Roberto Kelly

The Angels will never be in a World Series as long as Mike Port is general manager. Port is filing a grievance because the Yankees were willing to offer Roberto Kelly, a 25-year-old .300 hitter who will steal 40 bases, instead of a 38-year-old fading star coming off back surgery. Instead of filing a grievance, Port should have taken the deal. RICHARD SIMON, Ventura

  Did you wonder where San Francisco Giants first-base coach Roberto Kelly was during Game 1 of the NL Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals? He was recovering from a line drive to the head by Giants catcher Buster Posey during batting practice. Kelly sustained a concussion Saturday after getting hit in the back of the head while standing near second base. As you can see in the video above, Kelly walked off the field with assistance. He was taken to a San Francisco hospital where he was diagnosed with a concussion.

Being a major-leaguer might have saved New York Yankees' outfielder Roberto Kelly's life during the turmoil this winter in his native Panama. Kelly said he was stopped by three of then-dictator Manuel A. Noriega's men a few days after the United States invaded Panama on Dec. 20. "I got out of the car and one of them put a gun to my head," Kelly said. "Then one of them recognized me and said, 'Are you Roberto Kelly?' I said, 'Yeah,' and they let me go."

For Texas left-hander Darren Oliver, having to face Ken Griffey Jr. is no big deal. Facing Roberto Kelly, however, is another story. Kelly hit a pair of two-run homers while Griffey was held hitless Thursday night as Randy Johnson and the Seattle Mariners defeated the Rangers, 6-3. Seattle increased its AL West lead to six games, tying a season high, over the Angels. The victory was Seattle's 85th, tying the team record set last year.

For Texas left-hander Darren Oliver, having to face Ken Griffey Jr. is no big deal. Facing Roberto Kelly, however, is another story. Kelly hit a pair of two-run homers while Griffey was held hitless Thursday night as Randy Johnson and the Seattle Mariners defeated the Rangers, 6-3. Seattle increased its AL West lead to six games, tying a season high, over the Angels. The victory was Seattle's 85th, tying the team record set last year.

Tom Candiotti pitched seven strong innings and Roberto Kelly broke a scoreless tie with a two-run homer in the seventh to lead the Dodgers past the Florida Marlins, 4-2, Sunday night. Mike Piazza pinch-hit in the eighth for Candiotti (5-8) and belted his 16th homer against reliever Richie Lewis. Todd Worrell struck out Tommy Gregg with the bases loaded to end the eighth, then allowed one run in the ninth for his 16th save.

If Seattle Mariner center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. had broken his wrist a few days earlier, Montreal Expo General Manager Kevin Malone is convinced that center fielder Roberto Kelly would be playing today for the Mariners, not the Dodgers. Malone disclosed Sunday that he was engaged in serious trade discussions up until 10 days ago with the Mariners that focused on Kelly. The deal would have sent Kelly to the Mariners for a left-handed batter, probably first baseman Tino Martinez.

In a bid to add right-handed punch to their lineup, the Atlanta Braves traded two-sport outfielder Deion Sanders to the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday for two-time All-Star outfielder Roberto Kelly. The deal apparently was an ideal match for both clubs. The Reds were seeking a leadoff hitter, having used shortstop Barry Larkin there recently. The trade was made moments before both clubs were scheduled to play Sunday and both players were replaced in the starting lineups.

The Dodgers, acknowledging they might have erred by not re-signing center fielder Brett Butler but not about to let the transgression ruin their playoff hopes, pulled off baseball's biggest trade of the season. They acquired all-star center fielder Roberto Kelly and rookie left-handed reliever Joey Eischen from the Montreal Expos Tuesday for right fielder Henry Rodriguez and infielder Jeff Treadway. "They could have saved themselves a whole lot of trouble by just keeping me, couldn't they?"

Outfielder Rickey Henderson, apparently upset because the Oakland Athletics haven't renegotiated his contract, was the only no-show at the team's Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College training camp Wednesday. Henderson, the most valuable player in the American League last year, signed a four-year, $12-million contract shortly after the 1989 season ended. Since then many players have signed for much more.

Tom Candiotti pitched seven strong innings and Roberto Kelly broke a scoreless tie with a two-run homer in the seventh to lead the Dodgers past the Florida Marlins, 4-2, Sunday night. Mike Piazza pinch-hit in the eighth for Candiotti (5-8) and belted his 16th homer against reliever Richie Lewis. Todd Worrell struck out Tommy Gregg with the bases loaded to end the eighth, then allowed one run in the ninth for his 16th save.

If Seattle Mariner center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. had broken his wrist a few days earlier, Montreal Expo General Manager Kevin Malone is convinced that center fielder Roberto Kelly would be playing today for the Mariners, not the Dodgers. Malone disclosed Sunday that he was engaged in serious trade discussions up until 10 days ago with the Mariners that focused on Kelly. The deal would have sent Kelly to the Mariners for a left-handed batter, probably first baseman Tino Martinez.

The Dodgers, acknowledging they might have erred by not re-signing center fielder Brett Butler but not about to let the transgression ruin their playoff hopes, pulled off baseball's biggest trade of the season. They acquired all-star center fielder Roberto Kelly and rookie left-handed reliever Joey Eischen from the Montreal Expos Tuesday for right fielder Henry Rodriguez and infielder Jeff Treadway. "They could have saved themselves a whole lot of trouble by just keeping me, couldn't they?"

In a bid to add right-handed punch to their lineup, the Atlanta Braves traded two-sport outfielder Deion Sanders to the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday for two-time All-Star outfielder Roberto Kelly. The deal apparently was an ideal match for both clubs. The Reds were seeking a leadoff hitter, having used shortstop Barry Larkin there recently. The trade was made moments before both clubs were scheduled to play Sunday and both players were replaced in the starting lineups.

Outfielder Rickey Henderson, apparently upset because the Oakland Athletics haven't renegotiated his contract, was the only no-show at the team's Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College training camp Wednesday. Henderson, the most valuable player in the American League last year, signed a four-year, $12-million contract shortly after the 1989 season ended. Since then many players have signed for much more.

The Angels will never be in a World Series as long as Mike Port is general manager. Port is filing a grievance because the Yankees were willing to offer Roberto Kelly, a 25-year-old .300 hitter who will steal 40 bases, instead of a 38-year-old fading star coming off back surgery. Instead of filing a grievance, Port should have taken the deal. RICHARD SIMON, Ventura

Yes, the New York Yankees have returned to form, trading away the future to benefit the present. But, hey, isn't the real story that the Yankees are once again even thinking about the present? The trading away of Al Leiter and the acquisition of Jesse Barfield might have seemed a frivolous, foolish maneuver three weeks ago. After all, the Yankees had started 1-7 and evoked only memories of the team's not-so-glorious past, doing a real scary imitation of the last-place 1966 Yankees in every aspect.

  Did you wonder where San Francisco Giants first-base coach Roberto Kelly was during Game 1 of the NL Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals? He was recovering from a line drive to the head by Giants catcher Buster Posey during batting practice. Kelly sustained a concussion Saturday after getting hit in the back of the head while standing near second base. As you can see in the video above, Kelly walked off the field with assistance. He was taken to a San Francisco hospital where he was diagnosed with a concussion.

Being a major-leaguer might have saved New York Yankees' outfielder Roberto Kelly's life during the turmoil this winter in his native Panama. Kelly said he was stopped by three of then-dictator Manuel A. Noriega's men a few days after the United States invaded Panama on Dec. 20. "I got out of the car and one of them put a gun to my head," Kelly said. "Then one of them recognized me and said, 'Are you Roberto Kelly?' I said, 'Yeah,' and they let me go."

Yes, the New York Yankees have returned to form, trading away the future to benefit the present. But, hey, isn't the real story that the Yankees are once again even thinking about the present? The trading away of Al Leiter and the acquisition of Jesse Barfield might have seemed a frivolous, foolish maneuver three weeks ago. After all, the Yankees had started 1-7 and evoked only memories of the team's not-so-glorious past, doing a real scary imitation of the last-place 1966 Yankees in every aspect.