THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 23, 1995 TAG: 9506230639
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 90 lines
Jimmy Anderson is maybe three years away from pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates, for real, the club's general manager Cam Bonifay says. But Thursday, Bonifay suspended that distance and, with a nod to Anderson's potential and outstanding season in Class A, placed the 19-year-old lefthander from Chesapeake in big league trappings, pointed him to the mound and let the showcase begin.
Behind Anderson were the Pirates, in an exhibition game against the Triple-A Calgary Cannons in Calgary, Alberta. Before him were 6,406 spectators, not including Bonifay, manager Jim Leyland and pitching coach Ray Miller, men who could play significant roles in Anderson's future.
The experiment, everybody seemed to think, was a success.
Anderson, a year out of Western Branch High School, started for Pittsburgh and took the loss in a 5-1 decision, but his four-inning stint was marred by defensive mistakes that Anderson could not overcome. After three shutout innings of one-hit ball on a sunny, 66-degree afternoon, Anderson was touched for four runs on three hits in the fourth inning.
However, only one of the Cannons' runs was earned, and even that was tainted in part because rightfielder Ken Bonifay, Cam Bonifay's nephew up from the minors for the day, crossed signals with centerfielder Steve Pegues and allowed a pop-up to fall for a double.
In the end, Anderson's line was four innings, four hits, four runs, one earned, one walk and two strikeouts. Forty-eight pitches thrown, 29 strikes, 19 balls. And one memorable experience.
``It was a great feeling, something I'd like to do all the time,'' Anderson told a Calgary reporter. ``I was nervous a little bit at first, especially the first couple of pitches. My fastball was a little wild, I was trying to spot it more than just throw it and let it do its own work. I was probably just a little excited.''
Anderson's first hitter, Erik Johnson, doubled. But John Wehner followed with a bouncer back to Anderson, who caught Johnson off second. Wehner then stole second, and attempted to steal third as Anderson stood on the mound. Anderson was not caught napping, however, and nailed Wehner at third. A liner to center by Dale Sveum ended the inning.
Anderson retired the next six Cannons in order, including a strikeout of veteran Sam Horn, before his fourth-inning trouble. Johnson led off by lofting the fly ball that Pegues and Ken Bonifay let fall. Third baseman Kevin Young booted Wehner's ground ball and Anderson walked Sveum to load the bases.
Anderson escaped momentarily by getting Horn on a pop to third base, but Nelson Simmons broke through by ripping a single off the glove of Young for the first two runs.
``It was actually a pretty good pitch that he hit,'' Anderson said. ``It was down and kind of away, but he pulled it.''
Simmons said he was looking for the slider because it's what Anderson retired him with the first time up.
``I was guessing that and he threw it, and that's the difference between pitching at a higher classification,'' Simmons said. ``You try not to throw the same pitch too many times.''
Anderson recovered to strike out Micah Franklin, but Keith Osik followed with a two-run double to left-center to make it 4-0. Anderson got Daryl Ratliff on a ground ball to second to end his day.
The fourth inning ``was a little bit frustrating because you don't want to be out there giving up runs,'' Anderson said. ``When I came into the dugout they were telling me don't worry about it, because I had two outs in the first two batters. It could have been a totally different inning.''
Miller agreed the Pirates ``didn't give (Anderson) much help in the fourth. He pitched very well. It looks like he wasn't afraid, which is pretty good for a 19-year-old kid.''
Cam Bonifay said helping some prized prospects learn, and rewarding them for strong seasons so far, was the idea behind bringing up Anderson and a few other Class-A kids for the day.
``We felt this would be a good opportunity for Jimmy to come up and see what the major league uniform is all about,'' Bonifay said. ``Give him a little impetus to keep on the right track.''
It apparently made an impression, even on the unflappable Anderson.
``I'm very happy with the way it went,'' said Anderson, due back today with his Augusta club, but in line for a possible promotion to Lynchburg soon. ``Even if I don't ever make it to the (majors), I can say I came here and played with them. And it's a good feeling.''
MEMO: Correspondent Darren Haynes contributed to this story ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
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