Linden, booted by UW, hits cleanup at LSU

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Washington's baseball team begins practice this week without its best player, outfielder Todd Linden, who was effectively kicked off the team after a series of on- and off-field incidents that he says are overblown.

Linden exceeded the tolerance of the UW coaching staff last September when he was involved in an attempted theft of cigars during the team's tour of Cuba.

UW Coach Ken Knutson said that Linden, a junior from Central Kitsap High who may be the first outfielder taken in baseball's June amateur draft, "will not be missed."

Linden has transferred to Louisiana State, the defending NCAA champions, and already is starting in center field and hitting cleanup (NCAA rules do not require baseball transfers to sit out a year).

Patrick Dennis / The Associated Press Todd Linden, left, slides safely into home plate to score for Louisiana State as Kansas State catcher Nick Scelfo (15) waits for the throw last week in Baton Rouge, La. Linden transferred to LSU after being kicked off the Huskies.

He called any problems he had at Washington "youth indiscretions," and he said, "I got in his (Knutson's) doghouse my freshman year there and for some reason never got out of it."

Knutson, who didn't want to go into detail over his difficulties with Linden, suspended him three separate times last season for various discipline problems.

"There were things off the field as well as a couple things on the field, mostly immature decisions on his part," he said.

What turned out to be the final incident came in Cuba in early September when the UW team was provided a tour of a cigar factory during its trip. It was alleged that Linden was among several players who stole handfuls of cigars from the gift shop.

He admits thinking about it and even attempted to do it, but he was discouraged when one of the Husky coaches spotted him. He said he left the store without taking any cigars.

"We went back to the bus, and the gift shop manager said there were a bunch of cigars missing," Linden said. "The coach got on the bus and said, `I don't care who did it, but I want everyone involved to turn them in,' " Linden said. "He got off the bus and all the cigars were collected. But they (coaches) thought I was one of the ones who stole them.

"There were a number of people involved and other things also happened on that trip, but nothing ever happened to those guys. It's a matter how he chose to deal with it. If it didn't happen in Cuba, it would have happened further down the line. I was on my way out regardless."

Knutson wasted little time.

The Monday after returning from Cuba, Linden was summoned and told he was no longer wanted on the team.

"That (cigar incident) in itself was not the reason," Knutson said. "Believe me, there were many other smaller incidents that he was involved in time after time. To me, they were serious, but he would probably tell you he did not do anything wrong."

Linden said just that.

"I wouldn't say there were any really bad pranks," Linden said. "I made some poor decisions, nothing major, like putting water in a garbage can and leaning it against a freshman's door. But at the same time, I'm not trying to justify it. I have to live with the consequences. It worked out for the better. UW was just not my place.

"I brought on a lot of the problems, and I understand a little where he's coming from. He told me, `I have to make an example of you because of who you are. If the other guys see me discipline you, they will expect the same treatment.' That makes sense, but it's not fun being the guinea pig all the time.''

A larger concern for Linden now is how major league scouts will perceive him. Teams tend to back away from players with potential behavior or character problems. Will his past affect his future?

Baseball America ranks Linden as the fifth-best college player in the draft and the No. 1 outfielder overall. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound switch-hitter is projected as a big-league power hitter. He believes he can hit for power, average and play solid defense in the majors. He has above-average tools in all areas, except perhaps his arm, which is average.

"It's (past trouble) not going to help me, but it's not going to break me in the draft," Linden said. "I've talked to a number of different teams and they ask general questions. When the scouts talk to me they find out what kind of person I am. I'm not a hoodlum. I've played some pranks but I was just having fun. Other people know what really did happen in Cuba."

Linden is fairly sure this will be his final college season, depending on how high he is drafted.