DATE: Thursday, April 3, 1997 TAG: 9704030612 SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER LENGTH: 75 lines
With as many pitchers on the mend as the Norfolk Tides are expecting this season, Harbor Park could be renamed Rehab Central.
The Tides, who visit the Syracuse Skychiefs to open the International League season today at 2 p.m., already have two young, talented pitchers in the mix in Bill Pulsipher and Jason Isringhausen.
Both are with the team on 30-day, major league rehabilitation assignments and hope to quickly regain the edge that vaulted them to the New York Mets two years ago. And both are recovering from arm surgery.
The Tides could also eventually be a temporary home of Armando Reynoso (strained elbow), Paul Wilson (shoulder surgery) and Derek Wallace (aneurysm in shoulder), three other Mets pitchers who will likely need time in Norfolk before they are ready to face major league hitters.
What will it do for the Tides?
``I was with Scranton (in 1994) when Lenny Dykstra and Dave Hollins and a couple pitchers did some major league rehabs,'' said Tides shortstop Shawn Gilbert, ``and if anything it puts people in the stands. They want to come see major leaguers.''
It doesn't hurt the team either.
``With Izzy and Pulsipher, I can't imagine either not trying as hard as they can,'' said Tides first baseman Matt Franco. ``It should be a lift for us if they pitch well and they both look healthy to me.''
Pulsipher, who is slated to pitch Friday night, threw 99 pitches in an intra squad game Sunday in Port St. Lucie, Fla., before the Tides came north and said he feels sharper with each outing.
``I went into the seventh inning and felt really good,'' said Pulsipher, 23, who is coming off elbow surgery that sidelined him the entire 1996 campaign. ``I've just got to get to the point where I'm getting people out and getting the ball over the plate. I expect to be here anywhere from two to five starts.''
Isringhausen, 24, who underwent elbow and shoulder surgery in September, is on a similar timetable and Mets management is confident enough in their recoveries that the two are pitching Friday and Sunday for a purpose. These would likely be their normal days if they were in the Mets' rotation.
``Physically, there's nothing wrong with them,'' said Tides pitching coach Ray Ripplemeyer. ``Both are anxious to show that they are ready to get back to the Mets. We have to guard against them being too anxious. They can't think that pitching one good game will get them back. The Mets want to see them pitch three or four times.
``Pulsipher's been inconsistent with his arm angles. He doesn't always stay in a channel. He's getting better at it, but there's some concern that it might have been why he got hurt in the first place.''
Cory Lidle, who set a team record with 14 victories for Double-A Binghamton, is the Tides' opening-day pitcher.
``There's good and bad with rehabilitation assignments,'' said Gary Thurman, the Tides' centerfielder. ``The guy might be working on something specific that keeps him from concentrating solely on that game and that hitter. And their presence might disrupt the rotation a little. But hopefully you get some good starts.''
``It's an opportunity for them to step back and work on their game situations,'' said manager Rick Dempsey. ``Now it's mental and they've got to get over their jitters.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
Assigned to the Tides on a 30-day major league rehabilitation
assignment, Bill Pulsipher, 23, is coming off elbow surgery.
Jim Cole/The Virginian-Pilot
Cory Lidle, who moved up after winning 14 games in 1996 for Double-A
Binghamton, is the Tides starter tonight in the opener at Syracuse.
Staff file
Roberto Petagine hit 12 home runs for the Tides in '96 and switches
from first base to the outfield in Norfolk this year.
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