Greatest Gift

All-star rewards sweet for Sweeney

This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press June 11, 1998.

By DAVE RASBACH
Valley Press Staff Writer

LANCASTER - Although Lancaster JetHawks pitcher Brian Sweeney's 24th birthday will be Saturday while the team is in Modesto, he'll gladly wait a few days until he returns to Lancaster to unwrap his two biggest presents.

On Tuesday, Sweeney will take the mound for the Valley Division in the 1998 Cal League All-Star Game at Lancaster Municipal Stadium.

As if that honor wasn't enough, Sweeney's parents, Edward and Phyllis, will travel from his hometown of Yonkers, N.Y., to sit in the stands and watch him. His aunt, Marion, also will make the trip.

"My parents have seen me pitch twice before out here, but never as an all-star," Sweeney said. "I'm so excited they're coming out. They're the whole reason I'm an all-star. Without them, none of this would have been possible."

Sweeney, who is known around the JetHawks' clubhouse for his great work ethic and willingness to do whatever he's asked, probably learned many of those qualities from his parents.

He most certainly inherited his ability to battle through adversity from his mother. Three years ago, she underwent a double lung transplant.

"That was real tough on me," Sweeney said. "My mother's always been there for me. She's my lifeline. . . It's going to be something to look up and see both of them in the stands for the all-star game."

The road to that game hasn't always been smooth for Sweeney.

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound right-hander was undrafted out of Mercy College in New York in 1996. The tiny Division II school didn't attract as many scouts as the bigger schools, and the ones that did come didn't see Sweeney at his best.

He usually pitched three times a week and played in the field when he wasn't on the mound.

"My arm was pretty tired, and I didn't exactly light up the guns," Sweeney said.

He still managed to catch the eye of Seattle Mariners scout Tom McNamara, who told him his club probably wouldn't draft him, but he would try to do something for him as a free agent.

After graduating from college, Sweeney hooked on with Lafayette of the independent Heartland Baseball League. While with the Leopards, Sweeney got the chance to show what he could do on the mound when he got enough rest and could focus solely on pitching.

He went 6-0 with a 2.20 ERA in nine games, five of which he started. He also had three complete games and 52 strikeouts in 49 innings.

"They said they wanted to see me pitch a little," Sweeney said. "They had some cross-checkers look at me, and it all worked out."

On Sept. 17, 1996, he signed a free agent contract with the Mariners. He was assigned to Lancaster in 1997, where he played in 40 games with the JetHawks, all in relief. He went 6-3 with a 3.80 ERA and one save.

"We used him in a lot of roles last year," Lancaster pitching coach Jim Slaton said. "We used him in middle relief, and as a setup man, and even as the closer a few times. He was very valuable for us in the bullpen. Whatever role we used him in, he came through for us."

Along with all those other roles, Sweeney has added starter to his impressive resume this year.

Four times this season, Sweeney has been called on for a spot start either because of doubleheaders, injuries or player moves. All four times the JetHawks have won the game, and in his first three starts he was the winning pitcher.

"Obviously, I'd like to start all the time," Sweeney said. "You get to prepare yourself more, knowing that you're going to pitch every fifth day. But I like relieving, too. You have to come ready to play every day."

That attitude, more than anything, is what has impressed Slaton about Sweeney.

"He wants the ball," Slaton said. "He wants to pitch. He's definitely a guy you want pitching on your team, because you can use him in any role."

In his many different roles, Sweeney has gone 6-0 with a 3.33 ERA in 15 games this year. He has struck out 46 and allowed only 21 walks in his 48 2/3 innings of work heading into Wednesday.

But even with those kinds of numbers, Sweeney still modestly says he's surprised that he made the All-Star roster.

Until Wednesday, when Patrick Dunham was added because of an injury to High Desert's John Patterson, it looked like he would be the only JetHawk to take the mound in the game.

"I was kind of shocked actually," Sweeney said. "I guess I was just lucky enough to be selected. I'm really excited for this opportunity. I look forward to facing some of the best hitters in the league. This is really a dream come true for me."

When he looks up and sees his parents in the stands, it will be even more special.