The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 19

ilililjll'iUlii iy i THE Tf NWESSEAN ThurtxUy, My gft SI'OKTS: BASEBALL 1998 Is recast logo Rose Jr. still hopes to make his own mark into musical note NEXT UP: Nashville resumes Its 12-game homestand tonight as New Orleans visits for a four-game series. LHP Kevin Pick-ford (1-0, 5.56) will start for the Sounds against Zephyrs RHP Roger Salkeld (2-4, 5.77). Game time Is 7 p.m. (Radio: 560-AM, 6:45 p.m.) ON THE MEND: Nashville catcher Tim Edge, who suffered facial fractures breaking up a double play at Las Vegas last week, returned home to Raleigh, N.C., during the All-Star break and was to be evaluated by an earnosethroat specialist.

He Is expected to undergo surgery, Sounds trainer Sandy Krum said, but could rejoin the team In less than 10 days following the procedure. ON THE MEND, II: Sounds first baseman Ron Wright, who went on the disabled list April 29 with a back Injury, reported to Pittsburgh's spring training base In Bradenton, earlier this week. Wright could see game action with the Pirates' Class A team in the Florida State i League in a week to 10 days. -MAURICE PATTON 1 By MAURICE PATTON Sports Writer The guitar-wielding baseball player that has represented the Nashville Sounds since the team's 1978 inception is likely headed into retirement at the end of the season. A new logo a black music note trimmed in red will be on game hats and uniforms for the 1999 campaign after going into use this year on Sounds merchandise and printed items.

"We have put in a request to change the uniform logo for 1999," Nashville general manager Bill Larsen said. "We couldn't do it for this year because you have to apply to the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues by June of the previous year. "We wanted to get a feel for the proposed logo, and in our survey, the consensus was that after 20 years, it was time for a change." Red and black will be the dominant colors, with a silver presence as well, according to Larsen. "People like the look of the new logo," he said. "We havent said much about it, but most people have come up and said they like it.

"Your logo should be somewhat identifiable with your team right away. We've had so many changes with our fans over the last five years, that I dont think it was really immediately identifiable except by the fans that have been here for Pete Rose then playing for his hometown Cincinnati Reds, delivers his first major league hit during a game last year against the Kansas City Royals. twice and scoring twice in 16 plate appearances. That came on the heels of his best minor league campaign, at Class AA Chattanooga where he batted .308 with 25 home runs and 98 RBI. "Up until last year, I always tried to emulate my father offensively; that worked against me," says Rose listed at 6-foot-l, 180 pounds but probably weighs at least 210.

"I'm bigger than he is, I've got a different style of hitting than he does. I got with a personal trainer last year, put some weight on instead of trying to slap the ball like my dad, I'm trying to drive the ball." In the process, Rose Jr. maintains that he should be a major league player whether he's Pete Rose's son or not. "It's not like I'm getting looked at because I'm Pete Rose if I was, I'd have already been in the big leagues and I'd still be there," he says. "I don't think that has made it any easier or any harder.

"I just go out and try to be Junior, do what I'm capable of doing on the baseball field and dont try to do too much." If they exhibit different physical skills on the field, though, the mental approach is quite similar. "He's a great guy to have on a ballclub," says Sounds reliever Rich Sauveur, who played against Rose last season in the American Association and with him earlier this year at Indianapolis before both were released. "You meet guys you hate to play against and it's a great experience to play with them. That's what I found with him. He's a great guy.

a lot of fun to be with on and off the field. He'll give 150 every day; I think that's all you can ask of somebody." Playing with maximum effort is something Rose Jr. learned while watching his father play up close. "I grew up hanging around Dad," he says. "The only time I could hang around Dad, the majority of the time, was at the ballpark.

When I was little, I really wanted to be there; as I got older, the game became fun to me. It was never pushed on me or anything. "Baseball's always been my first love. Growing up, I had a batting cage in my front yard; my mom would call in sick for me to school so I could stay home and take batting practice before high school games; Baseball was always king of the house. But when you've got the Hit King as the head of the household, I guess baseball should be the king of the house." Even though he may not enjoy "prospect" status, Junior's love for the game hasn't gone unnoticed by those that watch him.

"He plays hard every day," Jewett says. "That should be the way the game is played, but quite honestly, it's somewhat a rarity for a guy to go out and give everything he's got on every' given play. Petey's somewhat of a throwback. It's very' refreshing. "He comes to the park every day anxious to be in the lineup, and if he's not, he's been tremendous as well.

He's willing to play any position we ask. He's just been tremendous to be around." But can he play major league baseball? "That's what I want to do; that's my goal," he says. "If I ever think about hanging them up, I'm in the wrong job." The goal suffered a minor setback earlier this season when the Reds released Rose from Indianapolis despite a 277 average with three home runs and 13 RBI in 130 at-bats. Since joining the Sounds, he's hitting 200 (6-for-30) with six RBI and four runs. "The next step for Junior to get back in the show is just to play," he says.

"I've got a great opportunity here; that's why I signed. I just need a chance to go out and play. I didn't get a chance to play in Indy. "Right now I'm scuffling a little, but I feel I bring a lot of things to the table on the field with my bat and glove. I'm not going to nin above average or throw above average.

But I'm going to play you as hard as I can, out-think you, keep guys loose in the clubhouse. "That's what's been instilled in me from watching as I was growing up. That's how I was taught to play." an extended period of time." There's been no word as to the status of Greer Stadium's guitar-shaped scoreboard. Fans entertained in PCL's defeat All in the baseball family f- 1 fjf: if-' Notable father-son comb Major league lather-and-son duos include: FILE Amikialed NORFOLK, Va. It started with a pregame wedding, continued with 10-foot blow-up dolls providing mid-inning entertainment and even had a rendition of Take Me Out to the Ballgame led by someone named Harry.

The Triple-A All-Star game last night between the International League and the Pacific Coast League wasnt quite Coors Field on Tuesday night, but what was missing in star power was there in the other forms. There was the marriage of recent New York Mets callup Benny Ag-bayani at home plate before the game, the figures like Cow Ripken Ken Giraffey Jr. and Shark McGwire rousing fans between innings, and the voice of former Chicago Cubs announcer Harry Caray singing, only as 10-foot Harry Canary. And there was the game, in which Columbus' Mike Lowell homered and drove in two runs, and Rochester's Joel Bennett continued his unbeatable season with two near-perfect innings as the International League prevailed 8-4. Reliever Jeff McCurry, the only Nashville Sound to make the PCL team, did not play.

The IL scored three times in the first and never trailed, adding two more in the fourth and three more in the seventh to open an 8-3 lead. Bennett, 10-0 for a Red Wings team that is 36-46, got the victory for two one-hit innings and two strikeouts. The loss went to Travis Baptist of Salt Lake, who came in with an 8-3 record and 2.77 ERA. Roberto Petagine got the IL on the board with an RBI groundout in the first Lowell followed with a long home run to left, and Bobby Estalella made it 3-0 when he singled after Willis Otanez' doubled. Armando Rios of Fresno hit a twe-out homer to get the PCL on the board in the third, and Jeff Ball's RBI single in the fourth made it 3-2, but the IL padded its lead in its half of the inning thanks to a misplay by Rios.

With one out. Trot Nixon hit a line drive that froze Rios in center, then sailed over his outstretched glove and to the wall, scoring Otanez. Nixon came home when Scott Krause singled, giving the IL a 5-2 lead. After Warren Newsome's RBI grounder in the fifth and home run in the eighth drew the PCL to within 5-4, Alex Gonzalez hit an RBI triple, Allen Battle singled him home and scored on Lowell's double to deep center. Lowell was named the most valuable player for the IL, and Colorado Springs shortstop Terry Shumpert, who homered and scored twice, earned the honor for the PCL Player Year Taama Comment Sandy Alomar 1964-78 Five teams Sick fielding middle infielder.

Roberto Alomar 1988- Padres, Blue Jays, Orioles Back-to-back World Series titles. Sandy Alomar Jr. 1988- Padres, Indians Catcher has made multiple All-Star appearances. Felipe Alou 1958-74 Six teams Played next to Wiffie Mays. MoisesAlou 1990- Pirates, Expos.

Martrs, Astros Key member of 1998 World Series champions. Buddy Bel 1972-89 Indians, Rangers, Reds, Astros Sodd third baseman. David Bel 1995- Indians, Cardinals Oldest of three brothers In pro baB. Bobby Bonds 1968-81 Eight teams Combined power and speed (332 HR, 461 SB). Barry Bonds 1986- Pirates, Giants Perennial al-star outfielder.

Bob Boone 1972-90 Phillies, Angels, Royals One of the game's top defensive catchers. Aaron Boone 1997- Reds Backup mheWer. Former standout at USC. Bret Boone 1 992- Manners. Reds One of the top defensive second basemen.

Tom Grieve 1970-79 Senators, Rangers, Mets, Cardinals Parttme outfielder, later Rangers GM. Ben Grieve 1997- Athletics Al Rookie of Ihe Year candidate. Ken Griffey 1973-91 Reds. Yankees. Braves, Manners Part of the Big Red Machine in Cincinnati.

Ken Griffey Jr. 1989- Manners Among best young home run hitters ever. Randy Hundley 1964-77 Giants. Cubs, Twins, Padres Caught every game of his career (1 Todd Hundley 1990- Mets 41 HRs "96 mostever ha season by catcher. HalMcRae 1968-87 Reds, Royals One of the first ever designated hitters.

Brian McRae 1990- Royals, Cubs. Mets Eight career leadofl home runs. Tony Perez 1964-86 Reds, Expos, Red Sox, Phiftes Three home runs in 1975 World Series. Eduardo Perez 1993- Angels, Reds Coming of! best season (253, 16 HR, 52 RBI). Pete Rose and Pete Jr.

together last year. Son stands by dad Pete Rose is baseball's all-time hits leader, but still isnt in the Hall of Fame a result of his banishment from the game for allegedly betting on games. Pete Rose obviously, has a problem with his dad not yet being enshrined in Cooperstown, N.Y. "I think it's terrible," Rose Jr. says.

"You've got a guy with 4256 hits, a record that's not going to be broken, and the guy's not in the Hall of Fame then there shouldn't be a Hall of Fame. "It's not a place for schoolchildren, not a place for model citizens. It's a place here the finest baseball players ever to put on the uniform go. I'm biased because he's my dad, but I think he's one of them. I'm very proud of him.

"He made a couple of mistakes, but he's paid for them and gone on with his life. I le's going to be in, it's just a matter of time." MAURICE PATTON We're Back In The Swing, Bad Weather Won't Stop Us! Home caii 24WBVS Delivery $'f18 holes Weekday's IS holes aimnoH Weekend's ljj onw Explm 7-10-M Wt ir open 7-t-M I 1998 ISUZU 4,800 mo. lease $463.72 k4 4 Ml urn Ewe a Ball Wnh The Tamessean 1 Good Thru July 31t! GOLF COURSE (615) 792-7863 Even Mmltiv Senior Day Jf 18 holes IV! Snorts section. ILi Effort Soon 55 Gm er Hi 1 18 holes son fry ll'eJiitsJdy PLiy Dw Before 12 Soon Eim H'eJmsfa PkM To subscribe, Oj fl LiKJ vt.tc $1124.7 lit iiucption JU olk '244-8900 CalWLZ-NtWb. Jl Hill 4 IRflPOTE r-igrr 1 mu'm 1 1 iiLu 11111 1" CAN BE TREATED WITH A A Winning Finish At 12 The Price! rPOUETllArSUPREME PAINT "JobI i i mix Wttimat, 3 Vr.

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