Stars make fresh start

Steve Guiremand

Tuesday, April 7, 1998 | 9:01 a.m.

The Las Vegas Stars begin their 16th season tonight at Cashman Field when they host the Edmonton Trappers.

It also marks the start of a new era for triple-A baseball.

The Pacific Coast League, a 10-team league since 1978, now is a 16-team league divided into two conferences (Pacific and American) and four divisions: Southern (where the Stars will compete along with Salt Lake City, Fresno and Tucson), Western (Edmonton, Tacoma, Vancouver, Calgary), Midwest (Colorado, Iowa, Omaha, Albuquerque) and Eastern (Oklahoma City, New Orleans, Nashville, Memphis).

Where last year there were three AAA leagues, now there are just two: the PCL and the International League. Gone is the American Association, which contributed teams to both leagues.

Gone also are first- and second-half champions. Instead, the four division winners will hold a best-of-5 playoff series with the two winners going on to play for the PCL crown in another best-of-5 series.

The PCL champ then will face the International League winner in the first best-of-5 triple-A World Series at Cashman Field starting Sept. 21.

"I think it's kind of neat," said Stars manager Jerry Royster, beginning his third campaign in Las Vegas. "I love the divisonal stuff. Playing halves just doesn't work. The game isn't designed to be played by halves."

However, Royster isn't a big fan of the new playoff format.

"I'm still of the opinion that whatever team wins the most games should be the AAA champion," said Royster.

"I understand the idea of the playoff format, but I think if it slows down the progress of a player to the major leagues it's wrong. If you're in the playoffs and a team decides not to promote a player because of it, that isn't right. Nothing should ever interfere with the advancement of a player to the major leagues. And I can see that happening."

Following a disappointing 56-85 campaign in 1997, Royster no doubt wouldn't mind having to deal with that dilemma come Septemeber.

"I think we'll have a good team, but a lot depends on injuries both here and with the Padres," said Royster. "That's the thing with triple-A baseball. You could have a real good team at the start of the season but if the parent club has a lot of injuries, a lot of your players could be called up to fill in."

Royster picked right-hander Stan Spencer, one of the top performers of the spring, to pitch tonight's opener against defending PCL champ Edmonton, the AAA affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. The Trappers will start Dave Telgheder, who had a 4-6 record and 6.06 ERA in 20 games in Oakland last year.

"Yeah, I'm sure there will be a few butterflies," said Spencer, who had a 3-2 record and 3.75 ERA in eight games last year in Las Vegas. "You usually have a few butterflies before any game you start. But once you throw that first pitch they usually go away."

* LONG GONE: Players at Monday afternoon's media day were still talking about the home run that Stars center fielder Ruben Rivera crushed during batting practice on Sunday. Rivera, once rated the top power hitting prospect in the Yankees organization, hit a towering drive that sailed over the grassy slope that rises about 100 feet behind the 364-sign in left. It also flew over an auxiliary road before landing on the roof of a building. Estimated distance? Between 525 and 550 feet. Stars outfielder Charles Poe, who was shagging home runs on top of the hill, said he had never seen a longer homer hit at Cashman. "I couldn't believe it," said Poe. "I was standing on the hill by the scoreboard (listed as 474 feet from home plate) and it was still way up there."

* STARS NOTES: Right-handed pitcher Will Cunnane was placed on the 10-day disabled list with soreness in his elbow. "Right now it's more precautionary, but he did have some feeling in there," said Stars manager Jerry Royster. "He's felt (the pain) for a while." Cunnane was expected to undergo an MRI as early as today. ... General admission tickets for tonight's game are available for $1. ... Several fans will be selected from the stands to throw out the first pitch. ... The pitching matchups for the rest of the series: Wednesday: Jay Witasick vs. Heath Murray; Thursday: Ariel Prieto vs. Matt Clement; Friday (Magnetic Schedule Night): Blake Stein vs. Donne Wall.