THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 22, 1996 TAG: 9608220537
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 77 lines
What's the difference between Double-A and Triple-A? One big difference is in the bats.
In the New York Mets' organization, Triple-A players are allowed custom bat orders while those at the Double-A level and below must use pro stock bats.
Most bats are made of northern white ash, a wood indigenous to Upstate New York and Western Pennsylvania. There's a shortage of good white ash that's magnified by a glut of bat manufacturers, which includes Louisville Slugger, Rawlings, Cooper (Nike), Hoosier, K.C. Slammer and Stix by Stan.
The Norfolk Tides have heard stories about how some major league players have received two dozen bats in an order and found only three good ones in the bunch.
But the Tides haven't had troubles and clubhouse manager Kevin Kierst believes the reason is a switch from Louisville Sluggers to Rawlings. The Rawlings plant is in Upstate New York.
Louisville Slugger must have the wood cut, milled, shipped, then cured before it reaches its plant in Louisville.
But the reason for the switch, according to Kierst, came last year when he ordered Louisville Sluggers only to be told that the Tides' order, which was to take two weeks to fill, would take two months after the major league baseball strike ended.
The big league orders would be filled first.
``I asked them, `Isn't our money as good as theirs?' '' Kierst said.
Kierst's opening-day order for bats this season was made with Rawlings. He had them in two weeks.
``It's a very competitive market now,'' Kierst said. ``At the beginning of the season I went from player to player asking what they thought of using Rawlings instead of Louisville Slugger. When I would add that Rawlings would take two weeks to get here, they were all for it.''
One player who had to wait longer was Jason Hardtke, who started in Double-A and was called up a month into the season. His bats took six weeks to arrive.
Hardtke isn't sure whether all the good ash was used up with early orders, but he's noticed a difference in his bats.
``They seem to be breaking easier and I've gotten a lot of handle cracks,'' Hardtke said.
Still, they're better than pro stock bats.
``With pro stock, you've got six different models cut at three different lengths, giving you 18 choices,'' Kierst said. ``You just have to find one you like.''
That, Hardtke said, is where the greatest difference rests.
``A half-ounce or a half-inch on a special-order bat can make a big difference to a hitter,'' Hardtke said.
``You can get good pro stock, but you're lucky if you find just the bat you're looking for.''
McCREADY RECOVERY: Pitcher Jim McCready, who had been on the disabled list most of the season, is back with the Tides after recovering ahead of schedule following offseason rotator cuff surgery.
McCready was given less than a 50 percent chance of pitching again, so to pitch this season is a minor miracle.
``The doctor (Mets team physician Dr. David Altchek) told me initially it wasn't major surgery,'' said McCready, who pitched for the Gulf Coast League Mets, Class-A St. Lucie and Double-A Binghamton during his recovery. ``After surgery, he told me that nothing else could have been done and that less than half come back from this type surgery. It's a good feeling to be back up here.''
Where McCready fits in the Tides' late-season plans is another matter.
``The way their pitching is going, they've got all their go-to guys,'' McCready said. ``I'm just going to hope to get my innings and otherwise stay out of the way.''
TIDAL WAVES: Tides season ticket holders wishing to order playoff tickets must have their orders in by Friday. ... Tides third baseman Shawn Gilbert missed Wednesday's game when his wife went into labor Wednesday and gave birth to a girl. Tides team trainer Joe Hawkins' wife also gave birth to a boy Wednesday morning. And Jim Duquette, the Mets assistant director of minor league operations and scouting, became a dad Wednesday when his wife gave birth to a girl. ... Outfielder Kevin Flora returned from a trip to see Mets team physician Dr. David Altchek late Wednesday with good news. He only has tendinitis in his surgically repaired left wrist and no further damage. He must wear a brace for two weeks and could be available to hit in the playoffs. by CNB