Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 6, 1993 TAG: 9302060080
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
LITTLE THINGS MAY MAKE DIFFERENCE FOR SALEM BUCS
Just when it appeared Scott Little was to be another of those Carolina League lifers, his baseball career went westward-ho.Like a home run leaving the cozy confines of Municipal Field, Little's trip through baseball's farmland wasn't fun until May 29, 1987, the day he was traded by the New York Mets to the Pittsburgh Pirates - from Lynchburg to Salem.
The Buccaneers went on to win the Carolina pennant, their last - as Little was reminded again Friday afternoon when he was introduced as the eighth Salem manager in the past nine years.
He was in his third season with the L-Mets when he was dealt to the Bucs' system. In eight pro seasons, the Missouri resident hit 28 homers - 12 of those in his Buccaneers' year as a third baseman and outfielder. After the change of address, didn't the friendly fence distances obviously help a Little?
"Well, I did do a lot of weightlifting before that season," Little said, grinning.
Asked to compare his days in Lynchburg and Salem, Little didn't hesitate to fire the first shot of 1993 in the U.S. 460 rivalry that will be played across division lines now that the Carolina League has realigned.
"There wasn't anything great that happened to me in Lynchburg," Little said. "There are no good memories for me there. It was a good town, but I didn't get the most from my playing ability until Salem."
Little, 30, does have one fond memory of the Hill City. "My wife [Lori] and I got married there in 1985," he said.
Since Little left Salem, taking his golf clubs with him, the Bucs' swash has mostly buckled. Salem was 67 games under .500 in the past four seasons and has played nine consecutive losing half-seasons. Little isn't promising a pennant, but if he's been a good student, he should be a successful skipper.
He's picked up dugout dope from managers like Bud Harrelson, former Virginia star Mike Cubbage, his Salem skipper Steve Demeter and Pittsburgh coach Terry Collins, who managed Little's final three seasons as a player at Class AAA Buffalo.
"I'm just going to try and be fair to the players," said Little, who moves up from Augusta (Ga.) of the South Atlantic League, where the Pirates finished 67-74 in his rookie managing season. "I think it's an advantage that I just finished playing. I've been there. I played here. I know what they're going through."
Little, 30, said he "paid attention, and quite a lot" because he knew he eventually would be a coach or manager. He was realistic about his major-league chances. It was a dream that he didn't let become a nightmare. He loves baseball, but he's not consumed by it.
"If you try to live and die baseball 24 hours a day, you'll go nuts," he said.
That's why he plans to stress "little things." Yes, he said that without a trace of self-promotion.
"I know about the meal money at this level, so it's easy to sleep through breakfast and just lie or sit around all day before you come to the park," Little said. "I think you have to have something that gets you out of bed, that gets you going."
That's how Little used golf to help his baseball. Asked his handicap, the dark-haired managed replied, "My putter . . . my driver . . . " He shot a 90 this winter. However, on the same course, he carded a 70, too.
That's what Little will try to sell this season to players like outfielder John Farrell, catcher Angelo Encarnacion and shortstop Tony Womack, a Pittsylvania County native and resident. You never know when or where your best day will happen.
Little's so-called "cup of coffee" in the majors was so brief, it must have been instant. He spent 11 days in the majors in 1989. He was 0-for-1 when he entered an Aug. 6 game at three Rivers Stadium as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning.
The Pirates battled Chicago into extra innings. Little stayed in the game in right field. In the 16th, he threw out the Cubs' Mark Grace at the plate. In the bottom of the inning, he ripped a first-pitch, line drive single to left-center off Scott Sanderson.
The Pirates won in 18. Little never batted in the majors again.
"Throwing out Grace had to be my biggest thrill in baseball," Little said. "If I hadn't done that, I never would have had the chance to get the hit."
For the Bucs, there's a Little message there about making your own opportunities.