The batted ball had not yet started down and the cheers were loud, mixed with relief and release. Albert Belle was not going to beat the Toronto Blue Jays for a third time this day. Somebody else on the White Sox was going to have to do that, and knowing it would not be Belle after all was almost enough for the crowd in SkyDome, all dome and no sky on the opening day of another baseball season.
Belle was popping out to short in the ninth inning and Frank Thomas would not score ahead of him, as Thomas had in the eighth when Belle whacked a hanging curve from Cy Young winner Pat Hentgen over the left-field wall.
“Just trying to keep the rally going,” Belle would say.
Oh, this was to be Belle’s day. Had to be. Had Belle not produced it would have been his day, for this was the first day of whatever Belle will mean to the White Sox, to Chicago, to baseball.
Belle knew it. Belle used it. Belle beat it.
“I enjoy additional pressure,” Belle said.
“He’s a gamer,” said Thomas.
More Top Picks Best Crib Mattresses For Newborns
The Canadian witnesses knew it, too, participated in it, booed Belle at bat and mocked him in the field.
“Aaaal-berrt, Aaaal-berrrrt,” they sang, hoping to nudge Belle into doing something silly. Early in the game, Belle might have tossed them a souvenir foul ball he had fielded, but he didn’t. They booed him for that too.
Belle stood, as alert as he is able to in the field, and let the loud dread of a road crowd bounce off him. Aaaaal-berrrt. Like banging on the safe side of a shark tank.
“They weren’t rooting for me, that’s for sure,” Belle said. “I take it as a compliment. It means they are aware of my accomplishments.”
Sure, some of that. What they are more aware of is that Belle has let this stuff get to him at other times.
Just a year ago, when Belle was with Cleveland, White Sox fans were doing the same thing. This year they will be throwing him kisses.
“I hope the weather is warm by the time we get to Chicago,” said Belle, taking practical things first.
In 69 swings of the bat in spring training, Belle had not produced a home run.
“I looked terrible in the spring,” he said. “Everybody was wondering.”
In four swings, none of that mattered.
“In spring training I wanted at-bats, not stats,” Belle said. “Now everything is for keeps. These count.”
Belle is not much for analysis, or much for elaboration. He says he will cooperate in being a hero, when he is a hero, but he clearly needs to work at it.
In a separate space outside the clubhouse, Belle took the questions and spoke into the microphones, looked into the cameras and parceled out details in precious syllables.
This was an accommodation not granted even Thomas, who iced his shoulder and took questions at the cramped area of his locker, always a clumsy arrangement.
When the day belongs to Thomas, as it will, the arrangement will not be reversed.
Belle is going to be a special case, and the thing about special cases is they have to stay special.
Two singles and two runs scored (Thomas), a double, a homer and three runs batted in (Belle) is a special beginning.
“I’d give us an A-plus,” said Belle.
“A hell of a start,” said Thomas.
Baseball glory is only as dependable as the next day’s pitcher. And that would be Roger Clemens.
But it must have been a relief for Belle to have succeeded early and big. Pressure is off.
“I’ve done this before,” said Belle.
So he has. So he will. No reason to think he won’t.
More Top Picks What Is Convergence Insufficiency And How Is It Treated
Aaaal-berrrt. Aaaaal-berrrt.