DATE: Sunday, November 2, 1997              TAG: 9711020276

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C11  EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: RICH RADFORD

                                            LENGTH:   81 lines

TIDES REPORT

The Norfolk Tides will host the Durham Bulls' inaugural Triple-A game Apr. 9 when both teams open their 1998 seasons.

The Bulls, who are switching from a Class A affiliation with Atlanta to a Triple-A affiliation with the expansion Tampa Bay Devil Rays, will be part of the IL's four-team South Division, along with Norfolk, Richmond and Charlotte.

With the IL expanding from 10 to 14 teams, the normal schedule balance of 18 games against division rivals and 14 against non-division opponents has been scrapped.

Norfolk, which released its schedule today, will meet its South Division foes 16 times each (8 home, 8 away), West Division clubs 12 times and North Division teams eight times.

Norfolk's 72-game home schedule is highlighted by 33 weekend dates (Friday, Saturday or Sunday).

``This year's schedule is very fan-friendly,'' said Tides president Ken Young. ``Also, getting to see more teams will certainly be an attractive addition.''

Triple-A All-Star Game tickets now on sale

Tickets for the 1998 Triple-A All-Star Classic, to be played at Harbor Park July 8 at 7 p.m., are now available.

The game will pit the International League All-Stars against the Pacific Coast League All-Stars.

Tickets are $15 for box seats and $12.50 for reserve seating. All Tides season-ticket holders will receive preference in ordering and seat location.

The two-day All-Star extravaganza will begin Tuesday, July 7, with a workout, batting practice and autograph session followed by a home run hitting contest and a skills contest.

Tides season ticket orders are also being accepted and cost $375 for the 72-game home schedule.

Mets' front offices continue to shuffle

The aftershocks of Joe McIlvaine's dismissal as general manager of the New York Mets, Norfolk's parent club, are still being felt.

Job titles have changed somewhat, with Jack Zduriencik's former job as director of minor league operations being altered to director of player personnel. Also, Zduriencik's out; Jim Duquette is the new director of player personnel.

Duquette had formerly been assistant director of minor leagues for the Mets, but left to join the Houston Astros as director of player personnel last season.

Steve Phillips, who replaced McIlvaine as Mets GM during the 1997 season, is apparently high on Duquette and lured him back from the Astros.

Zduriencik has accepted a position as assistant to the GM.

Meanwhile, the Mets' minor league offices are going to relocate from Port St. Lucie, Fla., to New York following the 1998 spring training run. Seems Phillips wants more of a hands-on approach to the minor league operation.

Base hits and such . . .

Tides third base coach Tom Lawless is managing the West Oahu Canefires in Hawaii's fall league. Among his charges are five Mets prospects, some who could see action next season in Norfolk - pitchers Joe Lisio and Brandon Villafuerte, catcher Pee Wee Lopez, infielder Terrance Long and outfielder Fletcher Bates. . . . The Mets have reportedly offered IL player of the year Roberto Petagine for trade for Japanese lefthanded pitcher Takahito Nomura or the Orix Blue Wave. . . . Two Mets pitchers on the mend are throwing in the Puerto Rican Winter League. Bill Pulsipher, who experienced severe control problems in his comeback from elbow surgery last season, is pitching for the San Juan Senators and Paul Wilson, who missed most of the 1997 season following his own arm surgery, is with the San Turce Crabbers. . . . Among Mets prospects sharpening their tools in the Arizona Fall League, which is for players who performed at the Double-A level or higher in 1997, are pitcher Scott Sauerbeck, Rich Turrentine and Brian Edmondson, catcher Vance Wilson and outfielders Preston Wilson and Scott Hunter. All six are playing for the Grand Canyon Rafters and should have solid shots at starting the 1998 season in Norfolk. . . . Louisville, which will join the IL for the 1998 season, has switched affiliations. Once a St. Louis Cardinals minor-league town, Louisville's new affiliation is with the Milwaukee Brewers.

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