THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 2, 1995 TAG: 9509020559
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
The most positive thing to emerge from a wet Friday night at Harbor Park - where the Norfolk Tides and Richmond Braves were halted by rain after three scoreless innings and a 2 1/2-hour rain delay - was the 16-pitch outing of Tides righthander Juan Acevedo.
In his first action since he pulled a rib-cage muscle Aug. 12, the touted prospect the Mets obtained for Bret Saberhagen coasted through his designated assignment, the first two innings, and reported no problems. That could make Acevedo available for relief work in the playoffs, pitching coach Bob Apodaca said.
``He had better composure, better control than I anticipated,'' Apodaca said. ``It was a very positive day for him.''
Acevedo gave up no hits, struck out one and hit one.
Friday's game will resume tonight at 6:15. It will be followed by the scheduled final game of the regular season, which will be seven innings. Fireworks will follow the games.
DROPPING IN: It was just what Brian Daubach, the Tides' new first baseman, needed after a nine-hour drive from Binghamton, N.Y. - a backup at the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel. That noted area trademark delayed Daubach's arrival at Harbor Park more than 30 minutes late Friday afternoon, but the lefthanded hitter was in the starting lineup, where manager Toby Harrah said he will remain through the playoffs.
Daubach, 23, got the surprise news on Thursday that he would replace Omar Garcia, but said he was immediately comfortable joining the Tides. He played for Tides coach Ron Washington in Class A and plenty of current Tides spent time in Double-A this season.
``I felt relaxed,'' said Daubach, who hit .245 in Double-A. Of his 10 errors, only one came after July 18. ``I'm looking at this as a great opportunity.''
PERSONNEL MOVES: For the playoffs, the Tides are slated to add infielder Jason Hardtke and pitchers Brent Knackert and Derek Wallace from Binghamton. To make roster space, reserve catcher Ben Boka will be deactivated. Trey McCoy will remain on the disabled list.
PLAYOFF READY: An annual complaint from players in the International League playoffs, especially players anticipating a September call-up, is that the postseason is something they don't need.
There is no playoff bonus money in the minors, and most players who will be called up would rather get there and make a major league salary than labor two more weeks at Triple-A rates.
Harrah said the Tides' last four games in Pawtucket, where they swept a team that needed to win to make the playoffs, showed him all he needed to see about his club's readiness.
``I look at our players and I see some guys who are excited about playing,'' Harrah said. ``That Pawtucket series, what was there to gain for us? We're playing well.''
``I think the guys sense something special about this season and want to set it apart,'' Apodaca said. ``This might be one year, maybe the only year of their career, when they're on a team that basically went wire-to-wire.''
TEAM AWARDS: Team awards voted on by the Tides were announced before Friday's game. Butch Huskey won the most valuable player, Bryan Rogers was named most valuable pitcher and Boka won most inspirational player. by CNB