GD6 Roanoke Times World-News, Sunday, July 24, 1994 Case of the corked bat has a hollow ring to it As a subplot to a pennant race, the Case of the Corked Bat has all the stuff of a best seller: mysterious break-ins, doctored bats, stolen evidence, charges and counter-charges, good guys, bad guys, mystery guys, a morality play with few, if any, scruples. If John Grisham knew it would be this good, he wouldn't have bought a piece of the Baltimore INSIDE BASEBALL GORDON EDES Orioles; he'd have invested in the Cleveland Indians or the Chicago White Sox instead. It should have been enough that the Indians and White Sox, the front-runners in the American League Central Division, would be playing each other eight times in a span of 11 days. With a strike threatening to rob us of the usual stretch runs, this might be as close to a meaningful showdown as we'll get in 1994. But then mild-mannered White Sox manager Gene Lamont, suspecting foul play, accused Indians slugger Albert Belle of using an -altered bat, and the fun began.
By now, the details of this corker are as well-known to baseball fans as the play-by-play in the O.J. on oil; trial. Umpires impounded the bat, but munthen someone working for the IndiA pans went into the visiting manager's On office at Chicago's Comiskey Park, locked the door, climbed up into the ceiling, wriggled through the vents bu above the umpires' room, broke in, Yod took the bat and left a "Paul Sorrento" model instead. DIN Umpire Dave Phillips discovpliered the theft and blew the whistle. The Indians produced what they said was the purloined bat and 1 gave it to 1 Kevin Hallinan, a major-league 01 security official.
Hallinan, studying 110 Cenlarged photos of the bat in dispute, 'said the bat the Indians gave him did 1311 not match the original. The Indians brought in another bat, which was X-rayed, cut up and discovered to be filled with cork. Belle was suspended for 10 days, a sentence he is appealing. Belle's agent, Arn Tellem, accuses the White Sox of concocting the whole Jur1 business as a plot to win the pennant. The Indians, meanwhile, say they think the White Sox may have X-rayed their entire shipment of -bats, which tipped them off to AP Cleveland's Jim Thome homers in the first inning Friday against Chicago's Jason Bere.
Albert Belle (in background on deck) followed with a home run of his own presumably without a corked bat. Belle's doctored bat. "That's the furthest thing from the truth," said Ron Schueler, the White Sox's general manager. "We don't mess with other people's bats." One former Indian, Steve Farr, said the team had a "private wood shop" in Cleveland, while another former Indian, Dennis Cook, now with the White Sox, is suspected by former teammates of blowing the whistle, an accusation he vehemently denied. No one in baseball pretends to be shocked by the whole affair.
As long as there have been Louisville Sluggers, the common sentiment goes, players have engaged in remodeling. Belle merely is the first player since Billy Hatcher (Houston, 1987) to be caught. "I'm telling you right now, if you checked everybody in baseball, you'd have a whole room full of corked bats," former manager Griffey hindered by unfriendly Fenway BOSTON Although the city of Seattle may benefit due to the roof problems at the Kingdome, this weekend's extra four games at Fenway Park may hinder Ken Griffey chances of winning his first home run title. When he visited two weekends ago, Griffey said Fenway Park was one of the toughest parks for lefthanded power hitters. Now, he's back in Boston as the city of Seattle tries to decide if the Kingdome's ceiling tiles can be repaired enough for the Mariners to return home.
To top it off, the city is also looking into the feasibility of a new ballpark. The city may benefit. But Griffey's home run percentages drop with an extra four games at Fenway. Entering Saturday's action, Griffey's 35 homers tied him with Chicago's Frank Thomas and San Matt Williams atop the ATTENTION GOLFERS MIDSUMMER CELEBRATION Come Join Us! $20 Mon Thurs $175 Senior Mon-Thurs Special Only! Fri, Sat, Sun $25 must present ad 4p.m. on Twilight $20 Associated Press cart green fee 563-0391 for tee times Conveniently Located: Exit 3West off 1-581.
turn right at 3rd light onto Cove Road mi. on right Countryside Golf Club Countryside Roanoke Bobby Ayala hadn't blown a save opportunity until he blew his first two after the break, both times failing to hold an 8-6 lead against the Yankees. In that series, 15 of 18 runners inherited by the Mariners' bullpen scored, and the staff gave up 24 walks, with 14 of those receiving free passes scoring. The Mariners will go with a 12-man staff the rest of the season, the latest additions being George Glenatsis, who started the season with Class A Riverside, and Shawn Boskie, who was acquired from Philadelphia. PERSECUTION COMPLEX: Jose Canseco believes AL umpires, for some reason, are out to get him.
The Texas Rangers slugger is assembling videotape of what he considers unfair strike says he will send it to the league coffice, the umpires' union and crew chiefs. Canseco believes umpires have expanded his strike zone, and that has increased his strikeouts total. Canseco went into the weekend fifth in the league with 89 strikeouts, including 41 in his past 128 at-bats. "It's frustrating not being able to do what you know you can do with your talent," Canseco said. "It's frustrating, because you don't know where your strike zone is.
My whole frustration is with the strike zone. Everything comes from that." Don Denkinger, chief of one umpiring crew, declined to respond to Canseco's charges. "I don't think anyone in this league is treated differently," said Denkinger, whose crew worked the Rangers' recent series in Cleveland. Since June 13, Canseco was hitting .250 (32-for-128) with 17 RBI in 128 at-bats. BUTTONED UP IN THE BULLPEN: Todd Worrell, the Los Angeles Dodgers' embattled closer, apparently is trying to end the public aspect of his feud with manager Tommy Lasorda.
For now, anyway, he's not talking to the media. General manager Fred Claire, who says he will not deal premium prospects for Randy Myers or any other proven closer, scolded Worrell for using the media to deliver his messages. "If a player has something to say, he ought to address it directly," Claire said. "We have a manager, a pitching coach and a player. There is no reason they can't communicate together." INFLATED BONDS: Mr.
Strawberry, meet Mr. Bonds. Since Darryl Giant, Barry has begun again. In his first seven Star break, Bonds with six home runs, scored. Giants teammates game up a notch after tial rival.
"Battle for top reliever Rod Beck. So far, it's a appear to be getting "Darryl has had Barry," said Dusty manager. "He's taken It's been a tough year his dad going down elbow injury, his divorce "A lot has happened year that's made it hitting the baseball. laughter to hear Barry laughing, wrong." Bonds says having means he's seeing SALE 40,000 MILES ASIV Whitewall All Season Steel Radial 30.99 32.99 33.99 35.99 37.99 38.99 39.99 41.99 40.99 42.99 45.99 47.99 80,000 MILES Mastercraft Mark VII 53.99 54.99 60.99 61.99 62.99 65.99 67.99 69.99 72.99 66.99 Sport All Season 50,000 Mile SIZE PRICE 155SR-12 $28.99 155SR-13 30.99 165SR-13 33.99 175SR 14 38.99 165 SR-15 38.99 WIMMER BRAKE Has Meant Value West 387-3939 622 W. 4th St.
Solem Monday Thru Friday 8 AM to batting in the No. 3 spot, after hitting fifth. "It's kind of nice when they pitch to all of Bonds said. "They can't pitch around me much. This is the most I've been challenged since I've been in the majors.
"It's fun. It's tiring, though, because I'm always the table-setter. I haven't been that for a while. I try to hit singles so they and Matt can drive me in." HONEY, WE'RE HOME: The Bos- A Whitey Herzog told Bob Nightengale of the Los Angeles Times. "Believe me, with the way the balls are flying out this year, you'd be stupid not to check some of these guys.
This has been going on for years, but everybody has been talking so much about the balls being juiced, they forget some of these bats are juiced, too." RETURN OF THE The California Angels have talked to former pitcher Bert Blyleven about coaching i in their organization next season. "I want to get back on the field," Blyleven said. "Deep down, my heart is in the game of baseball. And there's no place I'd rather be than here. "I respect everybody in the front office here, and I think the future of this ballclub is very positive.
What they need most right now is more Blyleven was offered a job this year as a roving instructor and a coach with shortseason Boise, but Blyleven wants to remain with one team. "I just want to stay at one place where I can help somebody and see the benefits," he said. "I just love the game so much. I really Quality Built Utility Buildings 10x12 $129500 (Plus Sales Tax) We Build On Your Lot! References Gladly Furnished Upon Request. Call BUILDINGS UNLIMITED INC.
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"The wind blows from right to left and the pitchers can work inside" at Fenway, Griffey said. "But the Kingdome roof needs to be fixed and you've got to do what you've got to do," he said. Last season, Griffey hit 45 homers, finishing one behind Texas' Juan Gonzalez and San Francisco's Barry Bonds for the major league title. So while Fenway's Green Monster in left field is a benefit to righthanded batters, its spacious right field area has hindered many lefthanded power hitters. "It definitely takes away a lot of said Boston's lefthander Mo Vaughn, who has 21 homers this year.
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Boston will be the home team on and off the field. That means the Red Sox will keep 77 percent of the revenue and bat last during the games. Approval from the Major League Baseball Players' Association was obtained for the switch, which outgoing league president Bobby Brown says is the first of its kind in AL history. Said John Buckley, a Red Sox vice president: "I was on the golf course when they ran out to tell me the I said, 'You've got to be kidding This is never supposed to happen." Buckley is in his first year on the job. "This wasn't in the contract," he said.
END OF AN ERA: New York first baseman Don Mattingly batted fifth Wednesday night, the first time since Aug. 11, 1992, that he didn't bat third in the Yankees' order. Before Wednesday, the last time Mattingly batted fifth was May 28, 1984. Mattingly's sore wrist, and absence of power (five home runs) prompted the move by manager Buck Showalter. "If I had been manager, I would have done this a month ago," said the Yankees' captain.
Hot-hitting Paul O'Neill is the new No. 3 man. "This will give Paul a couple more atbats and allow Don to get comfortable," Showalter said. sore is probably something that is going to be with him all year." Said Mattingly: "Times change. I'm enjoy teaching, and that's what I think I'd be best at.
Then, maybe one day, I'd like to try my hand at managing." OPEN AUDITIONS AT SECOND: Oakland may have lost second baseman Brent Gates for the season after he partially tore a knee ligament when Boston's Tim Naehring slid into him breaking up a double play. The Athletics don't have a true backup at second. They brought up Francisco Matos, who was hitting .307 with Class AAA Tacoma, and are using him in a platoon with. backup catcher Scott Hemond. Because Hemond will be playing some second, they also called up catcher Eric Helfand.
Oakland has used eight second basem*n this season. Gates was hitting .283, the others went into the weekend hitting .236 no homers and eight RBI in 123 atbats. The roll call: Mike Brumley, Mike Bordick, Junior Noboa, Steve Sax, Hemond, Fausto Cruz and CAVING IN: Even before tiles began raining from the Kingdome roof, the Seattle Mariners were in free fall. They since the All-Star break, giving up 46 runs in a four-game sweep by the New York Yankees, including 14 in the ninth innings of those games. SIZZLIN' 25,000 30,000 Front End MILES MILES Alignment $24991 Remanufactured All Season Economy Steel Belted Radial 14.99 24.99 18.99 28.99 19.99 29.99 20.99 30.99 23.99 31.99 24.99 32.99 26.99 33.99 27.99 28.99 35.99 29.99 36.99 30.99 37.99 31.99 39.99 80,000 60,000 MILES MILES Hurry In Today! 80.000 Mastercraft SIZES MICHELIN XH4 P794 64.14 44.99 68.29 45.99 46.99 47.99 50.99 77.68 50.99 75.26 51.99 83.89 52.99 87.43 55.99 86.45 56.99 91.98 57.99 86.64 59.99 62.99 58.99 VR Rated Ultr-High Performance Size Price $114.99 $137.99 $131.99 $140.99 $145.99 AND Since 1928, Our Name South North Roanoke 345-8829 563-2877 South 5316 Williomson Rd.
HOURS: became a San Francisco to hit with authority games after the Allbatted .452 (14-for-31) 11 RBI and 10 runs say Bonds turned his the arrival of a poten- dog, maybe?" said friendly rivalry. The two along famously. a tremendous effect on Baker, San Francisco's the pressure off Barry. for Barry all around with heart problems, his proceedings. to the man in one hard to concentrate on Darryl has brought some Barry, too.
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