 |
Rhodes offers no apologies
Teammates join reliever in critique of shrinking strike zone
Thursday, October 12, 2000
By JOHN HICKEY
NEW YORK -- Arthur Rhodes met the incredible shrinking strike zone.
He met up with some bad luck.
The combination was brutal.
Rhodes was in a foul mood after Game 2 of the American League Championship Series, a game in which he took the loss, giving up four hits and three runs while facing just five batters.
That may take some doing. Rhodes' earned-run average for the game resembled something off a NASA printout. But he made no apology for the pitches he threw, just the results.
And for that, home-plate umpire Angel Hernandez was the recipient of most of Rhodes' fury.
"You can't have the umpire changing the strike zone in the eighth inning," Rhodes said. "I threw some good pitches, and I didn't get the calls."
Rhodes wasn't alone in that assessment. Catcher Dan Wilson, who offered a mocking laugh when the subject of the strike zone came up, would offer only a "no comment" when pressed.
Early in the game, Hernandez's strike zone was as wide as the Bronx. By the time Rhodes showed up, it looked like Weight Watchers' most successful graduate ever.
"To be honest with you, it seemed like the strike zone kept shrinking and shrinking," shortstop Alex Rodriguez said.
"Arthur threw some damn good pitches, but they kept squeezing him."
Perhaps it wouldn't have mattered as much if the inning's only problem had been the strike zone. Added to that was left fielder Al Martin's failure to catch a sinking line drive.
With the game tied and Bernie Williams on first base, Tino Martinez flared a ball softly to left. Martin said the ball got hung up in the lights. He made a late dive for the ball, but it kicked off his glove.
"The way I look at it, if the catch is made, I only give up one run in the inning," Rhodes said. "I'm not saying anything against my outfielders. They all do one hell of a job. But I think I should only have given up one run."
If so, the Mariners might have been coming home with a 2-0 series lead.
Instead, the teams left Yankee Stadium tied. Now the venue becomes Safeco Field, starting tomorrow.
"We'll start over again," Rhodes said.
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
"The hell with this inning," Rhodes said just before heading to the Mariners' team bus after the 7-1 loss to New York. Rhodes declined to talk until the last few moments before leaving the Yankee Stadium clubhouse. "I want to get this one behind me."
Rhodes under pressure. Paul Kitagaki Jr./P-I
· Losing ways betray Felix's calm exterior
· White Sox 5, M's 0
· Mariners Notebook: China Olympic team's injured catcher signed by M's last year
· Bad news for Mets closer Wagner after MRI on elbow
· Losses mounting for M's against AL elite
· White Sox 13, M's 5
· Mariners notebook: Bullpen shaky without Morrow
· Griffey taps into his inner Mariner
· Rays victory tempered by Upton's latest gaffe
· Source: Dodgers get veteran Maddux for playoff push
· On Deck
more
101 Elliott Ave. W.
Seattle, WA 98119
(206) 448-8000
Home Delivery: (206) 464-2121 or (800) 542-0820
seattlepi.com serves about 1.7 million unique visitors
and 30 million page views each month.
Send comments to newmedia@seattlepi.com
Send investigative tips to iteam@seattlepi.com
©1996-2008 Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Terms of Use/Privacy Policy
