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Show The Salt Lake Tribune BASEBALL cs Sunday, May 28, 2000 The AROUND THE HORN INSIDE t Gatch Leading Off ‘Just Go Out and Play’ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Mariners’ Olerud has fond memories of NBC daysup north Tony Gwynnis trying to notlet his climb through baseball's careerlists go to his head. The San Diego Padres outfielder reached two milestones during the week. On Tuesday, Gwynn moved past Cap Ansoninto 17th place onthehit list with No. 3,082. Then on Friday hetied Al Oliver for 23rd place in doubles with No. 529. “If you getto this stage of yourcareer, you're going to pass somereally famous guys, andif you get caughtupin it, you thinkit’s really great. But | just go out and play,” Gwynnsaid. Robin the Bat Man Afterhitting a two-run, bases-loaded sin- gle in the Mets’ 5-2 win overSt. Louis on Friday night, New York's Robin Ventura improvedhis career average with the bases loaded to .364 with 154 RBIs and 14 homers in 129at-bats. Streaks @ Tony Womack, Diamondbacks,ex- tended his hitting streak to 21 games — the longest in the majors this season — ina 9-2 in over Milwaukee on Fridaynight. 1 Pat Mahomes,Mets,lost forthefirst time since June 8, 1996 on Wednesday night, 5-4 to San Diego. He had won 12 straight games,the longest steak among active pitchers. Cal Ripken Jr., Orioles, moved to 21st on the careerlist with his 1,600th RBI in a 4-3 win overSeattle on Wednesday night. @ Harold Baines,Orioles,tied Norm Cash for 42nd spot on the career home run list with No. 377 in a 4-2 win over the Mariners on Tuesdaynight. @ SammySosa,Cubs,hit career home run No.350 Thursdayin Chicago's 6-5 win over Colorado. @ Doug Jones, Athletics, made his 808th career appearance Friday nightin an 8-3 loss to Baltimore, moving past Nolan Ryaninto 23rd place on the careerlist. @ Rafael Palmeiro, Rangers,hit his 374th home runin a 5-3 win overthe Royals on Thursdaynight, tying Rocky Colavito for 45th place on the careerlist. Fair or Foul? I Matt Clement, Padres, pitched eight scoreless innings,allowingthree hits and striking out six, in a 1-0 win overthe Mets on Monday. @ Steve Trachsel, Devil Rays, allowed six runs, two hits and four walks while get- - salmonfishing trip on the KenaiRiver with friends. BY LEW FREEDMAN “T reeled in a king,” said Olerud. ANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS Whichis not to say he caughtit. A friend caughtthefish andallowed Olerudtofightit. Then they got the fish frozen andfileted. “Boy,for about a week-and-a-halfwe were eating some of the best salmon dinners,” Olerudsaid. Since his baseball career conflicts with the primefishing season, Olerud hasneverreturned.Butheplansto take an Alaskafishingtrip after heretires. “Tt definitely would be a place to comebackto,” Olerud said. TheOilers wanted Olerud to comeback to them for the summerof1989. Ole- Hestill wears a hard-shell helmetin thefield. MostSeattle Marinersfans probably don’t notice. Most fans probably don’t even rememberthe health crisis that could have derailed John Olerud’s baseball career. Alaska baseball fans probably rememberit better because only monthsafter Olerud had brain surgery for an aneurysm,hewaslighting up pitchers in the Alaska Baseball League as a memberofthe Palouse Empire Cougars. Olerud’s third season in the ABLwaspart ofhis re- rud wasjust aboutthe big- markably swift comeback gest summercatchin the baseball world in the late from a serious setback. In college, thestar first baseman played for Washington State. Under their alternative Palouse identity, the Cougars were full-fledged members ofthe Alaska League and Olerud 1980s. As a sophomoreat WashingtonState, Olerud recorded oneofthe greatest all-aroundbaseball seasons ofall time. He batted .464 with 23 homers and 50 RBIs in 66 games while going 15-0 with a 2.49 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 122 inningsas a pitcher. Either set of numbers would make an All-American, and Olerud wasthe collegiate playerof the year. After his second summerin the ABL, Olerud joined the Oilers for their Wichita challenge. He hit six homeruns inthe tournament, briefly an NBC record, and won his only pitchingstart. “He did real well,” said MikeBaxter,the Oilers’director of baseball opera- played in Alaska in 1987, '88 and ’89.In ’88, he was a postseason pickupfor the Peninsula Oilers when they traveled to Wichita, Kan., for the National Baseball Congress.championships. Olerud’s Alaska ties — and memories — run as deep as any player who never actually resided in thestate. “In Alaska, the big thing that stuck in my mind washow it never got dark,” Olerudsaid.“You'd look out the window at1 a.m. andgo, ‘Oh, mygosh.’ : : tions.“The chemistry was It tooka little getting used to.” Gail Burton/The Associated Press 8000. He agreed to play a . With us the following year, Olerudis the mostgrato the Pacific Northwest. He is then he had that aneurysm. John Olerudis no stranger cious ofathletes,a softspoken guy whoneverfor- from the Seattle area andpI layed at Washington State. He Thedoctors felt he should stay close to home.” also played National Baseball Congressball in Alaska. got his parents’ advice to In December1988, Olebe polite to people. He is rud collapsed during a workout. He soon underwenta sixthe antidote to spoiled professional athletes. hour operation. In April 1989, he once moresuited up for Now31, Olerudis 6-foot-5 and weighs 220 pounds. The the Cougars andbatted .350. Whenthe college season endword lanky was invented to describe him. He has angular ed, he proved himselfall over again in the ABL with Palfeatures,is long-limbed,andhis long arms have no trouble protecting the plate with his swing. Olerud has always been use. “T was still getting my strength back,” said Olerud.“The a discerning hitter. He carried lifetime .301 batting averthingthat was great about the Alaska League wasthe comage into the 2000 season, winning the American Leaguebatpetition to see how you measure up.” ting title with Toronto in 1993 and placingsecondin the NaOlerud measured upfine, and by the endof the summer tional Leaguehitting race in 1998. Going into Saturday’'S of 1989 he wasin the majors with the Blue Jays. Heonly gameagainst Tampa Bay, Olerud was batting .321 in his played six gamesthat year andbatted .375. first major-league seasonbackin the area where he grew Forthe11 yearssince, though, Olerud has fileted majorup. leaguepitching with greater ease than he handled that Olerud was nota major-league fisherman,but did work salmon. a little on his casting stroke on Alaska roadtrips. He took a Diamond Chatter “| think it's way out of line.I'd rather forfeit a couple of gamesat Wrigley [Field] and not lose players for so many games.” — Dodgers Manager Johnson, on the suspension of 16 players for fighting fans at Wrigley Field on May 16. “Bad location today. And this was a bad dayto have bad location.| absolutely stunk. | can't go out and win them all.” — White Sox pitcher James Baldwin,after the Yankees snapped his nine-game winning streak Thursday night. Extra Bases Last December,it looked asif the Montreal Exposwere saved. But an apparentrift in their ownership group and a delayin building a ballpark onceagain hasthe team’s future in doubt. Thereis already talk of postponing construction of a downtown stadium —ata cost of $180 million — and disagreements among the ownersoverdebts. All this during a successful season on the field for the Expos. Led by Vladimir Guerrero, they wentinto the weekend tied for the fourth-best record in the National League. Yet considering the oft-repeated mantra that without a new stadium the Expos cannot stay in Montreal, fears that the 32-year-old club cannot survive have resurfaced. And with home gamesaveragingjust 13,259 — only the Minnesota Twins draw fewer — and the only English broadcast of games available on the Internet, the future doesnot lookbright. Putting off stadium constructionfor a year was discussed last weekat a reportedly acri- monious ownership meeting at Olympic Stadium. Andre Bouthillier, spokesman for the team’s stadium project, said the postponementwould be discussed againat the group’s next meeting “in a week or 10 days,” The Canadian Pressreported. This is not howit was all supposed to play out when NewYorkart dealer Jeffrey Loria announced in December he would becomethe lead ownerin a new group committed to keeping the Exposin Montreal. Loria andthe other ownersleft the threehourmeeting last week without comment, leaving Loria’s stepson, David Samson,to face the media. Samson admitted there was concern over a shortfall in revenues dueto lower-thanexpected attendance and sponsorship money and thelack of a local TV contract. Butheinsisted there would be no“fire sale” of playerslike the ones that saw stars suchas Larry Walker, John Wetteland, Pedro Martinez and Moises Alou traded or simply let go in recentyears. And he added vehementlythat there was “no question ofselling the team.” Slumping Surhoff B.J. Surhoff hasn’t changed his swing or become complacentfollowing his finest season in the big leagues. There is really no explanation whythe Baltimore Orioles’left-fielderis in a horrid slump.Heis doing the samethings hedid last year, whenhehit .308 and set career highs in hits, homers, RBIs, runsandtotal bases. Surhoffentered Thursday’s game against Seattle mired in a 4-for-45 skid that dropped his batting average to .231. “It’s frustrating.IfI had the magicpotion I wouldhavetakenit a long time ago,” Surhoff said.“I’ve just to keep playing.” Bullpen Blues ting just one out in an 11-4 loss to Seattle on Friday night. @ Shawn Estes,Giants,pitched a seven-hitter and hit a grand slam in an 18-0 tout of Montreal on Wednesday. @ Andres Galarraga, Braves, went4for-5 with two runs and six RBIsin an 11-2 win overthe Brewers on Wednesday. @ Brian Jordan, Braves, homered twice and drove in seven runsin a 12-6 win over San Diego on Sunday. @ Dante Bichette, Reds, hadfive hits and four RBisin a 10-3 win over the Dodgers on Wednesday. Theyarelastin the league in attendance. They makeno moneyfrom local television or English radio. Andtheystill have no way to pay for a new stadium. TET The week in baseball, Sunday through Friday: } Ownership Turmoil Exposes Some Doubts In the Expos’ Future G 45 AB 156 R 34 H 50 2B 16 3B HR 3 0 OBP 460 RBI 25 SLG .481 AVG .321 Through Friday's Game Arecent slumpleft the NL Central champion Houston Astros with the worstrecord in the NL, and closer Billy Wagnerwas partly to blame. Wagnerwent through a stretch where he blewfour offive save chances. Last year, he had three blown saves in 42 chances. Randall’s ‘Mystery Cutter’ Gives Teammates, Foes a Sinking Feeling DOWNON THE FARM BY LAURENCE MIEDEMA Utahnsin the Minors THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE Because it unpredictably dips or darts every time he throwsit, Scott Randall’s “mystery cutter”fastball is the envy of the other Salt Lake Buzz pitchers. Except when the 24-year-old looks for a warm-up partner. 4 don't evenlike to play catch with him,”said Buzz reliever Jack nd. Although Randall's 88-mphspeed is below average, he can be downright dominating because ofthe pitch’s tremendous sinking movement..Healso throws a good curveball and change-up that produce lot of ground Randall has completed or shared three no-hitters in his six-year pro career, and has allowed twoor fewer runs in four of his first 10 starts with the Buzz after being acquired in an offseason trade that sent Chris Latham to the Colorado Rockies’ organization “His ball moves so much,” said Buzz infielder Jeff Ferguson, who nearly tore ligaments in his left thumb warming Randall upin the bullpen recently. “As a hitter, vast give up on it and it comes back across the plate asa strike Randall, a 14th-roundpick in the 1995 draft,led the Single-A Northwest League with a 1.99 ERA in his pro debut. He went14-4 in 1996 and hadhis first two no-hit experiences. He walked just one batter (who was erased on a double play)in a nine-inning gameat Fayetteville, then threw 11 no-hit innings less than a month later, Randall took a perfect game into the ninth inning and walked just one before he was relieved, but didn’t earn a deci- because Asheville needed 19 innings to earn the 2-1 wi Randall pitched the first six innings of a sevenpi no-hitter in his secondstart for Single-A Salem in 1997. “It’s kind of sad, because I don't remember much about them,” Randall said. “Guys who were on those teams that aren't playing anymore bring them up sometimes, . . (but]it’s so manyinnings ago.” Randall's teammates aren't convinced his no-hit are behind him. Randall and Mike Lincoln are consid- complete through Fi nt AvgAvg HR RBI Class-Org. ered the best candidates to throw the second no-hitter in franchise history. Lincoln tossed a two-hitter last week. _pjayer yer ( (Local Tie} _ — “When[Randall’s] on, he can er Cad. een gid as oe oyeae John(Taylorsvil Buck (Taylorsville) _¢ Michigan. TroyFameworth (BYU) 18 Potomac ing, Wane Troy McNaughton (BYU) _OFPotomac __A-Cardinals 209 3 11 but it's not st . don ive to set up locations as muchas let him movetheball around.” Long Haul A-Astros 246 2 ACardinals 296 9 16 43 T JC)JoseA-Giants_—290 214 Even before Buzz catcher Javier Valentin (and his .411 average) waslostfor at least a month with a knee injury, the parent Minnesota Twins probably wouldn't paresieeosthe veteran with struggling rookie Mat- LeCroy hit .200 with 27 strikeouts in his first 100 big- leagueat-bats, but the Twins wanttolet the 24-year-old play his wayoutof thefirst prolonged slumpof his three-year pro career. “Wewentthis direction outof spring training, so we'll probably give him sometimetoget hisfeet on the ground,” said Jim Rantz, the Twins director of minor leagues, while visiting the Buzz this past week. LeCroy, whohit .303 with 12 homerunsand 34 RBIs in 32 games with the Buzz the past two seasons, opened the season with a hit in five ofhis first six games. But he is hitting .163 (13-for-80) since, He does have three home runs and 13 , and is improving ena “He's got what weneed: power,” Rantz sa! LeCroyhad a hitin five of his past six satan to raise his average 23 points, Set Pratt (Tooele) 28 Akron Abindene 251_4 22 _DHSan Jose _A-Giants_282_0_19 Damian Sapp (Pl.Grove) C Sarasota A-RedSox 333 3 14 Reed Secrist (Viewmont) C Tulsa AA-Rangers 342 1 6 (Highland) SS 249 Jot" Summers (Utah) Tebbs(Bingham) Ron Wright (Delta) __.2B Mobile AAPadres 1B Chattanooga AA-Reds Pitcher Doug Dent (Utah) John Desilva (BYU) Brandon Duckworth (Keams) Team Mobile Willie Eyre (Cyprus; Jared Femandez (Keams) Quad City A-Twins Mike Gargano (Dixie JC) (Coterwwood) Reading 964 2 4 298 7 27 Wi ERA 1-1 4.26 62 453 24447 AA-Padres AAAMarins AAPhilies 22 338 Pawtucket AAA-Red Sox 3-0 Potomac _A-Cardinals Fresno AAA-Glants 1. Pioneerzz Power Shane Smith(Utah Valley JC) The St. George-based Zion Pioneerzz were downright offensive the first week of the independent Western Please contact the Salt Lake Tribune at Imiedema@sitrib.com or 257‘8901 to include local players in the minor leagues not on this list, Basel League season, Zion averaged 10 runs and 13 hits while winning six of its first seven games. The Pioneerzz lead the WBL with a 369 team batting average, 10 home runs,71 runs and 14 stolen bases, have struck out a league-low 32 i Robert Muro leads the league with a .596 average and Kyle Westis second at .500, while Tim Belk is Kane Count-Martins fourth in the WBL with a .464 average,leads the league with 13 RBIs and is tied for first with three home runs. Zion is on a six-game road trip this week before opening a three-game homestand against Sonoma County on June 1, BUZZ THIS WEEK TODAY EDM, 2pm. | MON.-WED. EDM. 6:15 pm. FAL AT CALGARY 7:05pm, SAT. ATCALGARY 5:05 pm. DH ‘ ° ‘ i , | |
