Bonilla Plans To Play Tonight
Florida third baseman Bobby Bonilla, who came out of Game 6 of the N.L. Championship Series on Tuesday because of a hamstring strain, said Friday that he will be in the lineup for tonight’s Game 1 against Cleveland.
“It’s pretty sore, but I’ve been through a great deal to get here and I don’t plan on missing it,” said Bonilla, who already was battling left wrist and left Achilles’ tendon injuries that will require postseason surgery.
Cleveland manager Mike Hargrove, meanwhile, said with no DH in Games 1 and 2, he will play David Justice in left field tonight and Sunday.
Justice played only 73 games in left field with the Indians, just 15 in the second half of the season, because of hyperextended left elbow and tendinitis in his left knee, which limited him to primarily DH duties.
What are friends for?
Marlins manager Jim Leyland will make his World Series debut against the Cleveland Indians. He grew up in Perrysburg, Ohio, and in 1954, at age 10, saw his first big-league game at Cleveland Stadium.
“My graduating class was 125 and so far, it’s up to 625 that I graduated with asking for tickets,” Leyland said.
“My wife rented eight beds today that were brought to my house in Florida,” he said. “To be honest, I don’t know who the hell is staying at my house. It’s going to be like a dormitory. And it is coed - that’s the fun part.”
Pitchers for the ages
Marlins starter Livan Hernandez, who is 22 years, 7 months and 28 days old, will be the youngest pitcher to start a World Series game since Dwight Gooden, who was 21 years, 11 months and 7 days old when he started Game 5 of the 1986 World Series for the New York Mets against Boston.
Cleveland’s Orel Hershiser, 39 years, 1 month and 2 days old, will the oldest pitcher to start a World Series game since Early Wynn was 39 years, 8 months and 24 days old when he started for the Chicago White Sox against Los Angeles in 1959.
Oh, the long-suffering fans
Cleveland hasn’t won the World Series since 1948. Three teams have longer droughts - the Chicago Cubs (1908), Chicago White Sox (1917) and Boston Red Sox (1918).
NBC hoping for sweep
Networks usually root for the World Series to go seven games, knowing the highest ratings are for Games 6 and 7. Not NBC.
“We’re looking for four and out,” said Don Ohlmeyer, president of NBC West Coast. “Either way, that’s what we want. The faster it’s over with, the better it is.”
Cleveland and Miami-Fort Lauderdale aren’t the largest media markets, and NBA would rather have its regular prime-time schedule on Thursday night than Game 5.