Bret Boone Content Just to Play It by Ear

Bret Boone has tried to turn a deaf ear to all the talk. He just goes about the business of playing second base for Calgary, the triple-A team of the Seattle Mariners.

But as the Mariners’ heir apparent at second base, he has heard enough rumors to fill a tabloid.

Yes, he is certainly aware that Harold Reynolds, Seattle’s All-Star second baseman, is in the last year of a contract and is threatening to file for free agency. And yes, that would leave a tremendous opening, one that could be filled by Boone.

“Seems like I hear something different every day,” said Boone, who played at El Dorado High School. “I try not to worry about it. The situation will take care of itself.”

It certainly will, the way Boone is playing.

He is tearing up the Pacific Coast League in only his third professional season. Boone, a fifth-round pick from USC in 1990, is hitting .315 with 26 doubles, five triples, 12 home runs and 71 runs batted in.

It’s a dramatic improvement over last season, when he had 19 home runs and 75 RBIs, but hit only .255 at double-A Jacksonville.

“Actually, I think the arms are better in double A,” Boone said. “The pitchers are just smarter on the triple-A level. I expected to do this well, but there is always room for improvement.”

Boone’s confidence is part of what makes him such a hot property. As the son of former Angel catcher Bob Boone, he is not awed by the major leagues.

In fact, he talks of playing in the big leagues as a done deal.

“It’s going to happen,” Boone said. “It’s just a matter of when.”

Which brings us back to Reynolds.

He is a popular player in the community. But at 31, he might be expendable.

In addition to rumblings of free agency, rumors abound that he might be traded before the end of the season, clearing the way for Boone to move up.

It’s enough make a young second baseman testy.

“I hear it all the time,” Boone said. “I’m going up next week or I’m going up in September.

“I try to block it out of my mind. It’s out of my control. It’s not my job. I’ll leave that for the people in Seattle. When the time is right, I’ll move up. But until it happens, I’m here.”

Top of the heap: Chris Sheff, fresh out of Pepperdine, has already progressed to the highest point possible in his professional organization. Of course, since he is property of the Florida Marlins, that means he’s in Class A.

Sheff, a graduate of Laguna Hills High School, is playing for Erie. It’s the top farm club at the moment for the Marlins, who will join the National League next season.

“Next year, they’ll have a major league team and a triple-A team,” Sheff said. “But for now, I’m with the big club.”

The Marlins have only two teams at the moment, Erie in the New York-Penn League and a rookie team in Florida.

Sheff was placed with Erie because of his experience. This spring, he helped Pepperdine win the College World Series.

The professional level proved a little difficult at first for Sheff, who had only four hits in his first 34 at-bats. But he has raised his average from .050 to .227 since late June.

Sheff likes being in on the ground floor of an organization, for the excitement if nothing else.

“The people are great,” he said. “Everyone is putting in long hours. With only two teams, there is always someone around to work with you. You get a lot of attention.”

Waiting in the wings: Larry Casian is having a heck of a season for the Portland Beavers. The former Cal State Fullerton pitcher is 4-0 with eight saves and a 2.54 earned-run average.

Unfortunately, the Beavers are the triple-A team for the Minnesota Twins, who have one of the best pitching staffs in the American League. So there’s no room at the top, even for a guy who has stats such as Casian’s.

“They just sent a guy down who had the same numbers I have,” Casian said. “So they obviously have guys who can fill that role.”

Casian, who was a starter for the Titans, moved to the bullpen full time this season. He has adapted to the role quite well.

“I like it better because it gives me the opportunity to be in a lot of games,” Casian said.

And maybe get a shot with the Twins, who already have a solid starting rotation.

Casian began last season with the Twins. He pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings against Seattle in his first appearance. But he was clobbered for five runs in one inning against Kansas City on May 25 and was optioned to Portland the next day. He finished the season with the Beavers and was 3-2 with a 3.46 ERA.

Casian worked mostly out of the bullpen. Only six of his 34 appearances were starts. This season, all of his appearances have been in relief.

But it’s his fourth season on the triple-A level and he’s itching to move up.

“The Twins say I’m in their plans, but who knows,” Casian said. “They aren’t going to change things the way they are going right now. All I can do is hope for a chance.”

Shawn Holcomb has found the jump from high school to professional baseball a little difficult, at least at the beginning.

Holcomb led El Dorado High School into the Southern Section 5-A semifinals this spring and was named The Times’ player of the year. He was drafted by the Angels and sent to the club’s rookie league team in Mesa, Ariz.

The initiation was brutal. In his first game, Holcomb gave up seven runs in three innings for a 21.00 ERA.

But things have gone a little better since. He gave up only a run in his next two appearances and has dropped his ERA to 6.55. Overall, he’s allowed 14 hits and struck out 14 in 11 innings.