Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 54

-r yTr Vs i 60 Drmorr frte press Wednesday, august is, 1969 v. Avery's image major league; he's just a step behind Steve Avery's 92 m.p.h. fastball and JOE CYBULSKl Farm report roundhouse curve already are giving some mapr leaguers headaches. Not to mention a few broken bones. Avery, who led Taylor Kennedy to the Michigan Class A base have a Noah's Ark Night, when fans who came to the park dressed animals got two tickets for the price of one.

LONDON TIGERS: Shortstop Travis Fryman has missed six games because of a pulled hamstring. He was injured while; stretching to relieve leg cramps. TOLEDO MUD HENS: First the Pawtucket Red Sox had trouble scoring runs. Now they're being taken away. the Red Sox's top farm dub, ended 23 -scoreless innings against the Mud Hens on Sunday.

They seemed headed for a victory over Toledo Monday night before Domingo Michel robbed Sam Horn with an over-the-fence catch in the ninth that preserved the Mud Hens' 6-5 victory, their fifth in a row. Righthander Mike Schwabe was -named International League pitcher of the week by Howe Sportsdata. In four games, he won two and did not allow a run in 15V4 innings. what is going happen. Luckily, things have gone well." With success has come media attention.

"It's unbelievable all the publicity he's getting," said Avery's father, Ken. "It's been really tough with all the attention, but I couldn't be prouder. Not only is he pitching well, but he's handling it so well. He doesn't have a big head. Being so young and playing in that level is a lot of pressure.

Every time he turns around they're asking him to sign this and that, but he signs them all. There is a lot of time to go bonkers down there." "It's all part of the game," Steve Avery said. "Signing the autographs and stuff I don't mind too much. The hardest part is getting rest" Avery found out the hard way how important that is. After traveling on the team bus all night, the Greenville Braves arrived in Columbus, at 5 a.m.

Sunday. Avery had only a few hours to sleep before his start that evening, and his lack of rest showed: The Columbus Mudcats (Astros) knocked him out of the box. Greenville manager Buddy Bailey was not too concerned with the bad outing. "He's done extremely well and shown a lot of big league potential," Bailey said. "Besides being a lefthander, he has one of the best, if not the best change-ups in the organization.

The kid is a winner and he has all the intangibles. He had good coaching before he got here. I guess he developed his arm throwing snowballs up there in that cold weather." The Braves have projected Avery to make the majors in 1991, but it could be sooner. "He will finish this season with us," Bailey said. "But he will get a good chance at making the Triple-A club next year, and who's to say what can happen after that' "He's very mature for 19 years old.

He's full of confidence, but he's not cocky at all. He has got a lot of class." And what does a budding superstar do during the off-season? "Well, I guess I'll just relax for a while and call some friends," Avery said. "I may even take some classes at Henry Ford Community College. Just in case." Fayetteville Generals: John Desiiva pitched a perfect game through seven innings last Friday against Charleston, S.C. (Padres).

Desiiva (2-2) gave up a single and home run and left the game in the eighth. He still got the win and Mark Ettles earned the save in the 4-2 win. Thursday night, Linty Ingram (5-8) allowed only three hits and struck out 11 in a 3-0 shutout. Fifteen percent of the games in the South Atlantic League have been rained out this season, prompting Charleston to The pitcher actually seems to be throwing the ball, which is hurtled at the batter through a hole in the screen. "I guess I already broke a coach's hand," Avery said, referring to Braves coach and former major league shortstop Bobby Wine, who was unable to get out of the way of an inside fastball from Avery's image.

Avery was Atlanta's top pick in the 1988 June draft, the third selection overall. He joined the Braves' rookie team in Pulaski, last season and compiled a 7-1 record with a 1.50 ERA in 10 games. In 66 innings, he struck out 80 and walked only 19. He started this season at the Braves' Class A team in Durham, N.C., but was quickly promoted to their Double-A team at Greenville, S.C. In 10 games, he is 5-1 with a 2.57 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 63 innings.

Is Avery surprised by his success? "No, not really," he said. "I was expecting to do well, but you never know ball finals in 1988,. is not pitching for the Atlanta Braves yet. But his image is. Determinator Les Expos wnning less TIGERS DOWN Oil THE FARM Fayetteville (A) (Through Monday) Toledo Mud Hens (AAA) as offense goes poof AVQ AB HR RBI 88 BATTING Montreal's recent seven-game losing streak was a surprise.

Of the four East contenders, the Expos seemed 53 3 16 36 51 7 14 2 57 12 19 6 14 11 43 2 28 1 32 2 6 1 21 17 .296 318 40 94 .296 156 31 46 .291 302 50 88 .268 166 30 46 .254 453 63115 .249 173 31 43 .246 157 21 38 .245 314 32 77 .240 192 19 46 .224 250 43 56 523 121 20 27 .215 261 46 56 Rich Rowland Andy Toney Dan Raley DonEnckaon Darryl Martin PatPeeavanto Duane Waker Mickey CMat Jm Murphy Barmy Cast) Mark Cole Ron Howard PITCHING W-L ERA 8V 9 BB SO BATTING AVO AB HR RBI SB Rich WWgman .277 318 42 88 5 50 '7 IvanDeJesus .273 11 2 3 0 2 0 Rob Richie .272 188 2t 48 17 1 Domkigo Michel .272 81 14 22 1 3 4 Chris Alvarez .269 208 30 6 4 38 2 TimLeiper .258 293 34 76 2 24 2 Kenny RWiiams .255 61 8 13 3 8 2 JelfDatz .250 20822522 17 0 Dan DtMaodo .248 173 15 43 4 23 1 Jm Walewander .234 418 48 88 6 33 27 Larry See .234 268 37 63 I 38 4 Leo Garcia .219 279 22 61 0 24 2 ToreyLovudo .218 334 41 72 7 40 2 AlPedrtque .174 155 11 27 1 1 1 PrrCHNO W-L ERA 8V 9 BB 80 Brad Haver 4-t 1.81 2 44 39 12 48 Shawi Hotman 3-1 1.98 8 62 68 34 37 Brian Ouboa 4-2 200 0 54 41 18 29 Don Vesting 3-4 2.38 0 45 38 22 27 Mike Schwabe 4-1 2.58 0 36 33 5 16 Ramon Peru 4-2 2.85 7 47 47 12 43 Randy Bockua 6-3 391 3103H108 41 60 Dave Cooper 0-2 4.30 2 23 17 14 15 Bob Link 6-4 4.46 4 82 76 34 65 KLVvWame 44 4.56 0 98 82 61 62 Mike Hansen 2-3 6.42 0 33 44 18 12 Slave Searcy 1-3 9.00 0 31 39 33 22 0 1 0 1 21 19 0 35 27 0 132 125 0 130 136 0 54 57 0 1 6 25 14 38 56 118 42 86 17 49 37 37 46 82 26 31 44 80 42 44 20 18 ALAN R. KAMUDADetroit Free Press Phil Bradley gets a first-inning steal as Alan Trammell reaches for Mike Heath's late throw. least likely to experience a prolonged skid. It would have been understandable had the Chicago Cubs faltered. They have a number of young players not used to the pressures of a pennant race.

The New York Mets? With a mediocre offense and without Dwight Gooden, they are Gene Guidi NL OO 0.00 2-1 1.27 2-2 2.76 64 3.34 44 367 44 3.79 64 395 9-9 4.04 7-2 4.08 24 4.36 1-1 4.45 24 600 0-2 7.15 04 BOO 04 11.57 Jim Murphy MarkEttiee JohnDaSlh LIntyngram MikeKoler Randy Marshal Ed Farm Leo Torres TknBrader Blaine Rudolph Paul Noting Hector Barrios GregGohr Rich Rowland Bob Thomas 73 73 84 78 64 66 84 74 58 46 39 42 11 11 1 1 4 8 Game US Niagara Falls (A) London (AA) AVQ AB HR RBI 88 BATTING Orioles 2, Tigers 0 AVG AB HR RBI SB BATTING DETROIT brhN 4 0 0 0 Petilt 3 0 0 0 Trammell ss 4 111 VMiaktr 2b 4 0 0 0 Lvnn 4 111 Bergman lb 4 0 2 0 Nokes Oh 2 0 0 0 Strange 3b 3 0 0 0 Hentn 3 0 0 0 Williams rt Rick Sellers Brian Cornelius JeHGoodak), Eric Albright Jody Hurst Dave Keating Mario Mecca Luis Cruz Bob Reimink Keith KlmberUn Freddy Torres E. TagHarerrl abrhbi 2 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 40 10 4 0 10 3 0 0 0 30 10 3 0 0 0 .327 49 12 16 .325 191 34 82 .304 181 29 55 .302 169 32 61 .286 185 38 63 .271 140 24 38 .266 79 9 21 .250 158 22 39 .249 206 41 51 .246 203 34 SO .214 126 ,14 27 .166 43 7 8 .121 58 3 7 BALTIMORE Devereaux Bradley It CRioHen Sheets dh Orsuiak ri Traber lb Worthinfltofl 3b Quirk BRipken 2b Total! Barhmo Technology, an Atlanta-based company, has developed a new pitching machine that can project a life-size image of a pitcher's motion on a screen, then duplicate the velocity and movement of the ball. O's Milacki, homers beat Tigers, 2-0 TIGERS, from Page ID change-ups, and used his fastball more than normal. "He deserved not to have anything tarnish (his game)," Anderson said.l Milacki, 5-10 outside of Detroit this season, said, "Maybe I pitch well here because all my wife's relatives live here (Northville). I wish I could funnel what I have here into other parks, especially my own." The Orioles moved six games over .500 three games farther above break-even than anyone else in the division has been this season.

They stayed 2lA games ahead of Toronto and Milwaukee, both of whom matched their season highs by going a game over .500 Tuesday night. The Orioles (6-0 in Detroit this season) also received another one of those signs that it's their season! Monday night, the omen arrived in the form of three pitchers going three innings each to beat the overpowering Morris. Tuesday, it was Ripken homering after hitting a foul pop that first baseman Dave Bergman said he should have caught. It happened when Ripken led off the sixth. Bergman gave chase to his foul ball and then stopped several feet from the box-seat railing.

The ball landed on the field, between Bergman and the seats. No error was charged. "I should have made the play," Bergman said. "No excuses." Ripken then drove a 2-2 pitch into the lower deck in left-center for his 15th homer. He had been slumping lately and forever against Alexander.

Ripken had one homer in his previous 90 at-bats. He was 8-for-58 (.138) lifetime off Alexander. Until the seventh, Milacki had allowed just one hit a grounder deep in the hole by Mike Heath with two out in the fifth. Shortstop Ripken backhanded the ball, and his throw pulled first baseman Jim Traber off the bag. Official scorer Rich Shook ruled it a hit because it would have taken an extraordinary effort by Ripken to get Heath.

Then Nokes got the line single that led to the inning-ending double play. The perception that the game had thus ended even though two innings remained was enhanced when Mike Henneman replaced Alexander to start the eighth. Alexander had allowed 19 earned .296 54 7 .294 310 39 .266 325 57 .265 373 48 .255 94 12 .250 328 41 .250 240 40 .239 377 50 .239 318 40 .235 179 17 .235 183 23 10 3 33 2 32 24 48 4 9 0 38 3 16 22 26 20 41 10 20 6 28 0 41 2 64 1 Tookle Spam PhD Clark MttCuyter Travis Fryman Don Lovel DeanDeGles Pat Austin Wayne Housk) Manny Jose Doyle Balthazar JohnToak) TomAldrlch Scott Livingstone 29 0 3 0 31 2 4 2 Totals 000 101 000-2 Don ..000 000 000-0 Detroit DP Baltimore 1. LOB: Balllmore 4, Detroit 4 HR: .232 327 MTCHINO. W-L ERA 8V 9 BB 80 .232 410 43 96 13 Orsuiak 14), CRipken (15).

SB: Bradley (12), Pettis 133). SO: Worthinglon, Traber 2, Sheets, Lynn 2, Whltaker, Williams, Strange. 0.53 9 1.78 0 229 1 PITCHING W-L ERA SV 9 BB 80 ER BB SO 3 0 0 4 5. 3.27 0 2 2 20 26 14 10 16 46 16 41 20 43 can have meetings until you re blue in the face. Maybe I'll try voodoo." IN WITH THE NEW Catcher Gary Carter said the Mets have sputtered this season because they are a team "in transition." That comes as news to everyone who picked the talent-rich Mets, a 15-length winner in the East last season, to repeat.

Carter said: "They're bringing in new laces. Guys who have been here a few years, they're starting to be forced out." Carter is talking about himself and fellow veteran Keith Hernandez! neither of whom figure in the Mets' plans in 1990. Manager Dave Johnson helped the chemistry immensely when he finally removed rookie dud Gregg Jefferies from the everyday The Mets' comeback win Tuesday gave them 12 victories in their last 15 games. NOT ROSE-COLORED: While the Pete Rose affair stalls in the courts, Rose's chief accuser, Paul Janszen, is showing up on TV talk shows to promote an article in September's Penthouse magazine about his relationship with the Reds manager. During a recent appearance on "People Are Talking" (WOR cable), Janszen said of Rose: "Gambling was his outlet for fun.

I would say that it consumed 90 percent of his daily activities gambling on horses, dogs, pro football, college football, pro basketball, college basketball, pro baseball and sometimes pro hockey. He got an allowance from his attorney, but it wasn't near enough to cover his gambling losses. I tried to estimate what Pete's gambling losses were in 1987 what he actually lost, and I'd say it was over $1 million." From The Penthouse The top four vote-getters for NL most valuable player last season won't be contenders for the honor this year. Last year's MVP, Kirk Gibson, out for the rest of the season because of leg injuries that will require surgery, finished with a .213 batting average, nine homers and 28 RBIs. Runner-up Dar-ryl Strawberry has hit for power (25 homers), but his average has hovered around .230.

Mets teammate Kevin McReynolds, third in last year's MVP voting, is hitting around .280, but has just 14 homers after hitting one Tuesday. Pirates outfielder Andy Van Slyke, who has missed some time with injuries, is in Strawberry's .230 neighborhood with just six homers. Baltimore Milacki (W 7-10) Detroit Alexander (L 5-14) 7 34 16 15 16 19 18 66 68 50 69 83 71 31 30 14 15 25 30 34 34 12 18 23 43 JohnDoherty 14 Michael Garcia 24 Scott Nute 04 Doug Marcero 34 Keith Langston 4-4 Tim Herrmann 54 MattLogue 14 Frank Gonzales 14 Gustavo Pinto 3-1 JmHema 1-2 Randy Marshal 0-2 Kurt Shea 1-1 Henneman 1 Gibson 1 3.91 4.24 5.52 6.66 6.68 6.35 7.82 926 KenWUkams 04 MeWms 6-2 GregEveraon 44 Dan O'Nei 1-1 Darren Hursey 8-10 Paul trVenson 24 Scott AkJred 74 RonRightnowar 2-7 Dave Haas 3-9 Randy Noaak 74 Jose Ramos 24 4 2 52 51 74 70 18 20 152 164 32 38 95 81 97116 89 90 103 93 50 62 000 0 2 39 0 2.66 7 3.38 1 3.83 0 3.86 1 4.34 0 4.52 5 4.74 0 616 0 622 1 2:39. 14,203. Umpires- Home, Denklnger; lb, Tschida, 2b, Merrill, 3b, Palermo.

11 68 6 15 65 69 17 21 43 78 30 44 42 62 86 63 27 27 16 17 15 28 3 14 11 13 How they scored FOURTH INNING Bristol (R) AVO AB HR RBI 88 BATTMG Lakeland (A) 11 14 36 14 AVQ AB HR RBI 88 BATTING vulnerable. And the St. Louis Cardinals have been a player or two short of being a legitimate contender all season. But the Expos seemed to have that championship balance. Manager Buck Rodgers could send out a quality starter for every game.

The bullpen was solid. And they had four respected major league hitters in the middle of their lineup. The Expos had not lost more than three in a row since they got lefthander Mark Langston from Seattle May 25. Now they've lost 10 of their last 12 following a 3-2 loss to San Francisco Tuesday a shocking slide that cost them first place. The reason for the slump has been simple enough: The four players the Expos rely on to generate their offense Andres Galarraga, Tim Raines, I lubie Brooks and Tim Wallach just stopped hitting.

During the seven-game losing streak, leadoff hitters Otis Nixon and Dave Martinez reached base 16 times but didn't score a run. The Expos were 3-for-39 (.077) with runners in scoring position for those games. In a 14-inning, 2-1 loss to the Mets, Wallach was 0-for-6 and left 10 runners in scoring position. Galarraga, a .302 hitter last season, is batting .260. Raines is hitting .294 but hasn't been the run producer Rodgers envisioned when he dropped the former leadoff hitter a couple notches in the batting order.

He has 54 RBIs. Brooks hit .178 in July and hasn't had an RBI since July 24. Rodgers said: "We've tried everything extra batting practice, no batting practice. We've had three team meetings over a 10-day period. You Baltimore: Alexander pitching.

C.Ripken Hied to left. Sheets grounded to second. Orsuiak homered to right. Traber singled to right. Worthlngton walked, Traber to sec-ond.

Quirk flied to left. Orlolei 1, Tiger 0. SIXTH INNING Baltimore C.Ripken homered to left. Sheets lined to first. Orsuiak lined to left.

Traber struck out. FINAL SCORE: Orlolei 2, Tlgero 0. 13 1 22 30 30 49 25 46 14 25 17 28 18 28 12 34 25 37 15 21 8 17 6 13 10 21 24 22 4 10 8 12 286 106 .263 173 .261 178 .243 103 .243 115 .241 116 .241 141 .236 156 .226 93 .224 76 .210 62 .206 102 .169 130 .167 60 .164 73 Ken Lewis Rudy Pemberton MikeRendlna Brad Wilson KaseyMcKeon Travis Kinyoun ArturoCainet Ketoy O'Neal ChnsHel Carlos Maktonedo Juan Reyes Freddie Gamble Ricky fcarguen Lance Daniels Robert Davk) 32 10 27 8 11 11 21 0 33 3 4 0 20 0 19 3 36 43 34 6 .318 233 .292 233 .291 141 .282 216 .265 389 3SA 39 .252 202 .251 211 .248 423 .242 318 .230 322 .229 402 .225 60 .222 54 .216 218 .167 30 28 74 29 66 19 41 29 61 53103 6 10 11 51 22 53 60106 31 77 34 74 41 92 6 18 11 12 21 47 1 6 Shawn Hare AmieBeyeler Steve Peguee Jim Baxter LuieGaltndo Stephen Green Bi Henderson Marcus Adler Basmo Cabrera Ron Marlgny Rlccardo Ingram RIcoBrogna Steve Strong Don Rowland Zachery Doster Crag Wiley 14 12 26 46 4 0 6 7 PrrCHMO W-L ERA SV 9 BB 80 3 5 16 3 4 4 0 6 0 7 0 SO 0.00 1.17 1.95 1.96 T. Rodriguez OO Steve Matcher! 04 Joes Rodriguez 44 JeffBraley 1-4 PITCHING W-L ERA 8V 9 BB 80 11 22 33 19 11 19 28 9 18 6 26 6 1 29 0.00 0.00 1.48 0 7 6 0 1 1 0 42 36 1 81 58 Lino Rivera 14 Darryl Morhardl 14 R. Meacham 4-2 Dave Richards 6-2 16 18 48 29 39 1.67 2.09 10 47 36 211 1 68 49 runs in 21 'a innings in his last three starts.

Tuesday, he resumed the pattern typical of this season. He pitched well enough to win for any team that had a decent offense. But Alexander fell to 5-14 despite allowing two hits besides the two homers. "I made two mistakes in seven innings, and it was enough to cost me the game," he said. But mistakes don't have to repeat themselves forever.

A year ago this morning, the first-place Tigers led the last-place Orioles by 30 games. Kurt Knudsen 3-2 Chuck Steward 34 Mike Lumiey 7-7 5 23 1 20 2 24 0 24 0 50 0 56 0 50 1 19 0 28 0 14 0 36 0 9 1 1 66 22 22 46 19 47 26 7 6 34 15 26 MacSiebart Ed Rodriguez M. Bowman Jose Guzman M. Coleman Brian Rountree Pedro Chsco Mark) Stefan! Ron Materia Joe NekHnger Ivan Martinez Lance Daniels Betances 2.66 3.33 3.65 378 3.96 4.09 4.12 440 4.40 7.90 9.00 18.00 21.60 42 67 20 57 27 41 49 66 34 66 19 44 62 93 44 62 20 19 4 6 16 6 22 51 11 21 2.89 290 304 3.28 356 3.83 6.56 1 106 89 3 71 64 6 60 48 0115 88 2 63100 1 47 46 0 11 12 9-4 34 64 64 3-4 04 Mike Jones JohnKiely Eric Stone Ron Cook Marty Wins Jet) Robinson local Talent Statistics for players with Michigan backgrounds (in minor league systems other than Tigers'; stats through Monday): Players dream of The Show in Single-A Fayetteville AVQ AB HR 81 IB TEAM BATTMG Oneonta (A Yankee) Calgary (AAA Mariners) uaigary (AAA Manners) OF .368 34 125 20 46 1 20 7 OF .339 63 286 60 97 7 49 3 Of .367 68 363 80 126 33 41 1B .322 94 364 80114 12 63 5 .288 36 104 23 30 7 30 1 Paul Outer (Hamburg) Casey Close (Michigan) Bruce Fields (Laming CC) Hal Morris (Michigan) Bryan Bear Western Michigan) 13 Columbus (AAA Yankees) Great Fake (R Dodgers) 1T1 121 447 69 124 26 99 2 574 78 230 38 63 3 31 1 .268 23 67 7 18 0 4 3 566 92 299 43 60 17 62 0 556 109 375 46 96 18 80 10 Dam Howrtt (Battle Creek) Huntsvie (AA Athletics) IB AJ Rlchardeon (Eastern Michigan) Orlando (AA Twins) 2B Blane Fox (Lanemg) St.Lude (A Mets) IB Rob Sepanek (Eastern Mfchlgan) Afcany (AA Yankees) IB Steve Flnken (Michigan) Bakersfletd (A Dodgers) 3B .258 44 156 19 40 3 19 1 OF 556 87 298 42 76 17 54 1 .252 78 268 36 87 10 48 1 2B .251 63 183 36 46 1 28 6 OF 550 2 4 0 1 0 0 0 Scott Makarewicz (Michigan State) Kevin Garner (Midland) Chris HoHee (Eastern Mfchkjan) Dan Snover (Bay City) Mke Davidson (Mfchigan State) Auburn (A Astros) Wichita (AA Padres) Rochester (AAA Orioles) Pulaski (R Brave) Ouad Cky (A Angela) MITCH ALBOM, from Page ID wasn't our fault. We couldn't get a ride.

"Yeah. So he said, 'Aw, then, that's I watched them through the rearview mirror, finishing each others' sentences. So young. So wet. They looked like campers after a tough day of Color War.

Maybe you think the minor leagues are filled with guys on the way up and on the way down. Old and young. "Bull Durham" material. Not really. Not here in A-ball.

This is the land of fresh meat. Rookies. Their names were unfamiliar: John DeSilva, Mark Ettles, Anthony Toney, Mark Cole. I wondered whether one of them was the next Alan Trammell. "Hey," the one named Cole said, leaning forward, "you been to Tiger Stadium? OF OF OF SS 550 36 126 20 32 550 12 38 4 548104 370 67 62 542 86 277 30 67 536106 310 40 74 2 12 0 1 1 31 4 31 0 21 0 1 23 6 4 Dan Mestetar (Michigan State) Tony Mkchel (Detroit) Norm Brock (Detroit) Jo Siddal (Central MfcMgan) Rich Makxwy, (Western Michigan) vlaata (A Twins) Pirate (R Pirate) Cedar Rapids (A Reds) Rockford (A Expos) Durham (A Braves) families (none of them was from anywhere near Fayetteville) and how they had all developed into dedicated letter-writers.

"Man, when I was in college," said Cole, who attended Oklahoma, "I never wrote a letter. I had friends all around me. But here, it's like, you write 'em so you can get 'em. We get our mail at the stadium. And if they give it out and you didn't get a letter, you're like bummed for whole day." Ettles, the kid with the funny accent, had an even better story.

He's from Australia. Australia? Yep. Came on a college scholarship. Got drafted by Detroit. "I talked to my father down in Australia the other day," he said.

"Our phone bill for the last two months was over $2,000. 1 keep waiting for him to tell me to stop calling so much." He sighed. You know what, boss? It doesn't take but a day to figure this out: Life in the minors is all about making phone calls and writing letters and trying to beat the boredom as you wait for your glory- Steve Nicosia (St. Oak Shores) Erie (A Orioles) OF 539 42 138 14 33 0 19 14 John Vanderwal (Western Michigan) JackaonvW (AA Expos) OF 538 55 172 27 41 5 21 2 Dan Rohn (Central Michigan) Oklahoma City (AAA Rangers) 2B .236 101 345 42 61 0 22 3 Larry Lamphere (Central Michigan) AshevWe (A Astros) 2B .234 117 415 81 97 1 36 63 Biy Ashley (Besevie) Dodgers (R Dodgers) OF 527 36 128 18 29 1 17 8 finding DeSilva with a frozen pizza in his hand. "Forget that stuff.

Let's go to dinner. I'll pay." His eyes lit up. He threw the pizza on a shelf. Toney dropped the potato chips. In 30 seconds we were all back in the car, heading for a Mexican joint.

What happened next, boss, I'll have to tell you in another dispatch. That way when the bill shows up on my expense account, you won't pull your hair out. Then I'll tell you about the mud-jeep races after dark. And the way the players attacked the San Diego Chicken during the fourth inning. And the Never mind, There's time for that.

The point is, I'm here and I'm gonna stay for a while, OK? I like it I like seeing guys without agents, guys who talk about how greatjtwould be to have people cheering you in a big league stadium. There's something down here that we've lost in big-time sports. And I'm gonna see if I can find it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a bus to catch. If they leave me here, I may have to eat at the Pig-n-Chicken.

Talk to you tomorrow, Mitch live. No condos here. No high rise apartments. Four to a trailer. One hundred and twenty-one dollars a month, per guy, not including the TV rental.

"Wanna see it'" Ettles asked. We walked in. The air was sticky. The carpet was an off-green. A ceiling fan spun slowly, doing little.

It was quiet. The kind of quiet that depresses you and makes you wish you were somewhere else. "Well," I said, "I gotta go." "Yeah," said Toney, "I'm going to the store. Get some chips and Coke for dinner." "I'D go with you," said Cole. "Me, too," said DeSilva.

"That's dinner?" I asked. "Chips and Coke?" "Hey. I got fined 50 bucks last night for missing a base," said Toney. "We only make $950 a month. Gotta cut back." I waved good-bye and drove off as they headed for the store, which was sort of like a 7-11, but not as nice.

About a mile down the road, I turned the car around. "Hey," I said, entering 'the place, TEAM W-L ERA 8 9 88 80 PTTCHMG 0- 2 0.82 0 11 11 2 8 6-2 1.82 4 75 66 26 60 1- 1 1.96 1 27 21 17 26 6-2 227 1 95 67 17 44 2- 2 236 0 34 36 9 22 Mets (R Mets) Burlnglon (A Breves) Yankees (R Yankees) Rochester (AAA Orioles) Braves (R Braves) Tom WHeon (Port Huron) Chris Czarr (Detroit) Steve Perry (Detroit) Mickey Weston (Eastern Mkttgan) Joseph Roa (Hazel Park) 94 246 0 156' 119 62 126 6-1 257 0 63 49 25 53 64 276 0146 121 67 141 14 279 0 9 9 4 7 14 242 27 60 67 18 67 Mike Ignasiak (Michigan) Stockton (A Brewers) Steve Avery (Taylor) Greenville (AA Braves) Pat Hentgen (Fraser) Dunedki (A Blue Jays) Chuck Alexander (Western Michigan) Burtngton (R Indiana) Mark Dewey (Grand Vakey State) San Jose (A Giants) anyhow, boss, we talked for a while. They told me about playing every day, and the long bus rides and how sometimes they get so tired, they actually Dan Rambo (Central Michigan) Eric Parkkiaon (Kesogg) Chris Lutz (Mfchtgan) Ross Powel (Mttlgen) Kevin Tapani (Central Mfchkjan) Canton (A Giants) Princeton (R Pirates) Charleston-Wv (A Cubs) Cedar Rapids (A Red) Portland (AAA Twins) 44 294 0 52 46 16 46 1-2 300 1 46 47 28 41 6-7 308 0 108 101 33 63 74 3.15 0 68 55 20 66 1-2 315 0 20 24 6 13 4-7 316 0 94 86 60 68 34 326 0 46 47 6 36 0-2 3.31 6 61 48 16 46 64 331 1 111 124 32 56 04 138 0 13 I 10 16 Tom Mfchno (Eastern Michigan) Brian Porter (Eastern Mfchigan) Gordk) Hershisar (Norlhvie) Dave Karaakiakl (Mfchigan) John Locker (Mfchigan) pray for a rainout. They told me about their season, which wasn't going so well with losses to teams like Gastonia, Charleston, Savannah and Greensboro. They talked about missy; their your ride, as the case may be.

And here we were, headed down All-American Highway in Fayetteville, toward the trailer park whef the guys Charlotte (AA Cubs) Auburn (A Astros) San Antorio (AA Dodgers) Burtngton (A Braves) Bmks (A Red Sox).