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 Finicky Mondesi L.A. slugger's patience paying mighty dividends
Posted: Tuesday May 25, 1999 10:03 PM
It's easy to see why Raul Mondesi may drive in 100 runs and hit more than 30 home runs for the first time in his career. He's finally learned some patience at the plate. Mondesi is on a pace to get 94 walks this year. He'll probably surpass his career high of 44 walks before the All-Star break. The Dodgers have tried for years to get Mondesi to be more selective. But it took the influence of teammate Gary Sheffield to drive the message home. Building around young armsSeth Greisinger of the Tigers is one minor league rehab start away from joining what one AL scout calls the best young rotation in the league. Greisinger, Brian Moehler, Justin Thompson and Jeff Weaver -- all former Detroit draft picks -- are all between 22 and 27 years old. No wonder GM Randy Smith helped make Detroit's new stadium a pitcher's park. Comerica Park, which opens next year, is so big that the left-field power alley is 402 feet. Credit is dueGive Jason Isringhausen credit for working his way back into the Mets' rotation, even if injuries to Bobby Jones and Al Leiter helped open the door. But the Mets believe that Isringhausen's long-term future might be in the bullpen. The quality of his pitches has always been better than how he has used them. Now the Mets think if he could concentrate only on his fastball and knucklecurve for just an inning or two, he could be an outstanding short reliever. Big Cat recoveringDoctors have advised Andres Galarraga not to watch Braves games on television while he is being treated for cancer. They say he should avoid any kind of stress. But Galarraga told friends recently that he feels much stronger and that he intends to visit his teammates during a series on the road in June, possibly in Boston. Galarraga is also considering having a batting cage built at his Florida home so he can begin working out again. Now that's great news, but the Braves privately are not counting on Galarraga playing at all this year. Even next season is not on the radar screen yet. All they want is for one of the most respected men in baseball to get well soon. Within reach: 70For those of you who believe Mark McGwire put the home run record out of reach with his 70 jacks last year, consider this statistical oddity: Through Monday night, Sammy Sosa hit 73 home runs in the Chicago Cubs' past 162 games. Unless you're a pitcher, these days anything is possible. Sports Illustrated senior writer Tom Verducci covers baseball and appears regularly on CNN/Sports Illustrated.
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