THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 28, 1996 TAG: 9604280205
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
After stealing 128 bases in his first five years of minor-league ball, Alex Ochoa never imagined getting No. 129 would be so difficult.
But the Norfolk Tides rightfielder was 0 for 7 on steal attempts heading into Saturday night's game with the Pawtucket Red Sox at Harbor Park.
``I've never had anything like this happen my whole entire life,'' said Ochoa, who entered the season aiming for 30 stolen bases. ``I can steal and that's always been a part of my game.''
Ochoa has been victimized by some untimely whiffs and check-swings by teammates.
``Alex have been on the back end of some failed hit and runs,'' said Tides manager Bobby Valentine. ``On the other end, he's gotten to third on some successful hit and runs, but there's no statistical category for that.''
Five of Ochoa's foiled steal attempts have been on hit and runs. On another, he was caught leaning on a pickoff attempt and was thrown out at second by the first baseman.
He's only been caught on a straight steal once.
``Hopefully it's just like a slump and I'll come out of it soon,'' Ochoa said. ``I need to. Some of the guys like Kevin (Flora) and Jay (Payton) have been really giving me a hard time.''
ADD OCHOA: The Tides will give away collectable posters of Ochoa, who leads the International League in hits with 23 and is batting .333, to the first 5,000 in attendance at today's game. Game time is 1:15 p.m. and gates open at noon.
The Ochoa poster is one of eight the Tides will give away during the season.
ATTENDANCE WOES: The Tides have averaged just 5,151 tickets sold in their first 11 homes games after averaging 6,304 for their first 11 last season. But owner Ken Young knew there was a chance for a dropoff.
``The weather has been horrible and we opened at home,'' said Young. ``When you open the season on the road in the IL, you get only one full home stand in April. When you open at home, you get two.
``We've learned that even if you promote the heck out of April games, it still doesn't work. You still have to have decent weather and groups don't want to chance bad weather.
``Am I disappointed? Sure. We had game-time temperatures in the low 40s for most of the first home-stand and game-day threats of rain from 4 o'clock on for this homestand. That kills walkup sales. A couple thousand in walkup turns into a few hundred.''
DAYTIME GAMES: The Tides have moved their business persons specials up an hour to 12:15 this season in part to accommodate a growing interest from schools wanting to schedule field trips to the games.
``We've got a couple thousand (students) coming on our next two weekday dates,'' Tides general manager Dave Rosenfield said. ``The earlier starting time allows the buses to get back to schools in time so that it doesn't goof up their afternoon bus schedules.''
The Tides play two more weekday games while school is still in session - Monday and May 15. Another weekday game is scheduled for June 19.
SAC BUNTS AND SINGLES: Tickets for the Tides exhibition game with the New York Mets on May 9 at 7 p.m. will go on sale Wednesday at Harbor Park. Tickets are $8.50. ... Through Thursday, Binghamton's Brian Daubach and Terrell Lowery were leading the Mets organization in hitting. Daubach, a first baseman, was hitting .404. Lowery, an outfielder who once played point guard for Loyola-Marymount during the Hank Gathers Era, was batting .365. Both have four home runs, also organization bests. ... Tides centerfielder Gary Thurman leads all active minor leaguers in stolen bases with 370. by CNB