Security out in force to keep Drew boo-birds in their place
By Jim Salisbury
Philadelphia Inquirer

The St. Louis Cardinals' traveling party will be a little larger than usual when it arrives at Veterans Stadium tonight.

Joe Walsh, director of security at St. Louis' Busch Stadium, will be with the club.

It's not unusual for Walsh to travel with the team. He has provided security for Mark McGwire in stadiums all over the country.

Walsh's visit to Philadelphia apparently goes beyond McGwire Mania, though.

A report in yesterday's St. Louis Post-Dispatch said that the Phillies were fearful of an incident involving Drew and that they had asked Walsh to attend the series.

Mike DiMuzio, the Phils' director of stadium operations, denied that the Phils asked for assistance.

DiMuzio said his staff was "very cognizant that J.D. will be in center field . . . and we'll plan accordingly."

The Phils are expecting a larger-than-normal crowd - about 40,000 - for tonight's game. Some fans, of course, will come to marvel at McGwire, who became baseball's newest 500-homer man last week. The gates at the Vet will open at 5:35 p.m. to allow for fans to see McGwire take batting practice.

A good chunk of the turnout, however, no doubt will come out to spew venom at Drew, who missed yesterday's Cardinals game because of a bruised hand but is expected to play in the series. Booing is an art form in Philadelphia, and more than a few Picassos are expected to come out for this three-game set.

"I'd be gravely disappointed if there wasn't some verbal offering of opinion," said Phillies pitcher and vocal Drew critic Curt Schilling. "The people in this city live for days like this. I would expect a large portion of 700-level Eagle fans to come out and take part in the booing. He's going to get it both barrels."

Schilling said Drew probably will be booed in Philadelphia throughout his career.

"What he did will never be forgotten," Schilling said. "I'd be disappointed if it was."

Drew, 23, was the Phils' first-round draft pick in 1997. He and the team failed to come to terms after a year of tumultuous haggling. The Phillies offered Drew more money than any other drafted player had ever received. He wanted more, and got $7 million guaranteed from St. Louis in the next draft.

There is, and probably always will be, quiet resentment of Drew in the Phillies organization.

Among the team's blue-collar fans, the resentment is palpable. It borders on hatred.

Lee Thomas knows that. He was the Phillies' general manager when Drew was drafted. Thomas spoke about Drew in an article that appeared in yesterday's Post-Dispatch.

"They're really turned off on J.D. Drew," Thomas said of Phillies fans. "They feel snubbed. They feel this guy just turned up his nose at money nobody ever got before."

Thomas went on to talk about why the Phillies drafted Drew.

"Bill Giles was in charge then, and I was hopeful we would find a way to get it done," Thomas said. "And then Bill got pushed out. Dave Montgomery came in and wanted us to go very slow with the Drew thing. . . .

"I wish we had given him the money. But I think in the end, he never wanted to come there after all."

Thomas said he hoped there would be no incidents.

DiMuzio said there will be an increased police presence tonight, but that's normal for bigger crowds. Outfield security will be beefed up because those are popular seats wherever McGwire plays.

"We're gearing our security to 40,000 people," DiMuzio said. "We're not going to tolerate any problems. We're going to treat problems like we would at any other game.

"J.D. is one of 675 major-leaguers that we have to protect. We have to protect the St. Louis Cardinals just like we would the San Diego Padres or the Atlanta Braves. We have to make sure everyone gets in and out safely, players and fans. Unfortunately, if there is an incident, we'll have to deal with it."

As always, fans are invited to boo until their throats become raw. But throwing things on the field or using vulgarity will be cause for ejection.

"If you curse, you'll be asked to leave," DiMuzio said. "Not because it's J.D. Drew, but because we don't tolerate that anytime, no matter the situation."

The one who gains most from Drew's presence will be McGwire. For once, he won't be the main attraction in an opposing city. At the All-Star Game, McGwire told Schilling he was looking forward to that novel concept.

copyright Philadelphia Inquirer