THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 13, 1995 TAG: 9507130506
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
Team meetings are rarely called by Norfolk Tides manager Toby Harrah. But Harrah bucked tradition Monday and addressed his club before its last game prior to the two-day All-Star break, which ends today when the Tides visit Richmond.
``We've seemed lackadaisical the last few games,'' Harrah said then. ``That can happen when you get a big lead like we've got. It's natural to back off a little. I just said we can't do that. We've got to stay hungry. Try to stay positive.''
Or as third base coach Ron Washington put it: ``When you're top dog, you want to show those other teams why you're top dog.''
Harrah and Co. are still waiting for some results from that pep talk. Granted, Ottawa's Kirk Rueter, who threw a two-hit shutout Monday, didn't give the Tides much chance to get cranked up. So the Tides return to action with four losses in their last six games.
Nevertheless, with 50 games to go, the Tides have the best record in the International League at 58-34. They lead the West Division by nine games over Richmond and are a virtual lock to make the playoffs for the first time since 1988.
Their pitching, with a league-best 2.83 ERA, is still a phenomenon unseen among the Tides in a number of seasons. But like any team over a 142-game season, and approaching the hottest days of summer, the Tides look as though they could use a spark.
Reinforcements arriving today might provide it. One familiar face, reliever Pete Walker, returns, andthe Tides will welcome two touted newcomers in pitcher Paul Wilson and outfielder Jay Payton.
Walker, who won four games and saved five with a 1.04 ERA before going up to the Mets on June 5, struggled to a 5.40 ERA in 13 1/3 innings in his first major league trial.
Wilson and Payton, meanwhile, presumably have come up for a quick prep in Triple-A before they take a real shot at making the Mets next spring.
Wilson, 22, is a 6-foot-5, 220-pound righthander and a former No. 1 draft pick. A star at Florida State, the Orlando native was the first player chosen last year. He worked 11 games in rookie ball and Class A without a victory, but dominated at Double-A Binghamton this season.
The starter, and loser, for the National League team in the Double-A All-Star game Monday, Wilson was 6-3 with a 2.17 ERA. Opponents hit .208 against him as he struck out 127 in 120 1/3 innings.
Wilson's first start for the Tides is scheduled for Sunday at 6:15 p.m. at Harbor Park against Richmond.
Payton, 22, is a 5-10, 185-pound righthanded hitter who was the Mets' third pick in the first round last year. Also a Double-A All-Star, Payton, from Georgia Tech by way of Zanesville, Ohio, brings a .345 average this season, and a .352 career mark, to the Tides.
``When I first saw Wilson throw I knew it was just a matter of time'' before he went up, Binghamton manager John Tamargo said.
Of Payton, Tamargo said, ``I knew Jay was going to hit, but he forced their hand. If he was hitting .290 this wouldn't have happened.
``They both deserve to go. Jay's ready, and so is Paul.''
Having seen them score only seven runs in their last four games, Harrah can only hope the rest of the Tides are ready to go, too. by CNB