Hitters Unleash a Shower of Power

It turns out the Orange Curtain is no more intimidating than the Green Monster.

It demands less carry than McCovey Bay. A lot less than The BOB’s Jacuzzi. More like Yankee Stadium’s short right-field porch, or down the lines at Enron Field, or anywhere in Camden Yards.

Just get the baseball in the air and the home runs come like Republicans to a Rush Limbaugh barbecue fund-raiser.

Doubt it?

Take a look at baseball’s home-run leaders.

Kansas City’s Mike Sweeney? Seven home runs, 15 RBIs. Born in Orange.

St. Louis’ Jim Edmonds? Six home runs, 17 RBIs. Born in Fullerton.

San Diego’s Phil Nevin? Six home runs, 14 RBIs. Went to El Dorado High and Cal State Fullerton.

Milwaukee’s Jeromy Burnitz? Five home runs, 11 RBIs. Born in Westminster.

We don’t mean to be provincial, but a trend’s a trend.

No, if we were provincial, we’d mention that Oakland’s Jason Giambi has seven home runs and 23 RBIs. Jason’s brother? That’s right. Jeremy. Cal State Fullerton.

Hey, Jason visited.

Here’s a player-by-player look at the county’s contribution to major league baseball:

Paul Abbott, RHP, Mariners

Sunny Hills High. The long-time reliever started seven games for Manager Lou Piniella last season.

Rich Amaral, OF, Orioles

Estancia High, Orange Coast College. The valuable utility man had five hits in his first 10 at-bats.

Brady Anderson, OF, Orioles

UC Irvine. In the three-plus seasons since he hit 50 home runs, Anderson has 62, including two this season.

Aaron Boone, 3B, Reds

Villa Park High. With three home runs in his first 50 at-bats, Boone appears destined to improve on last season’s 14.

Bret Boone, 2B, Padres

Esperanza High. Boone is back in his beloved middle of the order after a season batting second for the Braves.

Justin Brunette, LHP, Cardinals

Ocean View High. In his debut appearances, Brunette didn’t give up a run in two innings.

Jeromy Burnitz, OF, Brewers

Born in Westminster. Scouts believe he is a 50-homer season waiting to happen.

Marty Cordova, DH, Blue Jays

Orange Coast College. Due to injuries, the American League Rookie of the Year in 1995 has played only one full season since.

Jim Edmonds, OF, Cardinals

Born in Fullerton. National League pitchers have hardly missed his bat barrel.

Kevin Elster, SS, Dodgers

Marina High, Golden West College. Began mulligan season with three home runs in the inaugural game at Pac Bell Park.

Jeremy Giambi, OF, A’s

Cal State Fullerton. Already has batted second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and ninth and has been a first baseman, right fielder and designated hitter.

Charles Gipson, OF, Mariners

Loara High, Cypress College. He is not the outfielder replacing Ken Griffey Jr., but maybe he should be. He is batting .364.

Mark Grace, 1B, Cubs

Tustin High, Saddleback College. Though he is a legend on the North side, Grace has never had 20 homers or 100 RBIs in a season.

Shawn Green, OF, Dodgers

Tustin High. Green has yet to hit his true offensive stride, but he batted .462 against the Giants, which is good enough for now.

Trevor Hoffman, RHP, Padres

Savanna High, Cypress College. He is three for three in save opportunities in a slow first three weeks.

Jeff Kent, 2B, Giants

Edison High. Kent has made a good living protecting Barry Bonds in an otherwise mediocre order.

Ryan Klesko, 1B, Padres

Westminster High. He is hitless with three strikeouts in eight at-bats against lefties.

Mark Kotsay, OF, Marlins

Cal State Fullerton. Currently batting leadoff for the Marlins, the early surprise of the NL East.

Brent Mayne, C, Rockies

Orange Coast College, Cal State Fullerton. A left-handed hitter, Mayne is splitting time with right-handed-hitting rookie Ben Petrick.

Steve L. Montgomery, RHP, Padres

Fountain Valley High. On disabled list.

Robb Nen, RHP, Giants

Los Alamitos High. Nen hasn’t given up a run in his first five appearances.

Phil Nevin, 3B, Padres

El Dorado High, Cal State Fullerton. Two years ago, Nevin hit eight home runs in 237 at-bats for the Angels. This season, he has six in three weeks.

David Newhan, 2B, Padres

Esperanza High, Cypress College. Newhan already has played three games in the outfield.

Troy O’Leary, OF, Red Sox

Cypress High. His 28 home runs and 103 RBIs last season were the most of his career.

Craig Paquette, 1B, Cardinals

Golden West College. Mark McGwire’s back injury has meant at-bats for Paquette, who has eight RBIs in 15 games.

J.T. Snow, 1B, Giants

Los Alamitos High. Don’t blame him: Snow’s batting .357 at Pacific Bell Park.

Jerry Spradlin, RHP, Royals

Fullerton College. That’s five teams--Reds, Phillies, Indians, Giants, Royals--in five years for Spradlin.

Mike Sweeney, 1B, Royals

Born in Orange. He has followed up his breakout season (22 homers, 102 RBIs) with seven homers in his first 71 at-bats of 2000.

Jeff Tam, RHP, A’s

Born in Fullerton. A middle reliever behind a starting rotation that looks like it needs one.

Steve Trachsel, RHP, Devil Rays

Troy High, Fullerton College. He had hoped to pitch for the Angels, and they passed at any cost.

Daryle Ward, OF, Astros

Rancho Santiago College. Another hitter’s endorsement for outdoor baseball in Houston: He had nine home runs in his career, then hit two in his first eight at-bats at Enron.

Jaret Wright, RHP, Indians

Katella High. New pitching coach Dick Pole might be onto something: Wright was 2-0 and opponents were batting .174 before the A’s beat him Thursday.