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 Second to none Roberto Alomar making great strides in Cleveland
Posted: Thursday April 01, 1999 10:56 PM
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (AP) -- Robbie Alomar has been called the missing piece to Cleveland's postseason puzzle, the one player who will finally end the club's 50 years of World Series frustration. And if Alomar's spring is any indication, this could be a special summer and fall for the Indians and their fans. "Hey, Robbie, another ho-hum day," Indians pitcher Dave Burba yells as Alomar enters the clubhouse after going 2-for-3 with two RBIs against Kansas City the other day. "Time to go home and hang your head." When he hears Burba, Cleveland's resident jokester, Alomar wanders over and the two share a laugh. He has only been on the team for a few months, but Alomar looks like he's been with the Indians for years. In a way, he has been part of Cleveland's extended family. "The guys have accepted me since Day One," he said. "I'm happy to be a part of it. I've always come to spring training just trying to work hard on the things I need to do to get ready for the season. So far, everything has worked out right." So far, Alomar has been everything the Indians hoped they were getting when they signed the nine-time All-Star second baseman last November as a free agent. He's hit to all fields, driven in runs and has had his batting average around .400 most of the spring. He entered Thursday's exhibition against the New York Yankees batting .418 with a team-leading 10 doubles and 15 RBIs. Alomar and shortstop Omar Vizquel have yet to combine on that jaw-dropping double play, but they're still getting used to each other. "I don't think you really understand how good Robbie is until he's on your team," said Indians general manager John Hart, who had been trying to land Alomar the past few seasons. "He is a special, special player. He's got the complete package." In Alomar, the Indians got more speed, leadership and power. With his addition, Cleveland has an All-Star at every position, 18 Gold Gloves up the middle, and perhaps the only lineup in baseball that matches up against the New York Yankees. And, the Indians not only have their second baseman -- they used 16 players at the position in the last 2 1/2 years -- they have their second Alomar. Sandy Alomar says it's still hard to believe he and his younger brother are again teammates. The two played one game together in 1988 and seven games in 1989 for the San Diego Padres before Sandy was traded to the Indians. "When we go out there [on opening day] and they say, 'Play ball', that's when it's really going to hit me," Sandy said. Robbie, who is 1 1/2 years younger than Sandy, said his decision to join the Indians was a family one, and that he did it not only to be with his brother but to win another World Series. He got two rings with Toronto. "Just look around this clubhouse," he said. "There was a lot of talent here before I came. Hopefully, we can put it all together this year." Alomar chooses his words carefully any time the subject of umpires is brought up. Asked if he's noticed any change in the strike zone this spring with umpires promising to call higher strikes, he offers only a "No" and a shake of his head. Some observers feel there were times in the past two seasons Alomar was still feeling the backlash for his 1996 spitting incident with umpire John Hirschbeck. Cleveland manager Mike Hargrove decided early on he would have Robbie Alomar, a switch-hitter, hit in the No. 3 slot in the batting order this season, behind Vizquel and Kenny Lofton. Hargrove wanted to take advantage of the trio's speed to better set up RBI possibilities for sluggers Jim Thome and Manny Ramirez, and to hopefully score more early runs. Alomar, though, who drove in 94 runs for Baltimore in 1994, hasn't been leaving many runners stranded. His 15 RBIs through Tuesday tie him the team lead. "It doesn't matter where I hit," said Alomar, who batted anywhere from leadoff to fifth for the Orioles a year ago. "We have a great lineup from top to bottom." Great lineups lead to great expectations, and with Alomar in the fold, the bar has been raised for the Indians. There will be more pressure to win a fifth straight AL Central title. There will be more pressure to beat the Yankees, and more pressure to win it all for the first time since 1948. "We need 25 guys to win it, not only me," Alomar said. "I'm not going to be able to do it all alone. One guy can not do it all." No, but two Alomars seem to be a lot better than one.
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