Colombia discovers World Series
Colombians are ecstatic that two of their countrymen are in the World Series –a first for a nation better known for drug trafficking and its long-running guerrilla war than baseball players.
When a Colombian makes a splash in something other than the war or drug trafficking, it becomes a big deal here – never mind that in many Colombian cities baseball is about as well known as cricket or curling.
Orlando Cabrera of the Boston Red Sox and Edgar Renteria of the St. Louis Cardinals, both playing shortstop, are going head-to-head in the World Series.
“Cabrera vs. Renteria,” proclaimed a headline in El Tiempo, Colombia’s biggest daily.
In a first, TV network RCN broadcast the World Series, along with some regional stations. El Tiempo, in a near full-page spread, described to readers the World Series and its importance.
“I’ll certainly be watching the game,” said David Gomez, a taxi driver in Bogota. “As a Colombian, I feel very proud that two countrymen are playing in the World Series of the major leagues for the first time.”
This would also be the first time Gomez has watched a baseball game. He said he would rely on the TV announcers to help explain the rules.
While baseball is unknown for most of soccer-crazy Colombia, cities and towns along the Caribbean coast follow the sport closely. Both players are from “La Costa,” the coast.
Cabrera is from Cartagena, a walled Spanish-colonial city, while Renteria is from nearby Barranquilla.
Womack injured by ground ball
Cardinals second baseman Tony Womack was knocked out of the World Series opener by a hard grounder that hit him in the left collarbone, but he wasn’t seriously hurt and expects to play in Game 2.
“Unless the skip doesn’t want me in, I’ll be ready,” he said.
Womack was struck by David Ortiz’s bad-hop grounder, which was ruled an infield RBI single and put the Red Sox ahead 9-7 in the seventh. He grimaced as trainer Barry Weinberg checked on him for a few minutes on the field, and he then walked off for precautionary X-rays. Marlon Anderson replaced Womack in the lineup.
Kline upset he’s not on roster
Cardinals reliever Steve Kline was exasperated – to put it mildly – over the team’s decision to leave him off the World Series roster.
He found out about it while watching television Saturday before the team bus left for Fenway Park. Kline also put off surgery to repair a tendon in the index finger of his pitching hand that’s 70 percent torn, thinking he’d be on the roster.
Before the game, the Cardinals put right-hander Al Reyes on the roster instead. Kline said general manager Walt Jocketty informed him when the team got off the bus at Fenway Park, and that manager Tony La Russa only shook his hand about 45 minutes later.
“I’m dumbfounded, shocked,” Kline said. “You get to the end of the rainbow and there’s no pot of gold for me. I could have had surgery a month ago.”
The decision left Ray King as the lone left-hander in the bullpen.
Garciaparra sends kind words
Chicago Cubs shortstop Nomar Garciaparra called Boston catcher Jason Varitek after the ALCS to congratulate him and wish his former teammates good luck in the World Series.
“He’s happy for us,” Varitek said. “But I’m sure there’s a part of him that wishes he were here.”
After the trade the Boston media portrayed Garciaparra as a sulking loner who just wanted to get out of town. That was in contrast to his easygoing relationship with the Chicago media.