THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 15, 1994 TAG: 9407150706
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 42 lines
The Norfolk Tides have 50 games. Fifty chances left to make up at least 8 1/2 games in the standings and gain a playoff spot in the International League West.
They are fourth in the five-team division - 10 games behind Charlotte, 8 1/2 behind second-place Richmond - as they resume play tonight after the all-star break. The Tides travel to Richmond for a 7 p.m. game against the Braves before the Braves visit Harbor Park on Saturday and Sunday.
The division's top two teams will reach the postseason. Charlotte leads by 1 1/2 games over Richmond. Separating the Braves and Tides is third-place Columbus, which is 6 1/2 out of first place.
Despite recent improvement, the Tides produced an inconsistent first half that left them with a daunting game of catch-up.
Assume Charlotte (53-37) splits its final 52 games and Richmond (52-39) plays one game above .500 in its last 51. Charlotte would finish 79-63; the Braves would compile a 78-64 mark. To make the playoffs, the Tides would need to win 34 of their final 50 for a 78-64 record to tie Richmond for second. In that case, the league's tie-breaker criteria would be consulted to determine the playoff participant.
Considering that the Tides have not been over .500 since their opening-night victory, such a run would border on the miraculous.
In the Tides' favor is that 27 of their final 50 are against teams above them in the standings - 11 against Richmond, four against Charlotte and 12 against Columbus.
That could make moving up faster. Then again, it also could produce a swifter fall.
SWAP: The New York Mets called up lefthanded reliever Eric Gunderson from Norfolk and sent down righthanded reliever Doug Linton. Gunderson was 3-1 with a 3.68 ERA with the Tides; Linton was 6-2, 4.70, with New York. by CNB