Thursday, February 24, 2000
Rose Jr. reports for first spring workout with Phillies
The Associated Press
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Pete Rose Jr. did a little reminiscing after reporting Wednesday for his first spring workout with the Philadelphia Phillies.
“Right over there in that corner, I used to have my own little locker,” Rose said. “This feels great. It's like coming home.”
Most 30-year-olds with 16 career major league plate appearances might have gone on to another career, but not the son of baseball's banned hits leader.
“I guess I'll wake up one day and that's going to be it,” said Rose, a third baseman who could wind up in Double-A Reading. “I never put a timetable on it. It's just my dream and I'm going to keep chasing it.”
Even the Phillies admit that Rose is in their big league camp as a favor to his father, who played with the Phillies from 1979-84 and led the franchise to its only World Series title in 1980.
“That's great,” the younger Rose said. “Whatever it takes to get me here. Now it's up to me.”
Coincidentally, Rose is wearing No. 80 this spring.
“That means I'm a non-roster invitee,” he said. “I'd rather be 80 with the Phillies than 29 with the Jackals.”
Rose was in spring camp with Los Angeles last spring but was released and wound up with the New Jersey Jackals in the Northern Independent League. He put up good numbers (.300, 15 homers, 53 RBIs), then was signed by the Phillies as a minor league free agent Oct. 29.
An invitation to big league camp didn't come until after his father bumped into Phillies manager Terry Francona in January at a Philadelphia sports banquet.
“Pete said to me, 'Is there a reason why he can't be in major league camp?” said Francona, who played with and for Rose in Cincinnati. “He said, "I think he can make your club.' ”
I said, "Pete, we've got a pretty good bench.' He said, "Well, will you look into it?”
Francona nodded in approval, then telephoned general manager Ed Wade. A few days later, the Phillies agreed.
“I explained to Pete we're doing this out of respect, but we also don't expect there to be ill feelings when Pete goes back to the minor league camp,” Wade said. “Now that he's here, he's here and I hope he tries to win a spot on the team.”
That's exactly what Rose Jr. plans to do.
“You always have a chance to shock people,” he said. “We'll see. If it doesn't happen, then I'll go back down and keep working hard. And I'll be back sometime.”
Rose's only big league experience came in 1997 with his father's first team, Cincinnati. He beefed up from 200 to 235 pounds and started hitting for power.
“For so many years, I played at 200 pounds and tried slapping the ball all over the plate ... just like my dad,” Rose said. “It didn't work. I had to make a change, and when I finally did in 1997 my career took off.”
Rose had 29 homers in his first eight pro seasons from 1989-96, then 25 in 112 games for Double-A Chattanooga in 1997. That led to a Triple-A promotion in August and a September callup.
Rose hit only .143 in 11 games with nine strikeouts in 14 at-bats. He spent the 1998 season in Triple-A, then dropped to Double-A and all the way to the Northern Independent League before the season ended.
Pete Sr., who agreed to a lifetime ban from baseball in 1989 following an investigation of his gambling, still awaits a decision by commissioner Bud Selig on his petition for reinstatement.
“I know he's hurting,” Rose Jr. said. “It's one mistake. We're going to get through it. He's going to be fine.”
Rose Jr. wasn't so forgiving when watching Jim Gray's confrontational World Series interview with his father, walking off the field in Atlanta following ceremonies honoring baseball's All-Century team.
“I went from tears to seeing red,” Rose Jr. said. “It was a big mood swing. I wanted to throw the remote through the TV. It was not a good scene.”
The issue at hand now for Rose is making a good impression on Francona, his Double-A manager for a short time in 1995.
“"As long as you have a major league uniform on, you have a chance,” Francona said. “He's trying to prolong his career. I wish him the best of luck.”
Reds Stories
Dillon likes what he sees from Chiefs
Bengals go to scouting combine undecided
Standing water halts Paul Brown crane
UC 96, Southern Miss 69
Johnson serves suspension
Grove's hard work turns into minutes
XU's Williams enjoying offensive renaissance
Marshall 87, Miami 78
MIAMI NOTEBOOK
Tennessee 74, Kentucky 67
Ohio State 69, Northwestern 49
Lucas' No. 11 retired by Ohio State
Enquirer wins honors from AP
Hartford 5, Mighty Ducks 2
Williams, Craig set for Box-offs
Channel 5 gets scoop on Strawberry
Cincinnati boys basketball roundup
Cincinnati girls basketball roundup
Ohio boys basketball scores
Ohio girls basketball scores
Kentucky boys basketball scores
Reds page
