Mike Cameron, always one of the more reasonable players in any clubhouse, has a suggestion about how to stop fans from running onto the field during games.
“Just put an advisory on the scoreboard that if you come onto the field, you are going to get your butt kicked,” said Cameron, the former White Sox center fielder now with Seattle. “You look at every guy who has come onto the field, he has gotten his butt kicked.”
Players everywhere were shaken by the events Tuesday night at U.S. Cellular Field when umpire Laz Diaz was tackled from behind by a fan. Given that it followed an even worse incident at the White Sox’s park last September, they have become wary of fans in general and Chicago fans in particular.
“It used to be that when somebody ran out onto the field it was the kissing bandit–that pretty woman that came up to you and gave you a kiss,” Cleveland coach Jeff Datz said. “Not anymore. Now if somebody runs out on the field, he jumps on your back.”
Players believe it is time to take matters into their own hands. They were rightly proud of how their fraternity responded to Tuesday’s incident, with Kansas City right fielder Brandon Berger making a name for himself by immediately streaking to Diaz’s defense.
The punches thrown in the pile left the fan with a head wound visible in photos as he was led to jail.
Around the majors players are anticipating their chance to pull a Berger.
“I might be the happiest guy on the planet if that ever happened to me,” Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi said. “I’d get to beat the [expletive] out of somebody, take out a little frustration.”
Even left-handed relievers are talking tough.
“The one thing that is a deterrent is once somebody comes onto the field, they have to deal with the players,” Pittsburgh’s Scott Sauerbeck said. “We’ve been told that anybody who gets on the field is trespassing and is fair game. Maybe that will stop the next guy from doing something stupid. At least I hope so.”
Who told players that civilians on the field are fair game? In a legal sense that might be true, but would you want to trust a judge or a jury with your $5 million salary? Players need to be careful about getting caught up in vigilante justice.
Major League Baseball does not advocate do-it-yourself retribution.
“We do not want players to be involved in these things,” said Sandy Alderson, MLB’s executive vice president. “It is the job of security, not the players, to take charge. If you look at what happened, security guards were there very quickly.”
When Royals first-base coach Tom Gamboa was mugged at Comiskey Park last September, the Kansas City players were correct to rush to his defense. Ditto Berger’s quick response Tuesday.
But once the mope was subdued, there was no reason to keep flailing away at him. Raul Ibanez, who twice stomped on the mope’s legs, did not distinguish himself.
Cavalry arrives: You don’t think Houston players were talking about Shane Reynolds on Tuesday, do you? The popular Astros pitcher, who was cut for financial reasons at the end of spring training, threw five shutout innings against Montreal in his debut for the Braves, helping to right them after a 4-8 start.
Many players watched Reynolds’ performance on the visitors’ clubhouse TV in San Francisco.
“I’m pulling for him to do well,” Jeff Bagwell said. “In a way, you pull harder for him because he thought he was making progress [recovering from back surgery]. I want to back him. I want him to be healthy, want him to do well and I want him to know he came back with his health.”
Houston released Reynolds to be able to keep both Tim Redding and rookie lefty Jeriome Robertson, who are a combined 1-4 with a 5.28 earned-run average.
Reynolds, who will start Sunday against Philadelphia, joins an Atlanta rotation missing Mike Hampton and Paul Byrd, not to mention Tom Glavine and Kevin Millwood. Manager Bobby Cox called the outing Tuesday “just what the doctor ordered,” and Reynolds admitted “it felt great” to show he still has it.
Bad sign: You would think Lance Berkman would be one of the Astros’ last concerns, but that’s not true. He didn’t drive in a run this season until April 13, becoming only the second player to follow a 40-homer, 120-RBI season by failing to drive in a run in the first 10 games, and is nursing a strained left elbow.
The first to accomplish that dubious feat was Mo Vaughn with the Red Sox in 1997. He still bounced back to hit .315 with 35 homers and 96 RBIs.
Teams are bringing in lefty relievers to face the switch-hitting Berkman, who for his career has hit .316 left-handed but only .250 right-handed. Some are saying he should abandon switch-hitting, but he’s committed to getting better from the right side.
“I’ve talked to [Atlanta’s] Chipper Jones about it, but there’s nothing anybody can tell you that makes a difference,” Berkman said. “You have to figure it out for yourself.”
Stepping up: Bill Bartholomay, president of Chicago’s Near North National Group, heads a group trying to purchase controlling interest in the Braves from AOL Time Warner. He has been involved with the franchise since 1963, when he led a six-person group that bought the Milwaukee Braves, and has represented the franchise at owners meetings for AOL Time Warner.
The Bartholomay group would be a popular purchaser of the team. It reportedly includes Braves President Stan Kasten, Turner Broadcasting executive Terry McGuirk and possibly Ted Turner in a minority role. Unlike an outside group, it would be a commitment to the status quo, which isn’t a bad idea for a franchise that has won 11 consecutive division titles.
“I have no comment except to acknowledge a 40-year love affair and passion for the Braves,” Bartholomay, 74, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I am very interested in anything the Braves do.”
Winning the job: Just before giving up six runs Thursday, Rocky Biddle had been formally appointed as the Expos’ closer. The recent meltdown against Atlanta came when he entered a tie game. He’s 4-for-4 in save situations.
“I’ll ride him as long as I can,” manager Frank Robinson said.
Whispers: Every AL Central team except Detroit ranked among the top six in staff ERA entering the weekend. But since they have been playing within the division all season, that might tell you as much about the division’s hitting as its pitching. . . . The Mariners are one of baseball’s most profitable organizations but dispute a Forbes report claiming they made $23.3 million when they missed the playoffs last year, faltering down the stretch after declining to spend money on reinforcements. . . . If Fred McGriff homers when the Dodgers visit Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park this week, he’ll become the only player to homer in 42 major-league stadiums. He and Cleveland’s Ellis Burks share the distinction at 41. . . . The Yankees are expecting a quick recovery from Derek Jeter, who is about a week away from beginning to swing a bat after his nasty shoulder injury. . . . The White Sox should temper their excitement about Esteban Loaiza, who has been off to quick starts before. He’s 12-3 with a 3.01 career ERA is April but 60-70 with a 5.08 ERA in the other five months. . . . Jaret Wright, put into the closer’s role in San Diego, is back throwing in the 90s. . . . The Cardinals’ Jason Isringhausen is two to three weeks away from returning after having a recent setback in his recovery from shoulder surgery.
The last word: “I’m going to be on the DL real soon.”–Barry Bonds on having three steals for the Giants, who have more stolen bases (14) than any team in the majors except Florida (28).
