THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 13, 1994 TAG: 9407130562
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
They're going to flash a batting average on the television screen beside Quilvio Veras' name tonight, and it's not going to be good. Viewers of the Triple-A All-Star game, to be played in Nashville, Tenn. (8:30 p.m., HTS), are probably going to wonder who Veras is and why he is in the starting lineup for the National League affiliates.
They'll have to go on history, on faith that the Norfolk Tides' 23-year-old second baseman is better than a .258 hitter. Veras' resume has all-star written all over it, even more so now that he's been either a midseason or postseason all-star at every professional level.
Still, he was admittedly sheepish that he was the only Tide named to the team, and that was two weeks ago when he was hitting .271, 49 points below his career minor-league average. That he has sunk into the .250s because of a 4-for-30 start in July doesn't change the fact that he is starting because of the support he pulled from the International League coaches and media.
``The difference in this league is the defense,'' said Veras, a fifth-year pro from Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. ``The manager moves the players where you hit. They're waiting for you where you hit the ball.''
Apparently, the defense against Veras, a switch-hitter, is better at Harbor Park. For some reason, the Tides' leadoff man is batting just .228 (31-for-136) at home, the second-worst mark among Tides' regulars. He is batting .280 on the road.
Also glaring is the contrast between Veras' numbers as a righthanded hitter vs. lefthanded. Righthanded, Veras has 26 hits in 76 at-bats, a .342 average. Lefthanded, Veras is 56 for 242, a .231 average.
Naturally, his on-base percentage has suffered. He led his league the past two seasons with percentages well above .400, but this season Veras has reached base about 33 percent of the time.
``You have to play every aspect - defense, offense, not just hitting,'' Veras said. ``Sometimes you have to move the runner. To play fundamental baseball is more important, I think.''
Veras has made just eight errors and has turned more double plays than any other International League second baseman. And when he gets on, Veras is one of most prolific, but vulnerable, base-stealers in the league.
He has stolen 21 bases, but that's on pace for his lowest full-season total. Veras led the Class-A South Atlantic League with 66 stolen bases in 1992, then was second in the Double-A Eastern League with 52 steals last season.
But he gets caught a lot, too. He led each of his last two leagues in being thrown out - 33 times in '92, 23 last year - and has been caught 10 times this season.
It all comes down to Veras, who has played much of the season with a shoulder injury that could require offseason surgery, being a surprise all-star selection on merit, but not on reputation.
In spring training, Tides manager Bobby Valentine had high anticipation and expectations for Veras. Valentine saw him as the Tides' shrewdest and perhaps most talented player.
``If he takes another step in his progress, if his defense improves some and his offense improves some, he is a major league leadoff hitter and second baseman for a very long time,'' Valentine said then.
As part of the television crew for the All-Star game, Valentine will be in the broadcast booth tonight to explain to viewers how and why he believes that is so.
Depending on Veras' performance, they might just have to take Valentine's word for it. ILLUSTRATION: FILE PHOTO
With a bit of seasoning, Quilvio Veras ``is a major league leadoff
hitter and second baseman,'' Tides manager Bobby Valentine says.
by CNB