THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 6, 1994 TAG: 9408060377
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
They won't do it. That is, unless they change their minds over the next six days.
That was the non-definitive word Friday from Gerry Hunsicker, the Mets' assistant vice president of baseball operations, concerning the possible farming out of young players before the Aug. 12 major league strike deadline.
Speculation has centered on such players as Rico Brogna, Jeromy Burnitz and Jason Jacome being sent back to the Tides so they can play three more weeks in the event of a strike.
But Hunsicker said he ``didn't anticipate'' those moves being made unless they were in the normal course of business. Besides, he said, it wouldn't be fair to bring up somebody to replace a kid just so they can walk out and lose their remaining minor league paychecks.
But that wouldn't have to happen, which leaves room for uncertainty. Kevin McReynolds, Jeff McKnight and Pete Smith are still on the Mets' disabled list. Smith could be activated today, Hunsicker said, and McReynolds and McKnight, with the Tides on a rehabilitation assignment, next week.
Josias Manzanillo, out with a shoulder problem, could replace Smith on the DL, or Jacome could be sent down. Activating McReynolds and McKnight presents the opportunity to send down Burnitz and Brogna without calling up anybody from the Tides.
And under Triple-A rules, the Tides, conveniently, may expand their roster from 23 to 25 on Aug. 11, the day before the possible strike.
Tides manager Bobby Valentine said he hasn't heard one way or another, although he said his new hunch is that his club will receive players. Last week, his hunch was just the opposite.
One guess: They'll do it - unless they don't.
TWO GAMES TONIGHT: Friday's game between the Tides and Syracuse Chiefs was rained out, the second consecutive August home date lost to rain after many near-misses in July.
A make-up doubleheader will be played tonight, starting at 6:15 p.m. Juan Castillo will make his Triple-A debut for the Tides. Eric Hillman also will pitch.
The first 3,500 fans 18 and under will receive a sports bag.
NAVARRO'S DONE: Injury-plagued Tito Navarro won't play again this season after he was diagnosed by Mets doctors as having a fascial tear in his lower right abdomen.
Navarro must rest for three months. He could be ready to play the last part of the winter season in his native Puerto Rico.
It was believed that Navarro had a hernia. But the same symptoms are generated by a tear in the connecting tissue that supports the abdomen, trainer Fred Hina said. ILLUSTRATION: TIDES REPORT
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