THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 19, 1994 TAG: 9408190760
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
Tides shortstop Aaron Ledesma tried mightily to prevent another season from ending early because of his right shoulder. Ironically, his determination to prove himself durable probably contributed to the shoulder injury that is expected to sideline him for two weeks - or the rest of the season.
An examination in New York on Wednesday revealed a strained tendon in Ledesma's right rotator cuff. Though he could be available to pinch hit, the condition essentially has halted a solid rookie season in Triple-A that followed an aborted year in Double-A. Shoulder woes kept him from playing short after May 4 in 1993.
He had surgery July 20 but rebounded this season to hit .282 with three home runs and a career-high 56 RBIs, most on the team.
``I think I tried to do too much,'' Ledesma said before Thursday's game in Richmond. ``I overworked it. I probably should've been a little more cautious.''
Recently, Ledesma had begun to take pregame ground balls at second base and third base to prepare to play multiple positions for Chandler in the Arizona Fall League. However, throwing from the unaccustomed angles required of those positions probably contributed to his problem, Ledesma said.
BAD TIMING: Ledesma's absence comes at a terrible time for the Tides, who probably need to win at least four of their five games this week against the second-place Richmond Braves to have any shot at a playoff position.
Compounding that, infielder Fernando Vina missed Thursday's game with a sore ankle and is to be evaluated each day. Vina was hit by a pitch on the right ankle in his first at-bat Wednesday against Columbus.
Greg Graham will play short in place of Ledesma and Vina.
BIG LEAGUE VISITOR: Former Tides manager Mike Cubbage, the Mets' third-base coach, took in Thursday's game at The Diamond and planned to return tonight. Cubbage arrived at his Charlottesville home Wednesday after staying back in New York in case of a quick settlement to the player's strike.
``They said we were on vacation as of last Friday,'' said Cubbage, who attended with his wife, Jan. ``I'm here on my own. They invited us to go see some (minor league) games that were in our area. I'd like to see the Double-A club. I haven't seen many of those guys. I know most of these guys.''
Cubbage said he was looking forward to some time on the golf course, but he admitted he was already itching to get back to the field. ``This feels like an extended All-Star break now, but after a while you run out of things to do,'' he said. by CNB