New Attitude Earns Sierra One More Shot

Texas Ranger utilityman Scott Sheldon redefined the utility role Wednesday when he played all nine positions in a game against the Chicago White Sox. This was also a week in which the Rangers welcomed back a veteran player who had not played any major league position in almost two years while performing in the obscurity of the South Atlantic and Mexican leagues.

Ruben Sierra, a blast from the past, returned to the Rangers on Tuesday after a successful summer with their triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City, possibly reviving his major league career at 34.

Sierra played for the Rangers from 1986 to 1992 and hit 239 home runs while also playing for the Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, Toronto Blue Jays, Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox--sometimes wearing out his welcomes with his attitude and approach.

He was cut in a spring trial with the Cleveland Indians, was rejected at that point by the Rangers, signed on with Cancun of the Mexican League and then responded to a call from the Rangers in May when they had an opening at Oklahoma City.

He hit .326 while slugging 18 homers and driving in 78 runs in 91 games, but impressed the Rangers as much with his attitude--never calling to ask when he would be recalled and applauding the August recall of Pedro Valdes ahead of him.

The Rangers, of course, are looking for any rainbows, having gone from first to last in the American League West.

There have been no promises to Sierra, but he could fill a designated-hitter or pinch-hitting role next season.

“Who knows what this can turn into?” Manager Johnny Oates said. “When he was at his best, I thought he might be the best all-around player in the league.”

Said the humbled Sierra: “For a while I thought I wasn’t going to get a chance to finish my career the way I wanted to. I can still hit and run, and it’s good to be back with old friends.”

*

David Cone might miss only one start because of a dislocated left shoulder suffered Tuesday night at Kansas City, but it’s still not certain whether he will be part of the New York Yankees’ postseason plans. At 4-11 with a 6.16 earned-run average, Cone was already hurting and on the Yankees’ postseason bubble. New York will probably go with a four-man rotation of Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Orlando Hernandez and Denny Neagle. Cone’s best chance might have been as a long reliever.

However, he is 8-2 in postseason competition, one of a few core players who have been part of the Yankees’ championship rebirth over the last six years, and he is highly respected for his big-game competitiveness. It’s suspected that Manager Joe Torre would love any excuse to include him on his postseason roster, but Torre acknowledged that “you need him out there and have him pitch” so that it can be determined if he would be more useful than southpaw specialist Randy Choate or long relievers Dwight Gooden or Ramiro Mendoza.

Cone is tentatively scheduled to pitch again Friday, pending his continued recovery. The right-hander was asked how important his left is. “Your left arm is your base,” he said. “Obviously, it’s not as important as your throwing arm, but you need everything in baseball for your timing and rhythm. Then again, who knows? The way I’ve been throwing, maybe this will help.”

*

The Seattle Mariners even had their courage challenged by Manager Lou Piniella during their August collapse, but they survived a 4-3 swing through Boston and Toronto following his latest recommendation--what second baseman Mark McLemore called a “Little League mentality. Go out and enjoy the game the way we did when we were kids. Play hard, get dirty, go home.”