Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 2, 1995 TAG: 9509060019
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
``It's a shame it's over so quickly,'' said Avalanche general manager Sam Lazzaro.
He was speaking of the 20-date finish in the glorious new ballpark. There's no question the 6,000-seat palace has brought a new attitude to Salem baseball. In 20 hot August nights, the Avalanche will attract almost as many spectators as the 70,633 who watched the first 49 games of the season at Municipal Field.
The club is averaging more than 3,300 per date in the new park, compared to 1,536 at Municipal. With a whole season of promotions, there's little question the Avalanche could approach 250,000 in attendance when the 1996 home season opens April 8.
However, there are reasons besides the park to be enthused about Salem's baseball future. One is the fact that the month the club has spent in Memorial Stadium will only help operations next year. The notion, advanced by some, that the club should have waited until 1996 to move, was off base.
``We learned a lot in the one month,'' Lazzaro said. ``It taught us a lot, and now we have all winter to improve on our weaknesses and our strengths as well. The front office, we're ecstatic at how user-friendly the park is. It far exceeds any of our expectations.''
Another plus is the first-year affiliation with Colorado, one of the richest organizations in pro baseball and one that is committed to player development as only a third-year franchise. Not only are the parent Rockies a contender, so are most of their farm clubs.
The Rockies' clubs above Salem - Class AAA Colorado Springs and Class AA New Haven - are in their leagues' postseasons. Asheville, the Class A farm below the Avalanche, is battling for a second-half divisional title in the South Atlantic League with two games left. Portland (Ore.) is eight games over .500 in the short-season Northwest League.
So, the Avalanche was an exception down on the Rockies' farm, and the reason was relief pitching and a lack of team speed.
``I don't have any problem with our performance by position players and our starting pitching for the most part,'' said Dick Balderson, Colorado's vice president of player personnel. ``You aren't going to find Class A center fielders better than Eddie Velasquez. Chris Sexton is more reliable than most at short. The complaint was the bullpen, and our middle relief was very bad.''
And when the club had to play 70 percent of its home dates in Municipal Field, where the score can easily become 7-4 by the fourth inning, that bullpen shortage was exacerbated.
Balderson said he expects most of the Avalanche players to move to Double A, which is where he envisions Salem manager Bill Hayes will be working next season, too. The Rockies' farm director won't say who he sees as the new 1996 Salem skipper, except to say the man is within the organization. How about Avalanche hitting coach Tony Torchia, a longtime skipper in the minors, or Asheville manager Bill McGuire?
The Rockies' executive said most of Salem's talent next season is finishing this weekend at Asheville, although Avalanche lefty Doug Million, still only 15 months out of high school, figures to return here to at least start '96. Former Tennessee quarterback Todd Helton, playing first at Asheville after his July signing as the top Colorado pick, ``should start next season in Salem,'' Balderson said
As for Asheville outfielder Derrick Gibson, whose power and speed make him a rare prospect? Gibson leads all of the minors with 108 RBI and ranks third with 31 homers. His '96 address depends on his performance in the Hawaiian winter league, ``which is a basically Double A level of play,'' Balderson said. ``If Derrick can handle that, he quite frankly might skip Salem.''
The frankness with which Colorado has dealt with Salem's front office also has been a plus.
``The Rockies have been first class in every sense of the word,'' Lazzaro said.
First class is nice. First place would be better.
by CNB