Sox See No Limit to Benefits Abbott Brings to Their Staff

SARASOTA, Fla. Perceptions can be so shallow.

But Jim Abbott knew that long before he arrived in Seoul, SouthKorea, teaching the world a lesson in resourcefulness.

"All the teams thought they could bunt on him," said White Soxthird baseman Robin Ventura, also a member of the U.S. Olympic teamin 1988.

"It was so easy for him. He's one of the best fieldingpitchers I've ever seen. People say I'm the best at bare-handing theball. Well, I probably learned it from him."

Let the record show that Abbott - the guy born without a righthand - pitched a complete game to beat Japan 5-3 for the gold medal.

"I don't try to explain it, I let other people explain it forme," Abbott said. "I just play the game the way I always have sinceI was growing up.

"Nobody ever shut any doors on me," Abbott said. "A lot ofpeople were very supportive, and that's why I had a chance to playbaseball. I always had great friends, and great coaches. No oneever said, `No.'

"I've come to understand that more and more as my career goeson. And I think what's nice is you can go to new places, and you areable to come across new people and be able to talk to kids and doother things, and sometimes that's one of the benefits."

Limitations are always self-imposed.

But when Japanese photographers followed Abbott and KirkMcCaskill through Anaheim Stadium in 1989, part of the media circusthat wanted to see this strong picture of courage, no one thoughtthe inspirational journey would last.

"Everyone knew the recent success he had in the Olympics, but Idon't think anybody expected him to make the team," McCaskill said."But with that cutter (a fastball that tails in on right-handedhitters), he was breaking a bat every inning. And (catcher) LanceParrish was complaining every day about his thumb hurting."

Now Abbott, 27, is a six-year veteran, a free agent signed bythe White Sox on Saturday to help win a World Series.

He arrives with a losing record - he's 67-74 lifetime with a 3.78 ERA. And those kind of numbers warrant investigation,especially at $2 million a season and whispers that the fastball isgone.

Abbott was 18-11 with a 2.89 ERA in 1991, and though the recordfell to 7-15 the following season, the ERA actually dropped to 2.77.

Nevertheless, he was traded to the Yankees, where he was 20-22over two seasons. And despite that no-hitter in 1993, word was thevelocity had dropped into the mid-80's.

"I'm not concerned with (the velocity) at all," Sox generalmanager Ron Schueler said. "If anything, he's tipping some pitches.There are a couple of things we want to do with him."

So maybe there's a slight problem with Abbott's amazingtechnique - he rests his glove on the tip of his right arm, andswitches it to his left hand immediately following delivery. Like"tying shoes," Abbott says.

Abbott can frustrate right-handers with his cut-fastball, andleft-handers have little chance. Since September, 1991, Abbott hasallowed only three home runs to lefties.

He adds balance to the rotation that features two lefties, andeliminates the uncertainty of two rookies. And if a flaw in hisdelivery is corrected, there could be big numbers.

"It'll help the other three a lot," Sox catcher Mike LaVallieresaid. "And I'm talking psychologically, taking the pressure off."

Abbott, who some insiders say never adjusted in New York, feelsthe same way. He's back in the Midwest, near his home in Flint,Mich., where he first proved that disability is no limitation.

He learned to play baseball with one hand early in life, longbefore he was a quarterback of his high school team, and a goodplayer to have in a pickup game of basketball.

"Don't look at him like he has a disability, because hedoesn't," Frank Thomas said. "He's as capable as any athlete inthis locker room."

And ready to prove that he's a top-flight pitcher all overagain.

"I'm just at the top of the world," Abbott said. "I grew up inMichigan, so I've always liked Chicago, always loved new Comiskey,and the White Sox tradition and uniforms. I'm excited to be part ofthis."