THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 3, 1994 TAG: 9407030205
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
From third-string catcher in rookie ball to backup in Triple-A. That is the total improbability that Brandon Smith has lived since June 20, when he joined the Tides as an emergency reserve when Brook Fordyce went on the disabled list.
With Fordyce activated Saturday, but with his catching availability uncertain because of his healing left knee, Smith's unlikely adventure will unfold for at least a few more days.
That's fine by him. A bench role with the Mets' rookie team in Pittsfield, Mass., awaits.
If he's got to catch in the bullpen and stay ready for possible brief fill-in duty in the minors, Triple-A is the place.
Despite the fact that nobody jumps from rookie ball to Triple-A, Smith, 21, said he hasn't been awed by his surroundings. He's even gotten into two games and has a single, an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base.
``A lot of the guys have made me feel comfortable,'' said Smith, originally a 37th-round draft pick by Oakland in 1991 out of high school near Atlanta. ``Everybody's looking out for me.''
Smith played two seasons of rookie ball with the Athletics and was released after spring training last year.
He traveled to China, the Phillipines, Canada and Alaska with an Athletes in Action team, and then hooked on with the Mets in spring training.
The Mets' catching at lower levels has been depleted through injuries, though, and available options for a Triple-A replacement that wouldn't disrupt the Double-A or Class-A clubs were few. So Smith was tabbed.
He obviously isn't ready to compete in Triple-A, but Smith knows his experience with the Tides has to prove invaluable as he strives to return to this level.
``These guys have been through what I'm going through now, the long bus rides,'' Smith said. ``It's a long way to get here, and whatever these guys have done has kept them around long enough to be here and have a chance to play in the big leagues.
``Just by seeing a lot of the personalities and attitudes toward the game, that's helped a lot.''
NO STEALING: Tides catchers this season have been outstanding at throwing out attempted base-stealers. Overall, they have nailed 46 percent (32 of 69), with Joe Kmak leading the way with 56 percent (14 of 25) before Saturday.
Fordyce has thrown out 18 of 43 (42 percent).
A LITTLE HISTORY: Before Thursday, when the Tides beat Richmond, 16-6, the last time the Braves had yielded 16 runs in a game was July 31, 1986. Pawtucket beat them, 18-0, that day, but that's only one reason the game was notable.
The starter for Richmond was current Atlanta star Tom Glavine, in his Triple-A debut. Glavine gave up eight runs in 2 1/3 innings.
AROUND THE LEAGUE: Yankees catcher Matt Nokes completed his rehabilitation stint with Columbus last week, which was bad news for the Clippers. Nokes hit six home runs in seven games ... Ottawa lefthander Jimmy Williams was 5-0 with an 0.54 ERA in five appearances in June. ... Tyler Green of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre finally won a game June 25 to snap a seven-game losing streak. ... Carlos Delgado, the April power-hitting sensation who fizzled with the Toronto Blue Jays, had one home run in his first 75 at-bats for Syracuse. training for Rico Brogna, had struck out 106 times through Thursday. It was the most in all of Double-A and Triple-A. The International League record is 199, by Richmond's Dave Nicholson in 1968. by CNB