Rookie to Face Uncharted Territory

Perhaps no one who has pitched a no-hitter has had to wait as long for the follow-up, then faced such trying conditions, as Bud Smith.

The rookie left-hander for the St. Louis Cardinals pitched a no-hitter against the San Diego Padres on Sept. 3. He returns to the mound today to face the Milwaukee Brewers, on 13 days of rest, as the major leagues resume action after a six-day layoff due to the terrorist attacks in New York and Arlington, Va.

St. Louis Manager Tony La Russa doesn’t know if the Cardinals, who are a half-game behind the San Francisco Giants in the wild-card standings with 19 games to go, are ready.

“I don’t think there’s any way to figure it out,” La Russa said. “You do what you have to do.”

*

In the Shea Stadium parking lot at New York, Met Manager Bobby Valentine was lending his skills to disaster relief.

“I’m helping to organize,” he said, taking a break from his weekend-long effort.

“I didn’t get to manage for a few days. It’s good to manage a little.”

While his players practiced inside, Valentine helped volunteers arrange supplies--stacking medicine, blankets and food--to be sent to lower Manhattan in trucks large and small.