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He's back Rocker recalled after Braves blow lead to Pirates
Posted: Wednesday June 14, 2000 08:52 AM
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- John Rocker is going back to the big leagues. Moments after finishing the least impressive of his three one-inning stints for the Atlanta Braves' Class AAA farm team at Richmond, Rocker was recalled by the parent club following an injury to Rudy Seanez, Richmond pitching coach Mike Alvarez said. Rocker got the news after working the ninth in a 6-2 victory. "I don't know if it was because Rudy got hurt," Alvarez said after Rocker allowed two hits and a run in the ninth. "They didn't give us details." Rocker thanked the Braves for having him and helping him during a six-day stay, his first in the minors since he pitched here early in the 1998 season. "I think it's always exciting to go to the big leagues," Alvarez said. The Richmond locker room was closed after the game and Rocker was unavailable. Only a short time earlier, he was welcomed like a returning hero by a huge crowd that stood roaring when the exiled reliever sprinted into the game to start the ninth. Only a smattering of boos were audible from the crowd of 6,459. Rocker struggled for the first time at Richmond, giving up singles to Toledo's Billy McMillon and Gabe Alvarez to start the inning before retiring Javier Cardona on a fly ball to left center that allowed McMillon to tag and move to third. It was the first out he's recorded that wasn't a strikeout since he joined Richmond last Thursday. The second, a fly ball to left by Carlos Mendez, scored McMillon, before Rocker got Chris Wakeland to ground into a force at second. Rocker appeared in the Class AAA Braves' bullpen with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, the bases loaded and Richmond leading 3-1. So intent were the fans on the left field line in watching his every move that most of them missed Toby Rumfield's RBI-single to right and the ensuing inning-ending play at the plate. Rocker soft tossed with right fielder Tim Unroe, flipped two balls into the cheering crowd and started warming up. He came on to start the ninth inning, doing his trademark sprint down the left field line as the crowd rose and roared. Rocker, demoted by Atlanta last Monday, didn't report to the Braves until three days later. It was unclear late Tuesday if an injury to Atlanta reliever Rudy Seanez in Pittsburgh could prompt the Braves to recall Rocker early.
The Richmond Braves would surely be sorry to see him go. Besides the large crowd Tuesday night, he's been a model citizen, several players and manager Randy Ingle said. He even bought a sport coat to conform to the team's travel dress code. "He's just one of the guys," pitcher Tim Pugh said before the game. "I haven't heard one negative thing out of his mouth. I think he's got his mind right." Derrin Ebert agreed and said Rocker has been a welcomed addition because of his ability to close out games for Richmond, which had won just 17 of 45 games. "When he steps on that mound, there's so much intimidation that he brings with him," Ebert said. "The two times that he's come in, he's just dominated." The rain figured to be a disappointment for fans, some of whom arrived almost three hours before the 7 p.m. start to get a choice seat to watch the lefty. "I like ol' Rocker," said Sid Canfield, a 78-year-old Richmond resident and long-time Braves fan. "I think he's a good boy. They're dragging him over the coals." Canfield said he didn't agree with Rocker's offseason remarks to a Sports Illustrated reporter disparaging minorities, gays and foreigners, but said he thinks the 25-year-old deserves another chance to prove he's learned a lesson. That feeling was echoed by E.J. Bush, a 72-year-old Braves fan from Milton, Fla. He was in town for a family matter, but loaded up his portable oxygen tank and came to The Diamond with his son hoping for a chance to see Rocker pitch. "I don't think he should have said what he said. He should have been a little more diplomatic," Bush said. "But I still like the man as a pitcher." There were about a dozen police officers on hand, twice the normal number, because of Rocker and the large crowd expected, general manager Bruce Baldwin said. He did not know if three Major League Baseball security people who stayed with Rocker throughout the Ohio trip would return after having a day off Monday. Also, the team clubhouse was closed to reporters before and after the game, and the field was off-limits as well during batting practice and warmups. Rocker appeared in nine games for Richmond in 1998 before being called up to Atlanta. He worked 19 innings, struck out 22 and was 1-1 with one save.
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