THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 17, 1995 TAG: 9505170197
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines
Jeff Ware is home during the baseball season, for once not because he's killing time, sidelined by an injury. Ware, from Virginia Beach, hit town Tuesday as a member of the Syracuse Chiefs for their three-game series against the Norfolk Tides at Harbor Park.
Ware, a former star at Old Dominion, is not scheduled to pitch. He'll do that Saturday in Richmond. But just being in the Chiefs' rotation is a victory for the 24-year-old righthander whose four-season career has been laden with shoulder trouble.
``He's lost about two years because of injuries,'' Syracuse pitching coach Bill Monbouquette said. ``The thing we're real happy about now is his arm is sound.''
The Toronto Blue Jays' second-round draft choice in 1991, Ware suffered pain after his first half-season in Class-A Dunedin in '92, then needed surgery and missed the entire '93 season. After more surgery, Ware didn't return until the second half of last year and pitched miserably - 0-7, 6.87 earned-run average - in Double-A Knoxville.
Including his four starts with Syracuse, through which he is 1-0 with a 6.75 ERA, Ware has appeared in only 26 professional games and worked 125 innings. But his shoulder is fine, Ware said, and he is past the fear that his arm isn't up to the chore. He and the Blue Jays figure it's time for Ware to experience Triple-A and see exactly where he stands.
``This year I'm 100 percent,'' Ware said. ``The Blue Jays are giving me a chance, and hopefully I can improve myself to where I used to be.''
Aside from a strong five-inning stint against Toledo in his second start, Ware has been spotty, particularly with his control. In 12 innings, he has walked 14. He blames that on mechanical kinks that he said will work out with time.
``I've got the same split-finger (change-up) and the same curveball,'' Ware said. ``I think my fastball, if it's not all the way back, will get pretty darn close.''
Ware makes his off-season home in Palm Harbor, Fla., now with his wife of two years, Cathy. He visits his family occasionally in Virginia Beach, and had to rustle up about 16 passes for Tuesday's game. He expects to hang out with parents at their home today, maybe go out to lunch, but he is staying with the Chiefs at their Norfolk hotel.
Considering what Ware's been through, though, probably the best part of this trip is knowing he can leave the folks behind when his team does. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Jeff Ware, for former ODU standout from Virginia Beach, pitches for
the Syracuse Chiefs.
by CNB