The Miami Herald from Miami, Florida • 58

FLA WWW.HERALD.COM SUNDAY, APRIL 24,2005 15C BASEBALL EXTRA BY KEVIN BAXTER TIM STAFF STAR: Emiliano Escandon is one of the draws for the Atlantic League. 'He's an extraordinary said Suzanne Kalafer, wife of Somerset (N.J.) team owner Steve Kalafer. 'He could be anything he wanted to 'A wonderful hen Emiliano signed Escandon to play first in the Atlantic League, his goal was the same as every other player in the league. "I told myself I'm going to give myself a month, maybe two months and try to get back the he said. That was five years ago, and Escandon, 30, has long since stopped waiting for that call IN MY OPINION from the big KEVIN leagues.

BAXTER The Atlankbaxter tic League is his home now. "Opening night, you look at the stadium. It's a beautiful place to play," the Somerset (N.J.) Patriots second baseman said. "That kind of just resets your mind to where, you know what, I may not be able to get back. If I don't, this is such a wonderful place to play." Escandon isn't alone.

Although the Atlantic League once was thought of as nothing more than a rest stop for players between jobs with major-league organizations, in recent years the league has become a destination with a growing number of players staying put. Rolo Avila of the Bridgeport (Conn.) Bluefish, who made it as high as Triple A in the Baltimore organization, WHO'S BRIAN ROBERTS, BALTIMORE has been with the league since the start. Former Toronto prospect Justin Davies is back for his fourth season with the Long Island Ducks where his teammates will include former Braves reliever John Rocker and former Cincinnati Reds minor-leaguer Pete Rose Jr. And slugger Glenn Murray, second-round draft pick of the Montreal Expos and a former major-leaguer with the Phillies, is in his seventh season with the Nausha (N.H.) Pride. 'STILL IN THE GAME' "I had my chances out of here," said Murray, 34.

"I went to Mexico, went back to the Cardinals. But pretty much like those guys, you comfortable here. You're still in the game. And it's a great place to play." The eight-team league, which closed its two-week spring training camp in Homestead this weekend, was founded in 1998 to provide aging prospects and former big-leaguers who had been released by majorleague organizations with one last chance to prove themselves. And it has more than served that purpose, sending 177 players, including stars such as Ruben Sierra, Jose Lima, Rickey Henderson, Jose Offerman, Carlos Baerga and Bill Pulsipher back to the majors.

That has given the league a transient nature, however, with dozens players of play- RISING ORIOLES The second baseman is off to blazing start, leading the majors in slugging percentage (.860) and topping the American League in runs (16) and triples (3). He's also third in the AL in batting (.375) and second in homers (six, a career high). LOS ANGELES DODGERS Although they started the season with starters Brad Penny and Wilson Alvarez, closer Eric Gagne and outfielder Jayson Werth on the DL and they have gotten little production from Hee Seop Choi (.206) and J.D. Drew the Dodgers entered the weekend with baseball's best record at 12-3. BRIAN ROBERTS NEW YORK YANKEES ALEX HR 2B TB RODRIGUEZ, AP 2 2 13 RBI 6 5 5 6 Dropped to the fifth spot in the order a day slumping Rodriguez responded with four and six RBI Monday, raising his average 59 rout of the Devil Rays.

place to play' ers coming and going during ankle injury derailed his the course of a summer. But climb to the majors, that at the same time, the league, future is likely to include a which is independent of run for political office in his organized baseball, has also new home. The son of Mexicarved a niche of its own. can immigrants who spoke Despite playing most of its Spanish as his first language, games within easy driving Escandon was valedictorian distance of four big-league of his high school class, parks, the league drew 1.79 scored 1,520 on the SAT and a million fans last season, with was the first student in Calithree teams averaging more fornia history to post a 5.0 than 4,300, a game better grade-point average for a full than the average attendance academic year. in all but five of the 15 affiliated with orga- POSTER CHILD leagues nized baseball.

If the Atlantic League And that has made players needs someone to build its such as Escandon and Mur- new image around, it ray, both of whom recently couldn't do better than moved permanently to their Escandon. Atlantic League cities, com- "He's an extraordinary fortable enough to set down guy," said Suzanne Kalafer, get roots. wife of team owner Steve "We're all very proud of Kalafer. "He's very, very the way the league has devel- bright. Very classy.

He could oped," said Escandon, whose be anything he wanted to team kicks off the Atlantic be." League season Wednesday But for now he says he's night. "The bottom line is if happy being Somerset's team you don't have a good prod- captain and all-star second uct on the field, no uniform, baseman. And playing in the no in-game entertainment, Atlantic League, not the no exposure is going to help American League. you. Fans want to see good- "I've given it 100 percent quality baseball.

They want from the day I started playto see the type of player ing baseball at 5 years old," that's going to hustle and he said. "Sometimes you're give your kids an example to just not good enough. If I look toward. don't make it it's because I "The atmosphere, the know that I don't have the environment, the community physical tools that teams are is so great that I actually looking for. found there are possibilities "But I've given it everyto build a future thing and Somerset's been a For Escandon, who made great place for me.

I don't it as high as Triple A with the need the big leagues any Kansas City Royals before an more to feel fulfilled." WHO'S REELING VICENTE PADILLA, PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES The New York Mets pounded the enigmatic right-hander for eight runs on eight hits including five home runs in three innings Tuesday in his injury-delayed season debut. Since his appearance in the 2002 Star Game, Padilla is 25-26 with a 3.97 ERA. KANSAS CITY ROYALS DESIGNATED HITTERS The trio of Calvin Pickering, Mike Stairs went into the weekend hitting a combined .183 with Sweeney and Matt Phillies three homers and 11 RBI in the designated hitter role. As a result, Kansas City is next to last in the American League in scoring a and tied for last in RBI. VICENTE PADILLA DAVID WELLS, BOSTON IP RED SOX BB 8 3 0 NP 5 109 Wells fell an inning short of his 13th career shutout but still managed to extend his scoreless innings streak to 15 by blanking the Orioles on Wednesday.

After losing his first two decisions, Wells has won two straight. AROUND THE MAJORS DREW PLAYING HARDBALL The Diamondbacks say they aren't optimistic Stephen Drew, last year's No. 1 draft pick, will accept their latest contract offer and expect the former Florida State shortstop to reenter the draft this June. Arizona offered Drew, the 15th overall selection, a five-year $7.5 million contract earlier this month, but that is far short of what Drew's agent, Scott Boras, is seeking, Drew, who hasn't played baseball in nearly a year, signed last week with the Camden Riversharks of the independent Atlantic League to get back into baseball shape. If Drew hasn't signed by May 31, he can reenter the draft and file paperwork preventing Arizona which has the top pick from drafting him again.

Drew's brother J.D., also represented by Boras, did the same thing in 1997, sitting out a season rather than signing with the Phillies. He then reentered the draft and agreed to terms with the Cardinals. CUBS LEFT -HANDED With shortstop Nomar Garciaparra out as long as three months with a torn groin muscle, the Cubs could be missing their opening day double-play combination until late July. Second baseman Todd Walker also is out, perhaps until June, with a knee injury sustained in the season's first week. Garciaparra, a two-time AL batting champion, was hitting .157 when he was carried off the field Wednesday after he hurt himself coming out of the batter's box in the third inning of a game in St.

Louis. ROCKET ON A ROLL Roger Clemens, who, you might remember, retired before winning the National League's Cy Young Award last season, went into Saturday's start against St. Louis leading the majors with an 0.43 ERA. But he has never beaten the Braves or Dodgers. Clemens, who is 0-2 lifetime against Atlanta, pitched seven scoreless innings against the Braves on Monday in a game Atlanta won 1-0 in 12 innings.

THEY'RE TRYING HARD The Pirates may have had the second-worst ager record Lloyd in baseball McClendon entering said the it's not weekend, for a lack but of maneffort. That's why McClendon, who hasn't shied away from challenging his players in the past, hasn't reamed his team out yet this season. "What am I going to scream about?" he asked reporters. "How do you get mad at your players when they're giving you everything they've got? They're busting their rear SANTANA'S BIG WEEK Johan Santana, the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, struck out 10 Kansas City Royals in than seven 45 innings minutes after Wednesday getting a a start call from that the began hospi- less tal telling him his wife had given birth to the couple's second child. Yasmile Santana was scheduled to be induced Thursday but went into labor Wednesday afternoon.

And after giving birth to an 8-pound 6-ounce girl, she told her husband to take the mound. "I said, 'What the heck are you doing Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "And he says, 'She told me to go Santana (3-0) did not get a decision in the Twins' extra-inning victory and has not lost in 19 starts, dating to last July. A TURN FOR THE WORSE The Rangers' bullpen, which led the AL with a 3.46 ERA last season, has been giving up runs at almost double that rate through 17 games this season, entering the weekend with a 6.40 ERA. But that's not so much the fault of the guys who are there as it is the guys who aren't there.

Frank Francisco has been on the disabled list since the start of the season with a strained elbow, Carlos Almanzar missed the first 11 days because of two bereavement leaves, one for his mother and a second one for his brother. And R.A. Dickey (right triceps), Joaquin Benoit (shoulder), Ryan Bukvick (elbow) and Erasmo Ramirez (finger) are on the disabled list. Francisco will be activated within the next few days but Texas likely will be without Almanzar and Francisco, their two best setup relievers, for another month. DOWN ON THE FARM JUAN CARLOS MUNIZ FLORIDA MARLINS Juan Carlos Muniz needed swinging the bat really well." three years to make the rela- Muniz played five years in tively short trip from Cuba to the Cuban national series the U.S., thanks largely to a before leaving the country long layover in Brazil.

But now legally for Brazil after the 2001 that he's here, the 29-year-old season. Once there, he overoutfielder is quickly making up stayed his visa, hoping to for lost time. defect to the U.S. After an impressive spring After seeing him in a tryout training that won him a spot in 2003, the Marlins signed him with the Marlins Double A affili- for a small bonus, then waited ate in Zebulon, N.C., another two years for to started his first season of pro- secure a U.S. visa, fessional ball batting .261 with An aggressive hitter and a stolen base in six games, speedy outfielder with great helping the Mudcats jump to range, a good arm and good an early lead in the Southern size at 6-4, 201 pounds, League standings.

tried to stay sharp training and "With him not playing for so playing with a group of native long, no one knew what to Japanese living in Brazil. As a expect," said Marc DelPiano, result, he arrived in Miami in the Marlins' director of interna- February ready to play. tional operations. he "He's exceeded everyone's came out of spring training expectations," DelPiano said. BY THE NUMBERS LINES A earlier, the extra-base hits points in a 19-8 THE WEEK Projected luxury tax that will be $30,637,5315 assessed against the New York Yankees based on the team's opening day payroll.

That's greater than the entire payroll of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Career slugging percentage for Colorado's Todd Hel.614 ton entering the weekend, fo fourth highest in history for players with more than 3,000 plate appearances. Average time, in hours minutes, for the four 2:05 games started this season by the White Sox's Mark Buehrle..