THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 12, 1995 TAG: 9508120191
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
The Tides' acquisition of veteran catcher John Orton on May 1 seemed the usual strategy of nabbing a proven receiver to be a big league backup should a front-line guy get hurt.
Well, the Mets' Todd Hundley and Kelly Stinnett have gone down at various times this season, but Orton has never left Norfolk. Instead, Tides starter Alberto Castillo, 25, has gotten the call, mostly to sit on the bench in New York.
Orton, 29, with parts of five seasons with the California Angels on his resume, would be the more traditional choice to play that role. That's what he believed when he arrived from the Richmond Braves for a player to be named.
``They said there would be a good chance I'd go up,'' Orton said. ``But I can understand them going with a young guy, see what he can do up there. He's done the job here. I'm kind of surprised he's not playing more now.''
Rather than pout, though, Orton has proven to be the good pro and has exceeded expectations, at least offensively, as a starter. Orton entered this season as a .200 major league hitter, and with only a .225 career minor league mark. But he carried a nine-game hitting streak, during which he hit .367, and a .285 average as a Tide into Friday's game.
Including his 50 at-bats with Richmond, Orton is at .260 for the season.
``I'm just trying to hit up the middle, taking a two-strike attitude every pitch,'' said Orton, who is enjoying his longest extended time as a starter in a few years. ``I'm not really driving the ball, I'm not too much of a power hitter. I'm staying within myself at the plate.''
Castillo is due back with the Tides when Hundley returns to the Mets, which will relegate Orton to the reserve corps again. Until then, Orton said he's pleased to be ``playing right now for next year. Hopefully there's some scouts in the stands.''
PITCHING CHANGE: Richmond's scheduled starter Friday, Matt Murray, was called up to Atlanta earlier in the day when Steve Bedrosian retired. Murray was one of the International League's top pitchers with a 10-3 record and 2.78 ERA.
Chris Seelbach rejoined the Braves from Double-A Greenville and started Friday.
NO REY: Tides shortstop Rey Ordonez did not return to the team Friday as was expected. Ordonez left Tuesday for Miami to be with his wife, who gave birth to a daughter. Tides manager Toby Harrah and general manager Dave Rosenfield said they had not been notified as to why Ordonez wasn't back. by CNB