ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, May 5, 1996 TAG: 9605070003
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-5 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: BASEBALL
SOURCE: RAY COX
According to ancient baseball wisdom, among the most grievous of sins is the act of looking ahead, of not paying close enough attention to the present, of failing to ``take them one game at a time.''
That applies to the guys in the dugouts, though. The rest of us have no such constraints.
That said, a compelling early-season series looms this week when Salem invades Durham for a three-game set starting Friday.
The teams have traded first place in the Carolina League's Southern Division several times in the past week and more could be in store when they go toe-to-toe for the first time. That is, provided one or the other doesn't fall flat earlier in the week as Salem entertains Prince William and Durham plays host to Frederick in matching four-game sets.
The Avalanche-Bulls series could boil down to Salem's tenacious starting pitching vs. the Bulls' powerful middle of the order. The Durham trio of Andruw Jones, Ron Wright and Wes Helms is prospect central.
Jones, a pure center fielder, is considered by many to be the top budding talent in the low minors.
``He's not just one-dimensional,'' said Randy Ingle, the Durham manager. ``He can hit, he can throw, he can run, and let me tell you, he's a pleasure to watch roam center field. He can really go get it.''
Jones has opposing pitching staffs so intimidated that he's seeing a steady flow of breaking balls. For a 19-year-old, his discipline has been a marvel, though. In April alone, he drew 26 walks.
Wright, a first baseman, was leading the league with nine homers and 27 runs batted in. Third baseman Helms has been the Bulls' most consistent hitter, with a .333 average, seven homers and 25 runs batted in through Wednesday.
The Bulls have pitched well, too, especially left-handed Australian Damian Moss (3-0, 1.26 ERA, 31 strikeouts and nine walks in 29 innings) and right-hander John LeRoy (3-0, 1.29, 24 strikeouts and nine walks in 28 innings). Durham veteran Micah Bowie had 38 strikeouts at the end of the week, and lefty Derrin Ebert led the South Atlantic League in whiffs last year with Macon.
For his part, Ingle hasn't lost any of the gamesmanship he's been noted for since his days managing the old Pulaski Braves of the Appalachian League.
``Everybody's talking about Durham, but shoot, look at Salem,'' he said. ``They seem to me like they've got the team to beat.''
NO HOMECOMING: Jon Farrell of the Lynchburg Hillcats never made it back to Salem for the weekend. If he had, the former Salem Buccaneer (1993-94) probably wouldn't have recognized the place.
Palatial Salem Memorial Stadium has replaced his old working quarters at Municipal Field.
The former first-round draft choice of the Pittsburgh Pirates (1991) didn't get to see the new facility because he was promoted Friday to Carolina of the Class AA Southern League.
Despite a case of chronic bronchitis that had lingered since before the season began and had rendered him all but mute, Farrell was hitting a league-leading .365 with 27 hits and a team-leading 19 walks through Thursday. He had reached base safely in every single one of the 23 games in which he'd played.
AVALANCHE ALUMS: Former Avalanche manager Bill Hayes had the Class AA New Haven Ravens off to an 8-9 start through Wednesday with several of his former Salem players offering some startling contributions.
Center fielder Edgard Velasquez was leading the team with a .348 batting average, eight homers, 19 RBI and 16 runs. Right-hander Jamey Wright was 4-0 with a 0.00 ERA, 33 strikeouts and only five walks in 252/3 innings. Mike Saipe was 2-0 with a 4.34 ERA. Keith Grunewald was hitting .306. Chris Sexton was hitting .200, but led the team with 18 walks.
As for the most celebrated (along with Wright and Velasquez) of the Ravens' prospects, first baseman Todd Helton was hitting .303, but outfielder Derrick Gibson was hitting .221 with two homers and 10 RBI to go with 17 strikeouts in 68 at bats.
LENGTH: Medium: 76 linesby CNB