MLB Notes: Herzog, ump get call from Hall

INDIANAPOLIS — Whitey Herzog spent a good, long time stewing about a blown call in the 1985 World Series. So in a strange way, perhaps this fits: He's going into the Hall of Fame, standing next to an umpire.

Herzog and prominent crew chief Doug Harvey got the call Monday, elected to the Hall by the Veterans Committee.

Herzog was a single vote short in his previous try, and might have made it sooner with another crown on his résumé. But he was forever linked to Don Denkinger after the ump's infamous miss in Game 6 so long ago cost the St. Louis Cardinals a chance to clinch.

“No, I'm not bitter at Denkinger,” Herzog said at Busch Stadium. “He's a good guy, he knows he made a mistake, and he's a human being. It happened at an inopportune time but I do think they ought to have instant replay in the playoffs and World Series.”

As for Harvey, Herzog joked: “I don't know why he should get in. Doug kicked me out of more games than any other umpire.”

Like Herzog, Harvey fell one vote shy in the last election. This time, they both easily drew enough support to reach Cooperstown.

“I don't think I would've had my heart broken if I'd missed by another vote or two. But I'm happy it's over,” Herzog said. “It was just in the last few years when I was only missing by a few votes that I thought, maybe I do deserve it.”

Among those who came close this year was former players' union head Marvin Miller. He was on a separate slate for executives and officials, and fell two votes short.

Herzog was a fixture in major league dugouts for two decades. He won the 1982 World Series and three NL pennants with the Cardinals and three division titles with Kansas City. He became the 19th manager to make the Hall.

“I think he was one of the guys who started managers looking at doing more creative things,” said Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith, one of Herzog's star players. “You'd see him take a relief pitcher and put him in right field.”

Smith was a late addition to the 16-member panel that considered managers and umpires. Candidates needed 12 votes (75 percent) to make it, and Herzog got 14 in voting Sunday at the baseball winter meetings. Results were announced Monday, and the 78-year-old Herzog was told he was in.

Herzog started managing in 1973 with Texas and compiled a .532 career winning percentage.

“He gave his entire life to the game,” said Hall of Fame manager Tom Lasorda, another Veterans panel member. “When he didn't make it last year, I was very, very down. This year, everyone understood he belonged there.”

Herzog and Harvey came close in 2007. They will be enshrined at the induction ceremonies on July 25.

Harvey umpired in the National League for 31 seasons before retiring in 1992. He worked five World Series and six All-Star games. He handled more than 4,600 games overall.

The 79-year-old Harvey was picked on 15 of 16 ballots this time, becoming the ninth umpire in the Hall.

“Ten years into my career, my late father said to me that one day I would realize what I have achieved,” Harvey said in a statement. “When I woke up this morning and I received the call from Cooperstown, I realized for the first time exactly what that means.

“I accept this election ... on behalf of all umpires from the minor leagues to the major leagues and for those who umpire at every level.”

Harvey has been in frail health since being diagnosed with oral cancer in 1997. He often chewed a wad of tobacco.

Harvey helped bring a new style to umpiring. Rather than make emphatic, instant calls, as was the norm when he began in 1962, he would take a split-second to get a snapshot of the play in his mind.

“He had the players' respect. He had the pitchers' respect — most of the time,” Lasorda said.

“Sometime you see umpires and you say that guy's not giving his best, he's getting lackadaisical. Not him,” he said.

Danny Murtaugh, who guided Pittsburgh to a pair of World Series titles, and umpire Hank O'Day each received eight votes, four shy of election.

A separate 12-person committee that reviewed 10 executives didn't elect anyone.

Sandberg will manage Class AAA Iowa

DES MOINES — The Chicago Cubs say Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg will manage Class AAA Iowa next season.

Sandberg managed the Class AA Tennessee Smokies in 2009. The 50-year-old Sandberg spent the previous two seasons managing Class A Peoria.

Sandberg spent 15 season in the majors, most of those with the Cubs. Sandberg won nine Gold Gloves, was a 10-time National League All-Star and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005.

At Iowa, Sandberg replaces Bobby Dickerson, who is now with the Baltimore Orioles organization.

In other news:

• The Padres have promoted Chris Gwynn to director of player personnel and hired former big leaguer Dave Roberts as special assistant to baseball operations.

Gwynn, the younger brother of Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn and the uncle of Padres center fielder Tony Gwynn Jr, has been a professional scout for San Diego.

Roberts will work with players throughout the organization on outfield defense, base running and bunting.

• Brewers reliever Mark DiFelice has had surgery on his right shoulder. Milwaukee announced Monday that the right-hander had surgery Thursday to repair a torn labrum and rotator cuff.

Also on Monday, the Brewers claimed infielder Luis Cruz off waivers from the Pirates.

Talking, not trading so far at winter meetings

INDIANAPOLIS — In a town known for fast moves around the speedway, baseball's wheelers and dealers were slowly mulling their options at the winter meetings.

Roy Halladay, Curtis Granderson and Dan Uggla were some of the big names being dangled on the trade market as baseball's annual swapfest opened Monday. Toronto appeared to be moving quite deliberately in talks involving Halladay, the much-coveted 2003 AL Cy Young Award winner.

“Nothing's happened. If he comes to a team in our division, I would be interested. He's really good,” Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona said.

Detroit right-hander Edwin Jackson was another player who could be traded, but there were just two minor deals that actually were made in the first few hours of the four-day session.

Washington acquired right-handed reliever Brian Bruney from the New York Yankees for a player to be named and Texas obtained left-hander Clay Rapada from Detroit for a player to be named or cash.

Among free agents, St. Louis and right-hander Brad Penny were close to a $7.5 million, one-year contract, a deal that won't be completed until after a physical, a person familiar with the talks said. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was not yet final.

Detroit agreed to a $1.55 million, one-year contract with shortstop Adam Everett. Also, the Yankees said left-hander Andy Pettitte's representatives told them he wants to return for 2010. New York was prepared to make him an offer upward of $10 million, a baseball official familiar with the talks said.

Jason Bay and Matt Holliday, the top two free-agent hitters, appear to have slow-moving markets. Given the recession, many teams are reluctant to spend top dollar for stars.

“We are not in that bidding at all,” Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox said.

Even the Yankees appear to be trying to reduce their $200 million-plus payroll. General Manager Brian Cashman said one of the reasons he traded Bruney was that he was eligible for arbitration after making $1.25 million last season.

Still, other teams are wary of the financial might of the World Series champions.

“They have a couple of things that make life difficult for us: They have a lot of money and they have smart people running what they are doing,” Francona said. “They are not going to go away. I hope they don't get better. But they are there, so we have to deal with them.”

Teams also were waiting for the midnight Monday deadline to pass for about two dozen free agents to decide whether to accept arbitration offers from their former clubs.

Boston agreed to a small deal with right-hander Scott Atchison, who spent the last two seasons with the Hanshin Tigers in Japan. Hanshin purchased the contract of outfielder Matt Murton from Colorado.

Former agent Dennis Gilbert was at the hotel. Now a Chicago White Sox executive, he is among the bidders trying to purchase control of the Texas Rangers from current owner Tom Hicks.

— The Associated Press

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