Tigers' Ordonez gives Whitecaps a morale boost

Dean Holzwarth | By Dean Holzwarth |
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on July 15, 2008 at 12:30 AM, updated July 15, 2008 at 2:50 AM
Magglio Ordonez talks with teammates in the dugout.

COMSTOCK PARK -- One thing is certain when guys like Curtis Granderson and Magglio Ordonez come to rehab with the West Michigan Whitecaps.

A tasty postgame meal is awaiting them.

On Monday, Ordonez became the second Detroit Tiger to make an appearance with the Whitecaps this season. Granderson played three games with West Michigan in mid-April.

"The post-game meals are pretty solid whenever they're here," said West Michigan's Jordan Newton after eating filet mignon and potatoes. "No more chicken fries or pizza--we had pretty good steaks."

Ordonez went 1-for-4 with a run scored to help the Whitecaps snap a four-game losing skid with a 10-2 victory over Peoria.

A standing-room only crowd of 10,592 watched the reigning American League batting champion take at-bats for the first time since suffering an oblique strain two weeks ago.

"It was nuts here," said Whitecaps' infielder Joe Tucker, who went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs.

"You walk out and there were people everywhere. There were so many people in the grass and it's hard to play bad when you have a crowd like that. It gets you pumped."

Ordonez' visit lifted the spirits of a Whitecaps' squad that had struggled offensively on their current homestand.

"It's a morale boost to be around guys like that because they're class acts and they bring in these big crowds," Tucker said. "Everyone just gets excited and it's a great atmosphere to play in."

Added Newton: "We get a ton of fans when they come and it helps the whole team. The energy goes up and everyone wants to do well when those guys are here."

Whitecaps manager Joe DePastino was impressed by the demeanor and work ethic of Ordonez, as he was when Granderson came to West Michigan.

"It's great for the kids for both of those guys to come in here and act like they're part of the team," DePastino said. "Granderson came in and did all of the drills with us and so did Mags. We had to do the curveball machine today before batting practice and he didn't have to do that, but he got in with those guys and did that.

"He's been a pleasure to have and he's a great guy. It makes a difference when you're a big league player and a great guy because the kids look up to you and respect you when you're nice to them like him and Granderson have been."

The spotlight was definitely on Ordonez, but his visit made players like Newton strive to improve in order to reach that level.

"You realize that you have a chance and it's not that far away," Newton said. "You just want to work hard and it makes you want to push yourself more and more because you see how the fans treat them and how everyone loves them. It's encouraging for everybody."