Monday, April 6, 1998 | 8:40 a.m.
The good news for Las Vegas Stars baseball fans is that manager Jerry Royster believes his veteran squad should be much better than last year's woeful 56-85 squad.
The bad news is that Royster doesn't know for how long.
As is the case with minor league baseball, two or three key injuries at the major league level can have a dramatic trickle down impact on the AAA level.
"It's the old thing about not wanting to count your chickens before they hatch," said Royster, who returns to Las Vegas to manage for his fourth season. "We've got a very good team, but that could all change if there are a lot of injuries in San Diego."
Royster finds his loyalties being tugged in several directions. In one way, he'd love to keep his 1998 squad together and atone in a big way for last year's disappointing campaign. In another way, he'd love nothing better than to see a number of his players have breakthrough seasons so they can get plucked up to the big leagues this year.
"This team is a little more mature than last year's," said Royster. "There are a lot of veterans, a lot of guys with major league experience who understand why they're here and know what it takes to get back there again. They know it takes a lot of hard work."
And maybe a little luck -- not to mention a key injury or two in San Diego.
Here's a position-by-position rundown of how the 1998 Stars shape up for Tuesday's season-opener against Edmonton at Cashman Field.
Pitching
Starters: Stan Spencer (RH, 6-4, 205); Heath Murray (LH, 6-4, 205); Matt Clement (RH, 6-3, 190), Donne Wall (RH, 6-1, 180), Kevin Lomon (RH, 6-1, 195).
Spencer, the former Stanford roommate of Orioles' star Mike Mussina, had a solid 3-2 record and 3.75 ERA in eight starts with the Stars last year and had an excellent spring. He was rewarded with the opening night start against Edmonton.
"He's the best qualified to start (the opener) and he's earned it, too," said Royster. "He's a control pitcher with very good stuff."
The 24-year-old Murray, who split time between Las Vegas and San Diego last year, and the 23-year-old Clement, rated the top prospect in the Padres' system by Baseball America, are youngsters with a lot of promise.
"(Murray) has the capability of being a big-time pitcher," said Royster. "A lot of people in the organization are looking forward to him having a big-time year. (Clement) is a hard thrower with a great slider and good control. He's got the total package."
The 30-year-old Wall was PCL Player of the Year in 1995 with Tucson and once won six straight starts for the Houston Astros. The 26-year-old Lomon already has had big league stints with the Mets and Braves.
"Donne pitched very well in the spring and has a good shot at making the (Padres) again," said Royster. "He has great stuff. I haven't seen (Lomon) pitch much, but he had a good spring and has three major league caliber pitches."
Bullpen: Archie Corbin (RH, 6-5, 230); Will Cunnane (RH, 6-2, 175); Bubba Dixon (LH, 5-10, 165); Paul Menhart (RH, 6-2, 180); Al Newman (LH, 6-5, 240); Carlos Reyes (RH, 6-1, 190); Dario Veras (RH, 6-1, 165).
Veras (2-1, 5.33 ERA in 21 games) split time between Las Vegas and San Diego last year and was one of the Padres' final cuts. The 23-year-old Cunnane, a Rule V Draft pickup from Florida, spent all of 1997 in San Diego and compiled a 6-3 record and 5.81 ERA in 54 games. The 28-year-old Reyes has a major league career mark of 14-23 in four seasons with the Oakland Athletics while Corbin and Menhart also have spent time in the majors.
"They're all capable of pitching and finishing," said Royster. "They'll all have different roles. There won't be one closer or anything."
Infield
Starters: 1B: Jason Thompson, Eddie Williams; 2B: Dave Hajek; SS: Juan Melo; 3B: George Arias. Utility: Greg LaRocca.
The powerful Williams, who hit 20 home runs in just 59 games in Las Vegas in 1994 and will likely DH much of the time, and the left-handed hitting Thompson, who hit 21 HRs in just 111 games with the Stars in 1996, should form a potent middle of the lineup.
The 6-1 Melo is considered one of the Padres' top four minor league prospects while Arias was the Angels' Opening Day starter at third in 1996.
"Eddie is a straight power hitter, a professional hitter who knows what he's doing up there," said Royster. "I'm really surprised he's here (instead of in San Diego).
"Thompson has a good chance to make the big leagues. He's capable of hitting 25 to 30 home runs for us.
"Melo potentially could be great. He's a 40-man roster guy that the organization is really high on. Arias is another guy with major league experience. I think this could be a breakthrough year for him."
Hajek, an excellent fielder who hit .341 in 41 games with the Stars last season, rounds out the infield at second base. Greg LaRocca, promoted from AA Mobile, will back up Arias, Melo and Hajek.
"He'll get three starts at three different positions each week," said Royster.
Outfield
LF: Charles Poe or Aaron Guiel; CF: Ruben Rivera; RF: Chris Prieto.
"We have an excellent outfield and all deserve and will play," said Royster. "Poe will start in left against left-handers and Guiel will start there against right-handers."
Royster said Prieto, who hit .320 and stole 26 bases in 109 games at AA Mobile last season, will lead off.
The Stars would have had a fifth outfielder but Doug Dascenzo, who was to have been a player-coach, recently landed a coaching job with AA Mobile.
Catcher
Starter: Mandy Romero. Backup: Creighton Gubanich.
Romero, who hit .308 in 33 games last year in Las Vegas, played 21 games with the parent Padres and had a good spring. He'll be backed up by the powerful Gubanich (6-3, 210), who looks like he could start at linebacker for an NFL team.
"We've got a good group of catchers," said Royster. "Mandy is a switch-hitter while Gubanich is a right-handed power guy. Both know how to call a game. I have a lot of confidence in both of them."
* NOTES: Stars manager Jerry Royster said that Stan Spencer would start Tuesday night's opener against Edmonton followed by Heath Murray and Troy Clement. ... Tarpgate, Part II. The home plate area at Cashman Field was covered with a tarp Sunday. But when Stars' personnel lifted up the tarp in preparation for their first home batting practice, much of the home plate area was covered in mud. According to a team spokesman, water from sprinklers had seeped under the tarp and created the muddy mess. It took ground crews about a half hour and a truckload of dry dirt to fix the mess.
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