THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, April 29, 1995 TAG: 9504290468
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
The Norfolk Tides jettisoned one-third of their players from the time they left Harbor Park on April 19 to when they returned Friday to open a seven-game homestand. Eight new faces joined the team, including last season's most valuable player Aaron Ledesma and fan-favorite Butch Huskey.
Both are back at new positions, however. The Mets have changed Ledesma from a shortstop to a third baseman, with an eye toward making him a utility man. Huskey, last season's third baseman, is now the leftfielder by order of the Mets.
Of all the problems that come with assimilating new players, most of them rusty from an abbreviated spring training, the latter move has created the most awkward situation for manager Toby Harrah.
Huskey's arrival means Derek Lee, who leads the International League with five home runs and is second on the team with 11 RBIs, is now without regular work, except as designated hitter against American League affiliates. Harrah promises to work Lee into the outfield when he can, but it's plain that the 28-year-old from Reston, Va., who hit .300 for Ottawa last season, is stuck, at least for the time being.
``You deal with it,'' said Lee, who is five years older than Huskey. ``Obviously, I'm not happy with it, not at all. If anyone were in my shoes and wasn't unhappy about it, they shouldn't be playing. ... I'm not going to start any kind of controversy. If they want me to DH, I'll DH and give them all I've got.''
Harrah said Huskey has taken to leftfield well, that you can't tell from casual observation that Huskey is learning a new position.
``It looks like he can cover some ground out there,'' Harrah said. ``His tools look fine. Now he has to put up some numbers. That only comes from playing every day, and he'll get that opportunity.''
It's tough for Lee, Harrah admitted, but that's pro ball.
`He's not in any different boat than a lot of players get into at different times in their career,'' Harrah said.
MOVING UP THE RECORD BOOK: Righthander Dave Telgheder started his 66th game as a Tide on Friday to move into ninth place in franchise history. Telgheder, who threw the Tides' only nine-inning no-hitter in 1992, carried a 21-29 career record and 3.68 earned-run average into the game.
John Mitchell made the most starts in club history, 88, from 1986 to 1989. by CNB