THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, March 30, 1996 TAG: 9603300476
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORT ST. LUCIE, FLA. LENGTH: Medium: 100 lines
Moving day has arrived at the New York Mets' minor-league complex, the moment when opening-day rosters for the Norfolk Tides and Binghamton Mets are finalized.
Trey McCoy is hoping he's given management enough reasons to let him return to Norfolk.
The outfielder/first baseman, who missed a large portion of 1995 battling two ulcers and a hiatal hernia, arrived in camp 25 pounds lighter.
McCoy, 29, is packing a trim 215 pounds onto his 6-foot-3 frame following an offseason workout program at Flex Gym off Bonney Road in Virginia Beach under the watchful eye of trainer Al Walke.
``I did two things that really helped me,'' said McCoy, the former First Colonial High and Virginia Tech standout. ``I went from bulk-weight training to a lifting program that emphasizes energy, quickness and overall shape. And I totally changed my diet, which used to consist of soda, pizza and fast food.''
Although McCoy has been collecting his share of hits this spring, he said he hadn't ``figured out if the weight difference has had any effect on my power.''
McCoy even questioned Valentine about it while in the batting cage Tuesday, moving Valentine to reply, ``Trey, home run hitting is about timing.''
So later that afternoon, McCoy took Double-A Binghamton pitcher Javier Delahoya deep out of the park to left in a scrimmage game, curbing his doubts.
``I can still play and hit,'' McCoy said. ``I feel I deserve a shot with this team. There are some younger outfielders and they're all (major-league) prospects. I've been looking at who's ahead of me and whose behind. I just hope good enough is good enough.''
McCoy's chances improved slightly Friday when outfielder Benny Agbayani was assigned to Binghamton, leaving five bona fide outfielders in the Tides camp. Whether they keep five or go with four is being debated.
BARKING UP DIFFERENT TREE: Brian Bark, a lefthanded relief pitcher who began spring training with the Boston Red Sox, is now with the Tides after asking for a release rather than accepting an assignment to Pawtucket.
So what's the difference between one Triple-A franchise and another? Apparently, pitching coach Bob Apodaca.
``There was no room for me over there once they signed Mike Stanton,'' said Bark, who in two innings against Charlotte on Wednesday gave up one hit and struck out one. ``I looked around and decided I wanted to pitch for `Dac.' He has a great knowledge for pitching and a great feel for coaching it.
``Plus, the numbers game with lefties in the Mets organization might be better for me.''
There's also a family link with the Mets.
``My dad (Jerry) played in the organization for four years (1965-68),'' the 5-foot-9, 170-pound Bark said, adding that he rubbed elbows with former Mets greats Nolan Ryan and Jerry Koosman among others during the 1969 World Series with Baltimore.
Bark grew up in Baltimore and his father had played ball with many those same Mets in the minor-league organization.
This spring training has put him in the uniforms of both his childhood favorites.
``I grew up a Red Sox fan and always wanted to play for them,'' Bark said. ``But there's a lot of Mets tradition in me too.''
CRAWFORD BACK: Joe Crawford, another lefthanded reliever, is back with the Tides after a brief stay with the Red Sox as well.
Crawford was acquired by the Red Sox as a Rule V acquisition in the offseason, meaning Boston had to pay the Mets $50,000 for his rights and keep him in Boston for the entire season or risk losing him back to the Mets.
When the Red Sox decided against keeping him in Boston, the Mets reacquired Crawford for $25,000.
There was, however, the matter of three days in limbo while he was on waivers. Any other team picking him up also would have had to keep him on the big-league roster all season.
The 6-3, 225-pound Crawford used the time to relax.
``You can't stress out, it doesn't do you any good,'' said Crawford, who was waived last Friday and picked back up on Tuesday. ``So I got in two rounds of golf and went fishing in a canal that ran behind where I was staying.''
Crawford may be asked to make some spot starts for the Tides, who have only four true starters at this time - Rick Reed, Mike Gardiner, Mike Fyhrie and Pat Ahearne.
The Tides, however, could get a fifth starter if righthander Juan Acevedo is send down by the Mets. Acevedo was acquired from the Colorado Rockies last year in the deal for Brett Saberhagen.
NOTES: The Tides on Friday added righthanded reliever Rick Trlicek, a free-agent signee who pitched last year for Phoenix in the San Francisco Giants organization. . . . Norfolk closes out its preseason slate today against the Richmond Braves at West Palm Beach. Mets pitcher Dave Mlicki will start for the Tides, getting a final spring training run before flying North Saturday night to join the Mets. . . . Tickets are on sale today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Harbor Park for the Tides' season opener Thursday against Toledo. Ticket box office hours during the week are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ILLUSTRATION: L. TODD SPENCER
Trey McCoy, right, practices base-running signs, with some help from
Tides manager Bobby Valentine at training camp in Port St. Lucie,
Fla.
by CNB