Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 15, 1994 TAG: 9409150068
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Kelvin Bowles appears to hold the keys to the Carolina League's configuration in the 1995 season.
With Salem, Winston-Salem and Lynchburg all up in the air in terms of their affiliations, all eyes are on Bowles as he mulls the possibility of dumping the Pittsburgh Pirates for another suitor.
``I think it's all going to revolve around Salem,'' said a Carolina League source who requested anonymity. ``Once Salem gets settled, then I think everything else is going to fall into place.''
Why is Bowles suddenly so important? Because he's guaranteed of being in a brand new $5 million stadium come opening day 1995. Now those who would have not given a thought to moving into decrepit Municipal Field are giving Salem a second look.
``The cards are in my hand now,'' said Bowles, returning to a line he'd used before. ``And I like it.''
The Pirates don't, but there is nothing they can do until he makes up his mind. Bowles said he planned to talk to Pirates farm director Chet Montgomery this week about ``concerns'' he has about the organization that has been affiliated with Salem since 1987. The Pirates also had Salem ties in the 1970s.
One sure topic of conversation is the 13-straight losing Carolina League season halves the Salem Buccaneers extended this year. Bowles would like to have a more entertaining and engaging product, especially with the new stadium going up. He has said that better teams would mean better business at the box office.
Meanwhile, at least two other organizations are waiting in the wings to see how the talks between Bowles and the Pirates go. One is the Cincinnati Reds, whom director of player development Chief Bender has said are interested in Salem now that the Reds have become disenchanted with Winston-Salem.
``Cincinnati has talked to me,'' Bowles said. ``All I've done is listen. I wouldn't be interested in Cincinnati until I'm sure that that they want out of Winston-Salem. I've tried to put in a courtesy call to [Spirits owner] Don Beaver, but I can never get that man on the phone.''
Winston-Salem appears to want the Reds back after exploratory ventures failed to turn up a new tenant for Shore Field. But the Reds' ardor for Winston-Salem has cooled, especially with the prospect of a sparkling new facility in Salem beckoning.
The Colorado Rockies are also in the fray. Like Bender of the Reds, Rockies farm boss Dick Balderson has chatted with the owners at Lynchburg - Calvin Falwell - Winston-Salem, and Salem. The Rockies would like to move out of their Class A California League outpost at Visalia (now known as Central Valley) if suitable new digs can be found.
On the surface, it would seem mighty inconvenient to operate a Carolina League team from the Mountain time zone.
``That's really no problem,'' Balderson said. ``We already have a team at Asheville [South Atlantic League] and New Haven [Eastern League]. Besides, with the workmen's compensation laws in California, it is very expensive to have a team there.''
Bowles has no doubt of Balderson's interest.
``I think he'd like to move here,'' Bowles said. ``The question is, will he be able to convince those above him in the organization? My guess is that they're going to stay in the California League.''
Since Bowles isn't volunteering much information on who he's talked to, speculation has arisen about others besides the Reds and Rockies.
It is believed that Bowles was interested in the Los Angeles Dodgers, who would like to bolt from Bakersfield of the California League. Another rumor that was making the rounds was that the Florida Marlins may be Salem-bound. Bowles is a scout for the Marlins. However, representatives of both organizations said they would be staying with their current affiliations.
``There have been some contacts outside California, but I'm not going to get into who that was,'' Dodgers farm director Charlie Blaney said. ``But I told them that we are staying in the California League. We're a West Coast team and we have a certain amount of loyalty to the California League.''
``We've signed a two-year deal with Brevard County [of the Florida State League] and we're very happy in Kane County [of the Midwest League],'' Marlins player development director John Boles said. ``We'll be staying there.''
Meanwhile, all Lynchburg's Falwell and Winston-Salem's Beaver can do is wait on Salem. With the Boston Red Sox pulling out of Lynchburg, Falwell's concerns are particularly acute.
Keywords:
BASEBALL
by CNB