ShareThisScripps Howard News Service
By TRACY RINGOLSBY
Scripps Howard News Service
Houston second baseman Craig Biggio on Thursday became the 27th player in major league history to reach 3,000 hits, achieving the milestone against the Colorado Rockies.
If things had worked out as Biggio had planned in the winter of 1996-97, he would have attained the milestone as a Rockie instead of at their expense.
Back then, the Astros were in flux and Biggio, for the only time in his career, was testing the free-agent market. Agent Barry Axelrod let St. Louis know that if it wanted a package deal, his two clients on the market that offseason, Mark Grace and Biggio, were interested in going someplace together.
Biggio's other option was to come to Colorado, an area he and his wife enjoy to such a degree they actually played a role in the late Darryl Kile signing with the Rockies.
The problem for Biggio was while he knew the Rockies ownership was interested, then-general manger Bob Gebhard wasn't.
Finally, with the Astros offering Biggio $22 million for four years to stay, the Rockies put a four-year, $20 million deal on the table that included an option.
Biggio called Gebhard and said if the Rockies would guarantee the option, he'd sign, but he needed a tangible reason to give for leaving Houston. Gebhard refused.
"Things worked out for me," Biggio said.
He not only got the milestone hit for the Astros, who signed him out of Seton Hall as a first-round draft choice, but he is in the midst of his 20th season with the organization. He will become only the 12th player to spend at least 20 years in the big leagues and play for the same team his entire career.
"It's something to be able to make things work here," Biggio said. "Both sides had to make concessions at times, but the commitment was there."
Nobody will ever know how things might have changed had Biggio come to Colorado, where his hard-nosed approach could have provided a clubhouse influence that might have pushed the Rockies in a different direction.
But what is known is that one year after hanging up on Biggio, Gebhard traded three pitching prospects, including Jake Westbrook and outfielder Terry Jones to Montreal for Mike Lansing, who was then given a four-year, $24 million deal, only $1 million less than what Biggio had sought over five years.
OVERHEARD
-- The White Sox have decided to take a shot at signing Mark Buehrle to a contract extension. They know there is a trade market for the 28-year-old left-hander, who is headed for his seventh consecutive 200-plus-inning season, so if talks break down, the White Sox can always make a move before July 31.
-- Interim manager Dave Trembley is going to get an extended audition with the Orioles, with Joe Girardi having declined the job. There wasn't a close No. 2 on Baltimore's wish list, so the front office will be patient in making a move.
-- White Sox right-hander Jose Contreras has become a focus for the Mets, who feel the asking price is more reasonable for a quick fix to their rotation.
READER'S TURN
L. Scott Deaner writes: "What do you think of Ken Griffey Jr.'s statement about wanting to retire with Seattle?"
Griffey was hesitant about the Reds' interleague visit to Seattle last weekend, expecting the same negative reaction that Alex Rodriguez received in his return trips. Griffey got a different response, though. Fans chanted his name and booed when Mariners pitchers struck out Griffey, even Eric O'Flaherty, the rookie from Walla Walla, Wash., who grew up a Griffey fan.
"As an athlete, you always want to retire with the team you started with . . . ," Griffey said. "I'm no different."
Griffey's current contract is guaranteed at $16.5 million through next season with an option for 2008. He wants to play more than a year or two more, though, could rework his deal at a more reasonable annual price and fill the DH role in Seattle.
For responses to other questions or to ask questions of your own, check out the daily Rockies Pregame Report or the weekly Rockies Inbox at RockyMountain News.com/rockies.
TWO CENTS' WORTH
The Dodgers are the most talented team in the National League West.
That said, they have a strange way of doing business. While most of baseball figured they were going to give rising star James Loney the first base job this year, the Dodgers re-signed aging Nomar Garciaparra to a two-year, $18.5 million deal and sent Loney back to the minors.
Loney finally forced their hand, though, and now the Dodgers, trying to get something in return for the investment in Garciaparra, are moving him and his one home run to third base.
MORE COOKS?
Here's a puzzle. There are hitting coaches. There are infield coaches. There are catching coaches. There are outfield coaches. There are baserunning coaches. Each has a specialized area.
Then there is a pitching coach. Pitchers account for as many as 12 of 25 spots on the roster, and they fill a variety of roles with a variety of approaches to getting the job done, but there is one coach to work with their total package.
It's a load for Colorado's Bob Apodaca, particularly when things are in upheaval like during the past week. The Rockies have a wealth of pitching knowledge in the organization with Marcel Lachemann, Mark Wiley and Mike Paul serving as special assistants to general manager Dan O'Dowd.
Maybe it was just a coincidence, but in the days leading to the Rockies' 20-7 run, when the team was in a free fall, first Wiley then Lachemann each spent a week with the team.
NUMBERS GAME
-- 1.43: The ERA to go along with a 4-1 record for Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano in the five starts he has made since he had a dugout fight with catcher Michael Barrett, who was traded to San Diego on June 21.
BONDS ONLY ALL-STAR CHOICE FOR GIANTS
Chalk up Barry Bonds as San Francisco's representative in the All-Star Game, which will be played in the Giants' AT&T Park. As if Bonds' pursuit of the all-time home run record isn't reason enough -- and it is more than ample reason -- the fact the Giants don't have another legitimate candidate makes him a lock.
Starter ERA leader Matt Cain is only 2-9, and Bonds leads the team in average (.294) and home runs (15). Ray Durham leads the Giants with 42 RBI, but he's hitting .253.
HE SAID IT
"I'm not ready to call in the dogs at this point in time. There's still plenty of baseball left. . . . We did a lot of good things while we were putting the streak together, and we just need to get that feel back again."
-- Joe Torre, Yankees manager, after his team fell 11 games behind Boston after a 1-7 trip.
AROUND THE NATIONAL LEAGUE
ARIZONA went 8-7 in interleague play, joining Colorado (10-8) as the only NL West teams with a winning record, and allowing the D-backs to pick up two games on San Diego and three on the Dodgers in the standings even though they ranked 15th in the NL and 28th in the majors with a .245 batting average in interleague play. They rebounded from going 1-2 against Boston and being swept by the Yankees to win seven of their final nine, including equaling a franchise record by overcoming an 8-1 deficit against Tampa Bay on June 19.
ATLANTA went 4-11, proving Chipper Jones' complaint of the unfairness of interleague play because the Braves had to play Boston, Minnesota and Detroit. It was their worst interleague record ever. They ended on a sour note, scoring one run in five games, the least productive offensive effort in five games in the majors since 1985 when the Braves also managed just one run in five games.
CHICAGO went 8-4 thanks to taking five of six from the struggling White Sox. Alfonso Soriano homered in all three games during the sweep at U.S. Cellular Park last weekend.
CINCINNATI went 7-11, hitting .249, which was 13th in the NL. The Reds are 68-98 all-time in interleague play and haven't had a winning record since going 7-5 in 2002. Right fielder Ken Griffey, Jr., tied Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez for the interleague lead with eight home runs.
COLORADO went 10-8, giving it a 21-12 record the last two years, tops in the NL. Third baseman Garrett Atkins led NL hitters with 17 RBI, and right fielder Brad Hawpe tied for second in the NL with six home runs. The Rockies managed to win two of three in Boston and sweep the Yankees, but then got swept in Toronto.
FLORIDA went 9-9, but is 105-81 overall, the only NL team with 100 wins. The Yankees have the all-time best record at 113-79 followed by Oakland at 113-81. Minnesota is fourth at 106-86. The Marlins only losing interleague records came in 2000 (8-9) and 2004 (7-11).
HOUSTON went 9-9, losing four of six to Texas in the Lone Star Series. That was the Astros best record since going 11-7 in 2003. Mike Lamb led NL hitters with a .421 average, which was fourth overall.
LOS ANGELES went 5-10, losing six of nine on the road, but then this is a team that was 1-17 in interleague play on the road in 2005-06.
MILWAUKEE went 8-7, which included being no-hit by Justin Verlander in Detroit on June 12. They, however, won nine of their next 10 games. Closer Francisco Cordero, traded by Texas a year ago because he struggled in Ameriquest Park, suffered his first two blown saves of the season -- both in Texas.
NEW YORK went 8-7, but won two of three from the Yankees at Shea Stadium in May. They did win the first game in each interleague series, and are 18-8 in the opening game of series this year.
PHILADELPHIA went 8-7, which was marked improvement from the 5-13 of last year, and it is the first time they have been above .500 since going 8-7 in 2003. Ryan Howard, who led the NL with eight home runs and 19 RBI last year, hit six home runs this year, tied for second behind Ken Griffey, Jr., in the NL.
PITTSBURGH went 5-10, including being shutout by Jeff Weaver of Seattle, who was 0-6 with a 10.97 ERA at the start of that game. The Pirates are 57-94 all-time in interleague play, including 20-54 in AL parks. Their only winning record was 8-7 in 2001.
ST. LOUIS went 6-9, but then en route to a world championship a year ago they were 5-10. They split six games with Kansas City, and were swept by Detroit, which lost the World Series to the Cardinals last October.
SAN DIEGO went 6-9 thanks to winning two of the final three against Boston at sold-out Petco Park, where the 133,311 tickets sold was a club record for a three-game series. It was the Padres eighth consecutive losing season in interleague play. They were swept at home by Seattle, losing three consecutive one-run games. Team ERA of 3.53 was the best in baseball.
SAN FRANCISCO went 5-10 and had to win the final two games against the Yankees to do that. They suffered an eight-game losing streak at one point, and were 1-5 against their regional rivals from Oakland. The Giants hit .233, which ranked last among the 30 big-league teams.
WASHINGTON went 9-9 despite being swept by Detroit. Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman had five home runs and 14 RBI in 57 at-bats against AL pitchers. He had only seven home runs and 28 RBI his first 251 at-bats against in NL pitchers.
AROUND THE AMERICAN LEAGUE
BALTIMORE went 6-12, losing five of their final six interleague series. The Orioles were 1-8 at home, including being swept by Washington and Arizona, which led to the firing of manager Sam Perlozzo.
BOSTON went 12-6 for its third strong interleague effort in a row. They were 16-2 a year ago and 12-6 in 2005. They have won 13 of their last 14 interleague series. Manny Ramriez has 46 interleague home runs, third behind Jim Thome (53) and Ken Griffey, Jr., (49).
CHICAGO went 4-14 and lost 10 games in the standings to Detroit, pretty much ending their hopes in the A.L. Central. The White Sox had gone 14-4 a year ago and were 26-10 the two previous years. They ranked last in the AL with .241 average and 72 runs scored.
CLEVELAND went 9-9 and fell out of first place in the AL Central. What's more concerning for the Indians is their schedule included three of the worst teams in the NL (Cincinnati, Florida and Washington) while Detroit was 14-4 and played two division leaders -- the Mets and Milwaukee.
DETROIT went 14-4 and moved into first place in the NL West. They also put an additional 10 games between themselves and the White Sox. They finished up interleague play with an 8-1 trip to Philadelphia, Washington and Atlanta that includes sweeps in Washington and Atlanta, where the Tigers allowed one run in three games.
KANSAS CITY went 10-9 for the second year in a row, but lost four of the final five. Rookie third baseman Alex Gordon hit .361, raising his season average to .234.
LOS ANGELES went 14-4, best in franchise history. The Angels swept the Pirates and Dodgers (at Dodger Stadium) and took two of three from Cincinnati, St. Louis, Houston and the Dodgers (at Angel Stadium). Vladimir Guerrero had 20 RBI in 18 games.
MINNESOTA went 11-7 after going 16-2 last year in the stretch that sent them on their way to a division title. Left-handed starter Johan Santanta not only pitched his fifth career shutout against the Mets at Shea Stadium, but also had his first career double against Florida.
NEW YORK went 10-8, but lost five of its final six, including between swept in Colorado. By the end of interleague play they were 11-1/2 back of Boston and 6 -1/2 out in the wild card. Alex Rodriguez hit eight home runs, tied for the interleague lead with Ken Griffey, Jr. Rodriguez led all players with 23 RBI and his .406 average was seventh overall.
OAKLAND went 10-8, but did get swept by the Mets. That ended a streak of 45 consecutive three-game series without being swept for the A's.
SEATTLE went 9-9 after going 14-4 last year, and that included going 4-2 against the Padres, who the Mariners swept with three one-run wins in San Diego. Seattle played its first game ever at Wrigley Field, which Ichiro Suzuki said reminded him of a stadium he played in as a youth in Japan. "It had a similar smell of fresh garbage,"' he said. Ichiro led interleague hitters with a .486 average.
TAMPA BAY went 7-11, joining Chicago (4-14) and Baltimore (6-12) as only AL Teams with losing records. The D-Rays team ERA of 6.37 was highest in the AL.
TEXAS went 11-7, setting a franchise record for interleague wins. Shortstop Michael Young hit .346, leaving him with a career .347 interleague average, which is tops in history, one point higher than former Rockies outfielder Larry Walker's career interleague average.
TORONTO went 10-8, and finished with a sweep of the Rockies at the Rogers Centre. Pitcher Roy Halladay did have the first two-hit game by a Blue Jays pitcher in franchise history against Jason Schmidt of the Dodgers.
(Tracy Ringolsby writes for the Rocky Mountain News in Denver, Colo. E-mail ringolsbyt@RockyMountainNews.com.)
