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Tuesday, April 22, 1997

This time, Witt's walk lead is a good thing

By JAIME ARON AP Sports Writer

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Once again, Texas' Bobby Witt is leading the American League in walks.

There's a twist: it's a good thing.

Witt, who walked more batters than any other pitcher in the majors in 1986, 1987 and 1989 and had the sixth most in the AL just last year, has given out the fewest free passes in the league so far this season.

With only two walks in 23 innings, Witt has a ratio of .78 walks per nine innings. Only Chan Ho Park of Los Angeles, who hasn't walked anyone in 16 innings, has a better average in the majors.

Although those numbers suggest a revelation by the 32-year-old righthander, he shrugs it off. After all, telling a 12-year veteran he's finally discovered the strike zone is a backhanded compliment at best.

"I'm throwing the way I was in spring training: I'm getting ahead of hitters and using all three pitches to my advantage," Witt said Sunday after walking one batter in six innings of a 10-5 victory over Toronto.

Witt earned his reputation as a power pitcher with little control early in his career.

He walked 143 as a rookie with Texas in 1986, and walked 140 the next season. He remained above the century mark three of the next four years and he's been over 90 in two of the last four years.

Witt came into this season with 1,121 career walks, second only to Anaheim's Mark Langston for highest among active pitchers. He also had struck out 1,616, but that respectable figure is obscured by the walks.

In fairness, there was a reason Witt developed a fear of letting batters put the ball in play. The Texas teams with which he began his career had the type of fielders who made pitchers believe they had to get four or five outs per inning.

Witt says that all changed when he was traded to Oakland in late 1992. He credits then A's pitching coach Dave Duncan with teaching him how to throw strikes more consistently.

"To me, walks haven't been an issue since I was traded to Oakland," said Witt, who spent the next two full seasons with the A's, signed with Florida as a free agent, then was reacquired by Texas midway through 1995.

"It's one of those things where if they hit it, they hit it, but they're not getting a free pass. I just try to be aggressive, throw strikes and give the guys behind me a chance to make the plays."

Witt can look back at his last two starts for proof that philosophy works.

Each time, Witt gave up 11 hits but wasn't hurt too badly because he walked just one batter along the way, thus minimizing the number of people on base.

As a result, he's 3-0 with a 2.74 ERA, including 16 1-3 scoreless innings to begin the year.

"I'm impressed with the way he's throwing the ball," Texas manager Johnny Oates said. "It looks like he has backed off a little bit (in velocity), but he can still throw the ball by people when he has to.

"It looks like he's more in control of his emotions on the mound. He'll win a lot of ballgames pitching like that."Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
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