Inside-park HR helps 51s get past Rainiers

Nick Christensen

Monday, June 16, 2003 | 10:14 a.m.

A Father's Day crowd of 2,187 caught a five-run eighth inning capped by Chris Clapinski's inside-the-park home run as the Las Vegas 51s defeated the Tacoma Rainiers, 10-5, Sunday at Cashman Field.

While many may think that Father's Day may be a tough day for ballplayers to play on, most said that for them, it's just another day at the park.

51s third baseman Ricky Bell grew up in a baseball family. His brothers David and Mike play professionally, David for the Philadelphia Phillies and Mike for Triple-A Tucson, and their father Buddy is the bench coach at Cleveland. Ricky's grandfather Gus played 15 seasons in the majors.

"Usually, the All-Star Game was the biggest holiday for us," said Bell, whose father played in the Midsummer Classic five times.

"I don't really remember all the Father's Days," said Bell. "Being in a baseball family, we tried to enjoy our time together, whether it was Father's Day, or an off day, or a game day where we were going to the ballpark with him. We didn't take holidays that seriously, we just tried to enjoy our time together whenever that was."

"It's part of the deal, being away for birthdays, Father's Day, July Fourth, Memorial Day," said 51s manager John Shoemaker. "Days with your family are nice, but this is a profession we chose to pursue, and we have to make some sacrifices along the way."

Shoemaker said he recently left the team to attend his daughter's graduation, and expects his wife and kids to visit him from their home in Vero Beach, Fla. in July. Vero Beach is the home of the Dodgers' spring training camp, as well as their Single-A franchise. Shoemaker managed that franchise from 1981-88.

"I've been fortunate in my career, to have been living in Vero Beach, so I was home for spring training. My first eight years of coaching and managing were in Vero Beach, so it was nice not being away from my family during that time.

"As the kids get older I had to wait for when school's out, and you just deal with it personally. It's part of the job, being away for a certain amount of the time."

According to Shoemaker, though, the widespread nature of the Pacific Coast League is a benefit to the players.

"Because of the travel variety, people have friends and family across the country. (Strength coach) Ron Quintana saw family in Oklahoma City, Eric Riggs saw his family in Nashville, they came down from Indiana, and Rick Bell caught up with his family in Tucson."

Bell said time in the offseason makes up for lost time in the regular season.

"The majority of the offseasons, we're together. We've all moved out to the Phoenix area, and spend a lot of time together. Dave and Mike and I work out a lot together in the offseason, my parents are there. We spend more time together than people realize."