| Show Baseball Q Wednesday June 2 1999 Baseball: Ump made a mistake The Assooasd Press Others make Minneapolis stillnotinalone the minor leagues The 1999 Minnesota Twins are really the Minnesota Tykes Before catcher AJ Pierzynski was sent back to the real minor leagues last week the Twins had 12 rookies and 13 veterans on their roster thanks to the club’s payroll slashing that continued with the trade of Rick Aguilera Now the payroll is less than $17 million and general manager Terry Ryan has orders to prune wages even further While that has meant an abundance of growing pains and losses it’s also provided some comfort to the rookies who at least have company in their misery “There is a calming effect” first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz said “It’s 10 less guys you have to 5-- not an acceptable practice” Coleman said “Part of the beauty of baseball is that it is imperfect Players make er- pro- tested and the game was delayed for more than five min- utes while Pulli studied replays on a TV camera near the Marlins’ dugout After consulting the replay Pulli changed the call back to a double Coleman said Pulli who with 28 years is second in seniority among NL umpires was “acting in good faith” but made a mistake Coleman did not rule on Florida’s written protest Because the Marlins would have gained only one more run if the play had been ruled a homer it’s unlikely the protest will be upheld Floyd speaking in Miami before Tuesday night’s game agreed with Coleman’s decision He said allowing replays would lead to more arguments “You set yourself up for it to happen again and you’re going to have tons of people thrown out of the game They’ll be arguing until they’re green in the face” Floyd said "Most guys make history by hitting two grand slams in a game or something I make history by hitting a ball that’s reviewed on instant replay” Kent Bottenfield the winning pitcher in the game also thought replays were inappropriate “I’ve never cared for it in football” he said “I’m kind of a traditionalist and I’d rather not see it in baseball” Florida manager John Boles said his team found “a document that came out in the late ’80s from the commissioner’s office that explicitly says video is not to be used when determining a call” Budig took a similar stance “Major league games are determined between the lines and electronic assistance is not permitted” Budig said Selig backed the decision saying he was very concerned about the “pace of the game” but didn’t want to talk extensively so as not to offend umpires The players’ association said its position was still being determined “The players while not supportive of an extensive use of replay are not opposed to it for the purposes of determining home runs foul or fair above or below the line” said Gene Orza the union’s No 2 official “But this is based only on conversations with a few players and we’ll have to seek a broader consensus” There was no immediate re- action from the Major League Umpires Association Pulli de- -' dined comment after Coleman “ issued his statement Here we’re a low market team nobody has big egos” “I’m facing Hall of Famers I’m 23 years old”' he said “Alex Rodriguez is one of the best shortstops in the major leagues and Ken Griffey is an absolute stud I mean what better learnings process than to face guys like that? If you can get them out you can pretty much get any guy out” Last week Gary Rath and Rob Radlosky were teammates with the Salt Lake Buzz Now they’re in a different world 60 feet 6 inches from greatness “A week ago we were sitting there trying to get Las Vegas out” Rath said “Now we’re trying to get Ken Griffey out” Veteran reliever Eddie Guardado said there’s no hazing of rookies so they should be having a good time despite the mounting losses “The rookies are really accepted” Guardado said “I don’t know what it’s like in other organizations but from what I heard it’s pretty ’ tough on rookies if you’re playing with the Yankees or Cleveland “Here we’re a low market team and nobody has big egos” Kirby Puckett whose stellar career was cut- - If short by vision problems said the veterans are-- ”’ schooling the rookies even though they barely outnumber the youngsters “We got a great group of guys here” said - -Puckett now an executive vice president for the Twins “They’re learning how to lose together and they’re going to have to learn how to win together We’ll see which ones are going to step up and ' which one’s aren’t It’s that simple “It’s a tough job” Puckett said “But it’s a’-T- ? great living” right-hande- er He simply made believe he wasn’t facing the likes of Ken Griffey Jr Alex Rodriguez and Edgar Martinez last week and it worked He picked up his first major league victory with six strong innings “I tried not to let that affect me” Perkins said team for the “I pretended it was the ll A-ba- Mariners” When other teams look at the Twins they FONFREHMThe Associated Press Cleveland's Manny Ramirez gets an RBI on a ground out to the shortstop dunng Tuesday’s game against the New York Yankees Ramirez doesn’t appear to be bothered by accusations from unidentified Yankees that he corks his bat HE’S THE MANNY: A A Ramirez seems unfazed by Yankees’ accusations The Associated Press NEW YORK - Here’s how bothered Manny Ramirez was by accusations from unidentified New York Yankees that he corks his bat Ramirez sat around Tuesday in the clubhouse with headsets on listening to music and watching video of Roger Clemens He joked around with New York’s Paul O’Neill before stretching And he talked to friends in the stands from nearby Washington Heights during batting practice “Manny is pretty consistent in terms of his demeanor and his approach” Cleveland manager Mike Hargrove said “He’s as unflappable as anybody I have not talked to Manny about it and e I don’t plan to It's a as far as I’m concerned because there’s no truth to it” For his part Ramirez had nothing to say But that’s nothing new He hasn’t talked to reporters most of the season anyway But the rest of the Indians were pretty upset non-issu- Roberto Alomar suggested checking Derek Jeter’s bat Hitting coach Charley Manuel was angry that whatever Yankees made the accusations wouldn’t identify themselves Hargrove was just plain angry “It is really sad that they accused Manny of this” Hargrove said “The thing is he was using Sandy Alomar’s bat If he is corking the bat as strong as he is he’d have a lot more than 14 homers Manny doesn’t cheat Manny doesn’t need to cheat Plain and simple” Ramirez has been one of the hottest hitters in the game He entered Tuesday night hitting 350 with 14 homers and 63 RBIs He is on pace to drive in 208 runs 18 more than Hack Wilson’s major league record The success is nothing new as Ramirez averaged 40 homers and 1 15 RBIs the last three seasons The accusations came after Ramirez reached out to hit a low and away slider from Orlando Hernandez with one hand over the center-fiel- d fence No one thought the ball had a chance to go out including Ramirez who stopped at second base thinking it must have been a ground-rul- e double “I’m not talking about Manny” Manuel said “They think his bat is corked? Tell them to check it” Yankees manager Joe Torre didn’t want to talk about it either His answer to every question about the accusations was “I don’t know” Hargrove said he doesn’t plan to retaliate by checking the bat of a Yankees player And he’d be surprised if the Yankees actually did check Ramirez’s bat But he says the Indians have nothing to hide "Anyone can come into our locker room whenever they want” Hargrove said “They can check any bat they want They won’t find anything” Strawberry decision may come within week NEW don’t need to pretend they don’t know these guys Mientkiewicz Perkins Torii Hunter Mike Lincoln Cristian Guzman Joe Mays and Chad 9 Allen were all members of last year’s Eastern League championship team at Double-New Britain and that’s a huge “A lot of us skipped Triple-jump to the big leagues” said Mays a d reliever “For us to skip that there’s a little learning process there that we have to go had the through now But those guys in Triple-same shot we did None of us was given a bone “We’re not going to be in the hunt But we’re not going to lose 100 games” insisted Mays who figures it’s better to hone one’s craft at the level anyway 83-5- 4 YORK - Darryl Strawberry’s future in baseball could be decided within a week right-hande- A baseball commissioner Bud Selig said Tuesday “It’s a guess as to what’s likely to transpire and I don’t engage in guesses in matters of this kind” union lawyer Gene Orza said New York The Yankees outfielder has been suspended since April 24 following his arrest for cocaine possession CNNSports Illustrated ai3 r - Minnesota reliever Eddie Guardado d Fellow rookie Dan Perkins a pitcher who grew up down the block from Mientkiewicz in Miami had an unconventional way of dealing with the burden of become a lines” The Cardinals then organizations butfrom what I heard it’s pretty tough on rookies ifyou’re'' playing with the Yankees or Cleveland impress” rors Managers are constantly second-guesse- d But the game is played and determined by two teams between the white left-fiel- “The rookies are really accepted Pj don’t know what it’s like in othecL - some take comfort NEW YORK - Baseball told umpires to keep their eyes on the ball not the videotape Umpire Frank Pulli’s decision to view a replay and change a home run to a double in Florida’s 2 loss to St Louis was wrong NL president Len Coleman said Tuesday Commissioner Bud Selig and AL president Gene Budig immediately echoed that view “Use of the video replay is game-turnin- er Twins’ rookies have company in misery-- BASEBALL NOTES The Associated Press Baseball the NBA NCAA football and soccer do not allow officials to use replays while the NHL permits it to determine goals and NCAA basketball allows it in a few specific instances The NFL had replay from 1986-9- 1 and reinstated it on a limited basis last March after g calls that several replays showed were incorrect “Traditionally baseball has relied on the eyes of the umpires as opposed to any artificial devices for its judgments” Coleman said “I fully support this policy Occasionally however the umpires too will make mistakes that is also part of the game” Floyd claimed his drive Monday was a homer because it bounced off the facade bed hind the scoreboard in Miami Second-bas- e umpire Greg Gibson thought the ball hit off the scoreboard and called it a double but after the Marlins argued the umpires conferred and Pulli - the crew chief and third-bas- e ump -changed the ruling to a homer Standard-Examri- big-leag- re- ported Monday “that in the next 48 hours major league baseball will announce Strawberry will be suspended for up to 90 days retroactive to his April 14 arrest” The 90th day of his suspension would be July 13 the date of the All-Stgame at Boston’s Fenway Park A report on Strawberry by doctors for owners and the players’ association and by lawyers for the commissioner’s office and the union will be submitted to ar Selig todaiy Strawberry who served a 90-dsuspension in 1995 after testing positive for cocaine was put on “administrative leave” by Selig That term is not defined in baseball’s rules but carries the same penalties as a suspension He pleaded no contest to drug ay and solicitation charges last Wednesday in Tampa Fla and was sentenced to 18 months’ probation and 100 hours’ ty service He also must undergo more drug treatment be tested twice and week and pay $456 in court fees Giants miffed by Gomes’ celebration PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia Phillies closer Wayne Gomes likes to celebrate The San Francisco Giants don’t like to watch “I didn’t take offense to it” Giants second baseman Jeff Kent said Tuesday “I just think it shows a lack of class” Gomes got the attention of the slumping Giants on Monday night with a demonstrative celebration on the mound after striking out Rich Aurilia and Brent Mayne in the eighth inning of the Phillies’ 3 comeback victory The spun around on the mound and pumped both arms several times while running 4-- right-hand- er hour talk time 100 namenumber memory 2-- to the dugout Gomes then ninth for his pitched a fourth save sending the Giants 5 to their fifth straight loss “I’m just an emotional person” said Gomes who recently took over the closer’s job when Jeff Brantley went down with a season-endin- g shoulder injury “I really can’t hold that in Big outs put food on my table” line LCD display--- - 9 speed dial key s Is Like A Local Cali - Alarm clock 3 electronic games Caller ID ' ’’ Text messages Optional color face plates available One Rate - No Long Distance No Roaming Boles sidelined until next week OL--x MIAMI - Florida Marlins manager John Boles who had hoped to be back in the dugout Tuesday will remain sidelined until next week with a sprained neck Boles has been out since Friday because of the ailment He also missed two games in early May to undergo emergency back surgery Boles came to the ballpark Tuesday but was sent home before the game against St Louis 11 f w ( Minutes for $8999 Sku35W66 ri ! 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