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CNN Live Today
Interview with Steven Travers, Baseball Writer
Aired April 01, 2002 - 11:50 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: As we were saying before we went to the White House, opening day for Major League Baseball. Let's go back out to Turner Field and Gary Tuchman -- Gary, happy opening day.
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, happy opening day to you, too.
An absolutely spectacular day for Atlanta, Georgia. 70 degrees Fahrenheit, perfectly sunny. Ten opening day games today. There was one last night in Anaheim, California, and then four more tomorrow for all of the teams' opening days.
But there is a problem on the horizon. Figurative storm clouds, you might say, because there is no collective bargaining agreement. You have heard it before. It lead to the cancellation of the World Series in 1994, and there is a chance could strike this before it all ends. The owners have pledged not to lock out the players this year, but the implication there is they might lock out the players when the year is over. So there are some possible problems ahead.
Nevertheless, everyone here is very excited. Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies. Just a few minutes ago, we talked with Gary Sheffield, the newest player on the Braves, and asked him how he feels about opening day.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GARY SHEFFIELD, BASEBALL PLAYER, ATLANTA BRAVES: You always have jitters, you know, opening day. It is always a special moment. It lets you know the season is going, the blood is flowing, you just want that first fly ball out of the way, and that first hit, and all those things, first home run. Once you get all that out of the way, it is just smooth sailing after that.
TUCHMAN: Get a little nervous?
SHEFFIELD: Always. You know, that's a good sign.
TUCHMAN: I think a lot of fans out there...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TUCHMAN: Another thing we want to mention to you, it is a very important and special sports day here in Atlanta, because not only do you have the opening day game today, tonight, a couple miles away from here at the Georgia Dome, the NCAA Basketball Championship, Maryland versus Indiana. So, a wonderful day for us sports fans -- Daryn back to you.
KAGAN: Oh, we know all about that. Gary, thank you so much you enjoy opening day out there at the Ted.
Now, joining us from San Francisco to talk about the upcoming season is baseball writer Steven Travers. He is author of a new book on Barry Bonds, "Baseball's Superman." Good morning, thanks for joining us.
STEVEN TRAVERS, "BARRY BONDS: BASEBALL'S SUPERMAN": Good morning.
KAGAN: Well, this is a good time to see the off-season end. What a stinky off-season -- the stalled labor talks, and also you had Major League Baseball trying to just kind of eliminate two teams there. That didn't really work out for them.
TRAVERS: No, it really didn't. They are going to have to work that issue out before the next season.
KAGAN: And you hear all these problems with baseball, when it comes down to money. Arizona Diamondbacks, the defending World Series Champions, $36 million in the hole, even though they are going to get those World Series rings. Is that indicative of what the game is looking like today, do you think?
TRAVERS: Well, unfortunately, that's a trend that's been continuing. The 1997 Florida Marlins were an example of how you can buy a World Championship.
KAGAN: Right, but the Diamondbacks didn't sell off their team. You are going to see a lot of the same stars coming back.
TRAVERS: That's true, and they have -- they have some pretty good fans in Arizona, and they have a couple of marquee veteran players. They are an older team right now, and I'm not sure that they are going to be able to continue to be as strong as they have been.
KAGAN: You don't think they are going to repeat?
TRAVERS: Well, they have great pitching, and pitching is 90 percent of the game, or close to it.
KAGAN: Absolutely.
TRAVERS: I think, though, some of the their veterans are a little bit on the older side.
KAGAN: Sports Illustrated is picking the Yankees to win it all. What do you think about that prediction?
TRAVERS: I like the Oakland A's.
KAGAN: Really? Even without Jason Giambi?
TRAVERS: Absolutely. I like their pitching staff. They have got three guys with a potential to win 20 games, plus a couple of other starters who are effective. They have a good bull pen, and they play good defense, and they're the kind of team that will sneak up on you.
KAGAN: And real quick, Steven, you wrote the book on Barry Bonds. I he going to break his own home run record?
TRAVERS: I think he is going to come out of the chute strong. I think he is going to have another outstanding year, and he is hot on the trail of two things. One, Hank Aaron's all-time home run record, and two, when it's all said and done, Barry Bonds may be the greatest baseball player of all time.
KAGAN: Might have to work a little bit on the popularity, though, in the club house. Steven Travers, thanks for joining us on our insights on baseball and also Barry Bonds. Appreciate it.
TRAVERS: Thank you.
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