Aloha Ka Punahou 2006.11
Berrios backs Reyes in 6 straight; Hurley Burley placed on DL
Berrios .361 as a Tropic; ties team record with 3 doubles in a game
C Pedro Berrios
When a team's rbi-leader is injured in mid-August, that's usually not good news. But Al Hoot chooses
to look on the bright side.
"Yeah right," said team spokesperson Stitch Lilo, "Al's only bright side is his... his... um, ...."
Hurley Reyes, 37, all-star, Diamond Glove candidate (he's thrown out 42 of would be base stealers),
team leader in RBIs, captain of the Aloha Kids charity, and often the team's only bright side this
decade, was victim of a 'strained oblique' on August 14 and his Renaissance Season and chase for
500 home runs has been put on hold.
"I tell y'all what," Al Hoot said, "Those damn 'strange obliques' will get ya every time. I got a strange one
myself... And yeah, I do have a bright side and he's a kid from El Barrio in South L.A.; that's why he's
called Barrios."
"Berrios, boss," said Lilo.
"Is it?..., well I tell you what: 'El Berrios' would be a good nickname for him. He's gotta have a nickname."
"It'll cost ya, boss.... 5 participation points."
"And why do you think I'm writing this article?"
~~~
Pedro "El Berrio" Berrios has filled in nicely during Reyes's absence, starting six straight after subbing
for Reyes in the fifth inning. Reyes was hitting .277-18-71, leading the team in rbis chiefly from
the sixth spot in the order.
Berrios, picked up with Sadaharu Oh, Jr from California on the trading deadline, had not started full
time till the injury to Reyes. El Berrio is the fourth back up catcher that Hawaii has used this season.
(If ya want to know, it's been Tillman, Jefferson, and most riccintly, 34-year-old veteran Mike Ricci.)
"Ricci's a team player," owner Charlie Hough said. "He voluntarily went down to Triple-A after we
acquired Berrios. He could have walked."
"Walked?" Hoot said "He's a Texan, an I-talian Texan, and ain't no Texan gonna walk away from this
club."
It will most likely be Ricci called up to spell Berrios while Reyes is out.
"Hell, even I know how to spell Barrios."
Well, since this team news is supposed to be about Berrios, let's say that he's hitting .361 since joining
the Tropics. He tied a team record with 3 doubles in a game on August 17 and he is now the heir
apparent to Reyes, should the latter ever quit. (He's in a contract year.)
"At any rate," Hoot said, "Ole Hurley Burley is supposed to be back on his oblique in a week."