Red Sox 1B Mo Vaughn, asked about comments he made
saying that he would prefer to play for the Blue Jays over
returning to Boston, said Friday, "What would you do if you
played for an organization that tried to get you to take an
alcoholic evaluation? What would you do if they had a
private investigator following you around? What would you
do if they brought up the issue of narcotics? That's not my
style. I've got these kids to deal with [because he's a
role model.] It's not about the money." Vaughn made
similar remarks on Boston's WBZ Friday night, and Red Sox
Exec VP/GM Dan Duquette "took the unusual step" of appearing
on the team's flagship TV station, WABU, to counter Vaughn's
comments. Duquette: "To accuse the organization of (using)
a private investigator? And insinuations regarding
narcotics and crack houses? We've never done that. I have
no idea where that's coming from" (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/25). In
Boston, Michael Holley wrote, "The fact that alcohol and
crack have been mentioned during this time is hurting the
Sox. Because of this, they have put themselves in a
dangerous position: They will forever be known as the
organization that has a problem with black players" (BOSTON
GLOBE, 7/25). Former Red Sox P Roger Clemens also commented
on Saturday, saying, "I think what's most surprised me is
that [Red Sox CEO] John Harrington has taken a back seat in
all of this" (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/26).
MORE BEANIE MADNESS: The Devil Rays distributed 15,000
"Weenie The Dachshund" Beanie Babies yesterday to fans 14
and under. An estimated 6,000 people waited outside the
gates before they opened at 11:30am (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES,
7/27). The Devil Rays drew a "near capacity" crowd of
37,194 for yesterday's game. Fans began waiting as early as
11:30pm ET on Saturday night to get in line (ORLANDO
SENTINEL, 7/27). In S.F., a "Lou Seal" Beanbag Baby promo
help draw 50,054 to 3Com Park, the third-largest Giants
crowd of the season. The team will have a Beanie Baby promo
on August 30 (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 7/26).
BIG WEEKEND IN BALTIMORE: The Orioles drew 144,748 for
their three-game series against the Mariners, the "largest
turnout for a three-game regular-season series at Camden
Yards" (Baltimore SUN, 7/27)....In Chicago, the Mets-Cubs
series drew 121,449 for the weekend, a club record for a
three-day series (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 7/27).
