Alumni Notes

From 1996:

If the Red Sox were certain about designated hitter David Ortiz, they would not be uncertain about his position in their lineup.

They would not be considering free agents such as Russell Branyan.

They would not be linked every three seconds to Padres first baseman
Adrian Gonzalez.

Well, the Red Sox are not certain about Ortiz, cannot be certain, even though last season he rallied to hit 26 of his 27 home runs after June 1.

The Sox's interest in Branyan, a left-handed slugger who reached agreement Friday with the Indians, was the latest indication that they might act quickly to replace Ortiz if he again gets off to a poor start.

From the 2000 team:

Former Mariner Cha Seung Baek, the Korean right-hander who last pitched in the big leagues two years ago, is in camp today for a minor league tryout [with the Mariners].

From the 2002 team:

Nothing comes easy for the Indians, but who among the Tribe faithful doesn't already know that?

Having virtually stolen one of their consistent run producers from the Seattle Mariners for Ben Broussard midway through the 2006 season, the Indians could face an unusual dilemma: losing that player to the army.

South Korean males are obligated to serve their country in the military for two years. Shin-Soo Choo, second to Grady Sizemore as an all-around player for the Tribe, is a native of South Korea. Choo has not yet put in his time with the armed forces. He is required to do so after the 2010 season.

But if he leaves baseball behind for two years, there is no guarantee he will return — at age 29 — with his skills intact. Moreover, he would lose two of his prime income-producing seasons (he will be arbitration eligible in October).

So what can he do?

From 2008:

Phillippe Aumont, the hard-throwing 21-year-old righthander acquired in the trade that sent Cliff Lee to Seattle, said the Phillies haven't officially told him whether he will enter the season as a starter or reliever.

But while the decision may not be set in stone, the near-unanimous opinion among team personnel is that he will begin the year as a starter at Double A Reading.

And if you listened to Aumont talk yesterday, it was easy to understand why.

Did you see?

Former Timber Rattler David Ortiz became a United States Citizen in Boston on June 11.

David Ortiz is a legendary slugger whose swing has made him an iconic part of the national pastime. But it was not until yesterday that the Dominican-born star of the Red Sox could call himself a US citizen.

Ortiz joined 226 immigrants from 57 countries as they raised their right hands and took the Oath of Citizenship at the John F. Kennedy Library in Dorchester.

"My whole family, kids, and everyone have been born here," Ortiz, who was born in 1975 in Santo Domingo, told reporters afterward. "It's a great country - proud to be here, now proud to be a part of it."

Ortiz's wife, American-born Tiffany, added: "It's a big deal for him. It's really important, and I'm really proud of him."

What was the scene like?

The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation held a private lunch before the ceremony in honor of Ortiz, said Brent Carney, spokesman for the library. On the other side of the building, the crowd of would-be citizens and their guests gathered without any indication that the Red Sox icon would soon fill the vacant, black chair marked "reserved' in the center of the front row.

"Everyone was wondering who the seat was for," said Chanthy Chea, 36 , of Lowell, who emigrated from Cambodia and became a US citizen yesterday. "And then I saw David Ortiz. I was like, 'Oh jeez, it's Big Papi.' "

Ortiz, 32, walked in the room to cheers and applause and sat with his wife and two of his children, Alexandra, 7, and D'Angelo, 3. His father, Americo Enrique Ortiz, and Larry Lucchino, Red Sox president, also attended.

Stan Grossfeld/Boston Globe photo

How some ex-Rattlers did

In the game at Dodger Stadium, David Ortiz ('96) was 0-for-3 in an 8-0 Boston loss.

Justin Leone ('00) went 1-for-2 for the San Francisco Giants in a 7-2 loss to Oakland.

Lehigh Valley drew 10,188 to Coca-Cola Stadium for an exhibition against the Philadelphia Phillies and a couple of ex-Rattlers played for the new Triple-A affiliate of the Phillies. Chris Snelling ('00) was 2-for-3 with a walk for the Iron Pigs. TJ Bohn ('03) was 1-for-3 with a walk. Greg Dobbs ('02) was 0-for-2 for the Phillies. Phillies won 5-3 and Geoff Jenkins hit a home run. Sounds like a good day for the new stadium. No, make that a great day.

Ron Chiavacci peered in from the mound as Jimmy Rollins dug into the first-base side of the batter's box. A few seconds later, Chiavacci slipped a fastball past the reigning National League MVP for a called strike.

At 2:14 p.m., under sunny but crisp skies, the moment that many believed would never come finally came.

Allentown and the Lehigh Valley were back in minor league baseball.

Coca-Cola Park opened in grand style Sunday afternoon when a sellout crowd of 10,188 jammed every corner of the new park to watch the Phillies beat the IronPigs, 5-3, in an exhibition game.

''I think some guys don't realize how big a thing this was around here,'' Chiavacci, the IronPigs' starter, said of the return of affiliated baseball to the Lehigh Valley for the first time in nearly five decades. ''I live in Scranton, so I know how big baseball is around here.''

Oh, and speaking of Snelling

The last 48 hours have been tough on both Chris Snelling and Mike Spidale.

Until Friday Snelling had hopes of making the Phillies roster -- if the team found a taker for Wes Helms, Snelling would likely remain and get a spot on the Opening Day roster.

Spidale broke minor league camp as a member of the IronPigs, seemingly having accomplished his goal of earning a spot on the Triple-A roster.

But when the Phillies host the Nationals today, Helms will be in a Phillies uniform, which means when the IronPigs open the International League season Thursday at Scranton, Snelling will be in a Lehigh Valley uniform.

Snelling was asked one of the obvious questions he gets. His answer:

"'I don't want to think about that,'' Snelling answered when asked whether his health is the only thing that's kept him from being a consistent major league player. ''That's a what-if, and who's to say if I stayed healthy anything could happen. That's just how it is. All I'm looking for is to have some fun.''

Fun in Pennsylvania. Sounds good to me. So does taking a look at some of the other stories on yesterday's Iron Pig game.