THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 7, 1995 TAG: 9507070495
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
For being caught up in a crazy baseball season, Trey McCoy's had a pretty good week and a half.
First, the former star at Virginia Beach's First Colonial High School saw his wife, Tracy, give birth to the couple's second son, Tanner. Then McCoy, 28, healed from a broken hand suffered while playing for the Laredo Owls in the Mexican League and got an offer from the Mets to join the Norfolk Tides.
``It's going to be a neat experience,'' McCoy said. ``My mom and dad are thrilled. They really haven't see me play since 1993 in Tulsa.
``The Tides have always been a part of the Tidewater area. When you're a kid and you know you want to play, you sit in the stands and fantasize a little bit. I think there was always a deep-rooted desire to play here, but after I was drafted by the Rangers I didn't think about it.''
McCoy, 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, was Texas' ninth pick in 1988 out of Virginia Tech, but last April the Rangers traded him to the Chicago White Sox, who released him after one day. McCoy, who says that move ``is still a mystery to me,'' sold cars for a week or two in Oklahoma City, where he had been playing before hooking on with Laredo.
He was there 40 days, but most of them were spent on the disabled list after he broke two knuckles on his left hand diving into second base on an aborted hit-and-run. It was an ironic way to get hurt, considering McCoy has only 17 stolen bases in eight pro seasons.
The Mets, at manager Toby Harrah's prompting, had interest in McCoy throughout, but wanted to make sure McCoy was healthy before making an offer.
``I appreciate the opportunity,'' said McCoy, a first baseman/designated hitter who worked with Harrah when Harrah was a Rangers' hitting instructor. ``I told Toby I hope I don't mess up the chemistry or anything they've got going here. I'm just going to do the best I can.''
OTERO GOES UP: Outfielder Ricky Otero was called up to the Mets on Thursday when the Mets placed second baseman Jeff Kent on the disabled list.
Otero began the season with the Mets and was optioned to the Tides on May 28. He was hitting .262 in 36 games with the Tides.
ISRINGHAUSEN ALL-STAR STARTER: Tides pitching coach Bob Apodaca said the Tides have been told righthander Jason Isringhausen, with a 9-0 record and 1.29 ERA, will start Wednesday for the National League in Moosic, Pa.
As such, the Tides will limit Isringhausen to only five innings Sunday when he is scheduled to start against Ottawa.
``They told me I'm coming out after five even if I have a no-hitter, and not to bitch,'' Isringhausen said. ``Usually I bitch when they take me out.''
Apodaca said Isringhausen is expected to pitch just one inning in the all-star game. ILLUSTRATION: Trey McCoy
by CNB