The Galveston Daily News from Galveston, Texas • Page 19

GALVESTON COUNTY, TEXAS SUNDAY, MARCH 10, 1996 5-B Baseball notes Mutual Smith charged the slow roller and whipped a perfect sidearm throw to first base to conclude another pregarne infield practice. He then circled back and walked to shallow left field to greet an old friend, Cal Ripken. Smith and Ripken embraced, and the two shortstops shared a private moment on a sunny spring morning at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Fla. It was a moment that many in the crowd didnl even notice and one that may never be repeated on a baseball field.

Smith, like baseball fans all across the country, spent last year following Ripken's pursuit of Lou Gehrig's consecutive games streak. "If there is one person who was right for a situation," Smith said, "it was Cal." "it gave me chills," Smith said of the Sept. 6 night when baseball paused to witness Ripken's straight game. "I know that there is no one in baseball that could have handled what he went through." The two built a mutual friendship while playing on opposing sides in 11 All-Star games dating back to 1983. They did play together once, touring Japan with a team of All-Stars in 1986.

rt was during that trip that Ripken got a chance to witness Smith's defensive wizardry firsthand. "I wish I would have had a chance to see Ozzie on a regular basis," Ripken said. "I feel slighted a bit that I didn't." Smith feels the same way. "It was always great to play with him. It's just too bad we couldn't hsvs done rn Smith said.

'That's one of the things that would be great about interleague play, it would give players a chance to see everyone." Ripken is also well aware of Smith's current situation with the Cardinals, where he's fighting to keep his job. Smith, 41, is coming off a season interrupted by shoulder surgery during which he batted just .199. In the offseason, the Cardinals acquired 26-year-old Royce Clayton, who grew up idolizing the man whose job he's now trying to take. Asked if he could envision playing at 41 like Smith, Ripken said: "Can't imagine that, but he doesn't seem to be suffering." Ozzie "Bud" Melman David Letterman paid tribute to Ozzie Smith kind a recent show. In recognition of KMOV-TV in St.

Louis joining the majority of CBS network affiliates by switching The Late Show with David Letterman" to an earlier starting time, Letterman introduced "St. Louis shortstop Ozzie Smith" near the start of the program last Monday night. But as the curtain parted, out walked recurring character Larry "Bud" Melman. Calvert DeForest, who portrays Melman, came on stage wearing a Cardinals jersey and cap to sing "Meet Me in St. Louis," while Smith's name was superimposed below him on the screen.

Smith did not see the gag but was told about it the next mom- ing by several teammates. "Who was that guy?" Smith said. St. Louis manager Tony La Russa missed it, too. Prior to the telecast, La Russa had sent Letterman a Cardinals cap and an autographed ball that read: "Dear Dave, I hope both of our moves are successful." Vis for veteran before he was a World Series MVP or a Cy Young winner, Frank Viola was a young man trying to learn how to pitch in the majors.

To speed his development, the Twins brought in veteran Bert Blyteven, figuring he could help Viola, and eventually the pair pitched Minnesota to a championship. "Just being there, Bert could answer my questions," Viola recalled this week. "He knew what I was going through because he'd been there." Now, years later, Viola finds himself in the Blyleven role. The Blue Jays signed the 36-year- old lefty, hoping he has recovered from elbow problems that have limited him for two years. But on a young staff, the Blue Jays are looking for more than wins and innings from Viola.

'The experience he brings is the biggest thing," general manager Gord Ash said. "If he's healthy, he can really help us that way." How old are you? The St. Louis Cardinals were surprised to leam that, according to the New York Mets 1 1996 media guide, that they were the oldest team in baseball by with an average age of 35. They were even more shocked to find out how the number was reached. The Cardinals were told by the Mets that major league baseball had calculated the figure for them.

But when three players' ages were missing, the computer inadvertently made them each Qfi "garo Pitchers Manuel Aybar (21) and Mike Busby (23) and catcher Eliser Marrero (22) probably had no idea they'd been around for so long. Spring flings The Reds turned their infield into a family affair for an inning in an exhibition last week. NL MVP Barry Larkin played shortstop and was joined by his brother, Stephen, at first base. Meanwhile, second baseman Bret Boone welcomed his brother, Aaron, at third. 'We'd been wanting to do that all spring," manager Ray Knight said.

The two young players were sent back to the minors for more seasoning after the game. Word is already spreading through spring training about the dazzling defense of Mets rookie shortstop Rey Ordonez. The 23-year-old Cuban defector, who's played in the minors for three years, has already been compared to Ozzie Smith. Last season, Ordonez was said to have scooped a grounder behind the mound with his glove and flipped it to first base without ever using his bare hand. Gold Glove shortstop Omar Vizquel, who sometimes doesn't bother using his glove to catch grounders, said he'd heard about that play, even though he's never seen Ordonez.

"I've flipped the ball to second base with my glove, but never to first," he Glenallen Hill is doing his pan to promote baseball this season. Before every game at Candlestick Park, the San Francisco right fielder plans to autograph a T-shirt and toss it into the stands. The shirt says "Keep the Dream Alive" and bears the likeness of Emie Banks, Hank Aaron and other former stars. The Associated Press SUBSCRIBE TODAY! I DRUM TOURNAMENT 7444811 W8-7711 Circulation Department TEXAS CITY DIKE LIGHTED PIER 1.000." in Cash Prizes" (409) 948-8172 TOP GUN MUFFLERS CORTEZ CAR AND MUFFLER 2507 46th Street, Dickinson, Texas 713-337-4771 Offers with this Coupon OFF ON MUFFLERS, DUALS CATALYTIC CONVERTERS FOR A LIMITED EXPIRES LIFETIME WARRANTY ON MUFFLERS OR ENTIRE EXHAUST EXCEPT CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. Smith sees future peering over shoulder By BEN WALKER The Associated Press ST.

PETERSBURG, Fla. Ozzie Smith always figured that when he was finished, he'd know. No one would have tell the fanciest fielding shortstop ever that it was time to go. Only these days, he's not so sure anymore. Because this spring, his future is too clear not to see after all, it's peering right over his shoulder every day.

For the first time in his Hall of Fame career, Smith is fighting for his joh. The St. Louis Cardinals, fearing that Smith might be too old and too injured, traded for San Francisco hotshot Royce Clayton in December. Tve been playing for 18 years. You put yourself in my shoes and you answer that.

How would you feel?" Smith said. "What I've done over 18 years speaks for itself. But they seem to have made a decision already." Manager Tony La Russa, one of many new faces in St. Louis, insists nothing has been determined. Instead, he studies each afternoon as Smith and Clayton practice together, talking as they take turns picking up routine grounders.

They are friends, these two new competitors, and prefer not to dwell on this odd hop their paths have taken. Others have noticed, however. Tm kind of glad I didn't go to St. Louis because of the Ozzie Smith situation," said free-agent shortstop Greg Gagne, who considered the Cardinals before signing with Los Angeles. "ItVpietty messed up over there." Smith, at 41, is trying to become the oldest shortstop in the majors in 75 years.

The 13- tiine Gold Glove winner and 13-time All-Star wants to show he's recovered from a shoulder problem that limited him to 44 games and a .199 average last season. Clayton, at 26, is attempting to take away the position from his boyhood idol. A rising star, he needs a place to play every day, even though he may be blamed for shunting aside a local hero. "I don't think anybody can say they can do the same things at 41 as they did at 26," Smith said. "But Fm not in a wheelchair, either.

When you listen to people talk about me, they talk like they have to wheel me out in a wheelchair. That's not the case." He is as much a fixture in to acquire a shortstop in case he couldn't play," he said. "When we had the opportunity to get someone of Clayton's caliber, we couldn't pass it up. "We knew there would be some moments that may cause some problems. Tony and I talked about it.

It was a situation he was willing to manage," he said. "We're certainly sensitive to Ozzie." Still, those who know La Russa know that sentiment will not affect his decision. "I have no preconceived notion about who will play," he said. "But as a manager, I'm just going to keep my simple responsibility in mind to make a team decision, not a personal one, to best help this team to win." St. Louis shortstop, of the future Royce Clayton, left, passes by Ozzie Smith at a recent spring training workout.

(AP) St. Louis as the famous arch, arguably the most popular player in team history and generally regarded as someone who would never be replaced against his will. Clayton, a good fielder, wants to show he can duplicate his 1993 season when he hit .282 with 70 RBIs. He doesn't seem thrilled, though, about the prospect of trampling on Smith's 14-year legacy in St. Louis.

So far Clayton hasn't made anyone forget about Smith, since he's committed two errors in his first four exhibition games. "I got traded here. I had nothing to do with it," Clayton said. This is an opportunity to learn from one of the best. It's something Pm looking forward to, as much as possible." General manager Walt Jocketty, who sent Allen Watson, Rich DeLucia and a young pitcher to the Giants for Clayton and a minor leaguer, says the deal was a matter of timing.

"We looked at it at the end of the year and met with Ozzie at that time. I told him I was going to make an effort to try NUT Tight Fades Fresh Parts Professional Hair Care Quality Work 1O Years of Experience Location Jeni's Barber and Beauty Salon St. (Directly Behind McDonald's on Broadway) For Any Info Contact: Peanut 74O-40O7 OCJAo lAL REMODELING CONSTRUCTION DRYWALL PLASTERING PAINTING OFFICE RENOVATION HISTORICAL BUILDINGS RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL 762-7979 CHARLES BROWN GENERAL MANAGER Muffler Shop 1300 Hwy 3, La Marque, Texas (409) 938-4886 OFF Mufflers, Duals, Catalytic Conv. Present Coupon Expires LIFETIME WARRANTY On Muffler or Entire Exhaust, Ex. Conv.

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