Padres double-A skipper promoted to guide LV Stars

Steve Guiremand

Tuesday, Oct. 13, 1998 | 10:49 a.m.

There figure to be a lot of promising young San Diego Padres prospects dotting the Las Vegas Stars roster next spring.

Players like catcher Ben Davis and outfielders Mike Darr and Gary Matthews Jr. are rated among the very best young players in all of minor league baseball. And when they likely report to triple-A in March, they'll find a familiar face waiting for them.

Mike Ramsey, who played seven seasons in the major leagues with the St. Louis Cardinals, Montreal Expos and Los Angeles Dodgers and has managed in the minor leagues for the past eight years, was officially named Monday as the new manager of the Las Vegas Stars.

Ramsey, 44, replaces popular Jerry Royster, who announced last month that he would not return for a fourth season as manager of the Stars after compiling a 199-224 record, including a 70-72 mark in 1998. Ramsey has been the Padres' double-A manager at Mobile the past two years, winning the Southern League title in 1998, and also spent a year managing single-A Clinton, Iowa in 1996.

"I feel very fortunate," Ramsey said from his home in Seminole, Fla. "Actually, I knew a couple of weeks ago that they were going to make the move, but I guess they waited until (Monday) to announce it. I'm really looking forward to coming to Las Vegas and getting an opportunity to manage at the triple-A level."

"He's a hard-nosed baseball guy," Stars general manager Don Logan said. "The thing was they have all those kids together, kids that everybody in baseball thinks a lot of like ... Davis, Darr and Matthews. (Ramsey) has had them for the last couple of years and they've won.

"At triple-A, you've got to worry about (player) development," Logan continued. "It's as big a part as anything. You've got to teach them how to win. (Ramsey) knows what buttons to push. He knows how to treat them. I think it's the right choice."

Jim Skaalen, the director of player development for the Padres, agreed.

"Mike has earned the opportunity through the tremendous success he enjoyed at Mobile the last two seasons," Skaalen said. "Above winning and losing, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to developing future major leaguers. Nobody will outwork Mike, and I'm sure he and his players will continue to excel at Las Vegas."

Ramsey spent five years managing in the Cardinals' chain before joining the Padres and managing Clinton to a 64-70 mark in 1996. One of the pitchers on that squad was Matt Clement, who may begin 1999 in Las Vegas after an outstanding 1998 campaign with the Stars.

Ramsey moved up to double-A Mobile the following year where he directed a BayBears squad that included Clement, Juan Melo, Mandy Romero, Charles Poe, Greg LaRocca, Chris Prieto and Gabe Alavarez to a 69-68 mark and a first-half division title. Mobile lost to Huntsville in the Southern League semifinals in five games.

Last season Ramsey returned to Mobile and, led by co-MVPs Darr and first baseman Mike Mitchell, compiled an overall mark of 86-54. The BayBears won both halves of their division and defeated Jacksonville (Tigers) 3-1 in the best-of-five Southern League championship final.

"This particular group in '98, as far as young guys, is really good," Ramsey said. "A bunch of them came together this year for us (at Mobile). They're coming up through the ranks together. It will be fun to watch them progress some more."

Logan said hitting coach Craig Colbert would return to the Stars as well as trainer George Poulis. However, pitching coach Dave Smith may not return so he can spend more time with his family in Southern California.