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08-01-2003, 02:25 AM
http://www.yesnetwork.com/fans/index.cfm?cont_id=195733&page_type=wide
Cruz and Randolph tradition continue through sons
By Jon Lane
YES Network Online
July 29, 2003
The baseball world is well-aware of the exploits of Jose Cruz Sr., especially in Houston, where he spent his prime years. He has one son, Jose Jr., making a name for himself in San Francisco, and another, Enrique, who not nearly as many know about … yet.
Never mind the tools that Enrique, second baseman for the Class A Staten Island Yankees, takes to the field everyday. His biggest gift is being oblivious to what's been in front of him his whole life. Enrique never knew how good his dad was until his senior year of high school.
"I still hear new stats everyday and wonder how he pulled that off," he said. "I can't tell you anything different. It was just like a regular family. My dad is my dad. He takes care of me and puts food on the table for us. I don't see myself being better than everybody else."
Like Enrique, Andre Randolph grew up in a baseball family. He's the son of Willie Randolph, a six-time All-Star who shined brightest while donning a New York Yankee uniform. Both admittedly possess the advantage of visiting major league ball parks, hanging out with big leaguers and seeing what goes on behind the scenes as kids. And both face the challenge every day of not only competing for Staten Island, but living up to expectations because of their pedigree.
Cruz was batting .233 in 20 at-bats and getting into a groove before back spasms landed him on the disabled list, while Randolph, also a second baseman, sat, watched and waited for his chance to contribute. Neither has fallen into the trap of thinking that making the majors will be a breeze because of their surnames.
"The one thing you like to hear about a player who has a father who's an ex-major leaguer is, and (Staten Island pitching coach) Dave Eiland and (manager) Andy Stankiewicz said this, is that the kid works hard," said Jim Leyritz, a former Yankee-turned YES Network analyst. "That's a good thing to hear. A lot of kids may not, thinking it may come easy because their dads are who they are."
The constant repetition of soft tosses, defensive hand drills, hand-eye training and the tireless work ethic instilled by Willie bloomed by the time Andre's game came together at Felician College. In his senior year, Andre thrived as the sparkplug of a team which finished second in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, boasting a .328 average while never allowing his so-called celebrity status to adversely affect his game or rub his teammates the wrong way.
"It has zero percent on how I play on the field," said Randolph. "I'm not trying to live up to anything he's done. He was a six-time All-Star. That would be ludicrous for me to do. I try to play my game and none of that stuff matters when I'm on the field."
Randolph's game remains in limbo with him appearing in only seven games, but he's okay with it.
"I'll take my time when I get my time," he said. "Everybody has to pay their dues. Whenever my number is called I'm ready to play. I just have to stay sharp."
Part of the reason has been the promise shown by Cruz, who was looking sharp during a televised July 13 game against Tri-City before one swing put his back out of whack.
"It's a lot better," said Cruz, who played the following night before being shut down. "I got a couple of hits that game (3-for-4), but I don't know how because my back was killing me. It's one of those injuries where you just need time off to rest it. But (not playing) has been brutal."
Cruz has been playing ball since age four, when he and Jose Jr. played tape ball with a broomstick. One time Jose Sr. advised the boys to hit from both sides of the plate to even the odds between Enrique, now 22, and Jose Jr., 29. That's how both boys became switch-hitters, and it was the hustle and fundamentals which Jose Sr. prided in his game -- keep your eye on the ball and catch it first; see the ball and hit it were his mantras -- which kept his boys' game and attitude humble.
"He's an old school guy," Enrique said. "My dad was 'Chop Chop.' He was straight POP and run. Put the ball in play and good things will happen. My brother helped me a lot more with the mental aspect, staying positive and believing in your ability."
Years after Jose Jr. led nearby Bellaire High School to a No. 1 national ranking, Enrique made the varsity team as a freshman and belted a grand slam in the playoffs in his first at-bat. Two years later, Enrique led Bellaire to a state championship and set single-season records for hits (62), batting average (.515), doubles (18) and stolen bases (44).
Like his brother, Enrique went on to Rice, where his game took off. "If he had success, why couldn't I?" he wondered. As a senior, Enrique won his first Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week award on May 26 after hitting .500 with six RBIs, capping a campaign in which he hit a team-leading .352. But he saved his best for the bright lights of the College World Series, hitting .636 (7-for-11) in the three-game win over Stanford and driving in four runs in the championship final.
"I don't know what it is, but I love playing before the big crowds and on TV," Cruz said. "I get an extra kick out of it. My adrenaline gets going. Feeling the whole atmosphere is fantastic."
"When you've been around a game and you face these guys, you're not as intimidated," Leyritz said. "You're used to being around major leaguers. You're not in awe of those guys like a lot of kids are. It's easier for Enrique. He knows what to expect."
Now, both Cruz and Randolph are starting over, soaking in both knowledge and technique from the crafty Stankiewicz and weathering the storm of a trying season that has Staten Island last in the McNamara Division.
"We haven't gotten down on ourselves, our spirit is still up," Randolph said. "Everybody is just having fun. You don't see anybody with their head down. Everybody just keeps a good attitude."
It's gotten the duo this far without any shortcuts, and maybe to the point where they'll be known, respectively, as Andre Randolph and Enrique Cruz; not just sons of famous big leaguers.
Jon Lane is assistant editor of YES Network Online and can be reached at jlane@yesnetwork.com.
http://www.yesnetwork.com/photos/cruzsr_inline_072903.jpg
First it was Jose Sr. and Jr. breaking into the Major Leagues, now Enrique is on the cusp of doing the same.
http://www.yesnetwork.com/photos/randolph_inline_072903.jpg
Willie Randolph passed along his second-base skills to son Andre.
Cruz and Randolph tradition continue through sons
By Jon Lane
YES Network Online
July 29, 2003
The baseball world is well-aware of the exploits of Jose Cruz Sr., especially in Houston, where he spent his prime years. He has one son, Jose Jr., making a name for himself in San Francisco, and another, Enrique, who not nearly as many know about … yet.
Never mind the tools that Enrique, second baseman for the Class A Staten Island Yankees, takes to the field everyday. His biggest gift is being oblivious to what's been in front of him his whole life. Enrique never knew how good his dad was until his senior year of high school.
"I still hear new stats everyday and wonder how he pulled that off," he said. "I can't tell you anything different. It was just like a regular family. My dad is my dad. He takes care of me and puts food on the table for us. I don't see myself being better than everybody else."
Like Enrique, Andre Randolph grew up in a baseball family. He's the son of Willie Randolph, a six-time All-Star who shined brightest while donning a New York Yankee uniform. Both admittedly possess the advantage of visiting major league ball parks, hanging out with big leaguers and seeing what goes on behind the scenes as kids. And both face the challenge every day of not only competing for Staten Island, but living up to expectations because of their pedigree.
Cruz was batting .233 in 20 at-bats and getting into a groove before back spasms landed him on the disabled list, while Randolph, also a second baseman, sat, watched and waited for his chance to contribute. Neither has fallen into the trap of thinking that making the majors will be a breeze because of their surnames.
"The one thing you like to hear about a player who has a father who's an ex-major leaguer is, and (Staten Island pitching coach) Dave Eiland and (manager) Andy Stankiewicz said this, is that the kid works hard," said Jim Leyritz, a former Yankee-turned YES Network analyst. "That's a good thing to hear. A lot of kids may not, thinking it may come easy because their dads are who they are."
The constant repetition of soft tosses, defensive hand drills, hand-eye training and the tireless work ethic instilled by Willie bloomed by the time Andre's game came together at Felician College. In his senior year, Andre thrived as the sparkplug of a team which finished second in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, boasting a .328 average while never allowing his so-called celebrity status to adversely affect his game or rub his teammates the wrong way.
"It has zero percent on how I play on the field," said Randolph. "I'm not trying to live up to anything he's done. He was a six-time All-Star. That would be ludicrous for me to do. I try to play my game and none of that stuff matters when I'm on the field."
Randolph's game remains in limbo with him appearing in only seven games, but he's okay with it.
"I'll take my time when I get my time," he said. "Everybody has to pay their dues. Whenever my number is called I'm ready to play. I just have to stay sharp."
Part of the reason has been the promise shown by Cruz, who was looking sharp during a televised July 13 game against Tri-City before one swing put his back out of whack.
"It's a lot better," said Cruz, who played the following night before being shut down. "I got a couple of hits that game (3-for-4), but I don't know how because my back was killing me. It's one of those injuries where you just need time off to rest it. But (not playing) has been brutal."
Cruz has been playing ball since age four, when he and Jose Jr. played tape ball with a broomstick. One time Jose Sr. advised the boys to hit from both sides of the plate to even the odds between Enrique, now 22, and Jose Jr., 29. That's how both boys became switch-hitters, and it was the hustle and fundamentals which Jose Sr. prided in his game -- keep your eye on the ball and catch it first; see the ball and hit it were his mantras -- which kept his boys' game and attitude humble.
"He's an old school guy," Enrique said. "My dad was 'Chop Chop.' He was straight POP and run. Put the ball in play and good things will happen. My brother helped me a lot more with the mental aspect, staying positive and believing in your ability."
Years after Jose Jr. led nearby Bellaire High School to a No. 1 national ranking, Enrique made the varsity team as a freshman and belted a grand slam in the playoffs in his first at-bat. Two years later, Enrique led Bellaire to a state championship and set single-season records for hits (62), batting average (.515), doubles (18) and stolen bases (44).
Like his brother, Enrique went on to Rice, where his game took off. "If he had success, why couldn't I?" he wondered. As a senior, Enrique won his first Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week award on May 26 after hitting .500 with six RBIs, capping a campaign in which he hit a team-leading .352. But he saved his best for the bright lights of the College World Series, hitting .636 (7-for-11) in the three-game win over Stanford and driving in four runs in the championship final.
"I don't know what it is, but I love playing before the big crowds and on TV," Cruz said. "I get an extra kick out of it. My adrenaline gets going. Feeling the whole atmosphere is fantastic."
"When you've been around a game and you face these guys, you're not as intimidated," Leyritz said. "You're used to being around major leaguers. You're not in awe of those guys like a lot of kids are. It's easier for Enrique. He knows what to expect."
Now, both Cruz and Randolph are starting over, soaking in both knowledge and technique from the crafty Stankiewicz and weathering the storm of a trying season that has Staten Island last in the McNamara Division.
"We haven't gotten down on ourselves, our spirit is still up," Randolph said. "Everybody is just having fun. You don't see anybody with their head down. Everybody just keeps a good attitude."
It's gotten the duo this far without any shortcuts, and maybe to the point where they'll be known, respectively, as Andre Randolph and Enrique Cruz; not just sons of famous big leaguers.
Jon Lane is assistant editor of YES Network Online and can be reached at jlane@yesnetwork.com.
http://www.yesnetwork.com/photos/cruzsr_inline_072903.jpg
First it was Jose Sr. and Jr. breaking into the Major Leagues, now Enrique is on the cusp of doing the same.
http://www.yesnetwork.com/photos/randolph_inline_072903.jpg
Willie Randolph passed along his second-base skills to son Andre.