Teammates say Rocker 'nuts' if he rides
By Michael Lee
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Let him ride the No. 7 train to New York's Shea Stadium.
That's what Chipper Jones said Wednesday after Braves reliever John Rocker said "there's probably a pretty good chance" he'll take the subway when the Braves play the Mets on June 29.
"Hey, it's his prerogative," Jones said. "I wouldn't have announced it to everyone that I was coming like he did. I guess he likes the attention."
Rocker is sure to get more attention if he sticks to his word and rides the same train he made offensive remarks about in a Dec. 21 article in Sports Illustrated. But it might not be the kind of attention Rocker expects.
"You saw how they treated me when I pitched in New York last year," Rocker said in this week's issue of Baseball Weekly. "How can it be worse than that?"
New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani said he doesn't want Rocker to find out.
"We're trying to prevail upon the Atlanta Braves for this not to happen," Giuliani told New York's WFAN radio.
Giuliani said he expects a "tremendous" police presence, estimating 450-500 officers working in connection with the visit.
Fans in other parts of the country have greeted Rocker with a few cheers, but mostly boos. But in New York, it could get ugly. Some Mets fans already have dubbed June 29, "John Rocker Battery Day."
Braves reliever Rudy Seanez held his stomach in laughter after hearing Rocker's plans.
"I think he's nuts," Seanez said. "Unless you play for New York, they don't like you. And even then, they only like you when you're playing well."
But it appears Rocker is willing to step into the fire, and New Yorkers are ready.
"He'll definitely get hassled," Wendy Strauss said while riding the No. 7 train to play tennis at Arthur Ashe Tennis center, directly across from Shea Stadium.
Jones said he won't stop Rocker.
"I'm not his baby sitter," Jones said. "As long as he's ready to pitch in the ninth, I don't care what he does."
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