By JIM MANDELARO
STAFF WRITER

(January 24, 2004) — Phil Roof returns for a second
season as Red Wings manager in April, and Friday he
returned to Rochester. Roof is here for the annual
Rochester Community Baseball shareholders meeting, 10
a.m. today at Logan’s Party House, 1420 Scottsville
Road. Roof took time out Friday to speak with Democrat
and Chronicle baseball writer Jim Mandelaro on a
variety of topics.

What have you been doing since the Red Wings season
ended in Buffalo on Labor Day?

Well, I backed off a bit and slowed down the pace. I
have some apartment buildings in Kentucky, and I had
to recarpet two of those. I’m also involved in the
Knights of Columbus. And I’ve just been looking after
(wife) Marie and (brother-in-law) Tommy.

We traveled a bit. We went to Portland, Oregon, for a
week to visit a daughter and her husband and kids. And
Thanksgiving we headed out to southern California to
see another daughter and her husband. Other than that,
we’ve just been hanging out. We’ve got a little
26-acre farm in Boaz (Ky).

And you also had surgery, right?

I had shoulder surgery on Oct. 10. I had some damage
to the right rotator cuff, the labrum and the biceps
tendon. I first started throwing the fifth day of
January, and I couldn’t get the ball 25 feet. I threw
Wednesday and maybe was throwing 50 mph. If I can pick
up 10 more miles between now and spring training, I’ll
be fine.

Are you going to throw batting practice this year?

Hopefully, yes.

How excited are you about a second season in
Rochester?

I’m tickled. I’m as happy about coming back as I was
to come here last year and work for the Twins. Once
you get to know the town and the people, it’s easier
to come back and re-establish friendships. I’m anxious
for the ‘04 season to start.

Red Wings fans have endured six consecutive losing
seasons. The franchise has NEVER had seven straight
losing seasons. Is the streak going to end this year?

It needs to. We need to turn this thing around and
give the fans something to cheer about.

What’s your favorite Rochester place, not including
Frontier Field?

Nathaniel’s (Pub) is one. And the reason for that is
that Uncle Ralph’s Steakout. We went there about four
times last year and we went to Richmond’s downtown.
And we had a good meal every time. I can’t say enough
about it. I like that Abbott’s ice cream, too.

Favorite flavor?

Just soft vanilla. I’m a vanilla kind of guy.

The Twins signed several free agent pitchers who may
be here this season, including former Red Wing Sean
Douglass and Joe Roa, who went 14-0 for
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre a few years ago. Do you expect a
solid staff here?

I expect a much better pitching staff this year than
last year, especially in the starting pitching. We’ve
got eight guys who are potential starters, and some of
those guys are veterans. Carlos Pulido might be back
if he doesn’t make the big-league club. (Former No. 1
pick) Adam Johnson could go into the starting
rotation, but I think he’s penciled into the bullpen.
It’s a solid staff.

Everyone is excited about reliever Jesse Crain, who
pitched here last season. Do you expect him back?

Yes, unless he does what Eric Milton did about five or
six years ago when he opened up eyes in spring
training. Crain is a good one. He throws three pitches
for strikes.

How did you feel when you heard (top prospect) Joe
Mauer was going to jump from Double-A to the majors
and catch for the Twins instead of Rochester this
year?

Well, when I was in Florida for the organizational
meetings, it became clear from the tone of their
voices that A.J. Pierzynski was going to be traded and
Joe Mauer would be jumping over Triple-A. So many
scouts said nice things about how he handled the
pitching staff that teams became an instantly better
club when he moved up.

I’m happy for him. It’s disappointing because it would
have been great to have him play for the fans here.
But in spring training last year, I said he was the
best catcher in the organization by far.

With the season still 11 weeks away, what areas look
like the strengths of the Wings?

The strength will be pitching, if everyone falls in
place with what we’ve signed and are bringing back. We
have a ballpark to accommodate that.

It looks like the outfield will be strong, too,
because there are only so many spots available in
Minnesota. Could players like Michael Restovich,
Michael Ryan and Lew Ford be back?

Well, there’s three of them and hopefully two will be
here. We’ve picked up a guy named Brian Simmons, a
veteran switch-hitter who plays center field.

He’s kind of intimidating because he plays shallow.
The fans will get a kick out of him running the ball
down.

Do you expect power-hitting first baseman Justin
Morneau back?

I think so. They’ve made a commitment to Doug
Mientiewicz up there. Justin needs another year here.
He’s struggling in winter ball in Puerto Rico. I
expect we’ll have him at least half a season,
depending on what the DH does up there. But you never
know.

Let’s talk about other matters in baseball. You were
critical of Pete Rose when we spoke a few weeks ago.
If you were a voter and Rose’s name was on the Hall of
Fame ballot, would you vote for him?

No. The biggest reason is because he was a manager
when he bet on baseball. He’s done enough to warrant a
first-ballot Hall of Fame induction based on his
career. But Rule 21 (against gambling) is in every
clubhouse. For some reason, whether it’s an addiction
or he thought he wouldn’t get caught, he did it.

Who is not in the Hall of Fame that should be?

Bert Blyleven, Jim Kaat and Ron Santo. If I had one
vote, it would be Blyleven. He’s fifth on the all-time
strikeout list (3,701) and he’s got 287 wins. He
played on small-market teams, and he’s made some
comments about the voting and not getting in, and that
may have hurt him. But if you look at his career,
you’ve got to overlook that.

Roger Clemens unretired to sign with the Houston
Astros. Was this a good thing?

It is absolutely great for baseball. As big as Texas
is, it’s going to give those fans down there something
to cheer about, bringing two guys in like Roger
Clemens and Andy Pettitte.

Which team improved the most in the off-season?

Houston, because of Clemens and Pettitte. And
Baltimore, too.

What do you think about the Nomar Garciaparra-Alex
Rodriguez fiasco?

I’m in favor of what Alex Rodriguez wanted to do. He
was willing to accept some concession in his contract
to make the move. I would have loved to see him in
Boston. But at the same time, I have a lot of respect
for Garciaparra, and it looks like they’re throwing
him out in the wash and not paying him the respect
that’s owed him.

What’s going to happen in their respective clubhouses?


I hope the clubhouse in Boston will accept
Garciaparra, but there might be some rumblings down in
Texas because A-Rod wanted out.

What’s the biggest problem facing baseball?

High salaries. Everyone needs to listen to what the
Twins do. They give (general manager) Terry Ryan a
budget, and he stays within his budget.

What’s the most you ever made? $37,000. I never did
enough to warrant a big raise.

Time for some quick answers. Designated hitter, yes or
no? I favor it. I don’t think the fans like to see the
pitchers hit, and the pitchers don’t really want to
hit. They don’t want to put the extra time in. It’s
not a joy for them.

Interleague play, yes or no? Yes, sir. I think it’s
great. It gives people a chance to see teams and
players they never would see. The Mets come into
Kansas City, the Dodgers come into Seattle. I think
it’s great.

Will Pete Rose be reinstated in 2004? No.

How many games will Clemens win this year? He won 17
last year with the Yankees. I’d like to see him win a
dozen this year.

Who will play in the 2004 World Series?

If it’s not the Twins, I’d like to see the Cubs play
the Red Sox. I think that would be just great.

Who will win the 2004 International League Governors’
Cup playoffs?

Let’s hope it’s Rochester (laughs).



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