ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, March 31, 1996 TAG: 9604020004
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
PITCHING FIGURES TO BE the strong suit of the Colorado Rockies' Carolina League affiliate in Salem. Those arms may have to carry an offense that lacks proven talent.
The Carolina League ballclub the Colorado Rockies will dispatch to Salem this week will bear some striking similarities to the one that played here a year ago for two reasons.
First, the Avalanche has some players back from last year's squad, which finished fourth overall. Pitchers Doug Million, Brent Crowther and Matt Pool will be on their second go-round in Salem. So will some position players, including catcher Mike Higgins, outfielders Brian Culp and Pookie Jones and infielder Steve Bernhardt.
Another familiar face will be pitching coach Billy Champion.
Second, customers in the sparkling new (21-games-old) Salem Memorial Stadium may feel like the Avalanche is picking up where it left off after a 68-72 Carolina League maiden voyage because there hasn't been any radical change in organizational philosophy during the off-season.
In other words, the emphasis here will be on pitching and on the execution of the fundamentals.
``We're going to have some good arms here, some real good arms,'' new manager Bill McGuire said after a recent Cactus League workout at the Colorado Rockies' complex in Tucson, Ariz.
One of the best of the arms will belong to Million, the left-hander the Rockies took as their top pick in the 1994 draft. Million struggled here last year, going 5-7 with a 4.62 earned run average.
He started the season with a strained shoulder, a problem compounded by the fact he was overweight. He never really got on track.
Million reportedly hired a personal trainer during the off-season and worked out with weights, a stationary bike and a stair-climbing machine. He showed up for spring training at a sleek 204 pounds, 12 fewer than he carried a year ago.
``The most important thing for Doug right now is to have some success,'' said Dick Balderson, the Rockies' player development director. ``Young pitchers need to have an opportunity to have some success.''
Crowther, a right-hander, has had plenty of that, both at Asheville (N.C.) of the Class A South Atlantic League and Salem, where he combined for an organization-high 15 victories and six complete games last year.
Pool went 9-9 with a 4.80 ERA for Salem last year, and long reliever Jeff Sobkoviak (5-3, 4.80) also returns.
Mike Kusiewicz, who had a splendid year at Asheville last year, going 8-4 with a 2.04 ERA, will bypass Salem and head straight for New Haven (Conn.) of the Class AA Eastern League.
``He's pitched so well, we're going to give him a chance,'' Balderson said. ``He doesn't throw as hard as some guys, he just gets people out. He has that special something.''
Also returning to Salem will be steady middle reliever Scott LaRock, who will be one of the pitchers setting up closer Luis Colmenares, the organizational leader with 21 saves at Asheville. Pitchers Keith Barnes (4-5, 5.35) and Mark Brownson (2-1, 4.02) also will be back.
Hard-throwing right-hander Luther Hackman (11-11, 4.64) will be new to the rotation.
Higgins will be the veteran receiver who will help soothe a young staff.
The Rockies' top two prospects on offense, outfielder Derrick Gibson and first baseman Todd Helton, won't be coming to Salem. As a result, the offense could be iffy. Pitching and defense will have to keep the Avalanche in most games.
Shortstop Kyle Houser, who anchored the Sally League's best defense at Asheville (league-leading .971 team fielding average), will be at Salem this year. The infield will be further stabilized by Avalanche veterans Bernhardt at third and Nate Holdren (15 homers, 69 RBI) at first.
Ronnie Hall, who hit .299 with 64 runs scored and 26 steals at Asheville, will play center field.
``He's a very solid everyday player,'' McGuire said. ``He can run them down in the outfield and he has an above-average arm.''
Culp should divide his time between the outfield and designated hitter. Jones, who was hurt all last year here, has been having a strong spring.
Holdren will be carrying much of the power-hitting load again.
``We won't be hitting home run after home run here,'' McGuire said. ``But we don't want people to be trying to hit home runs. I'd rather have some .300 line-drive hitters than some .220 hitters who have some home runs.''
The team arrives in Salem on April 2 and will open the season April 5 with a three-game series against Prince William in Woodbridge. The first home game is April 8 against Wilmington.
LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: 1. DON PETERSEN/Staff A capacity crowd turned out forby CNBthe first game at Salem Memorial Stadium on Aug. 7, 1995. The
Avalanche will open its first full season in the ballpark on April 8
with a 7 p.m. game against the Wilmington Blue Rocks, the Kansas
City Royals' Class A Carolina League affiliate. color
2. ROGER HART/Staff The spacious, symmetrical dimensions of Salem
Memorial Stadium put a premium on pitching and defense, which
figure to be the Avalanche's strengths during the upcoming Carolina
League season. color KEYWORDS: BASEBALL