THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 13, 1995 TAG: 9508130805
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
Pete Walker is working on a career-high ERA this season with the Norfolk Tides, which is hardly what he or the New York Mets had in mind for the promising relief specialist.
At 4.59 before Saturday's game in Richmond, Walker especially has stuggled since he returned from a five-week stint in the big leagues July 13. And that's not including the day two weeks ago at Harbor Park that a lingering illness and oppressive heat left him dehydrated and forced an overnight hospital stay.
He has designs on the closer's job in the Mets' bullpen, but Walker's first look at the majors did not go well. He appeared in 10 games for 13 1/3 innings and wound up with a 5.40 ERA.
``It wasn't a lack of confidence,'' said Walker, noting his sparse use and a mechanical problem that hurt his slider. ``It was a combination of bad luck and bad pitches. That's frustrating.''
The rocky audition might have hurt his stock with the Mets, and if so, Walker can understand that to a point.
``When they bring you up to pitch in the big leagues, they expect you to do the job,'' he said. ``If they don't think I'm capable of doing it, that's up to them to decide. I know I'll pitch in the big leagues. I know I have a major league arm.''
Still, Walker gave up 10 hits and seven runs in 4 2/3 innings of a spot start Monday and is still searching for the efficiency level he was at before he was called up.
``When I was here (earlier), everything was right where I wanted it to be,'' Walker said. ``Once I get on a roll again, I'm going to be fine.''
ORDONEZ WATCH: Shortstop Rey Ordonez still hasn't returned from his stay in Miami to visit his wife, who gave birth earlier in the week. Tides manager Toby Harrah now says that Ordonez, a Cuban defector who missed his fifth consecutive game Saturday, is taking care of some immigration paperwork that will allow him to leave and re-enter the country.
DIAMOND DIRT: Richmond's infield grass is chewed up worse than Harbor Park's was earlier this season.
Part of the reason is nematodes - microscopic worms that go after the roots of turfgrasses.
There is some suspicion improper sand is a culprit as well, so an analysis crew from Virginia Tech came in last week to do studies. Either way, the speckled field, part of which has been resodded, looks worse than your average high school field.
LITTLE TO THE RAYS? Richmond manager Grady Little is close with Chuck LaMar, the former Braves minor league director who recently became general manager of the expansion Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Which could result in Little, a minor league manager for Atlanta since 1980 and last year's IL manager of the year, getting a crack at that managerial position.
``I've never actively pursued a (big league) job,'' Little said. ``I figured if one day somebody wants to give me opportunity, they know where I'm at and they know what I can do.''
It's noble strategy, but Little admits, ``Yeah, but I've been managing in the minor leagues for 16 years, too.''
MINORS STUFF: Paul Wilson's 13 strikeouts Friday improved his total for the season to 179, the most in the minor leagues. Wilson also is tied among all minor leaguers for the most strikeouts in a game this season, 17, which he accomplished in eight innings in May pitching for Double-A Binghamton. . . . Second baseman Jason Hardtke, who began the season with the Tides before being sent to Binghamton, leads the minors with 40 doubles. . . . The Tides are the biggest reason the Mets had the fifth-winningest system, 336-280 (.548) through Aug. 10. The Reds' teams, at 324-248 (.566) were first. by CNB