CINCINNATI -- Sammy Sosa cracked his bat the first time he made contact, and nobody made a fuss. He hit a prodigious homer a few innings later, and got roundly booed.
In his first game back from a suspension for using a corked bat, the Chicago Cubs star found out loud and clear that things will be different from now on.
He singled in his first at-bat Wednesday night and hit the most prodigious homer at Great American Ball Park a few innings later, making an emphatic return from his seven-game suspension.
He also got booed and jeered along the way, a dramatic departure for one of baseball's most beloved players.
Appropriately, his comeback started with a crack.
He singled to right field in his first at-bat against Jimmy Haynes, producing a low "thwack" when the ball hit the bat -- a tipoff that it had broken.
Reds fans booed as he ran to first base, and plate umpire Jeff Kellogg picked up the bat and matter-of-factly handed it to the bat boy. A sliver of wood curled from the handle.
The boos drowned out the cheers when he came to bat in the fifth and hit a two-run homer off the top of the massive batter's eye in center field, a drive estimated at 464 feet. Sosa did his home run hop as the ball left the bat, and rounded the bases with his head down as fans booed.
It was his first game since June 10. On June 3, Sosa snapped his bat at Wrigley Field on a grounder to second and was ejected when umpires found cork inside. Sosa explained that he used the corked bat to put on fan-pleasing shows in batting practice, but erroneously used it in a game.
X-rays cleared the rest of his bats, and Sosa's original eight-game suspension was shortened to seven. On the last day of his suspension, he asked fans to forgive and forget his transgression.
Some fans indicated that they're not ready to let it go.
Sosa got a round of applause from several hundred fans after he hit long drives in batting practice, and tipped his cap as he left the batting cage. Several fans in Cubs jerseys held up "We Luv U Sammy" signs.
Sosa was lying on his back on a white towel in the outfield, stretching his legs with the assistance of a trainer, when the public address announcer read the Cubs' starting lineup. When he got to Sosa's name, there was a mix of boos and cheers.
Manager Dusty Baker is watching to see how Sosa handles the first real adversity since he and Mark McGwire swung pell-mell at the home run record in 1998, when Sosa finished with 66.
Baker said before the game that he hopes Sosa doesn't try too hard to make up for lost time. Sosa also missed 17 games because of a toe problem.
"He's lost 100 at-bats and he hasn't really had his stroke for any length of time," Baker said. "The main thing I hope is Sammy doesn't try to make up 100 at-bats in four or five days."
TORRE WANTS MORE CREDIT
New York Yankees manager Joe Torre wants a pat on the back now and then from owner George Steinbrenner and believes his boss can sometimes be a distraction for the team.
"At times, I'd like (him to) just give me a little more credit that I know what I'm doing," Torre told Fox News Channel, according to a transcript of an interview to be broadcast yesterday.
Torre also told Fox that he was not pleased with Steinbrenner's public criticism of shortstop Derek Jeter and the Yankees' coaches.
"Conversations happen all the time," the manager said. "Over the 71/2 years I've been here, they continue to happen, but it's never been as public as it has been this year. It started last year when we lost to Anaheim. He was very upset and I was, too. And then he got on Jeter ... he got on my coaches. The change is he went public with a lot of it and it's gotten in the newspaper.
"George Steinbrenner wants to win. There's nothing wrong with that."
BALL ON THE BLOCK
Alex Popov and Patrick Hayashi met for the first time in October 2001, fighting over the ball Barry Bonds hit for his record 73rd home run.
It was not exactly the best way to start a friendship, but the possible $1 million they'll split for the ball should soothe any remaining ill will.
After a bitter two-week trial, a judge determined they should sell the ball and share the proceeds. The ball is being auctioned next Wednesday by Lelands.com.
"Friendship takes time," Hayashi said. "We are co-owners of a piece of property. Over time, friendship happens. Sure, I'd call him and go to a game. We both play golf. Maybe we'll get together for a game."
Josh Evans, chairman of Leland's, said he expected the ball to sell for over $1 million. Early online bidding has reached $150,000.
"The question is how close we'll get to the McGwire ball," Evans said. "You never know."
Mark McGwire's 70th home run sold for $3.2 million to comic art creator Todd McFarlane in 1999. Two years later, Bonds pushed the record to 73 with his final home run in the final game of the 2001 season.
ALL-STAR COACHES
Minnesota Twins manager Ron Gardenhire and Chicago White Sox manager Jerry Manuel were selected as the two American League coaches for the 2003 All-Star game.
Gardenhire and Manuel were picked by Anaheim's Mike Scioscia, who led the Angels to their first World Series win in franchise history last season and will manage the American League team.
Gardenhire, who led the Twins to the Central Division title last season, will be making his first All-Star appearance. Manuel will be making his second appearance, having been a member of the American League staff for the 1999 game.
The rest of the American League staff will be Anaheim coaches Bud Black, Alfredo Griffin, Mickey Hatcher, Joe Maddon, Orlando Mercado and Ron Roenicke.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
The St. Louis Cardinals designated right-hander Dustin Hermanson for assignment and activated left-hander Lance Painter off the 15-day disabled list. ... The Minnesota Twins sent right-hander Tony Fiore to Triple-A Rochester to make room for right-hander Rick Reed. ... Reliever Bobby Howry needs surgery on his right elbow, and will not pitch again this season in the Boston organization. ... The Tampa Bay Devil Rays released right-hander Steve Parris and recalled pitcher Brandon Backe from Triple-A Durham. ... The Toronto Blue Jays signed first-round draft pick Aaron Hill. Hill, selected 13th overall, led Louisiana State University with a .367 average with eight homers and 59 RBI in 62 games. ... Texas Rangers infielder-DH Herbert Perry underwent surgery on his injured right shoulder that will keep him out the rest of the season. Perry's operation cleaned up a frayed rotator cuff and labrum and removed a badly bruised bursa sac.
