THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 28, 1994 TAG: 9407280644
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 48 lines
It's not the big leagues, but former Tide Steve Springer could have a ticket for Taiwan in his briefcase if he so desired. He doesn't.
Springer, at Harbor Park through tonight with the Toledo Mud Hens, said he declined an offer from a Taiwanese professional team to come play from early August to mid-November.
The competition isn't on par with the Japanese major leagues, but $20,000 for three months work made him think, Springer said. Until he realized his wife and two children couldn't accompany him.
``I don't think that's worth leaving my kids for three months,'' said Springer, 33, who has a son and daughter. ``I was real excited when I first found out about it, but when you really break it down, I don't know.''
The only way he'd go now, Springer said, is if the club needs a player in September, which would reduce his time away to two months.
In the meantime, Springer is proceeding on his usual Triple-A track - approximately a .270 season with 70 RBIs and 15 home runs. Entering Wednesday's game, he was batting .270 on the nose with 61 RBIs and 10 home runs.
Such performances keep Springer, who has played the most games in Tides' history, coming back for more each year rather than accept somebody's offer to coach.
``I'm close,'' Springer said. ``I can't see playing more than another year if I don't get to the big leagues.'' He'd be content to return to Toledo, he said, ``unless Norfolk calls me'' for a seventh season as a Tide.
WHERE'S JUAN?: Righthander Juan Castillo, up from Double-A, was still with the Mets as of Wednesday, with no word as to when or to whom he'd be farmed out again.
The Tides hold out hope that he'll be sent their way, and why shouldn't he be? Castillo, 24, is 11-2 with a 2.59 ERA in Binghamton.
TONS OF RUNS: The Tides had fallen back to last in the league in batting average at .251 before Wednesday. However, they are fourth in runs scored thanks to the 11 games in which they have scored at least 10 runs.
They scored that many runs only eight times last season.
SUSPENSION UPDATE: Fans won't see outfielder Doug Dascenzo or pitcher Frank Seminara tonight against Toledo. They will be serving the second day of their two-game suspensions from the Tides' July 17 scuffle with Richmond. by CNB