Once "Godlike" Bums Descend to "Human" Status August 5, 1998
Vero Beach, FL (AP) - The once-nearly-perfect Vero Beach Bums, losers of 6
of their last 10, have descended from the lofty heights of a possibly
record-setting season to become just another very good, division-leading
baseball team.
"No one said we were perfect," said Bums manager Phil Garner. "I've been
saying that every team has a bad streak all year. See?"
For the most part, Vero Beach players don't feel any need to explain why a
team that was so hot in the first half would cool down so much in July and
August. Those that do don't say anything particularly unpredictable.
"Look, it's a long season," said closer Trevor Hoffman. "162 games. You
figure you're going to lose some of those, even to teams like the ones in
our division."
"Not that this has anything to do with it," said pitcher Kevin Ritz, "but
Jason [Gohlke, Bums owner] did just graduate from college on Sunday.
Before that, he told me that he was unbelievably busy finishing up graphic
design projects and working at his internship at a local ad agency. And
now, just when it looks like he might have some free time -- like some of
his fellow owners appear to, by the looks of the newspapers -- he gets
hired full-time at the ad agency. So no wonder he hasn't been spending as
much time running the club." Ritz paused and added, "Why did I say that?"
The Bums are now 74-35, good for second-best in the PVBL and the DL,
behind the Phoenix Gila Monsters. They still maintain a hefty -- and some
would say nearly unsurmountable -- 19-game lead over the Duluth Bjork in
the Picard Division pennant race.
News and Notes:
* Perhaps you noticed -- likely you didn't -- the absence of journeyman
knuckleballer Dennis Springer from the minor-league roster of the Bums.
Springer was traded over the All-Star break to the Galena Hamsters for a
first-round pick in the upcoming free-agent draft. "Dennis was not going
to see much more action in the bigs," said Garner, "and Matt Peck
expressed some interest, so Jason unloaded him. I wish him the best of
luck in the Hamsters organization." An unnamed team source added under
condition of anonymity, "That weak-armed knuckleballing s.o.b., he
couldn't pitch his way out of a wet paper bag. I hope he does as poorly
for Peck as he did here. I'm glad to see him go. His biggest contribution
here was freeing up a roster spot when he left."
* The Bums are without the services of RF Brian Jordan for another week or
so due to a hasty roster move. Jordan was suffering from a sprained ankle
and was about 80% healthy. Manager Garner set him on the bench for a few
days, and then owner Gohlke placed him on the DL in order to recuperate.
The next day, Jordan reported to the ballpark feeling 100%. Jordan said,
"I tried to get a hold of J. that night, but I only got his answering
machine. By the time I got a hold of him, the front office had processed
my DL stint." Dan Jourdan and Chuck Carr are adequate replacements
platooning in right field; on the season they have a combined .297 batting
average, 20 points better than the team average of .277.
* Another role-player doing well in place of an absent Bum is
newly-acquired catcher Amos Bates. In 4 games starting for the injured Tom
Pagnozzi, Bates has a .444 average, 2 doubles, and no errors.
* The Bums' combined AA-AAA farm team, the former Milwaukee Brewmeisters,
moved to New Iberia, Louisiana just after the start of the minor league
season. The New Iberia Swamp Rats are enjoying as much success so far as
their parent club; the Rats are currently in first place in the Southern
Division of the International League with a 35-16 record. "Why New
Iberia?" said Rats GM Nick Tulach. "Well, I wanted to move them to the
southernmost town in Louisiana, cause I love that Cajun cooking. That
city's name didn't sound as cool as New Iberia, though, so I moved 'em
there instead." So far, Tulach has done an admirable job dealing with the
scraps of a roster that Bums management hands him.
* Standouts for the Rats include recent draft pick 1B Harry Hoch, on the
leaderboard with a .296 average, 17 doubles, and 5 stolen bases. Reliever
Bubbles Bressler, picked up as a free agent in last year's draft, has a
6-0 record in 18 appearances. Lefty Craig Hutto, another of this year's
draft picks who was not tabbed for much success, has posted a 1.69 ERA and
a 3-0 record in 8 games, including 3 starts. Opponents are batting just
.149 against Hutto, good for second in the league.
