THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 9, 1994 TAG: 9412090771
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
The first time Bobby Valentine vacated a managerial position, he recommended that Dale Colbert ``Toby'' Harrah take his place.
Things could have worked out better back then, when Harrah managed the Texas Rangers from July through the dismal 1992 season after Valentine was fired.
A change of fortune next season would thrill both men, now that the New York Mets have hired Harrah to lead the Norfolk Tides.
This time, Valentine left after one season to manage Japan's Chiba Lotte Marines. But Valentine's praise for his ex-player and coach was just one more thing that helped nudge the Mets to return Harrah to the captain's chair, a move announced Thursday by the Tides.
``I can't say enough about Bobby,'' Harrah, 46, a four-time American League All-Star infielder, said from his home in Fort Worth, Texas. ``I believe Bobby went to bat for me, and I believe he helped me.''
Valentine, who lives near Harrah in Arlington, Texas, said Harrah drew his endorsement for his baseball-rich background, pleasant nature and potential to prosper within the disciplined framework of the Mets' minor league department.
``Knowing a little about the situation, I think it's going to be a fit like a glove,'' Valentine said. ``He's 100 percent baseball all day long. I think he's the type of guy who takes direction very well. ... With the talent they're going to have there, I think he's going to be a real good guy to have at the helm.''
Harrah still has not signed a contract, of undisclosed value, but once he does he'll be the Tides' third manager in as many seasons, following Valentine and Clint Hurdle.
He managed Triple-A Oklahoma City in 1987 and '88 before Valentine made him a coach. But after he went 32-44 as Texas' interim manager in '92, he was not rehired.
Harrah spent the last two seasons as the Rangers' Double-A and Triple-A hitting instructor. He was not re-signed, though, after the club's recent front-office shakeup - and now he's glad of it.
``It's gonna be exciting,'' said Harrah, a Sissonville, W.Va. native raised in Elgin, Ohio. He is married with four children. ``An opportunity like this is great for me because you're talking about probably one of the best organizations in baseball. I feel really comfortable with everyone I've met.''
If so, that's already a step up from his experience as interim manager. Harrah said he felt like a ``substitute teacher'' dealing with someone else's problems. Though the Rangers hoped the switch would spark a pennant run, their pitching-and defense-poor club faltered and Harrah was let go.
``I appreciated the opportunity, but the best thing to do probably was not to have taken that job,'' Harrah said. ``The thing I regret is not having had the chance to take my own team out of spring training.''
Still, Harrah played for such managers as Ted Williams, Whitey Herzog, Billy Martin and Yogi Berra in 16 seasons, and managing has remained on his mind.
``I've always had the desire to lead, but when I first got out of the big leagues I went right to Triple-A, and deep down inside I still felt I could play,'' Harrah said. ``So my mind wasn't totally committed to managing. I've learned a lot since then. I'm more hungry than ever.''
The '95 Tides expect to field major prospects such as pitchers Bill Pulsipher and Chris Roberts, infielders Edgardo Alfonzo and Rey Ordonez, and outfielder Ricky Otero. Harrah is the right guy to lead them, Tides general manager Dave Rosenfield said, because of his demeanor and teaching skills.
``He's not a real hyper guy,'' Rosenfield said. ``I think sometimes real hyper guys around young kids can put them on edge.''
Valentine, though, said Harrah has aggressive instincts that will serve him well as a manager.
``He's low-key until he gets a uniform on, then he's very aggressive,'' Valentine said. ``As a player, he loved to break up the double play.''
And as a coach, Harrah loves to stress the best things about a guy's game, said Virginia Beach's Trey McCoy, a current free agent whom Harrah coached the last two years.
``He's probably the most positive coach I've dealt with,'' McCoy said. ``He always finds something positive out of a negative. Norfolk's getting a great coach. I really believe that.'' by CNB