THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 16, 1995 TAG: 9504160183
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
Unlike some organizations, the Mets say they have no plans to ship Triple-A players south to play in major league exhibition games and battle head-to-head for opening-day jobs. But Mets minor league director Steve Phillips claims the club is keeping a close eye on the Tides and says that one or more current Norfolk players could be with the Mets when they start their season April 26 in Colorado.
``There are guys here who were going to be able to compete for major league jobs in spring training,'' Phillips said.
``They're still in the mix. We felt it was better for them to go to Triple-A and play nine innings and get their at-bats, as opposed to maybe playing three innings down (in Florida).''
At the top of that list figures to be outfielder Chris Jones, a potent righthanded bat, and pitcher Mike Birkbeck, probably in the running to be the Mets' fifth starter. Both veterans are off to fine starts; Jones leads the Tides in hitting at .370 and Birkbeck has not yielded an earned run in 13 innings.
Until the Mets signed centerfielder Brett Butler last week, their outfield was particularly wide open. But Butler's addition probably means tickets to Norfolk for youngsters Ricky Otero and Carl Everett and also chokes off a big league vacancy.
The Mets appear set to go with David Segui, Butler, Ryan Thompson and Joe Orsulak as their top four outfielders. Jim Lindeman, Tito Navarro and Rule 5-draft pickup Kevin Northrup are still in the hunt for backup jobs. It could be only one spot is available for a Triple-A outfielder, and that might be only until the roster is trimmed from 28 to 25 on May 15.
``I knew they'd pick up another outfielder in the free-agent frenzy,'' Jones said. ``I would assume, without having heard anything, that they're looking at players down there. It just depends on what they're going to use off the bench.''
Mets manager Dallas Green will decide who among Jones, a righthander with speed and power, leftfielder Derek Lee, a powerful lefthanded hitter, or swift centerfielder Jarvis Brown, considered the best defensive player, best suits his needs.
Lee, for one, has mixed feelings about being away from the action as Green picks his team in Port St. Lucie.
``If you knew you had a legitimate chance playing here to make the team, then yeah, maybe I'd rather be here,'' Lee said. But ultimately, Lee said, ``I'd much rather be a fourth or fifth outfielder, coming off the bench as a pinch-hitter, there than be a superstar in Triple-A.''
LARGE ROSTER COULD LAST: A May 15 deadline has been set for reducing major league rosters, but there has been no indication if Triple-A rosters will be cut from 25 to their normal 23. Phillips said the expanded roster could last all season, in part because of guarantees of jobs some clubs made with minor leaguers to get them to play in major league replacement games.
HEY ED! YEAH, YOU: Rochester has an infielder from Venezuela named Edgar Alfonzo. In little more than a week, the Tides will probably get his younger brother from the Mets, an infielder named Edgardo Alfonzo.
What gives?
``They're different,'' Edgar said. ``His name is Edgar-do. I'm Ed-gar.''
OK.
Still, Alfonzo said both are called Ed and Eddie, and that each other's pictures and statistics have been known to appear with the wrong name.
``Yeah,'' Edgar said, ``they don't know what to do sometimes.''
NOTEWORTHY: Tides president Ken Young, who admits to at least mild interest in buying the Hampton Roads Admirals hockey team, said he is repeatedly asked his interest in selling the Tides. ``I always say it's a long-term situation for me,'' Young said. ``I don't encourage offers, so I don't really get them. A lot of people buy and sell franchises to get a quick return. But I can see owning (the Tides) for 15 years.'' ... Former Tides radio announcer Ken Levine, the Hollywood writer, has landed a spot in the San Diego Padres' booth this season. ... The Tides started Saturday with a 6-2 record, the first time they have been four games above .500 since Aug. 29, 1993. by CNB