February 12, 2001

Mueller fills some old shoes

By Teddy Greenstein
Tribune Staff Writer

The meeting was brief and devoid of drama. After being introduced to Ron Santo at the recent Cubs Convention, Bill Mueller moved on. He didn't seek any advice and Santo didn't offer any. Respect for elders is one thing, but deference is another. And Mueller knows the difference.

He took the same approach after replacing an injured Matt Williams in San Francisco in 1996. Mueller was a rookie then and Williams a perennial All-Star.

"They say I have big shoes to fill, but doesn't everybody?" he asked. "Everybody has expectations.

"All the people who played third base here before me, I don't know any of them. They're not going to help in the box trying to get a base hit or help me get the ball over to first. You can't concern yourself with all that stuff. It'll just bring you down."

That sentiment separates Mueller from most of the 88 men who played third base before him, the 88 who failed to make Cubs fans forget about Santo, a nine-time All-Star and North Side icon from 1960-73.

Mueller's predecessors spoke in reverential tones of Santo.

"There's never going to be someone who can replace Ron Santo," said Shane Andrews, last year's Opening Day starter.

Mueller had no affection for Santo's Cubs until they acquired him in November from San Francisco for reliever Tim Worrell. A native of St. Louis, Mueller adored the Cardinals of the '80s-Willie McGee, Tom Herr, Vince Coleman. Mueller's father, Bill, took him to Game 7 of the 1982 World Series. When the Cardinals sealed the win and fans poured onto the Busch Stadium field, young Billy was tempted to dance on the AstroTurf. But there was no way.

"We were in the nosebleed [seats]," Mueller recalled. "And my dad had me by the collar."
Mueller's parents taught him all the important lessons: Work hard, remain humble, be polite. Giants manager Dusty Baker recalled how Mueller reacted to the news in 1996 that he would be sent back to the minors.

"I've gotten all different reactions," Baker said. "His was different. He thanked me for the opportunity to play for me. I didn't know what to say. He's a nice young man but also a fierce competitor. I've said he can win a batting title someday. I still believe that."

Given Baker's feelings, some were surprised when the Giants dealt Mueller after a 97-win season. Mueller had been superb at third base, committing nine errors all season and four in his last 107 games. The switch hitter recorded career highs with 10 home runs, 97 runs and 29 doubles while striking out just 68 times.

But there was more to the story. For one, Mueller suffers from the same affliction that has dogged Mark Grace throughout his career: He's a cornerback playing a linebacker's position.

Mueller's replacement in San Francisco, Russ Davis, has 20-homer potential. And 23-year-old Pedro Feliz slugged 33 homers last season at Class AAA Fresno. With Mueller eligible for arbitration, the Giants cut bait. The Cubs awarded him a two-year, $6.2 million deal.

"Sometimes we're all subject to budget-oriented decisions in modern baseball," Baker said.

Mueller wasn't bitter when he heard about the trade. He had been afforded 24 hours to prepare himself.

He attended the California-Stanford football game Nov. 18 with Giants pitcher and close friend Shawn Estes. Mueller was rooting for Cal, though he has no connection to the school. When you're a 15th-round draft pick, rooting for the underdog comes naturally.
During the game Estes told Mueller that he was concerned about the trade rumors. The next day Mueller got a call from Giants General Manager Brian Sabean informing him of the deal.

Mueller's reaction?

"I thanked him for the opportunity to become a major-league baseball player," he said. "Maybe this was supposed to be. Maybe I was supposed to play four or five seasons with the Giants and become a Cub for the rest of my career. You never know."
Within months of the deal, Mueller packed up and found an apartment less than a mile from Wrigley Field. He'll rent by the year, not by the month, as many players do.
"I would have been very happy to stay there, but I'm very happy here," he said. "I get an opportunity to play and I'll learn about the game through other people's eyes, and that's exciting. I'm all about improving and helping the people around me get better.

"I don't need the publicity or the endorsements. I want to make the stars around me bigger stars. I love to play and I love to win. You don't dream about being famous. You dream about being a hero to your teammates."

The Cubs view Mueller as an ideal No. 2 hitter. He won't need to be told when to sacrifice or take the pitches that allow leadoff man Eric Young to steal.

"He plays the game right way," Cubs President/General Manager Andy MacPhail said. "He plays hard, whether you're up 9-1 or down 9-1. That's an important ingredient for what we're trying to establish."

MacPhail said the Cubs considered making a run at St. Louis third baseman Fernando Tatis, but the price would have been steeper and the risk greater. Tatis has since been traded to Montreal.

"We had good reports on Mueller from all of our sources," MacPhail said. "There was a unanimity of support at all the different levels you'd consider."

Scouts can't evaluate how a player handles operating in the shadows of a legend, but that won't be a concern with Mueller.

"There are a couple of things you can control, and one of them is your attitude," he said. "I can't control the history or change it. All I can do is play my game and bring unselfishness to this team."

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