THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 9, 1995 TAG: 9507090019
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
Now that Butch Huskey has conquered much of the frustration of 1 1/2 seasons with the Tides, you might think he'd want to enjoy some peace of mind. You've got to wonder, though, when you discover that Huskey's new hobby is one of the world's great sources of frustration.
``Lately I've picked up this game they call golf,'' Huskey said. ``It's frustrating at times, but sometimes you hit a perfect shot and say, `Man, I could be on the PGA tour if I played this.' ''
Excuse Huskey if he's tipsy with confidence. Redemption can do that for a guy when he powers his way to the top of the International League's home run and RBI lists.
In the past three weeks, Huskey has muted many of the questions that lingered from his disappointing season a year ago, when he arrived with impressive power numbers and a reputation as one of the New York Mets' finest prospects.
However, laboring with a surgically repaired shoulder that remained sore, Huskey batted .228 with only 10 home runs and 57 RBIs. A slow start this year prolonged the idea that Huskey, 23, might be over his head in Triple-A.
The thought can be banished. Huskey carried a .275 average, 15 home runs and 55 RBIs into Saturday's game, not to mention loads of self-esteem. Since June 14, when he was batting .243, Huskey has hit in 16 of 21 games, batted
``Now people are finally getting to see that what I did in the lower leagues wasn't a fluke,'' Huskey said. ``I hate to go back to last year, but (the shoulder) just hurt so bad. I didn't get the job done, and I'm not one to make excuses. But people might say, `So maybe he was hurt last year, now that he's doing this now.' ''
Huskey and manager Toby Harrah peg the reversal to Huskey's willingness to adjust his stance, specifically spreading out to keep his weight back, and improved discipline that keeps him from fishing for breaking balls.
The Mets targeted Huskey for special attention from Harrah, just as they asked ex-manager Bobby Valentine to tutor him last season. Huskey said Valentine also tried to get him to spread out, but ``I gave up on it in about three days,'' Huskey said. ``It didn't feel comfortable. I take the blame for that. Maybe I would've done a little better than I did. But I didn't give it a chance and it didn't work because I panicked.''
Said Harrah: ``The big thing is staying with it. There's no overnight fix. Along the way there's going to be setbacks, you're going to see a lot of the swings of old. But we're seeing less and less of those swings, and seeing more quality at-bats. That's what's nice, and it's shown in his statistics.''
NOTABLE: Outfielder Carl Everett has not committed an error in 52 games with the Tides. Everett could not start for the second consecutive game Saturday because of a foot injury. ... Reliever Don Florence has not allowed an earned run in 17 consecutive appearances dating to May 27. ... Before Saturday, the Tides had allowed six or more runs in a game only 14 times. They are 2-12 in those games. ... The Tides are still second in the league in stolen bases despite being thrown out on 15 of their last 24 attempts. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Butch Huskey has powered his way to the top of the International
League's home run and RBI lists.
by CNB