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Batista's release shows howless sometimes can be more

By JOHN ROMANO

© St. Petersburg Times,
published July 1, 2001

Gord Ash seemed pretty pleased with his latest roster move, and rightfully so. The Toronto general manager rid himself of a 40-homer slugger.

The release of Tony Batista last week reminds us, once again, we are living in an age where less is more. In this case, less payroll means more flexibility.

It was not too long ago that Ash could point to the acquisition of Batista as one of his finest moves. The Blue Jays acquired the third baseman from the Diamondbacks for reliever Dan Plesac in the summer of 1999. A year later, Batista hit 41 home runs and drove in 114 runs.

As well as that transaction worked out, this week's move may be just as pivotal. Batista's production tailed off at the end of last season, and he was in a three-month slump this year. He was hitting .192 since Aug. 22.

Owing Batista nearly $12-million for the next 2 1/2 years, the Jays were happy when the Orioles assumed the contract by claiming him on waivers.

"You're always aware of contract status," Ash said. "Are you better to move a contract when you can, or wait two months and wake up with an unmovable contract?"

Ash's theory has been proven out numerous times already this season. The Rays have eaten more than $7-million in contracts because they were unable to trade Vinny Castilla or Gerald Williams. The Astros had to eat the difference in contracts between Jose Lima and Dave Mlicki, just to get the Tigers to take him off their hands.

To add Batista to the roster, the Orioles had to suck up $4.1-million to release Delino DeShields.

As it turns out, Ash is not the only general manager who feels it is sometimes better to give away than to receive.

When Batista, a 27-year-old returning All-Star, was placed on waivers, the Orioles were the only team to claim him.

WELCOME BACK: In the years since scoring the winning run in Game 7 of the 1997 World Series for the Marlins, Craig Counsell has been traded, released and sent to the minors. Now, with Matt Williams out of the lineup, Counsel's career has been resurrected in Arizona. Counsell is hitting leadoff and has moved from second base to third.

DEJA BELL: With Seattle off to a record start, and with attendance booming at Safeco Field, the Mariners are running away with the All-Star balloting. Seattle players held leads in five of the nine positions, including the surprising David Bell overtaking Anaheim's Troy Glaus at third base. More than 40 years ago, then-commissioner Ford Frick intervened when Reds fans elected seven starters to the All-Star team. Frick dropped two Reds from the lineup, replacing them with Hank Aaron and Willie Mays. Wally Post was one of the Reds. The other was Gus Bell -- David Bell's grandfather.

FINE EXAMPLE: Speaking of the All-Star Game, Mets manager Bobby Valentine should be removed from the dugout if he does not choose Florida's Cliff Floyd. Valentine and Floyd have been sniping at each other after a beanball incident earlier this season. Valentine has since made veiled threats he would not choose Floyd as an All-Star reserve. Floyd is hitting .333 with 21 home runs. "Honestly, what he's saying and how he's acting about this whole thing tells you what kind of character he has," Floyd said.

CRUNCH TIME: With Oakland falling further behind in the wild card race, talk is heating up about roster moves. Manager Art Howe could be a casualty, and potential free agents Jason Giambi, Johnny Damon and Jason Isringhausen could be on the trading block. "We definitely need to get better, because if we don't, a few of us are going to have to start packing our bags," Damon said.

ROCKING CLEVELAND: Before making the trade for closer/social butterfly John Rocker, the Indians asked several minority players what they thought of the move. "We were somewhat concerned about how this trade would affect our clubhouse chemistry," assistant general manager Mark Shapiro said.

BAMBINO CURSE: It was May 30 when Pedro Martinez said he did not believe in curses and was sick of hearing about the Bambino Curse supposedly hovering over the Red Sox since Babe Ruth was sold to the Yankees. Martinez said he would like the opportunity to face Ruth and "drill him in the a--." At the time of the comments, Martinez was 7-1 with a 1.44 ERA. In four starts since then, he is 0-1 with a 5.32 ERA and has gone on the disabled list.

THE LAST WORD: Phillies manager Larry Bowa was talking about the need for players to sometimes show their emotions when he was asked about Rocker. "That's not showing your emotions," Bowa said. "That's being an idiot."

- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.

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