MARTIN'S COMMENTS INCREASE SUSPICION
BLOOMINGTON, MN. (AP) - Billy Martin looks, sounds and acts like the next manager of the Minnesota Twins, although neither he nor Calvin Griffith will confirm it.
Griffith, Twins' President, maintains he has reached no final decision whether to rehire Manager Cal Ermer who is completing a one-year contract, or let Ermer go and hire Martin or somebody else.
Martin, manager of the Twins' Class AAA farm team at Denver this season, returned to the Twin Cities Monday and watched the Twins nip California 4-3 on Rick Renick's ninth-inning home run.
"This is a good ball club," he said afterward. "Sure, I would like to manage the Twins, but Mr. Griffith and I have not discussed it. I'm going elk hunting in Montana for five days and I hope to talk to him about it when I get back."
Griffith reiterated that he does not plan to make a decision on his 1969 manager until after the World Series. "If we decide to make a change," Griffith said, "Billy would be a top contender for the job. But there are still some things I want to study."
Among other things, Griffith is known to be waiting to see if a reported feud between Ralph Houk and New York Yankees' front office is serious. If Houk becomes available, Griffith is apparently interested in talking to him.
Martin, however, talks confidently about the Twins' future. He sounds as though he expects to be involved.
For example, shortstop Jackie Hernandez, who failed to take over for Zoilo Versalles last spring, committed two errors in the fourth inning Monday to give California three unearned runs.
Yet Martin defended Hernandez and said he isn't convinced that trying to get Versalles back from the Los Angeles Dodgers - as the Twin Cities press has suggested - "is the answer."
"Hernandez has all the ability to be a great shortstop," said Martin, who had Hernandez at Denver this season and saw hit him .297 there.
"He may have a phobia because something has happened up here." Martin added, "I think, eventually, he ought to become a switch hitter because it would help him."
CALVIN GRIFFITH