Miracle's Span makes move without playing

By PATRICK FINLEY
Naples Daily News

FORT MYERS — Denard Span passed Miracle teammate Matt Moses for the Florida State League batting lead Wednesday, and he didn't even have to put on his spikes.

Entering Wednesday's games, Moses and Span were leading the FSL in batting average, with the third baseman Moses hitting a robust .386 and center fielder Span not far behind at .383.

After Moses' 0-for-3 outing Wednesday, Span took the lead. He didn't have to do a darn thing, either; he's been on the disabled list since April 30 with a sore hamstring.

The two are different hitters. Span, the leadoff man, leads the FSL in on-base percentage at .465. Moses is more of a gap hitter, and is second in the league in doubles and slugging percentage, third in runs scored and fourth in extra-base hits.

"He can flat-out hit the ball," Span said of his teammate. "I've never seen anybody hit the ball like him. Not anybody my age."

Said Miracle pitcher Errol Simonitsch: "He's unbelievable. The ball just comes off his bat so hard. I'd rather have him on my team than have to pitch against him."

First-round picks in back-to-back years, Span and Moses are expected to excel.

When the team leaves for a road trip after tonight's game, Span will stay back in hope of rehabbing in time for a return late next week. Moses oozes talent, manager Riccardo Ingram said.

"Our scouts picked out a good guy," he said. "The ability's definitely there."

While the Miracle's hot start — they're now 17-8 — has been attributed to their pitching, Span and Moses have been a huge part of their success.

"Our hitting's really coming along," Moses said. "We're just going out there and doing our thing, and it's working."

STRIKEOUTS FOR A CAUSE

Simonitsch doesn't have $100 to give for every strikeout he gets this season.

"That'd be, like, my entire paycheck," he said.

Still, the pitcher is doing his part as a participant in Strikeouts for Troops.

He's donating $10 for every strikeout he records this season to the charity to help provide extra amenities to members of the armed forces in military hospitals.

The charity was established at the beginning of the season by Oakland A's pitcher Barry Zito, who pledged $100 per K. Zito and Simonitsch share the same agent, who talked the Miracle pitcher into contributing.

"It just seemed like it'd be the right thing to do," said Simonitsch, who pitched tonight at 7 against the Yankees. "It brings some attention and some money to the cause."

EDUCATION DAY

The din that could be heard across town Wednesday morning came from the more than 6,000 Lee and Collier County schoolchildren in attendance at the 10:30 a.m. game.

For the first time in team history, the Miracle held the promotion. In addition to giving kids a ticket, hot dog and soda for $5, the Miracle provided lesson plans to area teachers that used baseball to help educate kids about math, history and other subjects.

The team defeated the Tampa Yankees, 5-3, in front of 6,680 fans, more people than saw the team's past six home games, combined.

"That was pretty fun," Ingram said. "It was easier to get fired up when they're that excited."

A LESSON

An article detailing Twins pitcher [Juan] Rincon's suspension for violating baseball's performance-enhancing drug testing policy was tacked on the wall in the team's dugout.

"He's a member of the Twins family — we support him," Ingram said. "But it's a head's up for all our players."

Rincon will work out with the Twins' extended spring training team in Fort Myers later this week.

"It just shows that anyone can test positive," Simonitsch said. "If you're not taking anything, you've got nothing to worry about."

Rincon was replaced on the Twins' roster by [Scott] Baker, who pitched for the Miracle during part of last season.