Power of Caring
  presented by CIGNA

Pride of the Yankees

Look to New York for AL's best fielding shortstop

Click here for more on this story

Posted: Tuesday May 11, 1999 03:19 PM

Alex Rodriguez has missed more than a month with an injured knee. Omar Vizquel is in a fielding slump, with six errors already, partly because of a strained leg muscle. So who's the best fielding shortstop in the American League?

Derek Jeter of the Yankees.

After watching Jeter last weekend, Rodriguez admitted he was shocked at how much Jeter has improved in three years. And yes, A-Rod said, Jeter must be considered for the Gold Glove. Jeter would make team history if he does win the award. The Yankees have had a Gold Glove winner at every position -- except shortstop.

Watch and learn

If Kerry Wood needs some encouragement, all he needs to do is watch Steve Karsay pitch. It's taken three years, but Karsay has made it all the way back from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, the same surgery Wood had.

Karsay has been a huge key for the Cleveland bullpen, especially with Paul Shuey and Ricky Rincon hurt. The Indians have clocked Karsay's fastball as high as 97 mph and he has the same sharp curve he had as a prospect with the Blue Jays and Athletics.

Unexpected relief

You won't find a better story this season than Texas reliever Jeff Zimmerman.

After playing in France and in an independent league, Zimmerman sent resumes to all 30 teams before last season. Only the Rangers responded, and only because they had an extra visa sitting around. Zimmerman is Canadian.

Texas signed him sight unseen. After a year in the minors, Zimmerman is now the best setup reliever in baseball. He has dominated hitters with a hard sinker and slider. He allowed only two runs and eight hits in his first 21 1/3 innings.

An even more overlooked relief pitcher is Matt Mantei. He's the closer for the Florida Marlins, which is as close as you get in baseball to the witness protection program.

It took 28 games for Mantei to get his first save opportunity for the worst team in baseball. He then ripped off two in three days. Though he hasn't pitched much with games on the line, he has overpowered hitters, with 25 strikeouts in only 14 innings.

Double-play dare

Paul O'Neill of the New York Yankees has gained such a reputation as a guy who'd rather pout than hustle that one AL manager told his relief pitcher on the mound, "Get this guy to a hit a ground ball for a double play and I guarantee you he won't run [hard]."

And that's exactly what happened.

AL-together elusive

In 1963 Sandy Koufax threw 11 shutouts. This season the entire American League is on pace to throw 10 shutouts.

Until Baltimore's Scott Erickson threw a shutout Sunday, only one pitcher -- Mike Sirotka of Chicago -- threw a shutout in the AL's first 210 games.

 

Related information
Stories
SI's Tom Verducci: Shawn Green golden
Stats
1999 Team Leaders in Fielding
Multimedia
Click here for the latest audio and video
Search our site	Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day
	Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call 1-888-53-CNNSI.