New faces set for Las Vegas debut

Steve Guiremand

Thursday, April 8, 1999 | 11:14 a.m.

New Stars hope to carry over success from double-A Mobile

Omaha at Stars

When: Saturday, 7:05 p.m.

Starters: LV, Brian Tollberg; Omaha Dan Reichert

Tickets: $8, $7, $6, $5, $4, $3.

Stars are offering a $1 general admission ticket for tonight only

They were a big hit in Mobile. Now can they pass the test in Las Vegas?

The Las Vegas Stars open their 17th season tonight at Cashman Field when they host the triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, the Omaha Golden Spikes. The bulk of the Stars' roster will come from double-A Mobile, which won the Southern League championship last year and was named the minor league team of the year by Baseball America.

"Now it's the next test," said Mike Ramsey, who managed Mobile last year and will take over for Jerry Royster in Las Vegas. "I'm glad that most of them have gotten the opportunity to go this way."

Three of Baseball America's top 100 minor league prospects -- catcher Ben Davis (24) and outfielders Gary Matthews Jr. (73) and Mike Darr (94) -- have joined Ramsey in making the sojourn to triple-A from Mobile, as did starting infielders David Newhan and Mike Mitchell. And opening-night starter Brian Tollberg is one of four pitchers on the Stars' roster who spent time in Mobile last season.

"It makes it a lot easier," Davis said of the mass transition to Las Vegas from Mobile. "You know how guys react in different situations and you know how guys play the game."

Davis said it also is a big plus to be playing for Ramsey again.

"We all appreciate the way he manages a ballclub and takes care of his players," Davis said. "It will be fun playing again for him."

Tollberg, who went 6-3 with a 2.41 ERA at Mobile last year but was just 6-6 with a 6.38 ERA at Las Vegas, agreed.

"Rammer is a real easy manager to play for," Tollberg said. "He just kind of fills out the lineup and lets you go out and do your job. It's very laid back."

Ramsey said Tollberg will start tonight's opener followed in the rotation by left-hander Heath Murray, right-hander Jose Mercedes and a couple of ex-Mobile right-handers, Bryan Wolff and Buddy Carlyle.

"He threw well in the spring," Ramsey said of his decision to start Tollberg tonight. "I like him. I had him in the past. I like his mental makeup. He'll get that chance and hopefully it'll work out."

"It's always special to be the opening-night starter," Tollberg said. "I was an opening-night starter in 1997 in double-A. So two out of the three years I've been with the Padres I've been an opening-night starter which is kind of nice. It's just a matter of going out and doing your job and not letting the hype get to you."

* STARS NOTES: Ramsey said infielder Ed Giovanola may not join the team until Friday. The Padres are still trying to trade the veteran infielder, who was designated for assignment on Tuesday when San Diego recalled left-handed reliever Roberto Rivera from Las Vegas. Giovanola has 72 hours to report to Las Vegas. ... Stars' officials are estimating a crowd of 5,000 for tonight's opener. ... Ex-Star Dario Veras is a reliever for Omaha. ... Right-hander Dan Reichert (1-1, 4.67 ERA) will oppose Tollberg tonight.