Tuesday, December 14, 1999
Karl happy to
By Al Chase
be with Rockies
Star-BulletinScott Karl almost was traded to the Colorado Rockies last summer but the deal fell through at the last minute. Yesterday the Milwaukee Brewers traded the former Hawaii left-hander to Colorado as part of a four-team swap.
The deal didn't surprise Karl.
"I've been with one organization for eight years and I'm aware of players like Tony Gwynn who spend their whole career with one team," Karl said. "Being on the inside, I realize it's the business of baseball and it doesn't always work out that way."
The 6-foot-2, 195-pounder is happy to be a part of the revamped Rockies. New general manager Dan O'Dowd has added 15 players to the Colorado roster and signed two veteran pitchers, Ed Vosberg and Butch Henry, to minor league contracts.
"I think it's exciting with the new regime they have," Karl said. "I love the city. I'm glad I'm still in the National League."
Karl was the workhorse of the Milwaukee staff last season, leading the Brewers in innings pitched (197), hits allowed (246), runs (121), earned runs (105), hit batters (8) and balks (2). He finished with an 11-11 won-lost record, but said he did not pitch as well as he could have in the middle of the season.
"The numbers weren't horrible, but the good numbers came in spurts and I hope with the change of scenery I'll be more consistent," Karl said.
He is well aware that Colorado's home field, Coors Stadium, is notorious for being a hitters' ball park. Leave a pitch up and the ball disappears.
"If I pitch the style of baseball I'm used to, which is ground balls, then the thin air shouldn't affect me much," he said.
