Clement struggles for Stars

Steve Guiremand

Wednesday, May 20, 1998 | 11:26 a.m.

San Diego Padres general manager Kevin Towers stopped by Cashman Field Tuesday night to watch the team's top pitching prospect, Matt Clement, lose a 9-4 decision to the Vancouver Canadians.

And although he didn't bring any players with him to help out the injury-ravaged Las Vegas Stars, Towers said help will be on the way.

"By the weekend, a position player, probably either Eddie (Williams) or Ruben (Rivera) will be sent down," Towers said. "And there's a good chance Archie Cianfrocco could go on the disabled list (with a back injury). If so, he could come down here for rehab."

The Padres delayed the expected Tuesday activation of third baseman Ken Caminiti from the disabled list. Caminiti experienced some tightness in his sore left quadriceps while running recently and Towers said the Padres didn't want to rush him back.

"He had a setback the other day," Towers said. "We're maybe shooting for his return in Houston in two or three days. He's still not able to run at close to 100 percent."

Meanwhile, a frustrated Stars manager Jerry Royster continues to wait for reinforcements. Following Tuesday night's latest setback, Royster appeared to reach the boiling point.

"It's just unfortunate for the fans that we couldn't replace our guys," Royster said. "We have a lot of guys playing out of position both on offense and on defense. ... We don't even have enough guys here to warm up a pitcher in the bullpen. Both of my catchers are out there playing."

Backup catcher Creighton Gubanich has been forced to play first base the last two nights because of a shoulder injury to regular first baseman Jason Thompson.

Royster said he had to leave Clement in longer than he wanted in the seventh inning because he didn't have anybody to warm up a pitcher in the bullpen. Eventually, Craig Colbert, the team's first base coach who was activated and started as a designated hitter each of the last two nights, went down and warmed up reliever Roberto Ramirez even though Colbert was due to bat later in the same frame.

"He's supposed to be getting ready to bat, yet he has to go down to warm up the pitcher," Royster said angrily.

If that wasn't bad enough, outfielder Aaron Guiel, who hasn't played recently because he's awaiting new glasses to correct vision problems, also was pressed into duty to warm up pitchers later in the game.

An inexperienced catcher with blurred vision -- not exactly an ideal ... or safe ... situation.

"We've worked hard to create a new fan base here," Royster said. "Now we don't even have the capability to keep a roster. ... I understand why. But it's too bad. This shouldn't happen in triple-A baseball, especially to a team that's this good."

So why is this happening? Are the Padres doing it to save money?

"I don't think it's the money. They just choose not to do anything," Royster said.

"It's taken a long time to get people in here," Royster said. "I don't want them to get turned off by what they saw tonight."

Besides the good possibility of at least one Padres player getting shipped down this weekend, Towers said they are looking to sign a couple of free agents for the Stars. Among the players being considered are longtime minor league star Pork Chop Pough and former Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Tony Longmire.

Meanwhile, Towers, who flew into Las Vegas with Clement's agent, Barry Axelrod, said he wasn't disappointed by what he saw from the hard-throwing right-hander, even though Clement yielded six hits and seven runs in 6 1/3 innings.

"His velocity was 94, 95 mph with great life and a great slider," Towers said.

"He's got as good of stuff as anyone on (San Diego's) staff right now. The main thing he needs to work on is his consistency. ... He's going to be a great one. But we're not in any hurry. I'd like to see him get 15 or 20 starts down here. If he continues to do well, he could get called up at the end of July."