THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 3, 1995 TAG: 9509030149
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C16 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines
The most surprising hit former Old Dominion University righthander Wayne Gomes gave up this season involved a female's fist to his face.
Gomes, now finishing up a strong season with the Double-A Reading Phillies, was charting pitches from the stands during an April home game when a woman approached him for an autograph.
Gomes declined, saying he was working, but offered to sign after the game. The woman retreated, then returned indignant about Gomes' refusal to sign. She ridiculed Gomes, who suffered what would be his worst start of the season the night before - one hit, five walks and four runs in a third of an inning. Gomes responded, then pow! - an actual punch in the mouth.
Gomes' mouth.
``I wanted to kill her, but I couldn't catch her. She was gone,'' Gomes said last week as he and Reading played out the schedule before the Eastern League playoffs. The woman, in her late 30s according to Gomes, was identified and permanently barred from the stadium.
``It was so long ago, I've pretty much forgotten about it,'' Gomes said. ``It was a crazy situation, man. Hope I don't have to go through something like that again.''
On the field, life also has been exciting but more traditional for Hampton's Gomes, the Phillies' top draft choice in 1993 and the fourth player taken overall. At 22, Gomes said he was challenged by the jump from Class A and became a better pitcher, in that he stopped concentrating on strikeouts, his trademark.
``I'm trying to be more relaxed now, not go out there with the closer mentality and try to strike everybody out,'' said Gomes, who remains a starter instead of the short reliever he was at ODU and thought he'd be as a pro. ``I'm trying to get guys out rather than just striking them out.''
The broader approach, though, has not cut into Gomes' strikeout totals and has helped him progress. Last season at Clearwater, Gomes was 6-8 with a 4.74 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 104 innings. He gave up only 85 hits, but walked 82.
This season, Gomes through 100 innings had struck out 96 but walked just 64.
``I've gone out and looked great and terrible,'' Gomes said. ``But I've done well lately. I've been more consistent. Early in the season, I was kind of everywhere. Lately, I've pretty much been around the strike zone.''
Which is critical in Double-A, Gomes discovered.
``There sure is a big difference from A ball,'' said Gomes, who missed about six weeks of the season with a pulled muscle in his hip. ``The hitters are a little more experienced. They're not just going to swing at anything. They're going to make you earn it.
``You see a lot of guys that have been in the big leagues or are going through and will make it. You don't see too many guys filling spots out there. You have to bear down.''
After the season, Gomes will head to the Arizona Fall League to pitch for Tempe. The Phillies have told him not to expect a September promotion to the majors, but that a shot to make the big league team will come next spring.
Whether it's an audition for the bullpen or rotation doesn't matter, Gomes said. Just keep him out of the seats. Too bloody out there.
``When they drafted me they told me I was going to be a closer, but things change, I guess,'' Gomes said. ``I just want to pitch. I'm not going to be picky about how I get to the big leagues.''
LOCAL UPDATES: In the last few weeks, former ODU outfielder Kevin Gibbs was promoted from Yakima (Rookie) to Vero Beach (Class A) and is now at San Bernadino (Class A) to help during the California League playoffs. Gibbs hit stole a league-best 38 bases in 41 attempts. Gibbs has been invited to the Dodgers' Instructional League. ... First baseman Barry Miller, formerly of ODU, was used sparingly by the Phoenix Firebirds after the Giants obtained Dave McCarty in the Deion Sanders trade. Miller made just two errors and was the Firebirds' top pinch-hitter (6 for 20). ... Pitcher Ryan Casey, from Virginia Wesleyan, was inactive most of the season in Class A Rockford because of a strained elbow ligament. Casey avoided surgery, though, and was activated in mid-August. He'll go to the Cubs' Instructional League. ... Lefthander Jimmy Anderson of Chesapeake had to leave his final start at Class A Lynchburg with a sore shoulder. ... Infielder Jim Krevokuch, who played at ODU, was nagged by a pulled quadriceps in each leg over the second half of the season, when his playing time at Double-A Carolina was diminished. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Wayne Gomes
by CNB