sid

If Michael Jack says that it looks bad, I can only imagine what some of the
others are thinking!


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/01/07/sports2145EST0531.DTL
AP Interview: Schmidt on Rose _ 'It looks so bad'

BEN WALKER, AP Baseball Writer
Wednesday, January 7, 2004

(01-07) 18:45 PST (AP) --
Mike Schmidt doesn't even need to read Pete Rose's book. The Hall of Famer
is worried about the furor his friend's autobiography is causing in the
baseball world, and beyond.
What Rose intended for his public confession has gone terribly awry.
"It doesn't look good, it's taken a turn for the worse," Schmidt told The
Associated Press on Wednesday night. "It looks so bad. It is a sad thing.
"Pete and his people had a plan for a Thursday release of the book that blew
up because of a leak on Monday," he said. "I haven't heard anything good,
but I hope the commissioner is reserving judgment. I've heard some of the
worst references about Pete."
For more than a year, Schmidt has stood by Rose in his former Philadelphia
teammate's bid for reinstatement. Rose's confession that he bet on his own
Cincinnati Reds and other major league games -- and his apparent lack of
contrition -- set off a wave of negative reaction.
Schmidt was concerned Wednesday as the all-time hits leader headed to New
York for a round of interviews, and spoke to Rose's business manager, Warren
Greene.
"I discussed with Warren the possibility that his timing had turned into a
huge negative," he said.
On Wednesday, Rose apologized for his book taking away attention from Paul
Molitor and Dennis Eckersley being elected to the Hall a day earlier.
"I never intended to diminish the exciting news for these deserving
players," Rose said in his statement.
The 322-page book was to be released Thursday.
"Truthfully, I don't see a need to read the book. I lived it," Schmidt said.
He reiterated that he will continue to support Rose's efforts to lift the
lifetime ban the former Reds star and manager agreed to 141/2 years ago.
"I still think he has a chance to save it. He'll have his chance on Friday
in front of the public, and let's hope the real Pete comes out, a remorseful
Pete."
If reinstated, Rose would be eligible for the Hall of Fame ballot. He has
only two tries left for the writers' vote -- after that, he'd move on to the
Veterans Committee, comprised of Hall of Fame members.
Opposition to Rose in the Hall has been strong, and this book has increased
it.
"At this point, I would agree," Schmidt said.
Schmidt accompanied Rose to a meeting with commissioner Bud Selig in late
2002. Since then, Schmidt has joined former Rose teammates Joe Morgan and
Johnny Bench in talking to baseball officials about Rose.
There were discussions about a probationary period for Rose and what he
would and would not be allowed to do, along with the timing of public
announcements.
"Mr. Selig just has too many political forces grabbing at him. Hopefully, in
the next few weeks, Pete's future will become clearer in Mr. Selig's mind,"
Schmidt said.
Schmidt said he remained hopeful that Rose would come out OK.
"Time has a way of softening things. In two weeks, this will be diffused,"
he said.
"His life has been in turmoil for a long time," he said. "The unfortunate
thing is Pete is still perceived as the bad boy. It'll be so hard for him to
ever be normal."
Schmidt has been hired to manage the Phillies' Class A team in Clearwater,
Fla., and would love to have Rose in camp this spring.
"If he's allowed to do it, I want to bring him in and have him talk to the
minor leaguers about what he's gone through," Schmidt said. "I think he'd be
great at talking to them."