Stars chief carries over spirit of ‘96

Wednesday, Feb. 12, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

When Jerry Royster pulled off his uniform for the last time in 1996, his Las Vegas Stars had just been swept in three games by Phoenix in the Pacific Coast League Southern Division playoffs.

Despite losing three games to a team that consisted pri marily of double-A and single-A players, Royster said that he had never been more proud of any team he had managed.

As Royster prepares to head to spring training to start his second season as the Stars' manager, he hasn't deviated from the opinion he expressed back in September.

"We got beat three straight games by what I call an inferior team at the time but, basically, so what?" Royster said Tuesday at the Stars' annual booster club luncheon at Caesars Palace. "I hope this year that we can win some more games but (losing in the playoffs) did not take away from what we did."

The Stars posted a 73-67 record in 1996 -- their first winning season and postseason appearance since 1992 -- after making a strong second-half run. What made the Stars' performance all the more special, Royster said, was the way they handled the early-season death of team leader Mike Sharperson.

"They had a great season -- that was an outstanding season considering the adversity they had to go through," Royster said. "There was more to that season than a lot of people know. I've never had a more fulfilling season than I did last year -- including the playoffs."

That could change this season if the Stars have the kind of year many in the San Diego Padres' front office are expecting. While most of the veteran players from last year's team are gone, this year's club should be a mixture of prospects and veteran players.

Jim Skaalen, the Padres' director of player development, said he expects the Stars to be extremely competitive.

"I'm really excited about it," Skaalen said of the Stars. "I don't know the organization all that well, but I do know we have a lot of prospects and when you combine those guys with the (veteran players), you're going to see a team that's going to represent itself very well."

Royster said it is too early to predict how the Stars will fare this season, but he liked the idea of being able to manage prospects such as first baseman Derrek Lee, second baseman Homer Bush, shortstop Jorge Velandia and outfielders Todd Steverson and Stoney Briggs.

The Padres also have re-signed former major leaguers Doug Dascenzo (outfielder), Pete Smith (pitcher) and Craig Colbert (catcher) as well as nearly two dozen other six-year free agents.

"We're going to be young," Royster said. "It appears there is going to be a combination of young players and veterans, but it appears the starting players are going to be very young and we're going to have some veteran fill-ins.

"It's going to be quite different than last year. My role with this team is going to be quite different -- I'll have a lot more to teach and a lot more guys to keep a real close eye on than I did last year. This year I'm going to have to do a lot more teaching but I feel better about doing that."

Royster and first-year pitching coach Sid Monge will report to the Padres' spring training complex in Peoria, Ariz., later this week. The Stars open their 15th anniversary season at Cashman Field on April 3 with a four-game series against the defending PCL champion Edmonton Trappers.