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Miller Park wows commissioner

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 1, 2001

MILWAUKEE -- When commissioner Bud Selig entered Miller Park to a packed house for the first time, he was so moved he didn't say a word for several minutes.

Selig finally turned to his wife, Sue, and said simply: "Oh, my God!"

Selig attended President Bush's baseball celebration at the White House on Friday, thenjetted back to see the Brewers open Miller Park with a 5-4 exhibition win over the White Sox.

"The president loves baseball, he's a real fan, it was an extraordinary day," Selig said.

The night was even better for Selig, who worked tirelessly to get a retractable-roofed replacement for County Stadium as owner of the Brewers before becoming full-time commissioner in 1998.

Selig spent the evening in a private suite with White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf and Hank Aaron, among others. He was so deluged by thankful fans as he walked around the stadium that he never reached the press box for his customary visit with reporters.

"When my wife and I walked in, I got chills," Selig recounted Saturday, when he visited the ballpark again before flying to Puerto Rico to watch Texas and Toronto open the season today.

President Bush will see it on Friday, when he throws out the first pitch before the Brewers officially open Miller Park.

The Brewers played Boston on Saturday, and Selig said Red Sox general manager Dan Duquette was within his rights to fine centerfielder Carl Everett nearly $100,000 for missing a team bus and skipping a recent workout.

Everett plans to file a grievance over the hefty fine.

The Red Sox "know what the appropriate remedy is, so I certainly have no problem with that at all," Selig said. "I have confidence in the Red Sox."

ANGELS: David Eckstein will be the club's starting second baseman. After regular starter Adam Kennedy went down with a broken bone in his right hand, Eckstein, 26, earned a spot.

ATHLETICS: Starter Cory Lidle was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento. Lidle has earned the role as Oakland's fifth starter, but because of its quirky schedule, Lidle isn't needed until April 13. So he'll head to Sacramento for a start Saturday.

CARDINALS: Mark McGwire, who was a nemesis of the Mariners when he was with the Athletics from 1986-97, hit eight home runs in batting practice, including three into the second deck in left at Safeco Field.

CUBS: At Jackson, Tenn., Sammy Sosa hit his 10th home run of the spring as Chicago defeated the Diamond Jaxx, its Double-A affiliate, 9-5 before a standing-room-only crowd of 7,777 at Pringles Park.

DODGERS: Jesse Orosco refused a minor-league assignment to become a free agent, and the pitcher's agent criticized general manager Kevin Malone. "Jesse was promised he would be on the team if he was healthy and he's healthy," agent Alan Meersand said after Friday's roster move. "In baseball, you're only as good as your word, and I'll never be able to trust Kevin Malone again." Malone declined comment.

Ace Kevin Brown, recovering from an injured right Achilles' tendon, was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

GIANTS: As expected, San Francisco purchased the Triple-A contract of veteran catcher Benito Santiago, a four-time All-Star who is playing for his seventh team in 15 seasons. The Giants also optioned infielder Edwards Guzman and pitchers Chad Zerbe and Jamie Arnold to the Fresno Giants of the Pacific Coast League.

PIRATES: The Mets' Mike Piazza hit the first homer in the Pirates' new home, PNC Park, in the first of two exhibitions that will serve as the ballpark's test drive before the April 9 opener against Cincinnati. "It's a beautiful ballpark, especially from a visiting player's standpoint," said Piazza, who pulled the homer inside the foul pole, at the 325-foot sign. "You come in here now with a little more excitement."

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