Baseball Digest articles from August 2003

Baseball Digest archives from August 2003

Letters to the editor. (The Fans Speak Out).
August 1, 2003... My question has to do with Ron Swoboda, who played for the Mets. I understand that as a rookie, Swoboda hit homers in his first four official at-bats. Is this correct? Armando Ruiz Flushing, N.Y. It never happened, although...

Why Braves' John Smoltz ranks as a top gun out of bullpen. (Warm Up Tosses)(Cover Story).(Atlanta Braves pitcher)
August 1, 2003... IT WAS A MORNING IN MID-MAY WHEN BRAVES' PITCHING COACH LEO MAZZONE answered a long-distance call from an inquisitive reporter. The Braves were in San Diego for a four-game series with the Padres, and the night before, their reliever John...

From posers to closers: as the reliever's status has grown, the days of putting just anyone in the pen are long gone.(management of relief pitchers)
August 1, 2003... THERE ISN'T ANOTHER JOB IN baseball with a history, reputation, or personality more muddled than that of the relief pitcher. Relievers are indispensable. "No one can win a World Series," said Troy Percival, star closer of the defending...

Saving the Eck: Dennis Eckersley's move from starter to closer extended his career.
August 1, 2003... THE ECK RECALLS HOW HE learned his days as a starting pitcher were officially history. "They traded for Bob Welch and got rid of Jay Howell," explains Dennis Eckersley. "That's when I knew I'd be in the pen full time." The year was...

Hitting on all cylinders: like a finely tuned engine, Nomar Garciaparra displays smooth batting techniques.
August 1, 2003... WHEN YOU ARE LIKENED TO the most accomplished players in baseball history, success is measured in custom sizes only. Such is the reality for Nomar Garciaparra, who, three seasons ago, at age 27 became the first right-handed hirer to win...

Sign language: the art of baseball communication: the secrecy of relaying messages among players, coaches and managers is vital to the game's lifeblood.
August 1, 2003... IT ALL LOOKS SO INNOCENT, AT TIMES even comical. Yet all the exaggerated gyrations, the clandestine touches and subtle movements that make up baseball's secret language of signs, open a door into a fascinating and complex culture (and...

Yankees' Alfonso Soriano hitting his way to stardom; second baseman's talent is drawing comparisons to some Hall of Famers, but his only concern is improving his game. (With A Snap of the Wrists ...).
August 1, 2003... BALLPLAYERS WHO HAVE SEEN IT all admit they haven't seen anything like the Yankees' Alfonso Soriano. Hard-to-please types, too, as in Sandy Koufax, Reggie Jackson and Joe Torre. They can't gush enough about Soriano, a veteran of little more...

The naturals: teenage players whose innate baseball talents made them special; Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Mel Ott, Bob Feller and Robin Yount are some Hall of Famers whose careers started at an early age.
August 1, 2003... BERNARD MALAMUD'S NOVEL THE Natural, which was turned into a memorable movie starring Robert Redford, doesn't entirely fracture the bounds of probability in one way in spite of being a highly imaginative work of fiction. Like the character...

1973--when David Clyde went from teenage phenom to big league trouble: Texas high schooler's career was shortened when he went to the majors with no professional experience. (Turn Back The Clock).
August 1, 2003... DAVID CLYDE COULD HAVE been a more sympathetic figure. Instead, he became an example of what can happen to the potential of a young baseball player when the men with the money force unrealistic expectations on his arm. Bob Short owned the...

Baseball profile: Geoff Jenkins--Milwaukee Brewers.(Interview)
August 1, 2003... FULL NAME: Geoffrey Scott Jenkins AGE, HT., WT.: 28, 6-1,213 Born: July 21, 1974 in Olympia, Washington HOME: Scottsdale, Arizona STATUS/FAMILY: Single NICKNAME: Jenks LIFE OUTSIDE BASEBALL: I like to play video games...

Questions and answers with Curt Schilling.(Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher)(Interview)
August 1, 2003... ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS RIGHT-hander Curt Schilling has been a 20-game winner in each of the last two seasons, and from the beginning of 2001 through mid-May 2003--including playoffs and World Series--he has a 52-15 record. No one in the majors...

Baseball quick quiz.
August 1, 2003... 1. Last season, Alex Rodriguez of the Texas Rangers became the third player in major league history to hit 50-plus homers and win a Gold Glove award in the same season. Collect five points for each of the other two players you can identify who...

Baseball aches for flakes: the game has had a history of "different" personalities, something missing in today's era of players.
August 1, 2003... LEGEND HAS IT THAT JACKIE Brandt, who played for five teams between 1956-1967, was the first ballplayer to officially be called a "flake." A teammate once noticed that things seemed to "flake" off Brandt's mind. You know, like playing 27...

Remembering "The Mad Hungarian": former reliever Al Hrabosky: ex-fireman of the year used his on-field theatrics to gain an edge against opposing batters.
August 1, 2003... DICK RADATZ THRUST HIS ARMS above his head after striking out the heart of the Yankees' order and strode off the mound with giant steps, and The Monster was born. Tug McGraw, who has been battling a brain tumor but in better days sounded the...

7th inning stretch; players who hit 500 lifetime homeruns.(Illustration)
August 1, 2003... Last May 11, Rafael Palmeiro of the Rangers became the 19th player in major league history to hit 500 home runs. The following charts list significant milestone home runs for all members of the 500-Home Run Club. HANK AARON Home Run...

Tracking down the Moose: former slugger Bill Skowron looks back on a storied big league career.
August 1, 2003... CHICAGO NATIVE BILL "MOOSE" Skowron hit 211 home runs from 1954-1967 with five teams, including the New York Yankees for most of his career and the White Sox for three years. An opposite-field hitter, Skowron played in eight World Series with...

Club history: San Francisco Giants.(Illustration)
August 1, 2003... Club History San Francisco Giants The Giants have been a part of major league baseball since 1876, playing in New York from 1876 through 1957 before moving to San Francisco. All Statistical records are from 1900 through the 2002...

Baseball Rules Corner: conflicting signals by different umpires can lead to confusion.
August 1, 2003... DID YOU EVER SEE TWO UMPIRES make opposite calls on the same play? Did you ever see an umpire reverse his call on the same play? Whenever this happens you can color the men in blue red, but it's all a part of the game. Different calls on...