Stars’ Espy gets call-up

Steve Addy

Wednesday, May 31, 2000 | 10:41 a.m.

After a minor league career that has spanned 30 summers, Duane Espy ascended from Stars manager to the San Diego Padres' hitting coach Tuesday. Then his players gave him an appropriate send-off.

As if to confirm that the 47-year-old Espy has a promising future tutoring the Padres' hitters, the Stars knocked the ball all over Cashman Field, breaking a team record with nine runs in the fifth inning en route to a 13-5 PCL victory over the Fresno Grizzlies.

A few hours earlier, the players learned that the Padres had chosen Espy to replace Ben Oglivie in San Diego and filled Espy's managerial post with minor league infield instructor Tony Franklin. Espy will join the Padres today and Franklin will debut as the Stars' manager Thursday at Nashville.

Espy is well prepared for his promotion, having spent the last five years as the Padres' roving hitting instructor before becoming Las Vegas' manager this season. His stewardship of the Stars was a success, as they went 30-20 and hold a 1 1/2-game lead in the Southern Division.

"I almost still don't believe it," Espy said. "I guess when I get (to San Diego) and start working on the field, it will sink in. After 30 years in minor league baseball, to have this happen in the middle of the season isn't something you'd ever expect.

"But I am absolutely looking forward to it. I've had a great two months here. I'm really going to miss finishing what we started. Hopefully, they can keep it going in the same direction."

Though the Stars clearly had a good thing going with Espy manning the controls, there was happiness in the clubhouse that he's finally getting a job in the big leagues. His eight-year playing career was spent entirely in the minors, as has his 22-year managing and coaching career.

"It's bittersweet," outfielder Dusty Allen said. "Obviously, we'd love him to stay here, but it's all about moving up (to the major leagues) for everyone. I've been with Duane ever since I was drafted and I've always felt like I was getting big league instruction in the minors."

Outfielder Mike Darr said, "It's always great when someone goes up, whether it's a player or coach. He's been in the game 30 years and hasn't been up there, so I am really happy for him.

"But you kind of hate to see him go because he's such a good hitting coach. It helps a lot to have your manager be a great coach and have him there for you all the time."

The Padres found themselves needing a new hitting coach because players complained that Oglivie wasn't giving them enough instruction in his first season with the team, and management concurred. Oglivie was demoted to the Padres' rookie league affiliate in Peoria, clearing the way for Espy.

Stars GM Don Logan said, "Duane is ready for that job, and Tony Franklin will do great here."

Certainly, Franklin is taking over a club whose house is in order. The Stars rank fourth in the Pacific Coast League in batting (.286) and second in ERA (3.99), and Espy has been applauded by Padres management for instilling better work habits than previous Stars teams.

Franklin, a minor league manager for 12 seasons (never above double-A) and instructor for seven more, said he has no intention of making major changes in midstream.

"I think Duane has done a great job, and I don't think it's warranted for me to come in and change things," said Franklin, who will turn 50 on June 9. "That's not to say we won't do some things differently, but I think this is a good club that knows what it's doing. They will make my job easier than it might normally be coming into a new situation.

"I'll just jump into a seat on the bus and see if I can keep it going in the same direction."

"Tony is a great baseball man," Espy said. "Our lives have pretty much paralleled. He's been in the minors all of his career. He's a tremendous worker and a man of vast baseball knowledge. I've drawn from him a lot over the last five years. I think the team is being left in better hands."