OCR Text |
Show The Salt Lake Tribune BASEBALL The Sunday, August 6, 2000 Baseball 2000 AROUND THE HORN " RecentDeal to Atlanta Notas Easy for Surhoff As Some Might Think INSIDE BY BE WALKER The week in baseball, Sundaythrough Friday: THEAS DCIATEDPRESS To mostfans watching the scene unfold,it Leading OffBese! looked all wrong: B.J. Surhoff weeping after findingouthe hadbeentraded fromthe BaltimoreOriolesto the Atlanta Braves. Excuse Me Howin the world could Surhoff cry — and those were nottears ofjoy — aboutpossibly Atlanta's John Rocker bumped into a television cameramanFriday, about 3’ hours before a game in St. Louis. The cam- gettingto play in the WorldSeriesforthefirst time? eraman and reporter said the minorcolli- He enjoyed thecity of Baltimore, Camden Yards and the home crowds.Heliked the Orioles organization, even though it’s struggling. And he knewthe Braves werefirstclass. Still, some wondered whether there was # sion was intentional. Thestation, KSDK,played the incident, runningfootage of Rockerin street clothes apparently going gutof his way to cause the contact. Rocker declined commentafter the gameand Manager BobbyCoxdidn’t want to talk about it. “{ don’t know thing aboutit and | don't want to knowright now,” Coxsaid. something else 6n his mind. Masonisone of Polly Sour Souvenir A 10-month-old child suffered lead poisoning after handling a Colorado Rockies key chain given out at a 1998 game, health officials said Thursday. The key chains had a miniature metal baseball glove attached to them. Laboratory tests showed they had high lead content. and B.J.’s four children, andheis autistic. At the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, he is received remarkable care. A big part oftreatmentat the acclaimed center involves providing a highly structured, regimented routine. “Creating that kind of File/TheAssociated Press Veteran outfielder Rickey Henderson has sparked the Mariners with his brash attitude and aggressive play. Older, But Bolder He Adds Punch Former NL MVPKevin Mitchell was expelled from the independent Westem Leagueforthe rest of the season Thursday after punching the ownerof an opposing team on Tuesday. Mitchellhit Solano Steelheads owner Bruce Portner, wholeft with a black eye. success, webelieve,” said Wendy Odell Magus of Kennedy Krieger. In general, even subtle changes — the lay- out of a room,a switch in eating schedules — can greatly affect autistic children. So suddenly picking up his family and movingto a newcity was out of the question for Surhoff. “Thisis thefirst time I’ve ever not played Portnersaid he plannedto press assault In Good Company Streaks ®@ Tom Glavine, Braves, wonhis sev- enth consecutive start with a 6-4 win over the Cardinals on Friday. @ Gabe Kapler, Rangers, extendedhis hitting streak to 18 gamesin a 10-8loss to Toronto on Friday. Mi lestones at Tom Glavine, Braves,got his 200th career win in a 6-3 victory over the Astros ‘on Sunday. @ Wally Joyner, Braves, got his 2,000th careerhit with a pinch-single during a 42 win over Arizona on Tuesday. B.J. Surhoff environmentgives them thebest chance for Henderson's 41, but his swagger young as ever as he infuses confidence into winning Mariners chargesagainst Mitchell. The Cardinals’ Pat Hentgen wonhis 10th gamewith a 10-7 victory over Montteal on Wednesday. He reached doubledigit winsfor the eighth straight year, tying Pedro Martinez and Mike Mussina, and trailing only Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine among active pitchers. The 43 Maybe so. Maybe 8year-old Mason Surhoff. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS where I lived,” Surhoffsaid after joining the comed the deal. SEATTLE — Rickey Henderson rarely walks — even whenhe walks There is a swaggerto virtually everything he does, whetherit’s a snap,in-your-face catchinleft field or a stroll to first base afterfour balls. Andofcourse, he is walked morethan any other player in baseball history except for a guy named Babe Ruth. But Hendersonhasgot more on his mind nowadays than adding anotherrecordto his resume: Helping the Seattle Marinersreach the WorldSeriesforthefirst time. Arriving in mid-Mayafter the New York Mets released him, Henderson has pumpednewlife into the Mariners with his trademark confidence. His 36 walksfor Seattle, leaving him30 behind Ruth's2,062, haven’t hurt, either. “He'sgiven us a little bit of that swagger that we needed whenwewere lookingfor an established leadoff hitter,” Manager LouPiniella said. “And we've playedwell since he's been here.” Theysure have, putting togetherthe best record in team history to lead the AL West, despite trading Ken Griffey Jr. during the offseason. With onlytwodivisiontitles to show for 23 seasons, the Mariners needed somebodylike the 41-year-old Henderson, baseball's stolen base king anda probable future Hall of Famer. “| feel good,” Henderson said. “I’m happyin Seattle and getting an opportunity to play with a bunch ofgood guys whoyou can havea lotof fun with.” He has a newteammatetohave fun with, too. The Mariners tradedfor Al Martin, primarilya left fielder, on Monday ina deal with San Diego. Even though Martin might take someofhis playing time, Henderson wel- Bravesfora series at Arizona. “It’s just going “When you makea tradethis timeof the year, ballclubs are trying to help themselves,” Henderson said. “This team to take someadjusting of myfree time or time awayfrom baseball.” “Mykids are too importantto us,” he said. needed a left-handed bat, and he’s a good player. He’s capable of helpingus.” “Tt won't be easy, but somehow we'll get some So is Henderson. timetogether.” Goinginto a weekendseries in New Yorkagainst the Yankees, he was hitting .256 with 22 stolen bases, 4 home runs‘and 21 RBIs in 55 games. He had61 walks,25 of them Surhoff, who turned 36 Friday, started his major-league career with Milwaukee in 1987 and never madetheplayoffs with the Brewers. Hejoined the Orioles in 1996 and reached with the Mets. Hendersondoesn’t have muchofan arm,butPiniella likes the way heis played defensively. More importantly, he appreciates Henderson's confidence on the bench. the ALCSinhisfirst two years with Baltimore,but did not make the World Series. In December 1998, Surhoff signed a three- team,” Piniella said. “Wefeel we're good. We’re going to go out there and play like we're good.” Gerald Perry, the Mariners’ hitting coach, is two years younger than Hendersonandhis last major-league season wasin 1995. He likes the example Hendersonsets. “He really is amazing,” Perry said. “I was talking about him the other day whenweplayed the 12:30 gameafter a 7 year contract with Baltimore, turning down a “He's gota little cockiness to him, which is good for a similar offer from Pittsburgh. At the time, he said he thoughtthe Orioles hada brighter future. His concern for Masonwas surely a rea- sonfor the decision,too. Whilein Baltimore, Surhoffand his wife becameactive in the community.As part of o'clock game in Oakland.Hegota hitin hisfirstatbat, his commitment, he always boughtOrioles thenhe wastryingto steal bases and he wasdiving head tickets for special-education teachers. first and that kindofstuff at41.” While Henderson was a malcontentwith the Mets, he has beena perfectcitizen in Seattle. He is particularly helped second baseman Mark McLemore andcenterfielder “T’ve gotten really involved here as my kids havegotten older,” he said shortly after Monday’strade was announced. “Yeah, it’s my career, but it gets much more complicat- Mike Cameron ontheir base-stealing techniques. Henderson began his procareerin 1976 and played in his first major-league gamein 79 with Oakland. He won the World Serieswith the A's in ’89 and with the Toronto ed, or maybe I make it more complicated because there are things that are deeply impor- tant to me.” “Jt doesn’t just affect me anymore.It af- BlueJaysin ’93. fects me very deeply off the field and I'm go- Hendersonentered the weekend 112 hits shy of 3,000 for ing to haveto learn to deal with it.” his career, Tebbs Thought He Wason Solid Ground, But Gets Shipped Off Again DOWN ON THE FARM BYPHIL MILLER Utahnsin the Minors Statistics complete throughFriday THESALT LAKE TRIBUNE, Tom Glavine — streaks to 200 wins Fair or Foul? @ Todd Helton, Rockies,had fourhits, including two homeruns, and four RBIsin an 8-1 win overthe Phillies on Friday. @ Sal Fasano, Athletics, homered twice, including a grand slam, and drovein five runs in Oakland's 5-2 win over Boston on Sunday. § Jeff D'Amico, Brewers,pitched seven-hit ball for eight innings and hit a homerunin a 3-2 win over the Rockies on Sunday. . Carlos Beltran, Royals, was suspendedby the team for refusing to report to a rehabilitation assignment. @ Randy Johnson, Diamondbacks, allowedfive runs and eighthits in 3%innings — his shorteststart in more than two years — in a 6-1 loss to the Mets on Friday. Theminorleagues are for education, and Nathan Tebbs learned a valuablelesson this past week: Nevertempt the baseball gods, Tebbs, a BinghamHighall-staterin 1991, said last week that playing for the Las VegasStars, Diego's Triple-A affiliate, was the best situation of his sevenyear pro career. Then, while discussing baseball's trad- ing deadlinewith teammates,he confessed how glad he wasthat hedidn’t haveto worry about such things. So who could possibly have been surprised when Tye Waller, the Padres’ director ofplayer development, wokeTebbs on Mondaymorning with a phonecall that changedhis life? “Hewaspretty straightforward. Hejust said, ‘Nate, you were includedin a trade with St. Louislast night,’” T id of the deal that exchanged him and Padres catcher Carlos HernandezforSt. Louis reliever Heathcliffe SlocumbandClass Aoutfielder Ben Johnson, “I hung up thephone andjust sat therethinking, ‘Now what do I do? Well, there's packing, moving, breakingthe newsto his wife and 19-month-old son, finding out where the Cardinals want himtogo, buyingplane tickets actu- ally, Tebbs knowsthedrill pretty well now.Aftersix relativelystable years in the Red Sox organization, Tebbs for-2 and. played secondbase Thursdayfor the Travelers, his fourth different team this sea- Oncethe shock woreoff, Tebbs got excited about his newopportunity, though being back in Double-A doesn’t suit him. “The Cardinals said, ‘Go down and get some at-bats and we'll try to get you out of there,’ ” he said. He's a free agent at the end ofthe season, making his future even more cloudy. But he hopesto re-sign with the Cardinals, especially if there’s a chancehewill windup in St. Louis. Albuquerque’s Hope _Stat ofthe Week | Boston's Pedro Martinez is 9-0 on the road this season with a 1.20 ERA. 'i « 0 ‘, BUZZ THIS WEEK OF Potomac __2BArkansas 5000 1B Chatianooga AAReds eas : 285 11 42 WL Canada in 1985 andrelocate them in Albuquerque next season. The transaction depends, however, upon Albuquer- que moving forward with a new ballpark to replace the Sports Stadium, a run-down relic that PCL President Branch Rickey has declared inadequate. A new stadium would cost more than $30 million, moneythat apartment, especially since the Tebbs haven't yet recovStill,it’s the longest the couple has ever been apart, and being away fromA.J. makes it particularly hard, ‘Tebbs said. On the other hand, “A.J, willlive in a normal homeand take normalnaps,for the first time,” Debbiesaid. _A-Cardinals Ron Wright (Delta) Pitcher DougDent(Utah) John DeSiva (BYU) Diamond Chatter “After awhile, you get used to it. | have no nerves or stomach left atthis point.” — Florida Manager John Boles,after the , Marlins got their 24th one-run win by beating Houston 4-3 Thursday. 1B Polomac Nate Tebbs (Bingham) rumored to be the Calgary Raptors Update ing out another first month/last month deposit on an Famsworth (BYU) JakeHuff (Utah Valley JC) C FortWayne A-Padres OFEfe 0 MitchJones (MtView) OFStatenIslandA-Yankees other Triple-A franchise If the Ogden Raptors blamed MedicineHatfor their second-place finishin the Pioneer League'sfirst half, they didn’t take longin exacting some revenge. The ered all their deposits from twoor three moves ago. Avg HR RBI tive with nobaseball experience, is prepared to buy anCannons, the onetime Salt Lake Gulls who moved to She didn’t packatall this time. With only a month left in the minor league season, Tebbs decided to simply send Debbie and A.J. to their offseason homein Ogden while he lives in a motelin Little Rock. No sense shell- “After the third move, we learned to packreally Ciass-“On despondent, another potential suitor stepped forward with plans toput another team in the city immediately. New Mexico rancher Mike Koldyke, a Chicago na- light,” said Debbie Tebbs, Nate's wife. every six weeks. Troy Troy McNaughton (BYU) Mayor Jim Baca wants to comefrom a new quarterImagine boxing up your family’s belongings,finding anewhome, gettingthe utilities turned off and the mail P Team JohnBuck(Taylorsvile) _C MichiganA-Astros280 7 56 Phil Downing (Skyline) OF Vermont’ AExpos 274113 RyanPini(DieJC)__ OFSan Jose ScottPratt(Tooele) 2BAkron =AACleve. 237 Damian Sapp (P1.Grove) _C Trenton ReedSecrist (Viewmont) _C Oklahoma AAA-Rangers400 Zach Sorensen (Highland) SS Akron AA-Cleve. 247 JohnSummers (Utah) OHShrevepot AAGiants 377 The Albuquerque Dukes may be dead, but there's no timefor a funeral. The Dukes’ moveto Portland for next season became official last week, but before baseball fans could get too @ Jeff Kent, Giants, doubled twice, homered, and drovein six runs in a 10-1 win overthe Pirates on Thursday. @ Tony Womack, Diamondbacks, brokea club record with four stolen bases in an 8-4 win over the Braves on Thursday. @ Cristian Guzman, Twins,struck out fourtimes in a 7-4 loss to the Yankees on Sunday. Mike Mussina,Orioles,struck out 15 and pitcheda one-hitterin a 10-0 win over the Twins on Tuesday. forwarded, saying goodbye to friends, and moving crosscountry to a city unknownto you. Now imaginedoingit Player(Local Tie) centsales tax increase that would expire after 18 months, Butthe City Council seems unwilling to put a tax-hike referendum on the ballot in November,so baseball backers may haveto resort to a petition drive to 441 _16 1 3 6 31 19 Brandon Duckworth(Keams)_ Willie Eyre ( P= ie JaredFemandez Kaas) Matt Gleason (Bountitul) Ryan Jensen (Cottonwood) _ Brian Knoll (BYU) force the issue. Micah saree Raptors opened the secondhalf by sweeping three gamesfrom the Blue Jays by an aggregate 34-8. ‘Thatcaliberof play camea little too late for the Raptors, who wentintothefirst half's final weekend with an outside shotat the Southern Divisiontitle. When first-place IdahoFallslost three straight games in Butte, Ogden was handed the opportunityit needed. But the Raptors dropped twostraight home games to Billings,12-6 and 13-7,to finish at 20-18, two games be- TODAY ATFRESNO 7:15pm. NickRoberts(SUU) Jatt Tibbs (Davi) Jeremy Wobster (Dixio JC) hindthe Padres. Ogden would havebeen in a muchstrongerposition in the final weekend hadit not dropped three straight games in Medicine Hat early this month, a series that anaes the Jays to the Northern Divisionfirst-half ti- le, MON.-THUR, CALGARY 7p.m. ( FRI-SAT, TUCSON 7 p.m. 2 |