Edition: U.S. / Global

ON BASEBALL; Wish That Didn't Cover All the Bases

By Murray Chass
Published: May 26, 1999

George Steinbrenner apparently never learned the admonition that you had better watch what you wish for because you might get it. All right, so Steinbrenner never wishes for something; he demands it. But in the case of Hideki Irabu, a k a the fat toad, it came down to the same idea.

Irabu, who in his still young major league career has baffled and exasperated a lot of people, exceeded the limits of Steinbrenner's patience two months ago when he became a repeat offender, failing to cover first base for what should have been the last out of the Yankees' last exhibition game in Florida.

The owner erupted, calling the pitcher a fat toad. Irabu deflated, asking that he be permitted to remain at the team's spring training complex and work out there while the Yankees concluded their exhibition schedule with a two-game series in Los Angeles.

Part of Irabu's solitary workout was remedial p.f.p. -- pitchers' fielding practice. It is a part of their workout that pitchers hate, but they receive a daily dose of the dreaded drill so that covering first base on grounders hit to the right side becomes second nature, so that if the pitching coach would awaken them in the middle of the night and barked, ''Grounder to first,'' they would leap out of bed and break to their left.

Irabu's failure to cover first had ramifications well beyond the incident itself. The ensuing flap completely colored the relationship between Steinbrenner and his interim manager, Don Zimmer.

The owner, made to realize that his epithet stung and embarrassed Irabu, subsequently reversed his position. He said that he was the best friend the pitcher had in the organization, and he called for Irabu to make his first start of the season when his turn in the rotation arrived.

But Zimmer had already named Ramiro Mendoza to start in Irabu's spot, and he wasn't changing his plan for anybody, not even for the man who pays his salary.

So much for the prelude. Suffice it to say that peace and serenity returned to the Yankees family, and Irabu returned to the starting rotation. That's where he was last night when the Yankees played the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium for the first time this season.

Pitching effectively, as he has from time to time this season, Irabu allowed the Red Sox a single run in the first five innings. Only once did he permit two consecutive batters to reach base, and in that instance he retired the next three hitters.

The game was tied, 1-1, when Irabu began the sixth inning pitching to Brian Daubach, an unheralded Red Sox rookie who was the designated hitter. Daubach rapped a ground ball wide of first base, and Tino Martinez made a diving stop. When he turned and looked toward first, there was Irabu doing just what Steinbrenner wanted. He was streaking to the base in his best p.f.p. form.

Martinez threw the ball, Irabu caught it and Daubach was out. The fans, well versed in the Toad Chronicles, roared with delight. Martinez, unable to restrain himself, smiled broadly. Irabu was an instant hero.

''When the crowd gave me a standing ovation,'' Irabu said through his translator, ''I said, 'Wow, the rumors must have flying about me.' '' He added that he was impressed with the knowledge that the Yankee fans bring to a game.

But then Irabu disintegrated before their eyes. The 63 1/2-foot dash to first was obviously too much for him.

Nomar Garciaparra, who had struck out in his previous time at bat, hit a grounder in the hole between shortstop and third base for an infield single. Troy O'Leary, who had struck out in his previous time at bat, walked. Mike Stanley, who had stroked a single in his previous at-bat, drove the second pitch from Irabu into the left-field stands.

The game was no longer tied, and was ultimately lost.

Irabu summoned enough energy to retire Jason Varitek on a fly to right field, but Darren Lewis and Trot Nixon, the last two hitters in the Boston lineup, each singled. Joe Torre, managing his first 1999 game at the Stadium, walked to the mound. Irabu no longer was in the game.

The fickle fans had already forgotten the pitcher's picture-perfect play of a few minutes earlier. As Irabu walked toward the dugout, they booed him.

Irabu said the play at first did not affect him. Torre said he thought Irabu was tiring, but not because of his romp to first. ''He was up near 100 pitches,'' the manager said.

Torre, Irabu and catcher Jorge Posada said it really came down to the one pitch the right-hander threw to Stanley, a fastball that was supposed to be in but got too much of the plate. In the first five innings, Irabu allowed a total of six base runners, but in that sixth inning five batters reached base after the play at first.

No one, including Steinbrenner, will ever know what might have happened had Irabu not covered first on Daubach's grounder. Do-overs are not allowed in major league baseball games. Irabu did what Steinbrenner wished for, and it cost them both.