THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 2, 1995 TAG: 9508020587
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
Durham, Greensboro, Winston-Salem and Bowie, Md., are among nine cities that have applied for expansion Triple-A franchises, says Norfolk Tides general manager Dave Rosenfield, who is on the expansion committee.
The committee, which will award two franchises next summer, also has preliminary applications from Birmingham, Ala.; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Portland, Ore.; Spokane, Wash; and Sacramento, Calif.
Whether the teams will locate in the Pacific Coast League, the American Association or the International League depends in part on their location. The three North Carolina cities and Bowie would move into the IL.
Buffalo might also move to the IL from the American Association, depending on which expansion teams go where.
That's a move favored by the IL because of the team's spacious stadium, its large following and its proximity to Rochester, Ottawa and Syracuse.
``The people in Buffalo have said they would not necessarily be opposed to coming into this league,'' Rosenfield said.
Rosenfield also is intrigued by the idea of the IL moving to Durham, which is an ideal rival for Richmond, Charlotte and Norfolk.
``Durham's a fine city located in a good market, and they have a new ballpark,'' he said.
The decision on expansion might coincide with a decision to renew limited inter-league play between the three Triple-A leagues, Rosenfield said.
NO-SHOW: Righthanded pitcher Juan Acevedo would be scheduled to start for the Tides on Thursday at Toledo if he were with the team.
Acevedo was one of two minor league players acquired by the Mets from the Colorado Rockies for Bret Saberhagen late Monday.
The Mets replaced Saberhagen by calling up Reid Cornelius from Norfolk and assigning Acevedo to the Tides.
However, Acevedo reported to New York on Tuesday after complaining of arm trouble.
He will be examined in New York, and treated if necessary, before being shipped to Norfolk. There's no word on how long that will take.
Acevedo was 17-6 last year for New Haven, the Rockies' Double-A affiliate. He was 4-6 with Colorado earlier this season before being sent to Triple-A Colorado Springs.
Mets general manager Joe McIlvaine said Acevedo needs seasoning before pitching at Shea Stadium.
``They rushed him up from Double-A,'' McIlvaine said of the Rockies. ``We've often been accused of bringing players up too slowly, that was a case of bringing a guy up too quickly.
``This, obviously, is a deal looking to the future. We feel he has a chance to be a good major leaguer.''
No word yet on who will replace Cornelius in the Tides' rotation if Acevedo's arm requires extensive treatment.
NORFOLK O's: With the addition of outfielders Alex Ochoa (from Rochester) and Ricky Otero (Mets), the Tides have five players whose names begin with O. Others include pitcher Al Osuna, catcher John Orton and shortstop Rey Ordonez. by CNB