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Rocker finds trouble in bullpen

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 12, 2001

SEATTLE -- Controversial reliever John Rocker is in hot water after throwing a cup on cold water on fans during Tuesday's game.

Rocker told Cleveland manager Charlie Manuel he was being harassed by fans sitting near the bullpen.

"He said they were really screaming and hollering at him and he got tired of it," Manuel said Thursday. "I told him he definitely won't do that again, and he said he wouldn't. You have to be professional about things."

MLB officials in Seattle were aware of the incident but wouldn't speculate whether there would be disciplinary action against Rocker, whose comments to Sports Illustrated in 1999 resulted in a suspension.

One of the fans seated near the bullpen sent an e-mail to MLB vice president Frank Robinson, and a copy to the Seattle Times, saying "a near riot ensued as people became livid at his actions."

Another fan told the Associated Press that Rocker had been tossing balls to fans when several started chanting "Rocker racist" at the pitcher. "He wasn't being a creep," Rob Jepson said Thursday. "He didn't start anything."

Of the harassment, Rocker said: "It's pretty brutal. You get used to it. You (reporters) should see the monster you helped create."

There was additional security near the bullpen Thursday and no reports of other incidents.

SPARKLING MOMENT: Arthur Rhodes was wearing his chunky diamond earrings, but Cleveland's Omar Vizquel made no issue of them during an eighth-inning at-bat before flying out. Vizquel made the earrings more than a fashion statement when he asked the umpires to make Rhodes remove them during an Aug. 25 game.

ROCKET TO RETURN: Roger Clemens remains the Yankees' starter, even with a tight hamstring, if their first-round series against Oakland goes to a fifth game next week.

Clemens felt a twinge in the fourth inning of Wednesday night's opener and came out an inning later as the Yankees lost to Oakland 5-3.

"If we have a Game 5, he will pitch," manager Joe Torre said before Game 2. "It's just a matter of how good he's going to be. He's obviously not going to be 100 percent but sometimes 80 percent of Roger Clemens is better than 100 percent of somebody else."

Clemens apparently felt a problem with the leg in his last start of the regular season at Tropicana Field. Picking up Johnny Damon's bouncer leading off the fourth Wednesday night, Clemens felt pain.

SPARKPLUG: Damon's speed has added a new dimension to Oakland's already lethal offense.

Damon created the Athletics' first run in the opener, by leading off the game with a single, stealing second, moving to third on a groundout and scoring on a sacrifice fly.

"He sets the table," said Yankees infielder Randy Velarde, who played for Oakland last year. "He brings an element they've been lacking for a few years with his speed."

BITS: Cleveland's Chuck Finley allow three homers in a 17-batter span; he didn't allow three in a game all season. ... Mariners SS Carlos Guillen felt weak after taking batting practice for the first time since being diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis on Sept. 28 but still hopes to return for the next round of the playoffs. ... Edgar Martinez is hitting .352 lifetime in division series play. ... Thursday's crowd of 48,052 -- 19 more than Tuesday -- was the largest at Safeco Field.

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