
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, June 14, 1994                    TAG: 9406140526 
SECTION: SPORTS                     PAGE: C2    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: 940614                                 LENGTH: Medium

VALENTINE PREDICTS TIDES WILL FINISH UP WITH WINNING RECORD

{LEAD} Athletes often claim they'd rather get beaten badly than lose a one-run game. Something to do with the frustration of coming close before falling short. Tides manager Bobby Valentine isn't so sure, though he's had plenty of opportunity this season to test the theory.

The Tides dragged a dismal 4-15 record in one-run decisions and a 27-36 overall record into Monday's game, but Valentine said that hasn't added to his aggravation factor. Nor, he said, should it be a reflection on the Tides' outlook the rest of the way.

{REST} ``What usually happens in the true one-run game, the game you play, 2-2, and somebody wins in the ninth inning, is usually a matter of luck,'' Valentine said. ``It's usually a break that happens late in the game. ... and those things even out.''

Valentine insisted that good teams don't necessarily win one-run games or vice-versa.

``I've seen where the last-place team in the league won more one-run games than the first-place team, because of what happens in that one inning,'' he said. ``I like good effort, and a lot of our one-run games we've had good effort.

``I think the frustration thing that people talk isn't necessarily my frustration. I think with more than half a season to go things are still going to be fine with the team. I think we're going to have a winning record.''

MANTO'S STILL WAITING: Since he was traded from the Tides to Rochester on May 19, Jeff Manto has seen the birth of his first child, Gabrielle, but he's still not certain that he'll see greater opportunity with the Orioles than he did with the Mets. After trying to sign him for two years, the Mets kept Manto, annually one of Triple-A's best hitters, a month with the Tides and by-passed him for a promotion to New York.

An infielder, Manto said he welcomed the trade, and believes the Mets were looking out for his best interests by dealing him. But he'll reserve judgment on whether it was a good career move until he sees if he goes up when the first chance arises.

``If it's going to be the same thing, just playing Triple-A, I'd rather play (in Norfolk) than Rochester,'' said Manto, who is hitting .288 with six home runs and 21 RBIs for the Red Wings.

PHANATIC ATTACK: The Phillie Phanatic will entertain tonight when the Tides play Rochester again at 7:15.

Dave Telgheder (3-4, 5.19) will pitch for the Tides vs. Kevin McGehee (1-5, 5.54).

by CNB