Section B·Page 7
The University Daily Kansan
Thursday, October 21, 1999
Baseball
Braves and Yankees to battle in World Series
The Associated Press
ATLANTA — There it is, engraved right on the ring Atlanta Braves general manager John Schuerholz proudly wears; "Team of the '90s."
To him, the Braves already own that title.
No debate needed on the team of the decade,
not even if the New York Yankees take home this World Series trophy.
"To answer that question for the 1,442nd time, we don't need to do anything," Schuerholz said. "We've won more games
than any team, we've won 100 games three years in a row, we've won eight straight division titles."
"If you choose any criteria except one narrow criteria — World Series championships lead it."
Of course, that's not such a narrow category. Not to the Yankees.
"Aren't we the team of the century?" New York GM Brian Cashman said yesterday. "World championships, that's the goal."
Fittingly, the clubs that had the major's two worst records in 1990 get a final chance
to make their cases starting with Game 1 Saturday night at Turner Field.
For Atlanta, it's an opportunity to win that elusive second World Series title. The Braves beat Cleveland in 1995 — prompting them to put that boast on their rings — but have nothing else to show for eight straight trips to the NL Championship Series.
For the Yankees, it's a chance to win their record 25th title and third in four years. That recent run began when they beat Atlanta in six games in 1996.
"We've got another shot at them," Atlanta
third baseman Chipper Jones said.
The Braves earned their fifth trip to the World Series in the 1990s by beating the New York Mets 10-9 in 11 innings Tuesday night in Game 6 of the NLCS. The Yankees beat Boston in five games in the ALCS.
Atlanta took a day off yesterday while New York's practice at Yankee Stadium was rained out. That gave extra time for the Yankees to talk about — or turn down — debate about the top team in the last 10 years.
"Players don't worry about it," catcher Joe Girardi said. "There are a lot of different
players on both teams."
Overall, Atlanta is a major league-best 925-629 in regular-season games during the decade and the Yankees are next at 851-702. Oh, their interleague record against each other? Approximately, 5-5.
The Braves have won titles in the West and East in the 1990s and became the first NL franchise to reach five World Series since the Dodgers in the '50s. The Yankees have gone to the playoffs for five straight years, their best stretch since going to the World Series from 1980-1964.
Braves players different from earlier Series
The Associated Press
ATLANTA — The New York Yankees won't be hitting a crucial offermark Owls Wherins in this World Series. Mark Lemke won't be making the final out for the Atlanta Braves.
Marquis Grissom and Fred McGriff aren't going to be introduced prior to Game 1 at Turner Field. Ditto for Denny Neagle and Steve Avery.
While it's been only three years since the Braves last played in a World Series, a lot has changed since their 1996 loss to the Yankees. These days, it's guys such as John Rocker,
Brian Jordan, Kevin Millwood and Gerald Williams playing key roles for Atlanta.
The Braves have been a work in process throughout their decade of excellence. Only pitchers Tom Glavine and John Smoltz have been part of every team during an unprecedented run of eight straight postseason appearances since 1991.
"People don't realize how hard it is to get here year after year," general manager John Schuerholz said. "They have no clue."
Jordan is actually two cleanup hitters removed from McGriff, who handled the role in '96. Andres Galarraga, who had 44 homers and 121 RBI last season, missed the year while recovering from cancer in his back.
Neagle was the Braves' fourth starter in the last Series, a role now handled by Millwood. The 24-year-old right-hander became Atlanta's most consistent starter while the Cy Young triumvirate of Greg Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz went through assorted struggles.
Rocker is the Braves' third closer in three years. Wohlers, who surrendered that Series-turning homer to Jim Leyritz three years ago, suddenly forgot how to throw strikes.
"The character we have, the heart we have in this locker room," said Jordan, who's been bothered by a sore hand since being hit by a pitch in late June. "We've proved a lot of people wrong."
New York yearned for match with Mets
Instead team begins to prepare for Atlanta
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — They gathered around TV sets, southing their World Series opponent and wondering what mayhem a Subway Series would bring.
The New York Yankees knew what would have been in store: demands for tickets, screaming front-page headlines, dueling fans on talk radio.
The pressure would have been excruciating. This, after all, is a team whose owner can't stand losing exhibitions to the crosstown team.
"Iran the gamut of emotions during that game." David Cone said yesterday about Atlanta's 10-9, 11-inning win Tuesday night against the New York Mets.
setting up a rematch between the Braves and Yankees in the World Series.
"I was thinking what would a Subway Series be like. I don't think any of us could imagine what it would have been like. It would have been a once in a lifetime experience," said Cone, who played six seasons with the Mets.
It has been 43 years since two New York teams played in the World Series. After the Dodgers and Giants left New York for California following the 1957 season, what once happened seven times in a 10-year period hadn't come close to occurring again until this season.
And after the Mets rallied from 5-0 and 7-3 deficits to take the lead twice in Game 6 against the Braves, the Yankees were prepared for it to happen again.
"When they pulled ahead I thought we were going to
have a Subway Series," said Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, who probably would have received the brunt of the criticism from owner George Steinbrenner if the Yankees actually lost to the Mets.
"There certainly would have been a lot more at stake that a world championship," Cashman said. "There would have been city bragging rights, which would have been a story within a story. Now it's just the World Series and that's how it should be. I can't fathom what it would have been like in the city."
Joe Girardi can. The phone wouldn't stop ringing with ticket requests. And the road would have offered no escape because there would be no road.
"It would have been a pain in the neck in a way," Girardi said.
But for some, especially former Met Allen Watson, it would have been a chance to settle a score. Watson, a New Yorker who signed with the Mets last winter, was traded to Seattle this year before finally ending up with the Yankees.
Former controversial Twins owner dies at 87
The Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS — Calvin Griffith, who brought major league baseball to Minnesota and was one of the game's most frugal owners, died yesterday in Melbourne. Fla. He
Melbourne, Fla. He was 87
Griffith developed pneumonia, a kidney infection and a high fever two days ago, said Sima Griffith.
his daughter-in-law. She said he had a pacemaker put in three to four weeks ago and had been in a rehabilitation center in Florida.
Griffith moved the Washington Senators after the 1960 season and the team became the Minnesota Twins. He sold the club to Minneapolis banker Carl Pohlad in 1844, ending 65 years of franchise ownership by his family.
Griffith was intent on holding the line on escalating salaries. But for all the acrimony that stance created, his lowest moment came during a speech to a local Rotary club in 1978.
"Black people don't go to ball games, but they fill up a rassling ring and put up such a chant they'll scare you to death," he said. "We came (to Minnesota) because you've got good, hard-working white people here."
The Minneapolis Star wrote a frontpage editorial calling for Griffith to sell the team. Griffith said his words were taken out of context, but civil rights groups called for a boycott of Twins games. Rod Carew, whose contract was soon to expire, said he would no longer play on Griffith's plantation. Carew left Minnesota for the Angels in 1979.
Under Griffith, the Twins led the American League in attendance their first 10 seasons, featuring such stars as Harmon Killebrue, Tony Oliva, Zoilo Versalles. Bob Allison and Carew.
Griffith was a bat boy in 1924-25 for the Senators, the team for which his uncle and adopted father became a Hall of Fame pitcher. He worked in every capacity in the minors and majors before taking control of the Senators from Clark Griffith.
Rockies sign manager
Buddy Bell to emphasize defense, team chemistry
The Associated Press
DENVER — Describing himself as a player's manager who will emphasize defense and team chemistry, Buddy Bell was hired yesterday as the Colorado Rockies' new manager.
Bell, 48, who managed the Detroit Tigers from 1996-98, becomes the third manager in the Rockies' seven-
year history, succeeding Jim Leyland, who retired after this season.
Bell, who worked for the Cincinnati Reds for the past year, most recently as director of player development, signed a three-year contract thought to be worth about $2.25 million.
Dan O'Dowd, hired as general manager a month ago, said Bell was the perfect fit for this ball club.
"He knows the game. He knows how it should be played, and he will demand that from each and every one
of our players." O'Dowd said.
Bell finished runnerup in the 1997 AL Manager of the Year balloting after leading the Tigers to a 79-83 record, a 26-game improvement from the previous year. But the Tigers cut their payroll for 1998, and Bell was fired in his third season on Sept. 1, 1998, after a 52-65 mark.
"My run in Detroit was great as long as it lasted," Bell said during a news conference. "I think it taught me I could manage. It also taught me about getting along with people in the organization, how important scouting and player development are, the business side of things."
One of the best fielding third basemen of his generation, Bell played 18 seasons in the majors for Cleveland, Texas. Cincinnati and Houston.
Bell worked with O'Dowd when they were in the Cleveland organization.
"My initial appeal for this job, obviously, was because of Dan O'Dowd," Bell said. "I trust Dan's leadership, I enjoy his aggressiveness and I understand his plan."
Bell said getting adjusted to the high-altitude dangers of Coors Field will take some time.
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