Wednesday, March 7, 2001
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The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 7
Generations meet in game
Tim Raines, son each bat leadoff
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Tim Raines doesn't usually make a habit of pocketing the lineup card of a spring training game. This one, however, was a keeper.
The Associated Press
Raines batted leadoff for the Montreal Expos yesterday. His son, Tim Jr., occupied the same spot for the Baltimore Orioles.
"It's not every day that you get to play against your son," the elder Raines said. "This is something special. My wife is here, my father is here. It's a great moment for our family."
Raines, 41, outhit his 21-year-old son 2-1 but both got RBI singles in the Orioles' 7-6 victory.
Dad was replaced in the fifth inning and junior was removed in the fourth, yet both played long enough to gather a memory that will last a lifetime.
"It's something we started talking about the last three or four years," the elder Raines said before the game. "Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with lupus (in 1999) and that kind of put things on hold.
"But as soon as I got back into the swing of the swings, I thought we had a chance to do it. That's one of the reasons why I'm coming back."
Raines is attempting to secure a spot on the Expos' roster after signing a minor-league contract in December. He played with Oakland in 1999 before kidney inflammation forced him to the disabled list in July, and he retired last March despite hitting .293 with the New York Yankees in spring training.
Raines Jr. has been assigned to the Orioles' minor-league camp in Sarasota, but Baltimore put off his departure so he could enjoy the experience of playing in the same game as his father, who broke into the big leagues with Montreal in 1979 on the same day Tim was born.
Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Jr. are believed to be the only father and son to play together in a regular-season major-league game.
Although this game won't go into the record book, it didn't lessen the thrill for both Raines.
"The ultimate would be actually doing it in a regular-season game, but for now this is plenty enough for me." Raines Jr. said.
The matchup was arranged by the Expos and the Orioles, but the idea was hatched by players during the winter.
"We were working out during the offseason together, and I could see that he was getting in shape and serious about the comeback," Raines Jr. said, "When I saw how determined he was, I figured this is the right time and the right place. Let's do it."
No matter where his career goes from here, Raines Jr. will find it hard to match the thrill he felt on the day he and his father batted leadoff for their respective teams.
"It almost feels like a dream," he said.
Pitcher returns after surgery
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — John Smoltz walked briskly from the dugout to the mound, easily beating his Braves teammates onto the field. He began his warmups so early he had to step aside to let NBA star Tracy McGrady throw out the ceremonial first ball.
The Associated Press
"I told the guys, I've been waiting for this too long. Let's go!" Smoltz said.
Pitching for the first time since undergoing the dreaded "Tommy John" surgery on his right elbow last March, the Atlanta ace accomplished his main goal yesterday: He threw pain-free in a spring training game against Los Angeles.
The fact he gave up a two-run homer to Chris Donnels, walked two in his only inning and wound up as the losing pitcher in an 8-4 defeat did not matter in the least.
"I could've given up 10 runs or gone six up, six down and it wouldn't
have changed how I felt," Smotz said. "It was a big day for me just to get to this point."
"I've been planning this for so long. I had a lot building up inside me," he said. "It sure seems like forever since I'd been out there."
The 33-year-old former Cy Young Award winner made only one start in spring training last year before his season ended. Dr. James Andrews performed the major surgery on Smoltz's elbow last March 23.
Minus their best big-game pitcher — he's 12-4 in the postseason — the Braves were swept by St. Louis in the first round of the playoffs, end
ing their streak of eight straight appearances in the National League championship series.
"It was tough to watch that," he said. "It remains to be seen whether I could have made a difference."
Rather than worry about October, however, he focused on an exhibition start on a sunny afternoon in March.
"When I walked to the mound, I wasn't concerned with anything except throwing to the catcher," he said. "I was really looking forward to seeing what I could do.
While warming up, Smoltz was interrupted when McGrady came out to the mound to throw the first pitch.
"I thought he'd already done it," Smoltz said. "I told him, 'Just like a 3-pointer.'"
Mixing fastballs, curves, sliders and changeups, Smoltz threw 25 pitches and struck out two.
"It was great to see him out there throwing free and easy," Braves third baseman Chipper Jones said.
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