M’S Top Pick Cruz Shoots From The Lip

Jose Cruz Jr., the Seattle Mariners’ top selection in the draft June 1, hasn’t even signed a contract and yet he is making judgments about the quality of the Seattle players.

“I see they have Rich Amaral playing center field,” Cruz was quoted as saying in the most recent issue of Baseball America. “They must be pretty desperate.”

Amaral took a bit of exception to Cruz’s comments, but won’t be bothered by much as long as he continues to contribute to Seattle victories.

“I don’t worry about what people are saying,” he said. “I just concentrate on my role with the team. I think I can contribute.”

Amaral has played a larger role since Ken Griffey Jr. and Jay Buhner have gone on the disabled list. Amaral’s average is up to .311.

His speed also has given the Mariners a new threat because he has stolen nine bases without being caught.

Knoblauch apology

Chuck Knoblauch has made up with a teenage fan who said the Minnesota player roughed him up outside the Twins’ hotel here, a club spokesman said.

“The kid came to our hotel. Chuck and the kid sat down and apologized to each other. Then Chuck signed a couple of pictures for him. It was all a misunderstanding,” Twins media relations director Rob Antony said.

Knoblauch was booed by Kingdome fans during Saturday night’s 6-4 Seattle Mariners’ victory over Minnesota in the Kingdome. He did not play Friday night.

Seattle police reported the 15-year-old fan admitted yelling an insult at Knoblauch, a second baseman and 1991 American League rookie of the year, after Knoblauch refused an autograph request outside the hotel Thursday night.

The boy said Knoblauch threw him against a wall, tried to choke him and started yelling.

The boy, who is from Des Moines, a suburb south of Seattle, received a small scratch on the back and side of his neck and a torn collar, police said. No medical attention was required.

Knoblauch was not arrested. A police spokesman said there were conflicting versions of what happened and described the incident as “very minor.”

Antony said the boy first approached Knoblauch on Saturday night and told him he wanted to apologize.

Nelson shines

The two-inning, five-strikeout performance Sunday afternoon by Jeff Nelson punctuated the success he has had all season.

His earned-run average is down to 1.23 and he has struck out a batter an inning.

“Nelson is doing an outstanding job. He has really come into his own,” manager Lou Piniella said. “He’s throwing strikes. He’s getting ahead of hitters and he’s aggressive. I couldn’t be more pleased with the complete turnaround Nellie has made.”

Part of Nelson’s dominance has been the ability to get left-handed batters out. He has become more than just a situational pitcher.

Clearing the bases

Chris Bosio update: Twelve hours after leaving the clubhouse with his right ring finger in a split with a pressure pad to reduce swelling, Bosio declared himself “fine” before the game Sunday. The one-hop shot off the bat of Pat Meares that Bosio took on the hand wasn’t bothering him as much Sunday as the head cold he had. … Greg Pirkl hasn’t done a whole lot this season with his limited playing time. He is 3 for 12. However, he is the star of the show most days in batting practice. Sunday, he drove a ball into the second deck in left field. Only five players in two decades of baseball in the Kingdome have accomplished the feat in a game.

Forty-nine games into the season, the Twins have lost all 15 series they’ve played. The worst start in baseball history as far as lost series go was in 1987 when the San Diego Padres dropped their first 19 series. The Twins have a pitching staff that is giving up more than six earned runs a game, and the hitters haven’t kept up. Minnesota is 0-20 when scoring less than four runs. In the past 162 Twins games, pitchers have given up 234 home runs. The number would be a major league record if it were over a complete regular season of 162 games.

Promotional events bordered on the ridiculous Sunday. It was youth baseball day, senior day, mascot day and lest we forget, Jay Buhner sunglasses day.