Bums back over .500 thanks to new acquisitions
May 1, 2001
Oklahoma City, OK (AP) - With a 2-1 series win over the Shawnee Snipers and
an opening win in their current series against Picard division leaders Area
51, the Vero Beach Bums have moved into a tie for second place, just one
game back at 14-13. The Bums have won 9 of their last 11 games, after
starting just 5-11.
"We thought we'd be right in the thick of things this year, which is why
all of us were puzzled at the slow start," said Bums skipper Tony LaRussa,
starting his first full year with the club. "Willie Adams and Ismael Valdes
had some horrible starts, which was very uncharacteristic of them. But
they've gotten back on track, and there's no reason why we shouldn't keep
winning."
Key players in the recent surge: New free-agent acquisition Jim Thome,
batting .320 with 4 homers, 16 RBIs, and an amazing 16 walks; and
second-year closer Chad Harville, who has made just about everyone in Vero
Beach forget the name "Trevor Hoffman" with his 5 saves, 2 holds, and 10
1/3 scoreless innings in 9 appearances.
"I feel bad for Trev," said Harville, "he showed me a lot last year about
being a closer, and now he's toiling in middle relief for that [person]
Carbonnetto in [undesirable] Canada."
Bums owner Jason Gohlke felt it was worth the risk of losing Hoffman, the
all-time PVBL saves leader, to pick up the contract of a marquee player
such as Thome -- especially with Harville waiting in the wings.
