Sax Finds Happiness in New York : Former Dodger Misses Teammates, but Has Few Regrets

People warned Steve Sax about the media crush he would face when he left the Dodgers for the New York Yankees.

They just didn’t tell him it would be in Anaheim.

Sax made his first appearance as a Yankee in Southern California Friday night, and more than a few people wanted to know: “How does it feel?”

In between and around batting and fielding practice, Sax obliged about a half-dozen television crews with interviews and spoke to a few reporters.

The consensus: He misses his friendships with teammates, he doesn’t miss the traffic, he has no regrets, and George Steinbrenner has yet to find cause to berate him.

When Sax, miffed by what he considered to be the Dodgers’ aloof negotiating attitude, signed a three-year, $4-million free-agent contract with the Yankees last November, some people found the move puzzling.

He was leaving Los Angeles--the world champion Dodgers--for the Big Apple, with its ruthless media and tactless owner.

Leaving Manager Tom Lasorda to play under the too-watchful eye of Steinbrenner was like striking a bargain for the heartburn without getting the pasta.

But Sax says he is “really glad” about the move.

“I miss my teammates,” he said. “I just had to make a business move, and I did.”

A business move, or a pride move?

“Much more of a business move,” Sax said. “I don’t let my emotions get in the way.”

He is hitting well now, but the season didn’t start that way.

“I started out the first week or 10 days hitting .167,” he said with all the ease of a man now hitting .315. “I’ve made errors (two). I’ve survived. It’s not like a night-and-day difference.”

And the notorious pressure of playing in New York and for Steinbrenner?

“I haven’t heard anything from Mr. Steinbrenner,” Sax said. “There’s been no pressure at all.”

The media scrutiny? Sax laughed.

“There’s other guys to pick on.”

Another expected cause for regret was the expected discrepancy between the successes of the two teams.

It has not been so great as one would have expected.

The Yankees, after a 5-2 victory over the Angels Friday in Anaheim Stadium, are 17-16 and in second place in their division. The Dodgers are 15-17 and in fourth place.

Sax did his part Friday night by driving in Don Slaught with a single off the glove of third baseman Jack Howell in the second inning, giving the Yankees a 2-0 lead. He also walked twice and stole a base.

The Anaheim Stadium crowd, uncertain whether Sax was friend or foe in his first two at-bats, made up its mind after the RBI single, booing him roundly in subsequent at-bats.

Sax was starting a weekend in which he plans to visit his in-laws, and see a few old friends.

He ran into one around the cage before the game, when he greeted another former Dodger, Al Campanis.

“Chief!” Sax said as he shook Campanis’ hand and hugged him.

Things change, or at least some of them. The ballparks are different, and of course the designated hitter rule. Minor things, Sax said with a shrug.

“Baseball’s baseball.”