ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, April 20, 1997 TAG: 9704220005
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DANIEL UTHMAN
Pulaski isn't likely to rebuild Calfee Park if the Texas Rangers won't commit to a long-term agreement to field an Appalachian League team in the town.
The Rangers won't consider a long-term agreement unless Pulaski rebuilds Calfee Park.
For this Catch-22, Pulaski could use a big mitt. One filled with cash would be nice.
Minor-league baseball will be played at historic Calfee Park this summer for the first time since 1992. The Pulaski Rangers will be the 10th team in the Appalachian League, a circuit to which Pulaski belonged for 10 seasons. Some action on the part of Southwest Virginians will be necessary for this season to be more than a one-shot deal, though.
For ordinary citizens, that means getting out of the easy chairs and off their front porches and heading through Calfee's castle-like gates en masse. For the five owners of the team and the town of Pulaski, it means showing the Rangers that what began as a short-term stay would be better in the long run.
``I'm sure if Texas says they want to stay, the town will do whatever it takes to keep them here,'' said building inspector Tom Compton, one of the team's owners.
The town has enlisted groups of people, including some in Virginia's prison system, to clean the stands, repaint throughout the park and work on light poles. The area between the foul lines needs hardly any work; Pulaski's actual playing field has been a bragging point and source of civic pride for years.
Now that pride must be turned into action. The town lost its team in 1992 to a brand new park in Danville.
There are forces at work in Charlottesville to pull Pulaski's team away in 1998. Charlottesville has a swankiness or glamour that breaks from the image of the traditional Appy League town, and if there is the promise of a new ballpark, it would be hard for the league or the Rangers to refuse.
``It's only a concern from the standpoint that new always seems better,'' said Hi Nicely, another partner in the Pulaski team.
Appalachian League president Lee Landers says he's happy so many towns in the region want to be a part of the league, but adds he is growing frustrated by talk and would like to see some action. ``Nobody has officially requested anything of the league,'' he said. No matter what happens, he wants the league to field 10 teams. Having nine in 1996 was a scheduling nightmare.
Pulaski should spend the $100,000 or more that is necessary to get Calfee Park up to the required national standards and it should spend it as soon as possible. The foundation for a wonderful facility already is in place.
If the Rangers want to leave town after this summer, so be it. There are 29 other major-league franchises who easily could be lured to a colorful, rebuilt and resurrected Calfee Park. With a ballpark that is ready and waiting, the wait wouldn't be long.
AVALANCHE UPDATE: The Avalanche has made four roster moves in the past two days. While third baseman Clint Bryant came off the disabled list and started Friday and Saturday, reliever Luis Colmenares went on the disabled list Friday with a strained muscle around his right throwing shoulder.
Right-hander Jason Dietrich, who had surrendered one run and two hits in seven innings of work, went on the disabled list Saturday with tendinitis in his right triceps. ``He was pitching real well,'' said Bill Moose McGuire, Salem's manager.
Dietrich was replaced by right-hander Scott Schroeffel, who was promoted from Asheville of the Class A South Atlantic League. Schroeffel was the Colorado Rockies' 15th-round pick in the June 1996 draft out of the University of Tennessee. At Asheville, he was 1-1 with a 7.62 earned run average and 18 strikeouts in 13 innings. McGuire said Schroeffel will serve as a sixth starter while with the Avalanche.
AROUND THE BASES: Former Ferrum College left-hander Billy Wagner was 1-0 and had gone 4-for-4 in save opportunities through Thursday for the Houston Astros. Manager Larry Dierker says Wagner has an edge over hitters because he throws somewhat across his body and his arm has a little backswing, making it difficult to see his pitches. He said Wagner's attitude also is an asset. ``He's not afraid to pitch the ninth inning,'' Dierker says. ``Some guys with good stuff don't want to pitch then. Billy's fearless.'' ...
Former Salem Buccaneer Mark Johnson is batting cleanup for the Pirates this season. Johnson played 37 games for Salem in 1991. Before that, he played first base and pitched for Dartmouth, where his coach was Mike Walsh, now Washington and Lee's athletic director. ... The Colorado Rockies have been blessed by a stable farm system since they've been in operation. Only one minor-league affiliate has moved, and that was the Bend (Ore.) Rockies moving to Portland, Ore. Problems have developed in West Haven, Conn., however, where the Rockies' Class AA team, the New Haven Ravens, share Yale Field with the Yale University baseball team. Yale has priority when it comes to practice times, which plays havoc with the schedules of some of the Rockies' top prospects. Dick Balderson, the Rockies' director of player personnel, said it isn't an issue at this point. As for Salem, the locals love the professional way the Colorado organization operates, but if the Rockies don't begin selecting some position players (read: hitters) in the early rounds of the draft, Salem might look elsewhere. ...
One of the most bizarre incidents in Carolina League history took place this past week in Durham, N.C. Wilmington Blue Rocks reliever Jose Santiago threw a baseball at a spectator Sunday at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The 30-year-old spectator was taken to the emergency room. The Bulls want Santiago banned from the park for life. ``Obviously, this is a very serious incident,'' Bulls general manager Peter Anlyan told The Associated Press. ``We're going to do everything we can to keep this young man from coming back to our ballpark.'' Carolina League president John Hopkins is investigating the incident, and a decision will be made soon. Santiago remains with the Blue Rocks, but has not been in uniform since the incident. ...
Is it any wonder that of the four National League pitchers (Carlos Perez, Dustin Hermanson, Darren Holmes and Mark Thompson) to hit home runs this season, two are Colorado Rockies? ... Speaking of pitchers who can hit, Don Robinson, the former Pittsburgh Pirates hurler and occasional pinch hitter, in 1985 was the last major-leaguer to suit up for the Prince William Cannons. This week, the Cannons had two major-leaguers on their roster: St.Louis Cardinals pitcher Andy Benes and outfielder Ray Lankford. Benes was on a rehabilitation assignment April 11 through Wednesday, and Lankford was with the Cannons from Monday through Saturday.
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