Best player? Barry Bonds.
Favorite ballpark? Wrigley Field.
If you could change one rule? Either abandon the designated hitter or use it in both leagues.
Most of the questions in a survey of Major League Baseball’s 30 teams produced fairly clear-cut answers. Nearly 63 percent (475) of the major-league population (750 players) responded to 10 “state of the game” questions posed by reporters from the Chicago Tribune and seven other Tribune Co. newspapers, and 201 chose Bonds, the San Francisco Giants’ record-breaking slugger, as the best player in the game.
New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez was the runner-up with 158 votes.
Despite occasional complaints about cramped clubhouse conditions, Wrigley Field was the ballplayers’ ballpark of choice with 66 votes, followed by Seattle’s gleaming Safeco Field (56) and New York’s venerable Yankee Stadium (54).
The question of performance-enhancing drugs, one of the most vexing issues confronting baseball with Bonds and other top sluggers linked to the BALCO steroids investigation, drew a mixed reaction.
More than a third of the respondents (176) listed steroid use as a serious problem in baseball, while 49 percent (234) said it’s not a problem and 11 percent (53) had no comment.
“As much as I’d like to say no, I think it is,” Texas Rangers pitcher Erasmo Ramirez said. “You see some of these guys and it’s out of control what they look like compared to what they looked like a few years ago.”
“It is [a problem] because it’s on everybody’s mind right now,” said White Sox catcher Sandy Alomar Jr., a 15-year major-league veteran. “We have to get rid of that stain within the game. It’s like a black cloud hanging over the players.”
Cubs catcher Michael Barrett said the steroid-testing program instituted this year is bringing the problem under control.
White Sox pitcher Scott Schoeneweis may have been speaking for the 234 “no” voters when he said the steroid issue “has been overblown by the media.”
Twenty-eight of the 30 facilities in use got at least one vote for favorite ballpark along with one, Detroit’s Tiger Stadium, that was decommissioned four years ago.
Philadelphia’s new Citizens Bank Park was shut out, apparently too new to register with voters, and all 475 voters also passed on Minnesota’s Metrodome.
Although U.S. Cellular Field has it all over Wrigley Field in terms of amenities, Wrigley was the choice of 66 players compared with three who chose U.S. Cellular.
“I love Wrigley Field, always have,” said Rangers pitcher Jay Powell, who was a regular visitor when he pitched for three National League teams. “You never hear anybody complain about the clubhouse at Wrigley Field. It’s small, but everybody loves going there.”
As for best player, Bonds, just a dozen days short of his 40th birthday, outpolled multimillionaire A-Rod by 43 votes (201-158), with St. Louis’ Albert Pujols (41), Anaheim’s Vladimir Guerrero (39) and Colorado’s Todd Helton (9) rounding out the top five.
Only 10 players got three or more votes, including St. Louis third baseman Scott Rolen, front-runner for this season’s National League MVP award.
“I just think what [Bonds] is doing with the bat, especially the last five years, is unbelievable,” Texas first baseman Mark Teixeira said. “And as a hitter, you can’t understand how he does what he does.”
But Bonds, owing to his prickly personality, will never be much of a fan favorite. His peers believe he’s missing the boat.
An overwhelming majority of respondents–399–believe major-league players have a responsibility to be role models.
“As a player you get watched by a lot of kids, a lot of people,” Houston center fielder Carlos Beltran said. “And when you’re a good player, you have a lot of responsibility, you’ve got to do things right, in God’s eyes and everybody’s eyes, because people are looking at you, kids are looking at you.”
Kids, though, aren’t the only ones who look up to players–they look up to each other as well.
Asked to name the best teammate they’ve ever had, players came back with more than 100 names. Philadelphia first baseman Jim Thome topped the list with 14 votes.
“He’s a real humble guy,” said the White Sox’s Alomar. “He respected the players, he respected the game. A real class act.”
Texas outfielder Brian Jordan picked a former player–Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith, his teammate on the Cardinals, “because of his leadership and role-model abilities.”
The off-season skirmish between the big-market Red Sox and the bigger-market Yankees over the services of Alex Rodriguez raised anew the issue of competitive balance in baseball. But only 54 of the players saw it as a major problem, while 282 said it was no problem at all.
“In baseball, anything can happen,” the Cubs’ Barrett said. “The Florida Marlins last year were the perfect example.”
“I don’t think you can buy a championship,” added Milwaukee infielder Keith Ginter. “There’s more to a championship team than just the best players. Chemistry and a lot of other things have to come into play.”
Commissioner Bud Selig said the 2002 collective-bargaining agreement, which taxes the payrolls of the biggest-spending teams, is promoting competitive balance.
“There’s no question we have a lot more parity than three or four years ago,” Selig said. “This vote is a manifestation of that.”
The players were adamant in their disdain for Questec, a computerized “umpire aid” in use in about half the parks supposedly to give the umpires a more standardized view of the strike zone. Roughly two-thirds of the respondents (321 of 475) consider it a bad idea.
“The gripe I have with Questec is it puts the umpires in a position where they worry about mistakes instead of calling their own game,” Cubs pitcher Glendon Rusch said.
“I don’t like it because it takes away the human factor,” echoed fellow pitcher Dave Burba of the Milwaukee Brewers.
A dissenting view came from Texas outfielder Gary Matthews Jr.
“Everyone who steps onto the field is accountable somehow,” Matthews said. “If Questec makes the umpires accountable and helps them out in areas where they might need help, then I think it’s worthwhile.”
Players were almost as strongly united in their feelings about having a gay teammate, with better than 74 percent saying it would not be a problem.
“I had one, Billy Bean, and I didn’t have a problem with it,” Texas pitcher Doug Brocail said.
“Not at all. I’ve probably had one already,” said Willie Harris of the White Sox.
Players were not nearly as united about whether World Series games should start (and presumably end) earlier–152 said yes, 282 said no, and 41 didn’t care either way.
“If we were lucky enough to be playing in the World Series, I wouldn’t care what time the games started,” Texas infielder Hank Blalock said.
The players were similarly all over the lot about rules changes: If they had the authority to change any one thing about the game . . .
“Either get rid of the DH or have it in both leagues,” Cubs infielder Mark Grudzielanek said, speaking for the 59 players who weighed in on the DH.
Others had more novel suggestions.
“Don’t worry about the time of the game,” said Cubs pitcher Greg Maddux, one of baseball’s fastest workers.
“Once a year, you can punch an umpire,” said St. Louis outfielder Marlon Anderson.
“If you’re over 35, you get to move 10 feet up in your pitching,” suggested Texas left-hander Kenny Rogers, a 39-year-old.
And why not? As the players’ affirmations of Wrigley Field, Yankee Stadium and Barry Bonds suggest, old, in baseball, is indeed gold.
475 played ball
During spring training and the first half of the season, Tribune Co. newspapers surveyed players on all 30 major-league baseball teams by asking them 10 questions on the state of their sport. Of 750 active players, 475 responded.
Reporters from the Chicago Tribune, Newsday, the Los Angeles Times, the Baltimore Sun, the Orlando Sentinel, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the Hartford Courant and the Allentown Morning Call conducted the survey.
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THE NATIONAL PASTIME
A TRIBUNE SURVEY OF PLAYERS
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BEST PLAYER
Q: Who is the best player in the game?
BARRY BONDS GIANTS 201
Alex Rodriguez Yankees 158
Albert Pujols Cardinals 41
Vladimir Guerre Angels 39
Todd Helton Rockies 9
Carlos Beltran Astros 4
Derek Jeter Yankees 4
Roger Clemens Astros 3
Pedro Martinez Red Sox 3
Scott Rolen Cardinals 3
Bobby Crosby Athletics 2
Randy Johnson Diamondbacks 2
Edgar Renteria Cardinals 2
Ivan Rodriguez Tigers 2
Garret Anderson Angels 2
Jeff Bagwell Astros 1
Mark Buehrle White Sox 1
Brian Daubach Red Sox 1
Darin Erstad Angels 1
Roy Halladay Blue Jays 1
Eric Gagne Dodgers 1
Marcus Giles Braves 1
Tori Hunter Twins 1
Magglio Ordonez White Sox 1
Gary Sheffield Yankees 1
Alfonso Soriano Rangers 1
Ichiro Suzuki Mariners 1
FAVORITE BALLPARK
Q: Which is the best ballpark?
WRIGLEY FIELD 66
Safeco Field Mariners 56
Yankee Stadium Yankees 54
SBC Park/Pac Bell Giants 44
Fenway Park Red Sox 36
Coors Field Rockies 21
Camden Yards Orioles 20
Bank One Ballpark Diamondbacks 20
Dodger Stadium Dodgers 18
Jacobs Field Indians 18
PNC Park Pirates 18
Edison International Field Angels 15
Minute Maid Park Astros 15
Petco Park Padres 13
Ballpark at Arlington Rangers 10
Turner Field Braves 10
Busch Stadium Cardinals 10
Kauffman Stadium Royals 9
Miller Park Brewers 4
Comerica Park Tigers 3
Great American Ballpark Reds 3
Pro Player Marlins 3
U.S. Cellular Field White Sox 3
Shea Stadium Mets 2
Tiger Stadium Tigers 2
Olympic Stadium Expos 2
SkyDome Blue Jays 1
Qualcomm Padres 1
BEST TEAMMATE
Q: Who is the best teammate you ever had?
JIM THOME PHILLIES 14
Other players receiving 3 or more votes
Dave Burba Brewers 5
Sean Casey Reds 5
Curtis Leskanic Red Sox 5
Mike Matheny Cardinals 4
Mike Bordick Blue Jays 4
Carlos Delgado Blue Jays 4
Torii Hunter Twins 4
Trevor Hoffman Padres 4
Tony Clark Yankees 3
Luis Gonzalez Diamondbacks 3
Pat Hentgen Blue Jays 3
Reggie Sanders Cardinals 3
Matt Williams (Retired) 3
ISSUES
Should World Series games start earlier in the day?
Yes 152
No 282
No opinion 41
Do players have a responsibility to be role models?
Yes 399
No 58
Yes and no 12
No opinion 65
Are steroids a problem in baseball?
Yes 176
No 234
No comment 53
Competitive imbalance
In light of the Yankees’ trade for Alex Rodriguez,
how big a problem is competitive imbalance?
Big 54
Moderate 11
Small 100
Not a problem? 282
No comment 28
Questec System
Is the Questec system worthwhile as a way to more clearly
define the strike zone and make umpires more consistent in
calling balls and strikes?
Yes 70
No 321
No comment 10
Note: For one team there was no breakdown of totals
Would it bother you to have a gay teammate?
Yes 73
No 353
No comment 50
RULES
What one rule whould you change?
Eliminate the designated hitter 59
Shorten the season 23
Either use the designated hitter in both leagues
or scrap it for both leagues 14
Change the height of the mound (raise it or restore it
to what it once was) 14
Sacrifice should be awarded when a batter advances a runner
without a bunt (giving himself up by hitting opposite way) 11
Get rid of body armor, making it harder for hitters to dive
into pitches and get hit 10
Settle the issue of the strike zone. Have umps enforce it,
make it uniform throughout, or return to what it used to be. 10
Eliminate interleague play 7
Umpires should be held more accountable 5
All games on getaway days should be day games 5
Eliminate all day games 5
Eliminate doubleheaders 5
Eliminate Questec 4
Implement a “team error” as a scoring category 4
Add instant replay 4
Award an RBI on a double play 4
No opinion/no changes 71
Chicago Tribune
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