THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, May 20, 1995 TAG: 9505200496
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
It started a half-hour late because of rain, but otherwise the audition went pretty much as planned. Which means righthander Mike Birkbeck might have worked his last game for the Norfolk Tides on Friday as New York Mets executive vice president Joe McIlvaine watched with interest.
McIlvaine needs somebody to replace the swooning Jason Jacome in New York. And after his ace, Bret Saberhagen, was removed after five innings of his start Friday with shoulder stiffness, McIlvaine might need to pull up a pair of Tides if Saberhagen's problem lingers.
Birkbeck, whose start was pushed up a day at McIlvaine's request, should be the first to go. He worked the first seven innings of the Tides' 14-2 romp over the bumbling Toledo Mud Hens, who committed four errors, botched a lazy pop-up to left that fell for a single and had two men picked off on the bases.
The Tides (28-13) only made things worse for the Hens by collecting 17 hits - every starter had at least one - getting home runs by Derek Lee, John Orton and Carl Everett and scoring a season-high number of runs, nine over the last three innings.
``We're not going to take anything for granted. We kept swinging the bats,'' said Lee, whose three-run shot in the third inning was his seventh home run. ``Not trying to show anybody up, not taking extra bases or anything, but just trying to hit the ball hard.''
Lee had three hits and four RBIs, and Ryan Thompson had three more hits to make him 6 for 8 over the last two games.
``Nothing a pitcher likes better than watching the guys swing the bat well,'' said Birkbeck after improving his record to 5-2. ``Tonight they were just awesome.''
A 34-year-old journeyman with only one game in the big leagues since 1989, Birkbeck isn't flashy like some of his rotation-mates. But he is as solid and savvy as they come in Triple-A, as seen by his 33-17 record and 2.84 earned-run average compiled over the last three seasons in Richmond and Norfolk.
``He pitches with his brain,'' McIlvaine said of Birkbeck, who gave up eight hits, struck out four and walked two. He allowed only his second home run in 53 1/3 innings to Jeff Tackett in the seventh. ``He's got good makeup, good control, a lot of know-how out there.''
McIlvaine, in town through Sunday, said he wasn't ready to make a call on replacing Jacome, or perhaps even Saberhagen, until he talked with Mets manager Dallas Green and his staff. For his part, Birkbeck is staying above the muddle of speculation.
``Nobody's said anything to me about anything,'' he said. ``They said I was pitching tonight instead of Saturday, I didn't get into (why). I don't anticipate anything in this game. My hat says `T.' That's where I am.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color staff photo by Richard L. Dunston
The Tides batboy, far right, and ushers help the grounds crew roll
up the tarp after rain delayed the start of the Tides-Toledo game
Friday.
by CNB