Chants for home-run derby champ Bucky Jacobsen go unanswered because of rumors that he is slated to be called up to the Seattle Mariners today.

08:02 AM EDT on Thursday, July 15, 2004

BY SHALISE MANZA YOUNG
Journal Sports Writer

PAWTUCKET -- Normally, the name "Bucky" is akin to a dirty word in these parts, but last night, Bucky was a wanted man.

Bucky Jacobsen, that is, not Bucky Dent.

Jacobsen, the 6-foot-4, 270-pound masher from the Pacific Coast League Tacoma Rainiers whose popularity grew over the past three days to match his Paul Bunyan-esque proportions, heard his name chanted in the late innings of last night's game, as the fans were hoping for one more long-distance blast from the Seattle farmhand.

He heard it in the ninth -- "Buck-y, Buck-y" -- and again in the tenth -- "Buck-y, Buck-y" -- but Jacobsen was on the bench, a Mariners warm-up jacket stretched over his massive shoulders.

Bucky didn't get his chance.

And for good reason -- the 28-year-old Jacobsen is likely to receive his first call-up to the major leagues today.

As of last night, no official annoucement had been made that Seattle was bringing the first baseman up. If Jacobsen is on the move, he would not confirm anything.

"I can't say just yet. I've heard a rumor, but I haven't gotten a call from anyone in charge at the Mariners," he said.

Pacific Coast League manager Mike Brumley, who was with the Red Sox in the 1991 and '92 seasons, said he also heard the rumor.

"From what we understand, Bucky and [Rainiers All-Star pitcher George] Sherrill are both going up. It's great for him; I would have liked to have his bat in the lineup tonight, he's done so much damage. But I couldn't take that chance."

Jacobsen said he was disappointed not to get an at-bat, but "at the same time, if these rumors are true, there's no point in me taking a chance with one or two at-bats in this game."

During Monday night's home-run derby, Jacobsen became just the second player ever to clear the concession shack in centerfield -- a distance of at least 500 feet. He also drilled a ball off the left-center-field scoreboard and another through the windshield of a local sports journalist's car in the left-center parking lot.

Jacobsen also won the home-run contest at last year's Double-A all-star game.

This season, his first in Triple-A, he is putting up eye-popping power numbers with the Rainiers. At the break, he is hitting .312 with a .661 slugging percentage. His 91 hits included 26 homers, 22 doubles -- and 86 R.B.I.

"It's a nice feeling," to hear the chants, Jacobsen said. "I don't know what one thing it is -- being big, after the home-run derby, having the name Bucky," that draws fans to him.

It might be all of those things, but it also might be that Jacobsen genuinely enjoyed his all-star experience. He signed every ball, card, and poster presented to him this week, and said he never thought people would want his autograph.

With Seattle fans looking for a positive in an otherwise dismal season, it might not be too long before Jacobsen answers chants of "Buck-y" with home run blasts that land on Mount Rainier.