Courier-Post from Camden, New Jersey • Page 68

10F COURIER-POST, Sunday, February 26, 1995 1 Feel free to hate the players and the owners replacement ball without assistance from minor-league prospects. This may be the greatest fear for baseball's owners. In a camp situation, it's easy to hide the blemishes from the general public. A replacement pitcher covering first base doesn't look all that different than Curt Schilling covering first. But once you put these guys on public display in real, live game situations, it BOB BROOKOVER Reds' camp, dugout coach Ray Knight has been ordered to ask what minor-leaguers will and won't play.

This is just as sleazy, if not more so, than what the Evil Union has done. Of course, it's important to remember that no one involved with Major League Baseball wears a white hat anymore. It's also important not to take sides. Feel free to hate the Evil Union and the Evil Owners, because they've proven over and over again that they could care less about you. This and that Among the replacements in the Chicago Cubs' camp is former Phillies pitcher Charles "Don't call me Charlie" Hudson.

If you rent the movie Major League II, look for Chuck Ricci, the Shawnee High School graduate who played for the Phillies' Class AAA ScrantonWilkes-Barre team last summer. Ricci was an extra in the movie. He said he received $9,000 for his role In Friday's New York Post, an entire page is dedicated to the Yankees replacements. The headline reads "Your NY One of the Yanks' replacements, 26-year-old shortstop Matt Davis, claims he is doing it because he has $15,000 in credit card debt. Finally Dear boss, please send a replacement writer.

All they're feeding me down here is a bunch of bull. Bob Brookover covers the Phillies for the Courier-Post. CLEARWATER, Fla. If you're in the business of selling 10-gallon hats to those affiliated with Major League Baseball, feel free to discard all the white ones. We have no heroes in this game.

One side is just as sleazy as the other. Eventually, evil will win over evil in this baseball labor dispute, even if innocent bystanders (eg. minor-leaguers) must be dragged into the ugliness. Right now, the scorecard is all even. Evil Union 0, Evil Owners 0.

Both are a bunch of big zeroes. The Evil Union is about to take the lead in this slimy showdown. Negotiations are scheduled to resume Monday in Scottsdale, but that's not going to lead toward a settlement. The trump card for Donald Fehr and his band of money-grubbing marauders is replacement ball. The Evil Owners implemented the replacement system in order to apply pressure on Fehr and the union.

The thinking was that maybe the players would cross the picket line if given the opportunity. We're now in the second week of replacement training and not one union player has joined the owners' dark side. Starting Friday, with the opening of the replacement exhibition fiasco, the advantage is going to swing into the players' court. The Evil Union had only one agenda when it threatened minor-league players not to participate in replacement games. Fehr wants the world to see the public sees the owners' baseball facade, they will not be clamoring for more.

They'll be asking for their money back. They'll feel robbed and cheated by the Evil Owners. Of course, the Evil Union has performed another slimy act to make sure replacement ball does not come close to succeeding. "All I ever hear about from the union is how much freedom they want for the players," an infuriated Lee Thomas, the Phillies general manager, said Saturday. "Well, it seems to me that now they're taking freedom away from other people.

They're threatening minor-league players." Yes, they are. On the other hand, the Evil Owners are just as guilty at placing the minor-leaguers in the middle of this mess. The directive the Major League Baseball Operating Committee released on Friday applied pressure on these kids to play or else. Or else what? Well, they intentionally left that part ambiguous just as Fehr did when he said the minor-leaguers would be strikebreakers. Leave 'em dazed and confused.

It's the motto for both the Evil Union and the Evil Owners. To the Phillies' credit, it does not appear as if they are going to rule with an iron fist in this minor-league matter. "We may not even ask anybody (to play in replacement games)," Phillies president Bill Giles said, opening a window for the Phillies to remain out of the minor-league mess. Some teams, however, are applying pressure on their minor-leaguers to play. In the Cincinnati will be impossible not to notice the substantial decline from the quality of play we're used to watching when major leaguers are on the field.

We won't be watching Class AAA baseball or Class AA baseball. This will be Class A baseball. Low Class A. These guys should be playing for kegs not crowds. Nothing against the replacement players.

As people, they're a pretty good lot. In most cases, it's a lot more enjoyable talking to a replacement player than it is talking to many of the pampered big-league brats with arrogant, dollar-induced attitudes. Replacement players are real good people. They just aren't real good baseball players. And that's what the union is counting on.

Once Phillies may tell minor-leaguers to play in games Vx: By Paris L. Gray, Courier-Post A hit: Dan Barbara is greeted after hitting a home run for Dr. Connor in the semipro Tri-County League last summer. The Camden County College baseball coach is a replacement Phillie. Barbara moonlighting as replacement Phillie By BOB BROOKOVER Courier-Post Staff CLEARWATER, Fla.

The Phillies presented a letter to their minor-league players Saturday afternoon telling them they may be asked to play in spring-training exhibition games. The operative word is may. Although the letter, written by general manager Lee Thomas, sounds much like the directive the Major League Baseball Operating Committee released Friday, Phillies have left themselves a window for escape from implementing the strong-arm tactics tused by some other major-league Yearns. I "We may not even ask anybody," Phillies president Bill Giles said. "(The letter) says we may, it Jdoesn't say we will," Thomas fcaid.

In the letter, Thomas blasted the players' union, telling his minor-league players they have been threatened by an organization that has offered "no support" jn return. Despite the escape clause the Phillies left themselves with the vord may, neither Thomas nor Giles promised they would not ask minor-leaguers to participate 3n replacement games. I Thomas said the Phillies may usk one or two minor-leaguers the day before an exhibition game if jthey will participate. I And if a player refuses? "We'll cross that bridge when ve come to it," Thomas said. In addition to telling minor-league players that playing in exhibition games would be a chance to showcase their also pointed out that the Phillies' minor-league teams are 4'unded by the organization.

At the same time, Thomas Realizes the minor-leaguers have Jeen wrongly placed in the middle of baseball's labor dispute, i "I don't like it and I don't Jhink it's fair," the Phillies' general manager said. Most of the Phillies surveyed Saturday said they will not play in exhibition games despite the letter. "I still don't think they'll ask," said pitcher Chuck Ricci, a graduate of Shawnee High School, who pitched at Class AAA ScrantonWilkes-Barre last season. "I think they know it's something we don't want to get involved in." Ricci said he would not play if asked. Jason Moler, a third baseman for Scranton, said the same thing.

"If you plan on making it to the big leagues, you can't do it," Moler said. "I won't do it. This game is tough enough. If you don't have any friends in the clubhouse, it makes it that much tougher. I just don't think this is our fight." Jon Zuber, a first baseman with Class AA Reading, also said he will not play in exhibition games.

But he also wants to know what the union will give in return for the minor-league players' allegiance. He plans to ask that question Monday in Tampa, where the union is holding a meeting to inform minor-league players. "Hopefully, I'll get a chance to ask some questions," Zuber said. "The players' union is telling us to stay in minor-league camp and not to play in replacement games, but maybe that's hurting us. What kind of help is the union going to give us for helping them?" Kent Blasingame, an outfielder with Class A Clearwater last year and the son of the Phillies' minor-league coordinator Don Blasingame, said he would definitely consider playing in replacement exhibition games.

Blasingame is convinced the union is wrong in this matter. "My dad will advise me as to what's best," Kent Blasingame said. "But basically I think this is a bunch of B.S. The union isn't doing anything for us. "We get 15 dollars a day for meal money.

Five bucks a meal. That's just enough to eat at McDonald's. We pay clubhouse dues of 32 dollars a week. When is the players' union going to do something for us? They're acting like they own us." Dan Barbara file The Washington Township High School graduate is attempting to earn an outfield position as a replacement player with the Phillies. Here are his statistics from the past two seasons in South Jersey's semipro Tri-County League.

Age: 26 College: Old Dominion Resides: Washington Twp. Bats: Switch Throws: Right Height: 6-3 Weight: 250 Year Team Avg. AB 2B 3B HR RBI BB 1993 Dr. Connor .549 26 82 32 45 9 2 7 49 19 1994 Dr. Connor .364 7 22 6 8 3 0 1 8 1 Totals .510 33 104 38 53 12 2 8 57 20 Bold league leader Other facts Rockies offer minor players more dollars Associated Press TUCSON, Ariz.

The Colorado Rockies turned up the heat on their minor leaguers Saturday, offering them a financial incentive to play in exhibition games. General manager Bob Gebhard said the team will pay $150 per game for any minor leaguer asked by manager Don Baylor to play in spring training games. It was one of three options given to players, who were asked to check off their preference on a sheet that was part of a packet of information on the strike. "As far as I know, we're the first team to adopt this policy," said Gebhard, adding that he expected other teams to follow suit. The first option was to sign a replacement-player contract, for those who had not already done so.

The second option was to decline to become a replacement but agree to play in exhibition games if asked, at $150 per appearance. The third option was to not play in any spring training games. The players' union has announced that any minor leaguers who play alongside replacements in exhibition games will be considered strikebreakers. Management has rejected that position, arguing that minor leaguers have historically played in such games. The information packets distributed to all Rockies minor leaguers also contained detailed information about the replacement-player salary structure, including bonuses and meal money.

In previous years, a Rockies minor leaguer who played in an exhibition game received only $30 in meal money, to make up for a team meal missed at the minor-league hotel. For players who might earn no more than $30,000 for a full season in the minors, $150 per day in spring training would be enticing. If a player checks a box and then later changes his mind, Gebhard said the team would be understanding. In other spring training news, 10 Texas Rangers walked out of camp rather than agree to play exhibition games and Steve Howe checked into the New York Yankees camp. But Howe wasn't becoming a strikebreaker.

As part of his probation from a 1992 conviction, he has to have a job. So the Yankees hired him to work in the office at Fort Lauderdale Stadium for $772 per week. "The bottom line is this is a condition of my probation," said Howe, who was convicted in 1992 of attempting to possess cocaine. "I'm doing what I think is best for me and my family and to comply with what the federal government has told me I have to do." Howe, who is to make $2.3 million as a pitcher this season, won't work out with replacement players and won't play in exhibition games. Union head Donald Fehr, who resumes negotiations with owners Monday at Scottsdale, wasn't bothered by the arrangement between the Yankees and Howe.

At Port Charlotte, the Rangers were unable to reach an accomodation with 10 of their minor leaguers. Was teammate of Phillies' 1993 No. 1 draft pick Wayne Gomes at Old Dominion. Was assistant baseball coach in 1992 and 1993 at Washington Township with former Phillie Bill Robinson under head coach John Bush. The Minutemen won the Diamond Classic Tournament and Courier-Post Cup in 1993.

Became head coach at Camden County College in 1994 after Robinson, who had been hired by CCC just months earlier, resigned to become a coach with the Reading Phillies. Went 14-14 in his first year as head coach at Camden County College. Won triple crown as player-manager of Dr. Connor team in semipro Tri-County League in 1993. Dr.

Connor was the league runner-up in 1993 and 1994. Was a member of 1987 All-Group 4 team as a senior at Washington Township with teammate and fellow replacement player Pete Conlin ana Phillies minor leaguer Chuck Ricci of Shawnee after batting .351 with 17 RBIs. Was honorable mention on 1 987 Courier-Post ATI-South Jersey team, which included Conlin, Ricci, former Phillies minor leaguer John Kupsey from Gloucester Catholic and Phillies replacement player Andy Albrecht from Cherry Hill West. By BOB BROOKOVER Courier-Post Staff CLEARWATER, Fla. -Dan Barbara knows he is not playing the Newlywed Game.

"No one was pushing me to come here, especially not my wife," Barbara said the other day after his first workout as a Phillies replacement player. Married just three months, Barbara sought and received the permission of his wife, Christie, to join the cast of dreamers who have taken over spring training camps in Florida and Arizona. "Of course this is hard on her," said Barbara, one of three Washington Township High School graduates on the Phillies' replacement roster including Pete Conlin and Joe Cipolloni. "We just moved into a new home and now she's going to be alone." For how long is anybody's guess. Christie Barbara did give her new husband her blessing, but that was not the only consideration Dan Barbara had to confront before flying south for replacement camp.

Barbara, who turned 20 earlier this month, is also the baseball coach at Camden County College. His pitching coach is Conlin, who is in Clearwater as a Phillies replacement pitcher. If the school had told Barbara his job would not be waiting for him when he returned from Florida, he probably would be at home with his wife right now. Instead, he spent Wednesday afternoon digging into a batter's box against seven-year major-league veteran Jeff Innis. "I felt like I held my own," Barbara said.

Fortunately for him, Camden County College is holding his job. He also has been promised that his job as a manager at Steph Ed's, a restaurant in Washington Township for which he played rough touch football in the All-Star Trophy League just three months ago, will be waiting for him when the replacement gig is up. Phils' first replacement game league spring training," Barbara said. "Just to be here wearing a Phillies uniform is something you dream about when you're a kid. I'm dressing next to Kim Batiste and I'm in the same clubhouse with Jeff Stone.

I watched Stone growing up and more recently I've watched Batiste. It's exciting just to be a part of the whole thing." If nothing else, Barbara thinks the experience will help him as a coach. "Hopefully, I'll have some pointers for the kids and I can tell them what it was like," said may be replaced by no game tov BOB BROOKOVFR "I guess in some respects (Camden County) didn't want to lose me," Barbara said. "This is my second year at the school. I coached under (former Phillies outfielder) Bill Robinson in the fall of 1993 and then I took the team over last spring.

"I felt like we made a lot of progress last season. We made the playoffs last year for the first time in quite a while." While Barbara and Conlin run wind sprints in Florida, the Camden County team is being run by Cliff Crispin, the school's athletic director. The Cougars' season is scheduled to begin March 23. The Phillies' season is scheduled to begin April 3 at St. Louis.

"Cliff has really been supportive," Barbara said. Unlike some of the replacements, Barbara realizes this camp will likely be nothing more than a good experience and $5,000. But Barbara, a 6-foot-3, 250-pound power-hitter for Dr. Connor of the semipro Tri-County League, didn't think he could pass up the opportunity. "You have to take the opportunity just to be a part of major I at Barbara, who played baseba and uid Dominion University "It'll either be called off or they'll show up," Giles said.

"I've seen printed that they won't play where admission is charged. We've just asked them to let us know by Monday or Tuesday if they intend to play Friday." A rumor circulated out of the St. Louis camp Saturday that the Cardinals might end up playing the Phillies on Friday instead of the Orioles. The Cardinals do not have a game scheduled for Friday. The Phillies also have a home exhibition game scheduled for Saturday against the Cincinnati Reds.

Rumors have also circulated that if progress is being made in labor negotiations that the owners will postpone exhibition games as a show of good-faith bargaining. fcourier-Post Staff CLEARWATER, Fla. It appears the Phillies' first replacement game in franchise history is fcoing to be delayed by at least a lay. President Bill Giles said the Phillies have told the Baltimore Orioles they need an answer by Monday or Tuesday as to whether Ihey will show up for Friday's Scheduled exhibition opener at Jack Russell Stadium. The Orioles are the only team in baseball that has not recruited replacement players.

Baltimore owner Peter Angelos has said his team will not play against replacement players or in games where admission is charged. 1 1 later had free-agent tryouts with the Pirates, Giants and Tigers. "I talked to the kids before I left and they were all pretty excited. They all wished me luck. None of them seemed mad I was leaving.

I let them know I'd be back." And what if, by some chance, the Phillies offered Barbara a minor-league contract after the replacement gig was over. "We'll just have to see what comes about," Barbara said..