The Springfield News-Leader from Springfield, Missouri • Page 29

Page edited by Denise Elson; call 837-1373 after 5 p.m. Saturday, July 3, 1999 News-Leader 5C Baseball High Schools McGee considering management Puzzling move lifts Royals by Indians -en I its 1 l-JCvTLH'n. 'ill Royals 9, Indians 7 (10) i i The' Associated Press CLEVELAND Something about Jed Hansen has the Cleveland Indians' bullpen afraid to throw a ball over the plate to him. "I guess they're just scared of those .100 hitters," he joked. Hansen's four-pitch walk with two outs in the 10th inning loaded the bases, and Carlos Beltran cleared them with a double off Paul Shuey on Friday night, giving the Kansas City Royals a 9-7 win over Cleveland.

Beltran's double into the right-field corner came one pitch after Shuey (5-3) walked Hansen, a .100 hitter, on four pitches. Hansen has three walks in 10 at-bats this season, with all three walks coming against the Indians. "That's unreal," said Shuey, who also walked Hansen last week when the Royals scored 10 runs in one inning. "That's two times. If there's one thing that I can take from this outing, it's that I shouldn't have walked Hansen.

I walked the one guy I needed to get out." Jermaine Dye homered twice for the Royals, whose bullpen blew a 5-3 lead in the eighth and cost starter Jose Rosado a victory. "Rosado pitched well and it's a little disheartening that we don't get him a win," Kansas City manager Tony Muser said. "He is a very underrated pitcher." Matt Whisenant (3-3) pitched two innings for the win. He gave up an RBI single to Travis Fryman in the 10th, but got Kenny Lofton to ground out with two runners on to end it. Jeremy Giambi doubled with one out in the 10th off Shuey and Chad Kreuter was intentionally walked.

One out later, Shuey couldn't find the plate and walked Hansen. Beltran, who was waiting on Shuey's fastball, followed with his double, scoring three and causing the Jacobs Field crowd to boo the Indians for one of the first times all year. "I don't care about the boos," said Indians closer Mike Jackson, who got burned by a leadoff walk in the ninth when the Royals tied it. "People have a right to their own opinion. I don't come out to play for that, I come to play for my teammates." Shuey had retired Beltran twice last week by starting him off with a breaking pitch.

This time, he shook off catcher Einar Diaz's call for a curveball, and paid for it. "It was a bad game plan," Shuey said. Trailing 5-3 after being held to two hits over seven innings by Rosado, the Indians scored three runs in the eighth off Scott Service to take a 6-5 lead. PI63S6 S66I Box score. 4C managed him during his glory years with the Cardinals, and Dusty Baker, whom he played for in San Francisco, also would be role models.

Baker gave McGee a book called "The Art of War," so he could soak up some tactics. "The most important part, it seems, is managing your bullpen," McGee said. "The players, pretty much you put them out there." McGee is playing less these days. Before Wednesday's game with the Astros, he had 136 at-bats the first 76 games. He had 309 and 300 at-bats his first two years in his second tour The Associated Press With more time on the bench and less on the field, St.

Louis outfielder Willie McGee is getting plenty of guidance from manager Tony La Russa and finding out what it's like to be in charge. As retirement draws near, the Cardinals outfielder is getting a feel for the reins. The Associated Press ST. LOUIS Someday soon, Willie McGee might move from the outfield to the dugout As McGee's career winds down ahd he spends more time on the tench watching the game and bouncing ideas off Tony La Russa, he's getting a feel for what it would be like to te in charge. La Russa gives him an unqualified 'endorsement, and McGee is intrigued.

"I don't see myself doing it, but this man has been doing it for a long time and that makes me feel good that he thinks I'm capable of doing it," the 40-year-old outfielder said. "I love the game, in any capacity. Whether it's coaching, playing, whatever it is." La Russa said McGee has served an apprenticeship of sorts as an unofficial coach since the Cardinals reacquired the former NL MVP in 1996. Young players constantly seek him out for advice, and even contemporaries like Eric Davis, 36, want to know what makes him tick. "He's one of those guys who asks a lot of questions, and that's probably why he's been picking my brain," Davis said.

"I pick his brain as well. I think it's easy for him to talk to me because I've been around for so long." Davis thinks McGee would be an excellent manager. he said. "He's knowledgeable about the game, he has great instincts, and he communi-cates." Benes making The Associated Press ST. LOUIS St.

Louis Cardinals pitcher Alan Benes, on a long comeback trail from two shoulder operations, faced batters Friday for the first time in two years. Several hours before the Cardi- nals played the Diamondbacks, the right-hander threw 25 pitches off the mound, 15 to David Howard and 10 to Placido Polanco. He's going to test the arm again on Monday, then throw in a simu-" lated game. A rehabilitation stint would follow if there are no problems. "I don't expect to come back right away with the stuffl had two years ago," Benes said.

"I just want to be able to go out there and -ar saw ans i 1 if with the Cardinals, and 269 last year. La Russa has used him as a pinch hitter 19 times, making for lots of dead time. McGee is trying to make the most of it "When you're playing, you're involved in the game so you don't really have time to understand what the infielders are doing," McGee said. "I've had time now to understand situations, how the game works and how it flows." McGee has been hinting at retirement for several years, but he's not tipping his hand about his plans. "I'm day-to-day," he said.

in coaching again, although not at the high school level. "If I were to coach again (in high school), I'm already leaving the greatest situation possible," Keltner said. "I want to stay involved in and around basketball I'm sure not going to walk away from that." Coaching at the collegiate level is something Keltner admits he's interested in, but isn't sure he wants the lifestyle that comes with such a position. "One of the things associated with the college coaching trail is that you have to move," Keltner said. "I've lived in Springfield all my life and have no plans on (moving)." Keltner sees the clean slate in front of him as a blessing, not a burden.

"I kind of know what I don't want to do and I'm looking into what I want to do," he said. "I can't say I have a good reason to get out (of coaching), but maybe that's the best reason." PI83S6 SG6: Career highlights. 2C 1 4 THOUSAND HILLS Two pTayersTlf Holes Cart $3900 Mon-Thurs. Unlimited Golf for $15.00 More Per Personj I wcoupon not valid wother offers ExrsJulyjjlst 245 S. Wildwood Dr, Branson, MO 417-334-4553 Ext.

219 Iteltner Rival coach says resignation is a big loss 0Jiousait I 3ffl I warraw I SAFARI. I3MC. CONVERSION VAN $23,711 Price includes all GM Rebates and Incentives k. A A Continued from 1C said. "He has been one of the caretakers for the game in southwest Missouri." Kickapoo coach Roy Green, who battled Keltner on the sideline for the past 15 years, was surprised to hear of his friendly rival's resignation.

"It's a loss to Springfield basketball," Green said. "Mike always puts in. a lot of work in the off-season and is a good source of information and advice and has always been a gentleman on and off the court." As for what's next for Keltner, even he isn't sure. "There's no agenda right now," Keltner said. "I have to come up with apian." Having resigned only his coaching position, Keltner will remain an employee of the Springfield Public Schools system and would be a candidate if any administrative openings were to arise over the summer.

He also said that he would be interested NEW! Toro" Super 459 Recycled Mower with Exclusive He also is certain to get an endorsement from the fans. He is probably the team's most beloved player. The biggest question is whether McGee, almost painfully media shy, could stomach daily question-and-answer sessions. "I think it'd be his favorite thing," La Russa joked. "That, and making appearances at writers' dinners and standing up and speaking.

But I'll tell you, never underestimate Willie." McGee is pleased that La Russa thinks enough of him to discuss strategy. He said Whitey Herzog, who a comeback not worry about the shoulder." Benes, 27, said he could be working out of the bullpen within three weeks, and expects to be back in the major leagues by August. Before he was sidelined by a partially torn rotator cuff in July 1997, Benes was the dominant pitcher on the staff. He was 9-9 with a 2.89 ERA and 160 strikeouts in 161 innings that year and had surgery that September and again in September 1998. plate during the game in San Diego, told DeJean to get in the dugout.

DeJean said he told Hallion he was going to the dugout. At that point, DeJean and manager Jim Ley-land were ejected. During the ensuing argument, it appeared Hallion made contact with Reed and May, a charge Tata denied after the game on Hallion's behalf. No Rockies were penalized. Hallion, in his.

14th NL season, stands to lose about $2,500 of his salary, which is $140,000 according to the salary scale in the umpires' labor agreement. The suspension is scheduled to start July 9. Hallion declined comment Friday as he walked into the ballpark at Cincinnati before a game between the Houston Astros and the Reds. Hallion is appealing the penalty, and Coleman will hold a hearing Thursday in Philadelphia, where the umpires' union is located. When players are suspended for on-field disputes, league presidents also hear the appeals.

"We probably will be wasting our time," Crawford said. jf ill fl tn i ii A Benes National League suspends umpire THQMPSOn GMC pontiac SAVAN A. SMC. I CONVERSION VAN $25,711 I Price includes all GM Rebates and Incentives 727 St. Louis St.

I 762 1919 41 7-866-661 Lightweight high perform no Rugged, heavy duty construction Reliable starting perturmanced extended 1 1 ftp 2 year engine warranty. Model 53009 $99Q95, i 2318 S. Campbell 417-883-0122 800 WPfiM) HEADQUARTERS TORO PROLINE HANDHELD 23cc SE String Trimmer Personal Pace" Model 20042 Model 53008 X17895' Personal Paw Self-Propel System puts you in control 6.0 hp Tbro GTS engine guaranteed-to-start on the first or second pull or Toro fixes it FREE! Patented Recycler cutting system 17 The Associated Press NEW YORK Here's a twist: An umpire has been suspended for bumping a player. Tom Hallion was suspended for three games without pay by NL president Len Coleman on Friday for his actions during an argument with Colorado catcher Jeff Reed and pitching coach Milt May last weekend. While penalties against players are common, baseball officials couldn't recall another suspension of an umpire for an on-field dispute umpires' union head Richie Phillips said it had not happened in his 21 years as general counsel.

But they also could not rule out that it happened before. In 1990, NL president Bill White was prepared to suspend umpire Joe West for slamming Philadelphia pitcher Dennis Cook to the field, but commissioner Fay Vincent intervened and no discipline was Imposed. The dispute Saturday began when Rockies pitcher Mike DeJean, while walking to his dugout after an inning, complained to third base umpire Terry Tata about a check-swing call. Hallion, who was working at home mulches tor a healthy and beautiful lawn. "be Five year FULL warranty en you want It dotw right Close-out on Aliens, Full Service Modern Hamidscapimifg Supply 440 E.

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