The crowds may be sparse at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, but a fan favorite has emerged in Baltimore.
Booming calls of “Luuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuke,” welcome new left fielder Luke Scott each time he walks up to the plate or gets a hit.
Scott, acquired in the offseason with four other players from Houston in a trade for former American League MVP Miguel Tejada, has quickly made the adjustments necessary to face American League pitching.
Entering yesterday, Scott was leading all American League hitters with a .500 average. He also had four RBIs, four walks, three doubles and one home run in 20 at-bats.
But here?s the question: is this a hot start? Or the start of something special?
For some, Scott?s early success is not a surprise.
“I always thought he had a chance to be an above-average major league hitter,” one American League assistant general manager said. Still, his past numbers in Houston did not indicate he could perform on a consistent basis. In 135 games last year, he batted a serviceable .255 with an impressive 18 home runs after hitting .336 in 65 games with 10 home runs in 2006.
In Baltimore, he?s paid attention to details. After every at-bat, he furiously scribbles down details in a notebook.
“Whether a pitcher changes or not, sometimes you can notice a pattern,” Scott said recently. “You can also notice a pitcher?s strength. It helps me develop a game plan. When I come up to the plate, I know what I am going to do.”
Manager Dave Trembley wants Scott to scale back Scott?s home run swing, but others caution of tinkering too much.
“I have always liked his swing,” the Major League assistant general manager said. “It is a low-maintenance swing, very compact and he keeps his hands inside the ball realwell. [It?s a] very solid, well balanced approach at the plate.”
Melrose Place: Caps in finals
The Capitals have the hot goalie, momentum and the likely MVP on their side. There?s no reason they can?t add something else to their resume this season: a Stanley Cup appearance.
“What?s most important is how you?re playing going in and the Capitals are the hottest team,” ESPN hockey analyst, and former coach, Barry Melrose said. “There?s no reason they can?t win the East.”
Then again?
“They?re still a few years away from being a competitive team for the Cup,” NBC hockey analyst Pierre McGuirre said.
But with Alex Ovechkin and hot goalie Cristobal Huet, the Caps have the formula for playoff success.
That?s why Melrose picks the Capitals to win this series.
“They have the edge with Huet and [Sergei] Fedorov and Matt Cooke ? those were great pickups,” Melrose said. “[But] Ovechkin can?t get to the playoffs and then lay an egg. This is what greatness is all about.”
“He?s virtually indestructible,” McGuirre said of Ovechkin. “I would call him a cyborg.”
And, NBC analyst and former GM Mike Millbury said, “There?s no question he?s as electrifying a player as I?ve seen. [Pittsburgh?s Sydney] Crosby last year was in that similar vain, but I think Ovechkin may have knocked it up a notch.”
The key matchup, then, will be Philadelphia?s Mike Richards against Ovechkin.
But, as good as Ovechkin is, Huet, a pending free agent, was the finishing touch. And Melrose said the Caps can?t worry about goalie Olie Kolzig?s feelings at this point.
“If I?m down the stretch and I have two goalies and one is playing lights out, I play the guy,” Melrose said. “You can?tworry about how long someone has been in the organization and if he is a good guy. Huet has been unbelievable. The only negative thing is that he?s played so well, it makes it a lot tougher to sign him.”
Celts state (losing) case for Garnett
Kevin Garnett doesn?t want to address the topic.
“Next question,” he sternly said Thursday night when asked about being named MVP.
And P.J. Brown doesn?t like his teammates chances.
“Seems like it could go toward [Chris Paul] or Kobe [Bryant],” he said. “It seems like they?re getting all the love .”
Still, the Celtics counter with facts: their last year?s wins (24) and this year?s (62).
“What?s our record? That?s all I have to say,” Celts coach Doc Rivers said.
Brown, the 14-year vet, is more effusive.
“He?s one of the most intense players I?ve ever been around,” Brown said. “His practice habits are unmatched by anything I?ve ever seen. He raises the level of play around him. That?s why he should get the award.”
Sorry, guys. Only two teams in the East are worth a darn; this honor has to head West.
In case youmissed it
Don?t mess with Pujols. Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols and Houston Astros pitcher Brandon Backe had a boiling exchange Wednesday during batting practice. At play was Backe?s disapproval of Pujols? collision with Houston?s catcher Tuesday. After being pulled apart, Backe said it was “apparent we don?t like each other.” Pujols hit two home runs Wednesday to take out his frustrations in the Cardinals? 6-4 win.
On the record
“I don?t like him as a person or as an umpire. And I?m going to let him know. He don?t like me, I don?t like him.”
? Ozzie Guillen talking about umpire Phil Cuzzi, who has ejected the White Sox manager twice in the past year.
“I?m still working on the dexterity in my hands, being able to do every day stuff such as brush my hair, tie my shoes. It?s getting better.”
? Former Bills tight end Kevin Everett, praising experimental therapies developed by Miami project.
Five questions ?
We?d like to ask Coach K
1. Do you tell your All-American recruits up front that your players don?t succeed in the NBA? Or do you let them discover that on their own?
2. Is Dick Vitale openly jealous of your wife?
3. Would you have to stop coaching if they got rid of the three-point line?
4. When did you realize you were such a good teacher of the flop?
5. Do you prefer being called sanctimonious or holier than thou?
