I'm going to go in and think of it as my spot," Holt said. "I've got just as good a shot as anyone. I'm going to pitch to the best of my ability everytime and try to force their hand and make them put me into the rotation."

Holt has an advantage over Wall in that if Wall wins the spot in the rotation, the Astros still believe Holt can be effective as a long reliever. However, Wall is viewed only as a starting pitcher despite a brief stint in the bullpen late last season.

"My preference is to start," Holt said. "But I want to be on the big-league club, and I'll do whatever they want me to do if it's going to get me a spot on the team."

Because Rule V draftees must be returned to their former club if they do not stay on their new team's roster for the entire season, Garcia has an added advantage in his attempt to make the team.

Garcia has been a big-league starter before and could step into the Astros' rotation if needed, but the current plan is to use him in long-to-middle relief, an area where the Astros were often pathetic last season.

"I think this year we have guys who could fill a lot of different roles," closer Billy Wagner said. "Last year, we had a bunch of closer-type guys trying to fit in wherever they could. We should be a much better overall staff with some of the people we brought in."

It would take a miracle - OK, a great spring - for Miller and Nitkowski to crack the rotation. Both have the advantage of being a lefthander, but the disadvantage of being longshots in what ultimately will become a two-horse race.Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
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