European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 9, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse Monday March 9, 1992 the stars and stripes a Page 21rice brings new mood to red sox by Michael Bezdek Winter Haven Fla. A Jim Rice the Allstar left fielder who walked out of Boston in a Huff two years ago is Back in a red sox uniform and for the first time in Many years he appears comfortable in it. If his attitude is the same As he insists it is his Demeanour is certainly different. Now he comes smiling to practice eager to help chattering All the time head up eyes darting. The Guy who used to sit in the locker room waiting for wayward reporters like a lion near the waterhole now even Grants interviews. He is a minor league batting instructor a far cry from the Days when he made millions playing major league baseball. He a put on some weight and a Beard. But he looks every bit As formidable As he was at full Power when he broke those two bats on swings that missed the balls. And he is Happy. A this has nothing to do with Money. You do it because you want to give something Back to baseball. You see a Chance to work with a lot of Young kids who May have a future in baseball a said Rice. What mellowed Jim Rice a i feel the same As i did when i played. Its not any different a said Rice 39 years old on sunday. A i was Mellow Well maybe but there was that scuffle with the reporter in the locker room the time he threw a Ball at a photographer his open disdain for his last manager Joe Morgan that icy foreboding look he wore so often toward the end. A i did no to have any bad times in Boston. All the times were Good. If times were bad i be living there right now a he said. Rice was the third to play left Field at Fenway Park in one of baseball a great lineages that began with Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski. His performances were mitigated by Many strikeouts double play balls a major league record 36 in 1984and his moods but the numbers still impress. He is third in the history of the club in Home runs 382 third in Bis 1,451 third in hits 2,452 and he was an eight time All Star. He led the american league in total bases three straight years tying a record held by Tycobb and Ted Williams. He had a .298 career batting average. In his Rookie year in 1975 he hit .309 and helped the red sox win the Pennant. In 1978 he was the american league most valuable player with 46 Home runs 139 Bis and 406 total bases the most by an american league player since 1937. He had his glory Days in the late 1970s through the mid-1980s, and then struggled to keep up with himself until the red sox called him in and said they were not renewing his contract after 1989. He blamed Morgan a lot implying he should have played him More in those final Days even though he was baseball former Star Jim Rice brings new Demeanour to Camp and Hopes he can teach Boston rookies to hit like he did. File Hurt and ineffective. A a lot of times Guys mean More to a bal club by playing Hurt than not playing at All a he said. A a lot of times Clemens could just throw his Glove out there without even pitching because of his name. A Guy like Michael Jordan a Guy like Larry Bird. Being in the lineup they have to change their but he Wasny to played much and appeared angry most of the time. And he did not diminish the perception when the team offered to hold a Day in his Honor and he did not respond. Just left. That bit of his history is on the mend and he and the club have tentatively agreed to have such a Day. Still Rice Ever proud and private does no to give too much. A i done to see where its mandatory that people think even the front office that just because you play with a bal club for a period of time you deserve a Day. In a not like that a he said. A the Only thing in a looking Forward to right now is. Trying to get some of these kids to the big leagues and they can have their glory but he does think about the past and mention of Morgan brings a Quick response. A if Morgan was such a Good manager Why is he gone now so i have been wrong a Rice said of the manager who was fired abruptly last year. One Day at Spring training Camp last week Rice standing at the batting Cage kept calling out to Veteran players a six two and even a an expression Morgan often used. Third baseman Wade Boggs said from the opposite Side of the Cage that Rice a bought to give that Rice did no to hear him. A things like that you ignore that a he said. And then he added a Why done to you come Down and write baseball this is a thing about baseball. This Isnit about things in the he said it plaintively not in a mean spirited Way. Questions like that have always been part of the rub for Jim Rice. He does no to want to talk about emotions. He a starting to touch the edges now but no More. Even when asked to name some of his heroes in sport As he grew up in South Carolina he insisted he had none was too Busy playing sports to have heroes. When that delicate moment came when he wanted Back in baseball word somehow got to minor league director de Kenney who notified the front office Folk who then called Rice. He knows his temperament can work against him and he has already steeled himself for the time when he is considered for the Hall of Fame. A if it were left up to the players and you were going on a system on what you accomplished in baseball i got a shot Quot he said. A but As far As certain people baseball writers voting no. A a lot of ballplayers a lot of athletes arc kept around because they talk to the press. They re not kept around because of their ability. They re he enjoys Golf with a game in the 70s and Low 80s, but says most of his free time is taken up by his kids. He says he might want to be a coach in the big leagues some Day but right now he is looking Forward to working the minor league circuit As a roving hitting instructor for the red sox. And then he walks away to the batting Cage. And soon his voice can be heard. A a that a it. That a it. You want to keep your head steady. No not Down just steady. You move your head and it pulls the shoulder. That a it. Right there. Just keep your head he is Back in his element comfortable s showing expos How now West Palm Beach Fla. Apr this time around Gary Carters Job with the Montreal expos is a Little different. He wants to play but he a also showing Ather catchers How to play the position too. A a Gary a a competitor but so am 1,�?� Rookie Darrin Fletcher said. A i want to play four or five Days a week and so does while Fletcher is 25 and is looking ahead Carter is 38 and the majority of his career is behind him. �?o1 done to want to be a backup Catcher any More a said Fletcher who filled that role in los Angeles and Philadelphia. A a we la see who plays those four or five games a waiting for fridays Start to exhibition play against the new York mets Fletcher listened As Carter lectured the expose pitchers for a half hour. A let me do the thinking for you a Carter told the Young pitchers with pitching coach Joe Kerrigan looking on with approval. A if there a a Home run ill take the blame if the pitch was a a Gary a a Good teacher a Fletcher said. A if he wants to i think hell make a Good manager some Fletcher a left handed hitter is working with batting instructors to improve his swing. He hit Only .228 in 46 games for the Philadelphia Phillies last season. Carter batted .246 in 101 games for the los Angeles dodgers with six Home runs and 26 Bis in 248 at bats. A if these old Knees hold up id like to play four or five games a week at Catcher and fill in at first base a Carter said. A a it a probably my last Stop in the major leagues and i think i can help with what i Carter said he consulted his wife Sandy and his children Christy 13, Kimmy 11, and d.j., 7, before deciding to play one More season with Montreal. Carter who has caught 1,971 games and hit 291 Home runs played with the expos from 1974-84 Belore he was traded to the mets Lor four players. He has since also played for the san Francisco giants and the dodgers. �?o1 think i can still produce a Carter said. A a in be Only hit 15 Home runs in the last two years but i did no to get Many
