Sunday, July 11, 1999
BASEBALL INSIDER
Celebration time around majors
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The All-Star Game and the days surrounding it are meant for celebrating the game's best. In that spirit, here are some shiny, happy tales about some of the folks who'll be at Fenway Park on Tuesday:
IT NEVER GETS OLD: Though Baltimore third baseman Cal Ripken Jr. tied Ron Carew's record of 15 starting All-Star berths (since fans began voting in 1970), the Iron Man sounded as if he were heading for his first midsummer classic.
“It's always great news,” Ripken said. “I looked forward to going this year. With it being in Boston, you know it's going to be special.”
Ripken's performance enhanced his appreciation. He began the weekend hitting .311, which was unthinkable when a back injury forced him to the disabled list in April. He was batting .179 and was so wracked by pain that some people urged him to retire.
“Looking back, I wasn't sure how the season was going to go and how I was going to come back from the injury,” Ripken said.
Ripken is on pace to finish with 24 homers and nearly 80 RBI. He's expected to collect his 3,000th career hit in late August.
All of this has buoyed Ripken's outlook as he prepares to head for Boston.
“When you feel good about yourself, you stand up a little taller when you get in the game,” he said. “I've been voted in a couple of years when statistically I might not have been the most deserving player at that position. But this year I feel pretty good about how I've been playing and I'm looking forward to going.”
UNLIKELY HERO: On the other hand, check out the credentials of Texas Rangers re liever Jeff Zimmerman:
• Nobody drafted him out of Texas Christian University.
• He spent 1994 playing in a semipro league in France.
• He pitched for the Canadian National Team the next two years. His hopes of reaching the Olympics were dashed when Nicaragua defeated Canada in a qualifying round.
• He pitched for the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the Northern League in 1997, finishing 9-2 with a league-best 2.82 ERA.
That's when Zimmerman created his break. He faxed all 30 major-league teams, pleading for a tryout. The only interested team was the Rangers, who had to buy out his Winnipeg contract. Asked to pay $5,000, the Rangers closed the deal instead by giving the Goldeyes two dozen baseballs.
After excelling in the minors and the Arizona Fall League last year, Zimmerman earned a non-roster invitation to spring training. He was one of the last players cut and was promoted to the majors a week into the regular season when Texas decided it needed a seven-man bullpen.
Much like the Reds' Scott Williamson, Zimmerman has emerged from nowhere to dazzle hitters. He was 8-0 with an 0.89 ERA before Friday, pitching almost exclusivly in set-up and middle relief.
“I can't comprehend it,” Zimmerman said. “I'm a middle reliever. We're supposed to be the bottom feeders of baseball. So this is the ultimate pinnacle for me.”
SATISFIED SAMMY: Leading the NL All-Stars in votes (2,315,204) was a source of pride for Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa.
The All-Star Game has been something of a void in Sosa's career. He appeared in the 1995 game but didn't make the NL squad the follow ing year despite leading the league in homers at the break. He was again bypassed in 1997. Though he made last year's team, a minor injury sidelined him.
“It shows the respect and appreciation people have given me,” Sosa said. “Now I know that I'm there with Ken Griffey Jr. and Mark (McGwire) and all the big names. Now I'm one of them.”
SINGULAR TWIN: If you thought Minnesota infielder Ron Coomer was an unlikely All-Star, consider how he felt.
When a Twins official telephoned Coomer to inform him of his selection, “I thought he was kidding,” Coomer said.
Because right-hander Brad Radke, the Twins' leading candidate, had a groin injury to go with a 5-7 record, Coomer, hitting .281 with 10 homers and 33 RBI, was the most logical choice.
Coomer spent all or part of nine seasons in the minors before reaching Minnesota to stay in 1996.
“It's a remarkable story and a tribute to his perseverance,” said seven-time All-Star Paul Molitor, a former teammate of Coomer's. “Forget about where the team is, with 13 rookies. He's going to represent the Twins in the All-Star Game, and that's a tremendous honor. He spent a long time in the minors, and he's a guy who never quits. I don't think he takes one minute in uniform for granted. I know when he walks into that clubhouse on Monday, he's going to have a feeling like he's never had before.”
LOOK HIM OVER: If it's possible to be a four-time All-Star and a former National League Most Valuable Player and still be underrated, Larry Walker qualifies.
The Colorado Rockies' right fielder is rarely mentioned in discussions of the game's best players. Enough fans seem to appreciate Walker's value, because they elected him to start Tuesday.
“I'd have to question if there is as complete a player in the game anywhere as Larry Walker,” teammate Dante Bichette said of Walker. “Is there anything he doesn't do well?”
Moreover, Walker's willing to please the people. Unlike some players, who would rather not be bothered with the home-run hitting contest, Walker wants to participate in the Monday night slugfest.
“Fans like it. Fans come out and see it. It's good,” he said. “During batting practice in the season, sometimes I'll swing hard and try to hit home runs. This is no different. I just want to see how far I can hit it.”
SELECT SOPHOMORES: The Arizona Diamondbacks' four All-Star representatives — second baseman Jay Bell, left fielder Luis Gonzalez, left-hander Randy Johnson and third baseman Matt Williams — is more than any other second-year franchise.
Kind of.
The only other team that came close was the 1962 Los Angeles (now Anaheim) Angels during the brief period when two All-Star games were played each year. Second baseman Bill Moran, outfielder Lee Thomas and outfielder Leon Wagner were chosen for both games. Pitcher Ken McBride joined them in the second game.
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