MINOR LEAGUE NOTEBOOK : San Francisco Scout Is Long on Long Shots

As is his custom, San Francisco Giants scout George Genovese signed a couple of long shots in 1983.

Pitcher Eric King and George Ferran had the effect on most scouts that the eighth inning does on many Dodger fans--they packed up and went home. But Genovese, who has signed a long list of major leaguers including Bobby Bonds, Gary Mathews, Chili Davis, Jack Clark and Chris Brown in his 22 years of scouting, took a chance.

“I was one of the 25 scouts who didn’t like them,” said Rick Magnante, a member of the Major League Scouting Bureau. “But George saw something and it turns out he was right.”

King you know about. Traded to the Detroit Tigers last winter, he is 8-2 and rates as one of the top rookie pitchers in the American League.

Ferran you may not know about. But you may soon. Through Thursday’s games, he is 13-0 with a 2.05 earned-run average for the Giants’ Double-A affiliate in Shreveport, La.

“I found Eric pitching in a Sunday amateur game,” Genovese said. “He has exceptional control for a boy who throws as hard as he does. George doesn’t throw hard, but he has an excellent curveball. I felt both of these boys could be developed.”

King, who played at Royal High and Moorpark College with limited success, and Ferran, who graduated from Granada Hills High in 1982 and played at Mission College in 1983, are classic late bloomers.

“George could be another Tommy John,” said Wendell Kim, manager of the Shreveport Captains. “He has a sinking fastball to go along with that great curve. And he’s messing with a split-finger fastball.”

Ferran, who is one win short of the Texas League record, has been used as a starter and in long and short relief. He has two shutouts in four starts and has three saves.

Said Kim: “He starts and wins. I bring him in when we’re behind by a run or two and we score, so he wins. I bring him into a tie game in the late innings and we score, so he wins. It’s been uncanny.”

Dewey eyed: Todd Dewey, who played the past four years at Cal Lutheran, has made a strong impression in his first year of pro ball on the Durham Bulls, a Class-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves.

“Out of the individuals on our club, Todd rates in the top three,” Bull Manager Buddy Bailey said. “That’s not just my opinion, that’s Atlanta’s opinion.”

Dewey, 22, switched from third base to catcher while at Cal Lutheran and is doing most of the catching at Durham.

“Todd is a designated hitter sometimes because catching everyday is a grind,” Bailey said. “He’s worked out some kinks behind the plate and his throws have been very consistent. Todd has done a great job throwing out baserunners in the second half.”

Dewey is a switch-hitter who was an National Assn. of Intercollegiate Athletics All-American in 1985. He is hitting .248 in 214 at-bats. Although the average isn’t high, he has struck out only 23 times, has walked 31 times and leads the team with 5 game-winning RBIs.

“Considering this is his first full season of pro ball, his stats are good,” Bailey said. “Todd has a good idea of the game. It’s obvious he was well-coached in college.”

Wetherby forecast: Jeff Wetherby, formerly of Kennedy High, College of the Canyons and USC, has been a teammate of Dewey’s at Durham since the season’s halfway point. Wetherby, 22, was promoted to Durham after a strong first half in the South Atlantic League.

“Jeff plays everyday in the outfield,” Bailey said. “He hits in the 2, 3 or 4 spot in the lineup and has driven in a lot of key runs for us.”

Wetherby is batting .271 with 28 RBIs in 39 games for the Bulls, who are in first place in the Carolina League with a second-half record of 22-16. Although he is a converted pitcher, Wetherby’s arm is considered the weakest part of his game.

“His arm is a shade below big league average but is very accurate,” Bailey said. “All phases of his game have improved since I saw Jeff in instructional league. He gets himself ready to play everyday. That’s why he has a good chance of making the big leagues.”

Beck and call: When Rodney Beck, who pitches for Medford, Ore., in the rookie Northwest League, wants to phone home to Van Nuys, he walks to a local shopping center and uses a pay phone.

“He doesn’t have a phone in his apartment,” said Shirley Beck, Rodney’s mother. “But he feels lucky to have the apartment.”

Beck was City Section player of the year this season and pitched Grant High to the City championship in front of 6,000 at Dodger Stadium in June. Now he works a thousand miles from home in front of a couple hundred fans. Although he’s still looking for his first professional victory, Beck is closer to the big leagues than he was when he stood on the mound at Dodger Stadium for Grant.

“Rodney is in good spirits,” Shirley Beck said. “His arm is in good shape and he starts every five days. This is what he wanted.”

Sept. 2 is circled on Shirley Beck’s calendar. “That’s the day Rodney comes home,” she said.

Scott Radinsky, who struck out 180 batters in 100 innings for Simi Valley High this spring, has pitched only seven innings since being assigned by the Chicago White Sox to Sarasota of the rookie Gulf Coast league.

“It’s a question of having a tired arm,” White Sox Scout Craig Wallenbrock said. “Scott was examined and there is a little swelling. He threw a lot of innings this season after not having pitched that much in the past. They don’t want to take a chance on hurting his arm. He’s got too much of a future.”