NewsCameron antsy to stick it to old team
Milwaukee (33-27) vs. Chicago (28-33), 7:05 p.m. CT
By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com
06/11/09 7:55 PM ET
MILWAUKEE -- Mike Cameron faces his old team and the Brewers face an old American League rival when the White Sox arrive Friday for the season's first Interleague series at Miller Park. |
Cameron, who spent his first eight seasons in the Sox organization, won't exactly be feeling nostalgic. He's still miffed that no one from Chicago's front office -- a group that included then-GM Ron Schueler and current GM Kenny Williams -- called to inform Cameron he had been traded to the Reds for Paul Konerko in November 1998.
Instead, Cameron learned of the deal via television between Winter League games in the Dominican Republic. "I still haven't got a call," Cameron said on Thursday morning, loud enough for half the Brewers' clubhouse to hear. "I held a grudge for so long, and I promised that every time I played the White Sox, I would try to do something special." He will get a chance this weekend, assuming Major League Baseball doesn't come calling to hear Cameron's appeal of a two-game suspension. Cameron was slapped with the penalty on Monday, the result of a dispute with umpire Marvin Hudson on Saturday in Atlanta, but he has been playing since then while waiting for his case to be heard. As of Thursday morning, the appeal had yet to be scheduled. Cameron would hate to miss a game or two against the Sox. He was Chicago's 18th-round Draft pick in 1991 and played parts of four Major League seasons with the Sox from 1995-98, hitting 14 home runs in 116 games in '97. He endured what he called a sophomore slump the following year, when he batted .210 with eight homers. So Cameron went to work on his game in the Dominican Winter League. It was there, watching CNN, that he learned of the trade. He feels he should have heard the news from Schueler. "They've got CNN down there, so they probably have telephones," Cameron said. The outfielder's ire has mellowed over the years. Today, Cameron appreciates that the White Sox gave him his break in the game, and he has taken some of the lessons he learned from the experience -- work hard every single day, don't take anything for granted -- to heart. Still, the way in which he was cast away still stings. That's why Cameron makes sure he's ready to play when the Sox are the opponent, even if it's only a Spring Training game. In the regular season, Cameron is a career .331 hitter against the White Sox, with 10 home runs and 31 RBIs in 130 at-bats. Cameron's first postseason appearance came in 2000 for Seattle against Chicago, and he drove in two runs in the Mariners' three-game sweep. Two years later, Cameron became the 13th player in Major League history to belt four home runs in a game, and he did it against the White Sox. "Back then, it was a personal vendetta for me," Cameron said. "At some point, you have to move on. I realize that they brought me up [to the Majors] at 22 when I had only played four months of Double-A baseball. I made it to the big leagues before I went to big league Spring Training. "When I was traded, I was young and I was mad. But over time, I have realized that the whole experience is why I'm still here today. If it wasn't for old Ron Schueler, none of this would have been possible." In Chicago, he studied under a number of veteran teammates, including then-Sox center fielder Lance Johnson. Cameron also learned from Harold Baines, Tim Raines, utility man Dave Martinez and hitting coach Bill Buckner. Even from then-shortstop Ozzie Guillen, who is Chicago's manager today. "Once I had the taste of the big leagues, the smell of it, it showed me what I had to do to stay," Cameron said. The Brewers had good success against the Sox during the four seasons Cameron spent with the team, going 23-17 against them from 1995-98. But Chicago has won each of the last six regular-season meetings between the teams, including a three-game sweep at Miller Park in 2001. Cameron probably won't get to track down fly balls off Konerko's bat this weekend. Konerko had a flare-up of a right thumb injury on Wednesday night and did not play against the Tigers on Thursday. Both Cameron and Konerko have enjoyed tremendous Major League success since they were traded for each other more than a decade ago. Cameron earlier this season became the 20th player in history to reach the 250-homer and 250-stolen base plateaus. Konerko, who was just 22 at the time of the deal and had yet to play a full season, has hit 299 home runs and driven in 967 runs during his 11-year White Sox tenure. "He's become the type of player he was supposed to be," Cameron said. Pitching matchupCWS: LHP Clayton Richard (2-1, 4.14 ERA)
On Monday, Richard was unable to go five innings in a start for the second time in his six starts this season. He racked up 100 pitches in just 4 2/3 innings against the Tigers before giving way to the bullpen. Richard allowed three runs on five hits, striking out four and walking five. He has lost two consecutive games, allowing nine walks during those starts. Richard has never faced the Brewers.
MIL: RHP Jeff Suppan (4-4, 4.66 ERA)
Suppan continued his recent mastery of the Braves with 5 1/3 innings of shutout work at Turner Field on Saturday. Although he was hardly dominant -- he allowed six hits and threw 95 pitches in the outing -- he kept the Braves off the scoreboard. He has held Atlanta scoreless in three of his past four starts against the club. The right-hander hasn't faced the White Sox since 2003, when he was pitching for the Red Sox.
A local freeway closure on Interstate-94 will impact routes going to and from Miller Park this weekend. As part of the I-94 North-South Freeway Project in Racine County and Kenosha County, a long-term lane closure for I-94 West (northbound) at Russell Road will be in place through the weekend. The Brewers are urging fans traveling from the south to be prepared for delays and add time to their travel schedule. Visit plan94.org for the latest information and alternate travel routes. ... The White Sox own the all-time series, 197-173, and have gone 89-88 against the Brewers in Milwaukee. ... With two Sox left-handers slated to start in the series, manager Ken Macha likely will re-install Casey McGehee in the leadoff spot. McGehee made his first career start there on Wednesday and reached safely three times. Tickets
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• Saturday: Brewers (Manny Parra, 3-7, 6.86) vs. White Sox (Jose Contreras, 1-5, 6.45), 3:05 p.m. CT
• Sunday: Brewers (Braden Looper, 5-3, 4.50) vs. White Sox (Mark Buehrle, 6-2, 3.24), 1:05 p.m. CT
• Monday: Brewers (Dave Bush, 3-3, 4.58) at Indians (Carl Pavano, 6-5, 5.40), 6:05 p.m. CT
Adam McCalvy is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
