THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 5, 1996 TAG: 9609050537
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 66 lines
After pitching for the Columbus Clippers and New York Yankees last season, Bob MacDonald learned in a rather unusual manner that the Yankees had removed him from their 40-man roster.
``My mom called me to tell me she'd read it in the transactions section of her newspaper,'' MacDonald said. ``I thought a phone call would have been in order. Was I bitter? No.''
MacDonald had posted a 1-1 record and 4.86 earned run average as a lefthanded middle reliever with the Yankees, his third major league team in six seasons.
After signing with the Mets as a minor league free agent in the offseason, MacDonald began the year in New York, but was outrighted to the Norfolk Tides in mid-June.
After struggling in his first few appearances, MacDonald has become a stabilizing middle reliever for the Tides and went three strong innings against the Richmond Braves Sunday in his last appearance before the start of the International League playoffs.
``In the last three weeks he's been on a roll,'' Tides manager Bruce Benedict said. ``Bob's versatile. He can go one out, one inning or three innings if we need it.''
The 31-year-old MacDonald is 4-1 with a 3.19 ERA since joining the Tides as he attempts to reshape his career.
``I got a rap against me that I can't get lefthanders out and when you're a lefthanded reliever that's what you're expected to do,'' MacDonald said. ``I don't know how fair that rap is. Lefties were hitting .220 against me in New York (they are hitting .225 against him in Norfolk). I got off to a rough start here. If you take away the first 10 at-bats against lefties here, they're probably hitting below .200 against me.''
Now MacDonald and the Tides are facing that same organization that let MacDonald go last year in this year's IL playoffs.
But it's a different MacDonald this time around. He's added a curveball, something he didn't throw until six weeks ago. He'd been a fastball/slider man.
``Now the curve gives me something that serves as an offspeed pitch,'' MacDonald said. ``Most people know me to throw hard stuff. If I throw the curve, maybe it serves as an optical illusion and makes my fastball look faster.''
TOUCHDOWN, AGBAYANI! Tides leftfielder Benny Agbayani hopes to hear that call this fall when he takes in some University of Hawaii football games in his home state. Little brother Brendyn, a red-shirt freshman, is starting at tailback.
Benny Agbayani gave college football a shot himself, playing one season for Oregon Tech as a wide receiver before transferring to Hawaii Pacific to play baseball.
``I didn't think I had a great shot in football and baseball offers more longevity,'' he said.
Agbayani hurried home Saturday following the Tides game with Richmond to catch Hawaii vs. Boston College on ESPN2. The Rainbows lost 24-21, Brendyn Agbayani gaining 31 yards on 13 carries and catching two passes for 14 yards.
``He was a little down about the loss, but he got the butterflies out of his system,'' Benny Agbayani said.
RAIN? WHAT RAIN? Benedict said the rotation would not change if the Tides and Columbus have a rainout. Two rainouts, however, and Benedict said ``we'd have to think about it.'' . . . The Tides will give away Tides baseball cards to the first 5,000 fans tonight. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Last year Bob MacDonald heard from his mother via the newspaper that
he was off the Yankees' 40-man roster. by CNB