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Show BASEBALL 9120 Tuesday, March 22, 1994 Standard-Examiner Indians trying to put boating accidentin past Park seems sure to make Dodgers INTER HAVEN. Fia AP) — Itsan Clevela wish they could forget One year ago today. Indians relief pitchers Steve Olin and Tim Crews died when the boat Crews do it nght The Indians grieved publicly last year, but that time ts past. Wickander, who had been one of Olin’s closest friends, to Cincinnati, and they did not exercise the Hart said. option on Ojeda’s contract at the “We recognize that it was a tragic story for us personally, and it was a national story because end of the season. was piloting slammed into a dock anyone who haschildren or a wife — it rang home to on Little Lake Nellie. Starting everyone,” he said. “As an pitcher Bob Ojeda had his scalp torn open in the accident, but returned to pitch later in the organization, we've moved on.” season. The Indians chose to deal with Trying to regroup The accident disrupted the Indians’ final two weeks of spring the tragic anniversary as privately as possible today, closing their clubhouse to reporters and planning no memomial service or training a year ago, leaving them with no time to rebuild their moment of silence prior to their 10 games out of first place, and they spent the rest of the year trying to regroup. An offseason car accident that killed pitcher Cliff Young compoundedthe tragedy. But by the middleoflast summer, the Indians had resolved not to let the memoryofLittle Lake Nellie haunt them any longer. They traded Kevin game against Texas. The only public acknowledgement that this day was different from any other? The flag at Chain O” Lakes Park was to fly at half-staff. “You walk a fine line between underplaying it and overplaying it,” general manager John Hart said Monday. “We're working without a script, and we’re trying pitching staff. Less than seven weeks into the season, they were There's no mention ofthe accident in the Indians’ 1994 media guide. “When we traded Kevin, it was with a twofold idea,” Hart said. “One, it was to allow Kevin to move on from situation that was verydifficult for him, and secondly, to enable him to get on with his career. He wasn’t doing much here. “In Bobby'scase, I really admire what he did last year and howfar he’s comethis year. But I think it was better for Bobby, and better for the Indians: newyear, new start.” Ojeda has signed with the New York Yankees. Wickander, whom the Reds have sent to the minors, said Hart wanted him to go on the disabled list and see a psychiatrist last year, but he refused. Wickander nowregrets that decision. “John felt that I wasn’t focused and that I was still thinking about it,” Wickandersaid. “And, of course, I was. But I was thinking, “No way..I'm not going on the DLfor anybody. Stevie wouldn't have wanted it.” “I had a bitter taste in my mouth when they asked methat. I look back nowand I think it would have been a good move. After the year I had, it might not have hurt me. John probably was night.” The Indians, meanwhile, are focusing on the future, not the past. _ “We don’t want to makeit a big thing, because we're concentrating on winning this year,” second baseman Carlos Baerga said. “I hope the families are OK. The media bring it up a lot, but I have not heard a word aboutit in the clubhouse. “That’s going to happento all of us one day. We’re all going to die. We can’t keep that on our minds constantly. We have to concentrate on winning.” White Sox reassign Jordan to minor-league camp SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — Far beyond the fence at Ed Smith Sta- dium, back where the big leaguers do not stray, Michael Jordan quickly learned about life in the minors. There was no scoreboard, no .dugouts and only two umpires on the field where Jordan played Monday. Not that there was any less pressure on baseball’s most- recognized rookie. As expected, the Chicago White Sox reassigned Jordan to their minor-league camp in the morning. He wasnot sent to a specific level, and general manager Ron Schueler hopes to knowin a week or so where the 31-year-old outfielder will start the season. “I don’t feel disappointed, be- cause what tried to do was a longshot by any standards,” Jordan said. “I can utilize this opportunity to improve my skills.” Jordan, a three-time MVP in the NBA, went 3-for-20 in 13 exhibition games for the White Sox, and hit the ball out of the infield just three times. He has said he would play a year in the minors if he and the White Sox thought he had a chance at making the majors. In his first game on the farm, playing for Prince William against Baltimore’s Frederick team in a meeting of Class A clubs, Jordan went |-for-4 with an RBI single and a walk. He struggled in right field, dropping an easyfly and got twisted around on anotherball. “For the first day, it was different,” he said. The day began with Jordan changing lockers, moving from a prime row near Cy Young winner Jack McDowell to farther back in the clubhouse. He will be allowed to stay in the major-league locker room rather than the small, cramped quarters of the minorleaguers, mostly for security reasons. On Sunday, a female fan jumped out of the stands in Miami and ran to Jordan. The White Sox do not want a repeat episode, and will try to keep him close to home. That means Jordan probably will not travel with the minor leaguers to games at other spring camps in places such as Port Charlotte, St. Petersburg and Bradenton. Instead, he will play with whatever teams are in Sarasota; after an off-daytoday, he may be with Triple-A Pitcher would be first Korean-bom player in majors The Associated Press Right-hander Chan Ho Park moved another step closer to becomingthe first Korean-born player to reach the major leagues. Before having to leave the game with a blister on the middle finger of his right hand, Park scattered four hits and struck out four in pitching four shutout innings Monday as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Montreal Expos 6-1. That dropped his ERA to a sparkling 1.29, having allowed just two earned runs in 14 innings this spring. The 20-year-old, who signed a $1.2 million free-agent contract with the Dodgers over the winter, also sparkled at the plate, hitting a double. “Obviously, I feel very good about today,” Park said through his interpreter, Don Yi. “I feel like it’s one more step toward being on the team on opening day. I feel very happy aboutthat. “Ive always expected myself to do this well. I expect to work and achieve my natural ability.” Rafael Bournigal’s solo homer and an RBI double by Brett Butler gave the Dodgers a 2-0 third-inning lead. Butler’s hit scored Park, who doubled off Montreal starter Ken Hill. Marquis Grissom’s RBI single closed the gap to 2-1 in the fifth. But Butler and Raul Mondesi had RBI singles off Expos reliever Tim Scott in the eighth, raising the Los Angeles lead to 4-1. Rookie right-hander Darren Dreifort also helped his cause, allowing one run on twohits in two innings. However, the Dodgers’ No. 1 pick in last June’s draft isn’t making any predictions. “I feel good about whatI’ve done, but I don’t have any idea about what’s going to happen,” Dreifort said. “We'll have to wait and see. Wehave 13 or 14 pitchers who are still on the roster and they’reall throwing well. “I think I’m doingall mght. I just want to go out and throw. Therest is up to the manager.” Marlins 11, Yankees 1 At Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Gary Sheffield and Bob Natal each knocked in three runs as Florida routed New York. Natal’s three-run homer, his first of the spring, highlighted a six-run Marlins seventh inning. The Associated Press Michael Jordan bobblesthe bail for an error in his minor league debut Monday with the ChicaNashville on Wednesday and Dou- ble-A Birmingham later in the week. Becausehe likely will not be on the road, Jordan won’t haveto ride the dented, 20-year-old school bus the White Sox use to shuttle their minor leaguers to games. The bus, painted white with a black Sox logo, has tattered seat covers, two cracked windowsand noair conditioning. When the big-league Sox travel by bus in the spring, they ride in a wide, cooled vehicle with soft, padded seats. “I’ve always been a team guy. I never tried to separate myself,” he go White Sox Class A Prince William team. Jordan went3-for-20 in 13 gamesfor the White Sox. said. “But when it gets to 16- or 18hour busrides, I hope they can go with me,” perhaps on a plane, Jordan joked. Though he tried to blend in, chatting with his new teammates on the bench, he stood out. He was: the only player on Prince William without a number on his back, although no one needed a scorecard — there weren’t any, anyway — to identify No. 45. When Jordan batted the first time, the echo of the public-address announcer’s voice at Ed Smith Stadium, where the White Sox were playing Boston, could be heard calling out Red Sox star Andre Dawson. At that point, there were maybe 20 fans in the makeshift stands watching Jordan. Later in theafternoon, when the crowd at the main stadium realized Jordan was gone, about another 100 fans wandered out to the back practice field where he was playing. “It’s a whole different experience, but that’s whatlife is about,” he said. “I’m not really nervous as much as I used to be. Getting to know these guys, I’m like the old guyin the group. I think they'll be more nervous around methan I will be around them.” Rangers 5, Pirates 4 SPRING TRAINING The Giants reached Milwaukee's Jose Mercedes for five runs in the first two innings, started by Dave Martinez’s leadoff triple. Mariners 4, Cubs 3 At Peoria, Ariz., Luis Sojo scored on third baseman Tommy Shields’ ninth-inning throwingerror to give Seattle the win. Ken Griffey Jr. hit his fourth home run ofthe spring in the third inning and Eric Anthonyadded his third homer, and second in two days, in the third. Phillies 7, Tigers 5 At Clearwater, Fla., Ricky Jordan and Kim Batiste each drove in seventh-inning runs in Philadelphia’s victory. Chris Gomez scored Detroit’s first runs on a two-run inside-thepark homer. Phillies left fielder Tony Longmire ran into the wall trying to catch the ball. He sustained a minor concussion andhis Status is day-to-day. Red Sox 7, White Sox 6 At Sarasota, Fla., Chicago’s Terry Leach gave up five seventh-inning runs as Bostonrallied to win. The White Sox had taken a 4-1 lead with four runs in the bottom of the sixth off winner Jeff Russell, who haspitched poorly in two of his three spring outings. Tim Raines had three of Chicago’s six hits. The others were homers by Dan Pasqua, Julio Franco and Lance Johnson. Indians 6, Blue Jays 3 At Winter Haven, Fla., Jack Morris pitched six scoreless inning against his former teammates. The 38-year-old Morris (1-0) all but clinched his bid for a spot in the Indians’ rotation, yielding fourhits, walking four and striking out three as he lowered his ERA to 1.69. Paul Sorrento hit a three-run ho- mer, his first, to cap the Indians’ four-run first. Reds 2, Cardinals 0 At St. Petersburg, Fla., four Cincinnati pitchers combined on a two-hitter against St. Louis. The Cardinals’ only hits were Stan Royer’s two-out double off Erik Hanson in the second and Erik Pappas’ eighth-inning single off Chuck McElroy. Royals 3, Mets 1 At Port St. Lucie, Fla., Greg Gagne homered and Chris Haney pitched five scoreless innings for Kansas City. At Port Charlotte, Fla., Dean Palmer’s eighth-inning single chased home the winning run as Texas edged Pittsburgh. Jeff King put Pittsburgh ahead 3-2 in the top of the inning with his first home run of the spring. It was the 17th home run in 19 gamesfor the Pirates, who had 18 last spring. Haneyallowed four hits, struck out one and walked noneto pick up the victory. Ex-Met Vince Colemanled off the game with a double and scored on Chris Gwynn’s single. Chris James homered for the Rangers. At Tucson, Ariz., Manual Martinez scored Junior Noboa with the winning run in the 10th inning as Oakland edged Colorado. Mike Kingery’s two-run, eighth-inning homeroff Rich Gossage snapped a tie and gave Colorado a 4-2 lead. But Rockies closer Darren Holmes gave up four hits and two runs in the ninth to send the gameinto extra innings. Giants 5, Brewers 3 At Chandler, Ariz., San Francisco starter John Burkett held Milwaukee to three hits over six innings, improved his spring record to 3-0 with a 1.50 ERA and was named the Giants’ opening day pitcher. Senator chides Selig for avoiding willed direct answers in antitrust hearing Athletics 5, Rockies 4 (10 innings) RROBICRider: °YHealthtRider YOU'LL FIND THE PERFECT EXERCISE EQUIPMENT FOR YOUR EVERY NEED! NOW AT R.C. WILLEY! ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — For 33 minutes they battled: a U.S. senator asking hard questions and baseball’s top executive, working hard to avoid direct answers. Sen. Howard Metzenbaum, intent On stripping baseball of its antitrust exemption, grew increasingly irritable during a hearing Monday as he sparred with Milwaukee Brewers president Bud Selig, chairman of the ruling executive council. “Mr. Selig is attempting to kid the American public and Con- gress,” Metzenbaumsaidafter ridiculing Selig’s testimony that owners increased the authority of the commissioner in January, Metzenbaumsaid owners created a “lackey,” a “figurehead” whose powers were “gutted,” left only with a “high salary and a plush limo and driver.” “You don’t have to be a genius, BASEBALL regulate most business decisions under the “best interests of baseball” clause in the Major League Agreement. Selig testified several times that the commissioner — an office vacant since Fay Vincent's forced resignation on Sept. 7, 1992 — still had broad power because of his authority to protect “integrity and public confidence in baseball.” Metzenbaum tried to get Selig to give direct answers, but the Milwaukee owner kept evading, provoking scolding responses from Metzenbaum: a “It's not whether you think its relevant or not, it’s whether I think it’s relevant.” w“Mr. Selig, is your answer yes or no?” “Senator Metzenbaum, | must say to you with all due respect, | ‘ mw“! think your answeris incredile.” a“! don’t think you're giving me a correct answer.” a“! think I can read English.” “Reasonable people can disagree,” a replied. When Selig tried to avoid saying most slant!guenet will be played simultaneously this year in an attempt to increase television ratings, disagree, and I disagree coming Metzenbaum grew more hostile you don’t haveto be a Philadelphia lawyer, you don’t have to be a Su- preme Court Justice to understand that under this new agreement you have denigrated the position of the commissioner,” Metzenbaumtold Selig Cubs won against Vincent in 1992 to block National League realignment, While that order was dissolved in a settlement after Selig took power, a 1977 federal appeals court decision remained intact affirming the commissioner's broad “best interests” power. “What happened was you got a temporary restraining order in that case, which was subsequently withdrawn and vacated,” Metzenbaum said, “And there is no opinion in that case. No appeals court ever ruled on it. No future plaintiff can ever rely on it. No opinion, no law madeat all. You're trying to tell me that’s a basis?” The Ohio Democrat, who chairs the Judiciary Committee's subcommittee on antitrust, monopolies and business rights, last year introduced legislation to strip baseball of its antitrust exemption, created in a 1922 U.S, Supreme Court de- cision, The High Court said in 1972 that rescinding the exemption was up to Congress, Selig maintains the antitrust exemption is needed to prevent teams from leaving their cities without permission from other owners, and is essential to the sur- vival of the minor leagues, The Major League Baseball Players Association, which has struck four times and been locked out three from a background in baseball,” Selig replied, “That man has as much authority in this industry as “Don't tell me how great you are, how great baseball is, what a wonderful job you've done for the any human being in the United people,” he said, States of America,” Owners voted in January to strip sioner’s power was a myth and cit- file suit during a breakdown in col- ed the court order the Chicago lective bargaining the commissioner of his power to Selig argued that the commis- times since 1972, wants the exemption repealed so it would be able to MEV FOR 1994 TOTAL BODY WORKOUT! 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