THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 12, 1996 TAG: 9605120017
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines
It's probably a good thing the leftfield wall at Harbor Park is well padded, because the Norfolk Tides' newest acquisition, Andy Tomberlin, has been known to run into one or two.
Two years ago while playing for the Boston Red Sox, Tomberlin provided ESPN with one of those highlights that make viewers flinch.
While chasing a Kirk Gibson fly ball, Tomberlin plowed into the leftfield fence at Tiger Stadium.
``Knocked myself out and needed seven stitches in my head,'' Tomberlin said. ``I've always gone hard after balls. I don't know any other way.''
Tomberlin, 29, who broke into the major leagues with Pittsburgh in 1993, played half of last season with the Oakland A's before a stress fracture in his back shut him down for the last two months.
Asked how he injured his back, Tomberlin said, ``I thought about it and figured there could have been seven or eight ways it could have happened.''
In the offseason, Tomberlin re-signed with Oakland as a free agent, but lost out to Matt Stairs in spring training and was sent to Edmonton in the Pacific Coast League.
``I actually talked with the (New York) Mets before signing with the A's and New York offered more money,'' Tomberlin said. ``But Oakland offered a chance to compete for the position. They told me it was my position to lose. Unfortunately I lost it.''
Tomberlin asked the A's to eventually move him if he didn't make the big-league squad coming out of spring training. Oakland's loss has been Norfolk's gain: Through eight games heading into Saturday night, Tomberlin was hitting .406.
THE WALLACE WAY: Derek Wallace has pitched just 20 1/3 innings this season, but they've been timely innings as the Tides reliever has picked up four victories and no losses.
``It's not by design,'' Tides manager Bobby Valentine said. ``It just happens he's come into games where we were down a run or tied and we've gotten him some runs that have won games.''
Wallace, 24, is the youngest pitcher on the Tides' roster and doesn't consider himself a possibility for a call-up to the Mets any time soon, even though he's carrying a team-best earned run average of 0.89 and has struck out 18 while walking four.
``I had this good a stretch once before when I was pitching winter ball in Venezuela two years ago,'' Wallace said. ``I'm just spotting my pitches well right now. But I'm not expecting a call-up. I expect to be here all season.''
Wallace has been in three organizations in his brief pro career. After winning an NCAA championship at Pepperdine in 1992, Wallace was drafted by the Cubs in the first round of the 1992 draft, then was traded to Kansas City, then to the Mets last summer.
Wallace, whose minor-league record is 20-28, floundered as a starter before moving to the bullpen exclusively two years ago.
``I don't have a really good changeup, so it helps to come out of the bullpen, that way I only have to face a hitter once,'' Wallace said. ``I don't usually see a lineup more than once.''
Wallace's longest stint this season has been three innings.
WES WOWS 'EM: Were it not for 10 Syracuse rainouts, the Chiefs' Wes Chamberlin might have already wiped out the International League with that tidal wave that's doubling as his swing.
Chamberlin is second in hitting at .400 (Columbus' Matt Howard is hitting in runs batted in with 28 (Hiatt has 35), second in hits with 36 (Norfolk's Alex Ochoa has 39) and second in on-base percentage at .461 (Howard is at
Chamberlin is, however, leading the IL in slugging percentage at .700. He showed off his power Friday night with a shot into the picnic area beyond Harbor Park's leftfield fence.
Makes one wonder why he hasn't joined Toronto yet.
Chamberlin has no answer for that question.
``I'm just going to do what I can to help this club win,'' Chamberlin said. ``If that means batting .450. If that means batting .500. Whatever it takes. I've been feeling good ever since we left spring training.''
POSTER CHILD: The Tides will give away posters of pitcher Rick Reed to the first 5,000 on hand for today's Mother's Day Special. Gates open at noon. Game time is 1:15 p.m. It is the second of eight posters the Tides will distribute during the season. by CNB