Columnist Dean Juipe: Thrills, spills as Stars’ fans feel extremes

Dean Juipe

Wednesday, April 29, 1998 | 9:08 a.m.

THEY WERE two snippets from the same game, separated only by a few minutes.

One was touching, a rush of sorts.

The other was a silent sentinel, a somber and frustrating reminder of the not-too-distant past.

Microcosm No. 1: Top of the eighth inning Tuesday at Cashman Field and after surrendering a pair of singles, Stan Spencer -- the starting pitcher for the Las Vegas Stars -- is removed from the game. The crowd, given at 2,370, virtually rises in unison as Spencer departs, his brilliant game appreciated by one and all during a lengthy and spirited ovation.

He leaves having allowed no runs or walks and only four hits. His impressive gem includes 12 strikeouts.

Microcosm No. 2: The fans sit stunned as Spencer's replacements, first Al Newman and then Brian Tollberg, are touched for five more hits in the eighth and a game the Stars appeared certain to win is lost. The 3-0 lead that Spencer handed the bullpen turned into a 5-3 defeat that served as a reminder that 1997 -- when the Stars were a sorry 56-85 -- wasn't all that long ago.

Despite the emotional setback to the Memphis Redbirds, Stars general manager Don Logan says not to worry.

"I have a good feeling about this group," he said, although the Stars' three-game losing streak has dropped them to 11-9 after a fast start. "We've got a good core of talent."

The Stars do appear to be solid and maybe even loaded, except, perhaps in one key area: the bullpen.

"I think we'll be OK," Logan said. "Dario (Veras) has given up some bombs but we expect him to become a decent closer."

Veras, having pitched the night before, was bypassed in the series finale with the Redbirds. Regretfully for the Stars, the guys stepping in for him were ineffective and, from a team if not individual standpoint, they managed to take a good deal of the luster off Spencer's masterpiece.

It was a tough loss for a club with the potential to be one of the finest in the franchise's 16-year existence.

"I know we've never had this much starting pitching," Logan said. "The starting staff has no weaknesses.

"And we finally have a lot of depth around the field. There's no shortage of talent on this team."

It's obvious the Stars are well-stocked. They currently have seven players on their roster with major-league experience, and many of the remaining 17 players will someday reach the bigs.

There is quality experience (Eddie Williams, George Arias) and there is unlimited potential (Spencer, Matt Clement, even the currently somnolent Ruben Rivera). Mix in a number of players driving hard for a shot with the Stars' parent team, the San Diego Padres, and it's an intriguing blend.

Yet the bullpen is a concern and so are the Fresno Grizzlies. They're a veteran team that is off to a better start than the Stars and seemingly the team to beat in the Pacific Coast League's South Division.

It's a long season, filled with many ups and downs. Anyone who witnessed Spencer's up and his bullpen's down saw both extremes within a blink of the eye.