The Yankees are showcasing Ken Holtzman, the left hander they acquired from the Orioles at the trading deadline in 1976. In his second appearance this spring, Holtzman allowed eight runs and nine hits as the Braves blasted the Yankees, 11-1.
After the game, Holtzman said he thought his throwing was all right but that a lack of control was his problem, considering his lack of work last season. The big left hander, who was compared to Sandy Koufax in his rookie year when he was 9-0 for the Cubs, was realistic when he thought that it would take him months to find his coordination and control.
"I got to keep pitching. Eventually I'll find the right coordination. In past years, by this time I was beginning to get pretty sharp, but now I'm way off so it's going to take me several months."
Holtzman was 9-7 with a 4.17 ERA for the Yankees in 1976 but Yankees' manager Billy Martin did not use him in the playoffs or World Series. The Yankees lost the first three games of the World Series to the Reds and when a reporter asked Martin, "How do you spell Holtzman?", the present and future Yankees' manager got testy. Holtzman's only response was that he respected Martin's baseball knowledge.
Holtzman started the 1977 season as part of the Yankees' rotation but was ineffective and relegated to the bullpen. He started only 11 games, had a 2-3 record and a 5.78 ERA. During a three week stretch he made only two relief appearances, after which he exploded, saying that he signed with the Yankees expecting to be used.
"I was obviously not told the truth when I signed here. They asked me to sign a long term deal because they wanted me to pitch here a long time. It's getting hard to explain to my friends in the league why I'm not pitching."
It is believed that George Steinbrenner became disenchanted with Holtzman almost immediately. When Holtzman realized he wasn't going to be used regularly he demanded a trade, and since he had been in the majors ten years, he could veto any trade. Steinbrenner tried to get Holtzman to waive that right, which he refused to do, not making Mr. Steinbrenner too happy.
Holtzman requested that he be traded to Milwaukee or Chicago in order to be close to his home in Lincolnshire, Illinois, but it was not to be because Steinbrenner ordered Billy Martin to use Holtzman as an "insurance policy" in case the Yankees needed another starter. It was not a happy situation, but the Yankees are finally giving Holtzman a chance this spring. Whether they will give him the "months" he claims he needs remains to be seen.
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