THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 6, 1996 TAG: 9607060510
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 66 lines
The 10-team International League could add franchises in Durham, N.C., and Bowie, Md., by 1998, when major league baseball expands.
``Those are the two active locations Triple-A baseball is in discussion with concerning expansion,'' IL president Randy Mobley said Friday.
Durham already has entered into a working agreement with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, contingent on its being granted one of the two Triple-A franchises.
That was a natural fit: Tampa Bay general manager Chuck Lamar formerly was assistant general manager of the Atlanta Braves, and Durham is home to a Class A affiliate of the Braves.
Nothing is set for the majors' other expansion franchise, the Arizona Diamondbacks.
As for which major league team Bowie could land, it could team with the Baltimore Orioles, which makes sense geographically. The Orioles' contract with the Rochester Red Wings expires after the 1997 season.
If all the pieces fell into a logical, logistical progression, Rochester would pick up the Pittsburgh Pirates' working agreement. The Pirates are affiliated with the Calgary (Alberta) Cannons, which would be a more natural Triple-A affiliate for the Diamondbacks.
``With more major league locations east of the Mississippi than Triple-A organizations, it has meant that some team in the East has had to have a Triple-A team out west,'' Mobley said. ``But if Durham and Bowie are granted the expansion Triple-A franchises, that will create equality in the number of teams east and west at both levels.''
Affiliation contracts expiring this season in the International League include the Ottawa Lynx (Montreal), the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons (Philadelphia) and the Columbus Clippers (New York Yankees).
In addition to Rochester's contract expiring in 1997, Norfolk's contract with the New York Mets also expires, as does Pawtucket's contract with the Boston Red Sox, although both are expected to be renewed.
CREDIT IS DUE: If there is an unsung hero on the Norfolk Tides' staff, pitching coach Bob Apodaca says it's Rick Trlicek.
As a setup man, Trlicek rarely gets to complete a save opportunity, usually giving way to designated closer Derek Wallace (16 saves, 1.24 earned-run average) in the ninth inning. Thus Trlicek has only a 2-4 record and three saves to show for his efforts.
Still, he's made 35 appearances, tying him with Wallace for the team high, and is carrying a 1.80 ERA.
``Setup man is a position that doesn't get enough credit,'' Apodaca said. ``Trlicek has pitched the tough innings with men on base all season for us and done a great job with it. Trlicek-Wallace has been a good late-game combination for us.''
One eye-popping statistic for Trlicek is his strikeouts-to-walks ratio. He's struck out 36 in 50 innings while walking only five.
ONE MAN SHORT: The Tides have been short one outfielder since the call-up of Alex Ochoa two weeks ago and it doesn't appear Norfolk will get any help from Double-A Binghamton to fill the void.
Instead, the Tides will wait until either Jay Payton or Kevin Flora recovers from surgery. Both are on the Tides' disabled list.
Payton, who underwent elbow surgery five weeks ago for the second time in a year, is with the Gulf Coast League Mets in Port St. Lucie, Fla., on a rehabilitation assignment. Flora, who underwent wrist surgery four weeks ago, has remained with the Tides and is scheduled to begin taking light batting practice July 16.
``I think Payton will be ready before Flora,'' said Tides manager Bobby Valentine. ``All I know is that Payton is swinging the bat good. When the people who are watching him down there think he is ready, he'll be ready. And not before then.'' by CNB