Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, April 25, 1995 TAG: 9504260068
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LARRY WHITESIDE BOSTON GLOBE
DATELINE: MIAMI LENGTH: Medium
Baseball is back, finally. But will it survive the identity crisis created by an eight-month strike that alienated the very people it needs to reach?
That is an important question as the 1995 season begins tonight with an ESPN contest pitting the Florida Marlins against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Joe Robbie Stadium. Capacity is 46,238, but how many fans show up to welcome the major-leaguers may be an issue that overshadows the game.
``I think there has been a lot of damage done to the fans,'' said Rene Lachemann, Florida's manager. ``There are a lot of fans who are never going to come back to this game of baseball. I can understand where they are coming from. But we have to go out and make a concerted effort to get them back. As players and management, we must make the effort.
``We have to go after the young fans - and with a lot more than signing autographs. The fans we lost we may never get back, so we have to go out after some new ones.''
In an abbreviated three-week spring training, teams tried to whip themselves into shape. Most failed. But, ready or not, the 144-game season is here, to be followed by two rounds of playoffs and a World Series.
``We're ready,'' Lachemann said. ``And I have a lot of enthusiasm about this day ... than I had for the other Opening Day. That's all in the past. I don't want to get involved with injunctions, injunctions, petticoat junctions, none of that. It still bothers me because I'm a guy who started out with the Dodgers at age 15 as a batboy. Now I'm close to 50, which means I've been around a long time.''
There was excitement around the ballpark Monday, but also mixed vibes. The Marlins, naturally, were happy to be back. Players arrived three hours early for a 6 p.m. workout. Terry Pendleton and Andre Dawson held court, while starting pitcher John Burkett, who will be opposed by Ramon Martinez, reminded those unfamiliar with his record that he had pitched three openers for the San Francisco Giants. Holdovers Jeff Conine and Gary Sheffield spoke of an improved supporting cast.
But something was wrong: Few, if any, fans could be sighted, either seeking autographs or watching the informal practice. It was a one-team show. With hotels jammed, the Dodgers elected to play an exhibition game Monday and come from Vero Beach by bus today. Imagine, pregame hype involving Dodger Blue minus Tommy Lasorda. What has the world come to?
``I really think you're going to see good baseball,'' Lasorda said in Vero Beach. ``I really do. Everybody is in the same boat.''
The players may be in the same boat, but major-league umpires aren't aboard. With the umps' labor problems unresolved, the game will be worked by replacement men in blue. Players, for the most part, have been restrained in their criticism of the fill-in umpires during spring games. But those games didn't count. These do.
``Those people are not major-league umpires,'' Lachemann said. ``I think because of the strike we found it's not an easy job to be a major-league player. It's not easy to be a major-league umpire, either. Regardless of who's calling balls and strikes, we want consistency.''
Tonight's game marks only the fourth time in 112 years that the National League opener will not be played in Cincinnati.
The bottom line, however, is baseball is back.
``It feels great,'' Conine said. ``This is where we wanted to be for the last eight months - on the field. We're here.''
by CNB