THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, April 18, 1995 TAG: 9504180413
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: TIDES REPORT
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
Mike Birkbeck earned the International League's first pitcher of the week honor Monday by winning twice and allowing no earned runs in his first two starts. It's an award Birkbeck somehow avoided last season, though he went 13-6 with a 2.73 earned-run average for the champion Richmond Braves.
However, the Atlanta organization offered Birkbeck, 34, no hope of a promotion, so he returned to the Mets after a two-year absence. Birkbeck was only 4-10 with a 4.08 ERA for the Tides in 1992 in 21 appearances. But Tides pitching coach Bob Apodaca was eager to regain Birkbeck's services and lobbied minor league director Steve Phillips to sign Birkbeck over the winter.
``I mentioned to Steve that he knows how to pitch and that I thought he could help in New York,'' Apodaca said. ``He's good for the organization. You know you're getting a quality pitcher and a quality young man.''
Birkbeck allowed 12 hits in his first 13 innings, with three walks and eight strikeouts. Both runs he allowed were unearned, as was the first one he allowed in his start Monday.
He was 13-8 with a 3.11 ERA for Richmond in 1993, but spent no time in Atlanta that year or last season.
``I think Atlanta told him to leave the organization for his benefit,'' Apodaca said. ``They were going to go with a lot of young guys at Triple-A this year. I think he saw the movement that six-year free agents have had from here to New York the last couple years - Mauro Gozzos, Mickey Weston, Tommy Filer, Doug Linton. I think he saw opportunity here where he could advance.''
GREAT ARM ON THE WAY: Touted righthander Jason Isringhausen, 22, has racked up 28 strikeouts, with only two walks, in his first 15 innings for Double-A Binghamton. The Tides shouldn't necessarily look for him on the next puddle-jumper, however, Apodaca said.
``I hope they don't jump the gun on him, not that he doesn't deserve to be here,'' Apodaca said. ``Everything can't be based just on statistics. You want to see him be able to pitch when he doesn't have his good stuff.
``He'll be here soon enough, or he might just bypass us. They should give him a chance to pitch in Double-A when the weather gets warmer and better for the hitters. Then, if he's still dealing, I'll be the first one to welcome him.
``I just think, for him, it's better to go a few starts too late than a few too early.''
COLUMBUS STUFF: The Clippers feature a first baseman, Joe DeBerry, who is the son of Air Force Academy football coach Fisher DeBerry. ... Lefthander Brien Taylor, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1991 draft, is listed on Columbus' disabled list but is still working out in Florida. Taylor is recovering from shoulder surgery suffered in a offseason fight in 1993. ... Today's pitcher, Dave Eiland, is the Clippers' all-time winningest pitcher. Eiland is 42-17 in parts of six seasons with the Clippers. ILLUSTRATION: BOX SCORE
STANDINGS
STATISTICS
[For a copy of the charts, see microfilm for this date.]
by CNB