Wednesday, February 23, 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 5
Cubs see no risk with new pitcher
Former Shockers player puts incident in past before season
The Associated Press
MESA, Ariz. — Ben Christensen threw one warmup pitch that changed two lives — his own and Anthony Molina's.
Now he's trying to put the ugly incident behind him as he attends his first spring training with the Chicago Cubs. It won't be easy.
"Other than the media, it doesn't bring up plead." Christensen, the Cubs' first-round pick, said yesterday. "It's in the past. But obviously it's not over. There is a possible civil litigation, but nothing has happened. I can't control anything. I have nothing to do over what is going to happen. So I don't let it worry me."
While with Wichita State last April,
Christensen threw a warmup pitch and struck Molina in the left eye as the Evansville batter was standing near the on-deck circle, an off-the-plate warning apparently made to discourage Molina from timing pitches.
Molina sustained three fractures in surrounding bones, leaving a 1-inch gash above the eye, which swelled shut. His vision in the eve was
measured at 20/400 after the injury. He underwent glaucoma surgery in June and lens-replacement surgery in December, and recently his eye tested at 20/60, though retinal damage has left it with two permanent blind spots.
Molina has resumed his career with Evansville and went 1-for-4 in his first game back.
"He's back playing and that's good," Christens said.
"It's not over for me," Molina told
The Daily Herald of Arlington Heights last week, adding he would need surgery every seven or eight years to relieve pressure inside his eyeball. "There will be a lawsuit. We have until April 23 to do it, and we will do it."
Christensen wrote Molina a letter and offered a public apology when he signed with the Cubs last summer.
Cubs president Andy MacPhail said that extensive background checks convinced the team that Christensen was not a risk.
Cubs manager Don Baylor said Christensen made a mistake but came to camp with a clean slate as far as he was concerned. He added that the 6-foot-4 inch right-hander couldn't hesitate to throw pitches inside because he's worried about hitting someone.
"Ben came here and had some baggage," Baylor said. "I told him to leave the baggage at the door."
Teammates want apology from Rocker
The Associated Press
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Randall Simon wondered if he could ever be teammates again with John Rocker after allegedly being called a "fat monkey." Some people suggested Simon take a punch at the outspoken reliever.
Eventually, Simon decided one word would make things right.
"I want him to say he's sorry," the first baseman said yesterday after arriving at the Atlanta Braves' spring training complex. "I'm willing to forgive him if he comes to me and apologizes for what he said."
Rocker wasn't on hand to offer an apology. He is suspended until May 1 for his disparaging comments against gays, foreigners and minorities, though an arbitrator could reduce the penalty. A decision is expected by next week.
The whole situation has brought unwanted attention to Simon, who doesn't even know if he will make the team.
"I hope he regrets what he did," Simon said. "It's not only what he said about me, but what he said about his teammates, the Latin community and all other nations."
There had been bad blood between
the two since a Sept. 5 game against Arizona, when Rocker struck out what should have been the final batter. The ball got away from catcher Eddie Perez, his throw to first was a little high and Simon couldn't make the play.
After the Diamondbacks rallied for a 7-5 victory, Rocker angrily blamed Simon.
"T th a t shouldn't be said by a teammate." Simon said. him when"
Back home in his Caribbean homeland, there was outrage when Rocker's comments were published by Sports Illustrated. Even though Simon wasn't named in the article, he was sure he was the target.
"Everybody in Curacao was mad about it," he said. "Some people called me to say I should hit him. Other people told me, 'Don't worry about it.' Just go about your business."
After talking with his mother and new wife, Simon decided to put the issue behind him as much as possible. He even manages a coy smile when
revealing that he lost 10 pounds during the off season.
But Simon scoffed at Rocker's claim that the "fat monkey" comment was only a joke, something he had said before to the chunky first baseman in the privacy of the clubhouse.
"It wasn't a joke," said Simon, who is black. "You can joke about some things, but not that."
He said it's important for Rocker to make peace with his teammates as soon as possible. The players' association tried to arrange an off season conference call involving Rocker and Simon, but it didn't work out.
"Of course, everybody wants to忍驾 him for what he's done," said Simon, who is counting on Rocker to take the first step. "It's going to be a little tough, but I think we can put it behind us if he shows he's sorry for what he's done."
Another teammate. National
Another teammate, National League MVP Mippi Jones, said he's confident that Simon had the temperament to get past Rocker's insult.
"A time will come when he and John will meet face to face," Jones said. "When that happens, I'm 110 percent sure it will get done in a very professional manner."
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