Rookies can get 'icy' reception

   Brian Anderson
   Special to the Republic
   The Arizona Republic
   Sept. 10, 1998
   
   We have reached that point in the season where major league rosters
   are allowed to expand from 25 to 40. It offers the teams a chance to
   look at some of the up-and-coming young players.
   
   That's how I got started with the Angels. I remember the exact date -
   it was Sept. 7, 1993. It's an exciting time - it allows you to see
   what the big leagues are all about.
   
   All of a sudden, you're up there with guys you've watched play on TV,
   but now you're there watching them in person. In a way, it's kind of a
   shock to the system. It's great to see the game up close.
   
   Another shock to the system is some of the hazing/initiations you have
   to go through as a rookie. A lot of pranks are played on you. Some
   guys don't take it very well, but I think most guys do - it's all
   meant in good fun.
   
   One of the first tasks I had as a rookie was to collect baseballs
   during batting practice, put them in a bucket and then take the bucket
   to the batting practice pitcher.
   
   There were about 20 or so games left, and Mark Langston said, "OK,
   kid, you're going to be doing this for the rest of the year."
   
   I obviously didn't care for that at first, but then I kind of got used
   to it and then I started liking it. I would shoot the baseballs like
   you would a basketball, and when they saw I was having too much fun,
   they took me off that duty. You can't have the rookie get enjoyment
   out of it.
   
   One time, I came back into the clubhouse and my shirt and jeans were
   frozen solid, flat, stiff as a board. My shoes were in a bucket that
   was frozen solid. I had to sneak out to my car wearing just
   undershorts and a tank top.
   
   After a game at Anaheim Stadium, some of the guys told me that one of
   the TV stations there, KTLA, wanted to do an interview with me out in
   the parking lot area beyond right field where some of the big TV
   trucks are parked.
   
   I ran down there as fast as I could, still wearing my uniform and
   spikes, and saw a couple of guys loading up some equipment.
   
   "I said, "Hey, I'm here for my interview.' They looked at me like I
   was freaking nuts and said, "Son, we don't DO interviews out here.'
   Needless to say, when I got back to the clubhouse, the guys were
   having a pretty good laugh at my expense. It's a lot more fun to watch
   than be a part of, but, hey, that's part of it.
   
   At some point in the season, the rookies also usually have to wear a
   dress on a return flight from a road trip. We did that here with the
   Diamondbacks earlier in the season.
   
   Rod Carew, one of our coaches with the Angels, fined the rookies golf
   balls. You had to bring in a couple dozen of just the right kind. One
   of our other pitchers who was a rookie at the same time as I was, Mark
   Holzemer, thought he would be funny and brought a bunch of
   pastel-colored ones for Rod. He didn't like that and said, "OK, now
   you owe me four dozen plus $200."
   
   That same year, Mark also made the mistake of getting on Chuck
   Finley's bad side. Chuck had the tires of Mark's BMW taken off and had
   the car sitting up on blocks, and had the tires stacked in front of
   his locker.
   
   Like I said, some guys are tempted to lash out, but most of the time,
   there's no harm done. You just have to grin and bear it. You have to
   realize that it's all in fun and part of being in the major leagues.
   
   It's like a big pyramid - everybody starts playing when they're young,
   but then it gets smaller the closer you get to the big leagues.
   There's only a select few. When you get there, enduring a little bit
   of hazing isn't so bad. In fact, it's part of making it all
   worthwhile.
   
   Diamondbacks left-hander Brian Anderson shares his comments each week
   in Baseball Extra.