YANKEE NOTES
BALTIMORE – Despite several Twins players being concerned for their safety when they open a three-game series at Yankee Stadium Tuesday night, Joe Torre hopes Yankee fans don’t stoop to the level of the Metrodome morons who threw bottles, coins and golf balls at Chuck Knoblauch earlier this week.
“I hope it won’t be necessary,” Torre said when asked if he, as the manager of the Yankees, would make a plea to Yankee fans to act responsible. “I think New York fans behave very well. I certainly hope they would take the high road and I expect that to happen.”
Knoblauch was happy to leave the Metrodome, a stadium he played in for six years and helped the Twins win a World Series in 1991. He admitted the situation got to him in the eighth inning of Wednesday night’s 4-2 loss when he said he had “no chance” when he struck out.
“It’s really just another city to me except for that stupid stuff,” said Knoblauch, who was 1-for-11 in the three games.
Paul O’Neill, who saw golf balls being chucked in his direction in right field Wednesday night, doesn’t want Yankee fans to treat the Twins’ outfielders the way Knoblauch was treated.
“I hope not,” said O’Neill, who received a standing ovation from Twins’ fans when he reached his 2,000th hit in the ninth inning Wednesday. “You don’t run and get your big brother to beat somebody up.”
As far as the 2,000th hit, O’Neill wasn’t jumping through hoops because it came in a game the Yankees lost, 4-2.
“My kids were excited about it, but I guess it means you have played a long time, have been fairly lucky and have had a lot of opportunities to hit,” O’Neill said. “I didn’t think much of it because people have 3,000 and 4,000 hits.”
As for the ovation from the fans who were throwing things at him earlier, O’Neill appreciated it.
“I thought it was neat, but five minutes later we were in the clubhouse with another loss,” O’Neill said.
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If Cal Ripken plays Sunday and gets to hit against Mike Mussina, the pitcher will remember the games he played with the future Hall of Famer more than the chance to face the aging star.
“Playing with him will drastically overshadow if I have to pitch to him,” Mussina said of his ex-mate who has been in and out of the O’s lineup but was at third base last night despite a .176 batting average.
Jose Vizcaino and Dwight Gooden will join the Yankees at the White House reception today. Vizcaino, who is with the Astros, is being flown in by the Yankees. Gooden, who works for George Steinbrenner, came in from Tampa. It wasn’t known if other players like Jason Grimsley and Denny Neagle, who are with the Royals and Rockies, respectively, were invited.
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Roger Clemens (3-0; 4.35 ERA) faces RHP Pat Hentgen (1-3; 3.32) tonight. Andy Pettitte (3-3; 3.05) draws RHP Willis Roberts (4-0; 1.95) tomorrow and Mussina (2-3; 3.73) tangles with RHP Jason Johnson (2-2; 3.86) Sunday.