Tuesday, April 14, 1998 | 7:11 a.m.
STEVE CARPis a Las Vegas SUN sportswriter.
IT'S EASY TO understand Eddie Williams' frustration at starting his 15th professional baseball season in Las Vegas instead of San Diego. Or in any of the 27 other major league cities for that matter.
While there are a lot of players in Williams' situation, guys who think they deserve to be up at "The Show," there are some who are not unhappy to be playing triple-A.
Count Chris Prieto among the content. The former Nevada-Reno outfielder isn't worried about call-ups, money, status or flying charter. Heck, a year ago at this time, he was riding the bus playing for Rancho-Cucamonga in the Class A California League. So "spoiled" isn't part of the 25-year-old centerfielder's lexicon.
"Someone in the organization believes in me," Prieto said. "You just don't get handed a spot in triple-A. You have to earn it."
Of course, Prieto dreams of one day pulling on a big-league uniform and flying to New York or Philadelphia. But from his simple perspective, the grass is just as green at Cashman Field as it is at Qualcomm Stadium.
"As long as I can walk into a clubhouse every day, I'm not worried about a couple of extra dollars or riding planes instead of buses," he said. "I'm not here for anything but baseball."
His love of the game supersedes the material rewards and the perks that come with fame. As a 7-year- old, he slept in his baseball uniform, then spent the day in it prior to going to the field for a Saturday afternoon game. His twin brother, Rick, also in the Padres' chain and playing at double-A Mobile, loves the game equally.
"We were always playing baseball," Chris said. "We never had to go far to get someone to play catch or something with baseball.
"I just have so much respect for the game. Just sitting here in the dugout talking about the game. The competing. I just love being part of it."
The thing is, Prieto is on a path where he probably is going to get a shot at the bigs. Stars manager Jerry Royster is convinced it's going to happen.
"He's on his way," Royster said of Prieto, who was hitting .316 going into Monday's game with Calgary. "The light next to his name has been turned on. Everyone knows his name now.
"If he keeps playing the way he is, he's going to be a lot happier and his pockets will be a lot heavier."
Prieto said that would be nice. Time is still on his side, and he frankly would love to see Williams get back to the Padres first, then join him at some point.
"I realize where I am on the totem pole," Prieto said. "It's tough getting to the major leagues. We all want to be there. And if I do get there, it'll make me work harder.
"But I'm happy here in triple-A. I don't think San Diego said, 'We're going to give Chris a shot.' I believe this was my destiny to be here (in Las Vegas)."
But Prieto may not be here very long. There may be a seat on the charter before he realizes it. And he'll be just as happy sitting on that plane as he will the one he'll occupy Wednesday when the Stars fly to Vancouver. After all, baseball is baseball.
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