ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, July 19, 1996 TAG: 9607190030
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
SLUMPING SALEM can't wait to get back into the comfortable confines of Salem Memorial Stadium.
Traveling extensively with the same people can sometimes have an adverse effect on a relationship.
Quarters become cramped. The sight of the same faces can become monotonous. Friends' personality traits and habits that once seemed delightfully quirky can become irksome.
And when you happen to be a traveling baseball team like the Salem Avalanche that has lost seven of its last eight games, even the weather gets on your nerves.
``Everything's magnified,'' said Bill McGuire, Salem's manager. ``When you're losing, it's even hotter. It may only be 85 [degrees] but it feels like 105.''
The Avalanche has certainly melted on its 16-games-in-18-days trip. Heading into last night's game in steamy Kinston, Salem was 4-11 since hitting the road to make way for the annual Salem Fair, which ran for 12 days this month.
The Avalanche hasn't played in the spacious confines of Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium since June 30. Tonight, though, begins a seven-game homestand for the Avalanche, which entertains the Wilmington Blue Rocks for a three-game set followed by four games with the Frederick Keys.
Only the Atlanta Braves, who are currently evacuating town before the Olympics begin, will play more consecutive road games than the Avalanche.
Any words of advice from the Salem road warriors to the defending world champions?
``Nah, it can be fun at times,'' said Salem outfielder John Giudice. ``Just get used to being around the guys 24-7.''
Twenty-four-seven?
``Twenty-four hours, seven days a week,'' Giudice said.
Amazingly, the Avalanche is still hanging in the race in the Carolina League's South Division. Despite being 10-14, Salem is just two games out of a first-place spot shared by the division's other three teams.
``When you're 10-14 and only two games out, you have to hope things will get better,'' said McGuire.
The heat has really been on, a situation that is not good if you play for a team whose name is based on a cold-weather catastrophe. Literally, the Avalanche has sludged through the heat in sweltering Kinston, where the near-triple-digit temperatures prompted Salem first baseman Nate Holdren to quip, ``I think the equator goes through our locker room.''
Injuries have also been going through the Avalanche clubhouse like a sunbather goes through Hawaiian Tropic. Should a scout ask for the breakdown on a pitcher, chances are the pitcher is broken down.
Doug Walls is on the disabled list after experiencing discomfort in his surgically repaired right shoulder. Left-hander Mike Kusiewicz and right-hander Luther Hackman are on pitch counts while making comebacks from injuries.
Before Thursday's game, only once had a Salem starter pitched beyond the fifth inning in seven games. The extra workload has taken its toll on the bullpen, where even workhorse Jeff Sobkoviak has a sore arm.
``I've really been worried about our pitching,'' McGuire said. ``This trip has taken a toll on our pitchers.''
Even Giudice missed a game after getting hit on the left elbow at Prince William last week. He'll be in the lineup this weekend, although he'll probably move to right field to make way for Garrett Neubart, who comes up from the Asheville (N.C.) Tourists and will play center and bat leadoff.
The good news for the Avalanche is that 27 of its final 44 games will be played at home.
``We can't wait to get home,'' Giudice said.
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines KEYWORDS: BASEBALLby CNB