Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 8, 1990 TAG: 9004080023
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BY JOHN SMALLWOOD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Twelve of the 24 players on the Bucs roster spent all or most of the season playing for Cliburn with the Augusta (Ga.) Pirates, who won the championship of the Class A South Atlantic League.
"I'm very satisfied with this club," Cliburn said. "I know these guys. I know their strengths and weaknesses. A lot of them were with me last year, so they know what a championship is all about and how to win one."
Besides new faces, Cliburn said Bucs' fans can expect "a very aggressive and fundamentally sound team. I'm a true believer that, to win championships, you have to do the little things right. These guys are enthusiastic and aggressive. They play that way because that's how I manage."
Last year, his first season as a manager, Cliburn led Augusta to a 44-28 finish in the first half. The Pirates were fourth in the second half with a 33-39 mark, but beat Charleston in the opening playoff series. Then they defeated the Gastonia Rangers in four games for the SAL championship.
"We were an underdog to win the South Atlantic last year," said Cliburn, who spent much of the summer playing in the Senior Professional League. "But if you're a little less talented, you have to do something out of the ordinary - and that's sweat and hard work. Championships don't come easy, you have to work for them. There not handed out on a silver platter."
Cliburn said the "winning attitude" already has started in spring training.
"We've been here [Pirate City in Bradenton, Fla.] five weeks," Cliburn said. "We'll be the last club to break camp, and everybody is ready to go. The electricity is in the air. We're ready to play some real games."
Although most of the players will be new to Salem, there will be a few familiar faces.
Outfielders Darwin Pennye and Domingo Merejo were starters for most of last season with the Bucs, and Greg Sims ended the season in Salem. Joining them in the outfield is Chris Estep, who had 11 home runs and 58 RBI in Augusta.
Shortstop Mike Huyler started in Augusta but finished in Salem, playing in the Bucs' last 44 games. Huyler, who didn't have a home run in 82 games in Augusta, hit two dingers in his debut at Municipal Field.
Second baseman Bruce Schreiber will skip over Augusta and move to Salem from Princeton of the Appalachian (Rookie) League. Cliburn said Schreiber, who hit .348 in the Appy league, has been the Bucs' best hitter in spring training.
First baseman Ben Shelton, third baseman Flavio Williams and utility infielders Robert Bailey and Glen McNabb spent 1989 in Augusta.
Designated hitter Keith Raisanen is making his second stop in Salem. In 1988, Raisanen hit .247 with five homers and 23 RBI in 49 games. He spent last season in Augusta, where he led the Pirates with 15 home runs and 92 RBI.
"We're going to score some runs," Cliburn said. "We'll be exciting."
The No. 1 catcher will be Armando Romero, who moves up from Augusta. Timothy Hines and Caraballo Nelson are the other catchers.
The pitching staff will be headed by right-hander Steve Buckholz, whom Cliburn has penciled in as the opening-night starter. Buckholz was 9-4 in Augusta with a 2.57 ERA before being called up to Salem. In five starts with the Bucs, he was 2-3.
Right-handers Paul Miller, Chip Duncan and Butch Schlopy return to Salem. Miller and Schlopy will be part of the five-man starting rotation and Schlopy will throw middle relief.
The other starters will be left-hander John Latham and right-hander Tim Wakefield. Both pitched last year at Welland in the New York-Penn League.
Hard-throwing right-hander Jeff Neely, who was 10-8 with 19 saves and a 1.22 ERA in Augusta, will be the closer. Tim McDowell, Thomas Deller and Antonio Felix, round out the staff.
Most Bucs' fans will recognize pitching coach Chris Lein, who was with the Bucs in 1987-88. His presence should help the staff adjust to Municipal Field, which sometimes resembles a driving range more than a baseball park.
"That's our home ball park and we've got to pitch accordingly," Cliburn said. "Sure, you'll give up some cheap homers, but that's all part of the game. Every pitcher has a game plan, and the key is to stay to it. Chris has been here before and knows how to handle this park. He'll teach them to not let the short porch in left distract them."
Cliburn also said he feels confident the Bucs' roster will be more stable this season. Unlike last year, when it players were coming and going daily.
"I think the new front-office staff in Pittsburgh - [general manager for baseball operations] Larry Doughty and [director of minor-league operations] Chuck LaMar - are committed to letting a guy stay in one place if he is having a successful year. I think the only way they'll change that is if there is an injury at a higher level and somebody's got to move up.
"But I think Pittsburgh's farm system is good as the other teams. The people [in Salem] are going to see good, quality baseball all year."
\ BUCSHOTS: Cliburn will be one of five new managers in the Carolina League. At Prince William, Gary Denbo replaces Stump Merrill. Denbo managed the Greensboro Hornets (Cincinnati) of the South Atlantic League in 1989. Brian Graham replaces Ken Bolek at Kinston, Wally Moon replaces Jerry Naron at Frederick and Jim Nettles is at Peninsula. . . . Buccaneers ticket prices will remain the same for the sixth straight season. Box seats are $3.50, reserved seats $3.00 and general admission $2.50. Senior citizens and children get a dollar off the regular ticket price. . . . Where are they now? Pitcher Scott Ruskin made the biggest jump of last year's Bucs, making it with the big club in Pittsburgh. Starting the year with the Class AA Harrisburg Senators: outfielder Moises Alou; infielders Carlos Garcia, John Wehner, Terry Crowley, Junior Vizcaino and Jeff Osborne, and pitchers Joe Ausanio, Randy Tomlin and Joe Pacholec. Pitching coach Spin Williams is also in Harrisburg. Former Salem manager Rocky Bridges will be a traveling infield instructor for the Pirates. . . . Salem will have a different look on the road. Following the pattern of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Bucs will wear gray uniforms with black-and-gold trim. The word Salem will be written across the chest in script lettering, replacing the team logo.
by CNB