DATE: Monday, August 4, 1997                TAG: 9708040089

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:  128 lines

PETAGINE PATIENTLY AWAITING HIS TURN TIDES' FIRST BASEMAN IS EYING THE IL MVP, AND ANOTHER SHOT AT THE MAJOR LEAGUES.

A sly grin highlights Roberto Petagine's face as he takes his swings during a Norfolk Tides batting practice. He's found a feather, stuck it in the back band of his cap, and all is right in the world.

It's not a big feather, maybe four inches long. It's certainly not the biggest he's found this season. And it certainly isn't exceptionally pretty, dirty white with dark gray in it.

But no matter what size or color, they all find their way into the cap. And according to Petagine, they're all lucky.

``Just look at him,'' Tides manager Rick Dempsey said. ``He thinks he's Geronimo or something.''

Somewhat ironic, isn't it, seeing how it's Petagine who's been the feather in the Tides' cap this season.

With less than a month remaining in the International League season, the powerful lefthanded first baseman from Caracas, Venezuela, has put himself on the brink of a record-breaking season.

His 89 RBIs put him well within reach of Clint Hurdle's team mark of 105, set in 1983. And his 27 homers are two shy of Randy Milligan's all-time franchise record, established in 1987.

Are these numbers good enough to earn International League Most Valuable Player honors? In comparison, Butch Huskey won the award for the Tides two years ago with 28 homers and 87 RBIs.

Dempsey thinks Petagine is the leading candidate and says he will give his top player every chance to erase any doubt.

``I intend to put him in the lineup every game from here out,'' Dempsey said. ``I'm going to give him the chance to see just what kinds of numbers he can put up and if he can win the MVP.''

So what is MVP criteria in the IL? Are the voters - media members, front office personnel and managers - looking for a three-category player? Petagine leads the league in home runs and RBIs, and he's among the league leaders in hitting at .313.

Do you have to be on a title contender? The Tides are in first place in the IL West Division and have been in first longer than any other team, nearly 2 1/2 months.

``Petagine's worn us out this season,'' said Richmond Braves manager Bill Dancy. ``No matter what adjustments we make, he makes them, too. If we pitch him away, he hits a double to the opposite field. If we pitch him inside, he turns on it and hits it 900 feet.

``He's got to be a leading contender for MVP. I know some people have made the Mets (trade) offers for him. I guess they figure they've got a great insurance policy and want to keep it.''

So is that all Petagine is? An insurance policy for John Olerud, the Mets' everyday first baseman? And does that mean he's just a pulled hamstring from being on the Mets' lineup card?

``People may say Roberto's in the wrong organization, but if the guy at first base in New York gets hurt, he may be in the right organization,'' Dempsey said. ``It's unfortunate, though, that he hasn't been called to the big leagues this season.''

Petagine has made it to the majors with three organizations - the Mets, San Diego and Houston - but wants no part of an August injury call-up. He seems content to play out this season with the Tides and join the Mets in September when the roster expands to 40 players. Then he'll let his play decide his fate.

``I would never wish injury on anyone,'' Petagine said. ``God doesn't like it when you do things like that. You wish ill will on someone else, and the next thing you know, it's you who gets injured. I just go out there on that field and do what I can every night.''

Speaking of fields, Petagine has been most dangerous at Harbor Park, where he's hitting an eye-popping .361 with 15 home runs.

``When you play at Harbor Park, (27) homers is more impressive than somebody hitting (27) for Pawtucket,'' said teammate Shawn Gilbert. ``Harbor Park's a big park, and it's a tough place for a lefthander. The wind usually blows in off the river.''

Huskey's 28 homers are the high-water mark for home runs by a Tide at 5-year-old Harbor Park, but Huskey is righthanded, the prevailing winds were more in his favor, and even then he only managed 12 home runs at Harbor Park during his MVP season.

Some of Petagine's home runs have been spectacular, ending up in the bottom of the Elizabeth River, which runs beyond the rightfield fence. And twice this season he's hit balls into the batter's eye, the large black screen beyond straightaway centerfield, a feat accomplished by only one other International League player, Rochester's Tim Laker, in Harbor Park's existence.

When the Tides are home, Petagine's postgame routine starts with a bee-line to the Tides' training room, where he goes through a 20-minute weight-training regimen, much of it designed to improve bat speed and strength. Sometimes he goes through the routine even after extra-inning games played in 90-degree heat.

He's unsure if the regimen has made a difference in his power. But his home-run total with four weeks left in the season is 11 more than he's ever hit in a professional season; the rap that he's not a prototypical power-hitting first baseman seems to be wearing thin.

``I've got (27) now, maybe I have 10 more in me, maybe I can hit 40,'' Petagine said. ``One thing's for sure, I'm not going to have any less than I have now, and that's a pretty good number.''

Dempsey admits someone in Petagine's shoes might grow complacent. He began last season with the Tides after being traded from the San Diego Padres. In two-thirds of an IL season, he hit .318 with 12 homers and 65 RBIs. From Aug. 6 to the end, he was with the parent club in New York. But as the Mets came out of spring training this season, and with Olerud acquired as a free agent to fill the void of departed Rico Brogna, Petagine was once again sent to Triple-A.

Was that the cause of one of his worst starts of his career? Petagine won't say, but by the end of April he was hitting below .214 and had just one home run. April showers, however, brought May flowers, as Petagine hit .357 with 12 homers in the season's second month.

``When I have a bad week or a bad month, I try to get something positive out of it, something that will make me a better person or a better player,'' Petagine said. ``I learned some things.''

The reason, however, may just be that Petagine's batting stroke is high-maintenance. His shoulders and hips are open at an unusual angle in the batter's box, and he taps his front foot, a timing mechanism, when the pitcher goes into his windup.

``I've seen some tappers, but not many,'' Dempsey said. ``But Roberto works on his timing all the time, and when he's in a groove, he crushes the ball. Of course, he can get out of it, too, if he's not playing every day. That's part of the reason he's not with the Mets as a role player. He has to play every day to be effective.''

Will that chance to be an everyday major leaguer come next season? Dempsey said he's 95 percent certain it will.

``I've got to believe that with two more teams, the chances will be good for Roberto,'' Dempsey said. ``Expansion will play a part.

``Look at it this way. He's got nothing left to prove here. If he's not ready to make the jump, nobody in this league is ready. I just hope things fall into place for him next year. I'd hate to see him playing in Japan because nobody here would give him a chance.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

Roberto Petagine

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