THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 23, 1995 TAG: 9508230631
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
The Tides can win the first round of the Governors' Cup playoffs at Harbor Park. But if they are to capture their first Cup since 1985, they'll have to do it on the road.
For the Tides, the first five-game series in the International League's playoffs begins Labor Day, Sept. 4, at the home of the runner-up in the West Division. Two games will be played there, with Game 3 at Harbor Park scheduled for Sept. 6. Games will be played as needed on Thursday and Friday in Norfolk, where the Tides are 43-23.
The final series, also a best-of-five, begins Saturday, Sept. 9, at the home of the West Division champion. Games, then, would be at Harbor Park on Saturday at 7:15 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 10, at 6:15 p.m. After an off-day Monday, the final three games would be at the home of the East winner, with Game 5 slated for Thursday, Sept. 14.
The league has played for the Governors' Cup since the early 1930s. Back then, it was a trophy that was signed by the governors of every state and Canadian province in which there was an International League team.
A new cup unsigned by the governors - the old cup is at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. - was produced in the late '80s. The Tides' last crack at it came in 1988. That team, without Gregg Jefferies, who had been promoted to the Mets in late August, lost to the Rochester Red Wings in four games.
NEVER BEEN CLOSER: The International League released a memo Tuesday that called this year's division races the closest in the league's 112 seasons. Eight of 10 teams, including the Tides, had a shot at the playoffs as Tuesday began.
In fact, the league scrambled to set up a provision for an unprecedented three-way tie for first or second that could occur in the East between Rochester, Ottawa and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
In a first-place tie, Ottawa, because it has won both its season series with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Rochester, would host the two-day tie-breaker. A lottery would decide who would play in the first game Sept. 3. The first-game winner would play the third team on the same day.
That winner would advance to the playoffs. Both losers would then play for second place and the final playoff spot.
East leader Pawtucket cannot tie for first or second place because it will play one fewer game than the other three contenders. The Red Sox lost a game to a rainout that will not be made up.
JUGGLING THE ROTATION: Tides pitching coach Bob Apodaca has begun to align his starting rotation for the playoffs, but the process mostly involves making sure ace Paul Wilson is ready to go for Game 1 on Sept. 4.
The rest of the rotation is on schedule, but it took some figuring to set up Wilson correctly. Apodaca said Wilson will make his next two starts, but will be limited to four or five innings in his next start Aug. 27. He'll come back for his next start Sept. 1 but only throw 30 to 40 pitches.
That, Apodaca said, should allow Wilson to be at full strength to start the playoff opener on the 4th.
If the first series goes to a Game 5, Apodaca said Wilson more than likely would get the start on three days rest, thus bumping lefthander Chris Roberts. ILLUSTRATION: BOXSCORE
STANDINGS
STATISTICS
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by CNB