Sturtze anticipating trade to the Yankees

Nick Christensen

Thursday, May 13, 2004 | 9:31 a.m.

Before Wednesday's game at Cashman Field, Las Vegas 51s pitcher Tanyon Sturtze seemed frustrated with his situation and with being stuck in the minor leagues.

But Sturtze's frustration might have ended after a 7-2 Las Vegas win, when he was told to pack his bags amid rumors he was being traded to the Yankees.

The Sun could not confirm by press time whether a deal had been completed. Despite being told to pack his belongings, Sturtze said he had not received official word of a deal to New York, and 51s pitching coach Roger McDowell said Sturtze would be the starter in tonight's game against the New Orleans Zephyrs.

But the scene in the clubhouse after the game made it clear that something was up. As teammates shook hands and congratulated Sturtze, one 51s teammate shouted, "We're getting Bubba (Crosby) back!" and another said "No, we're getting (Scott) Proctor!" referring to two Las Vegas 51s traded last season in a deal involving Yankees infielder Robin Ventura.

51s manager Terry Kennedy confirmed that the Yankees had scouted Sturtze during last weekend's series in Sacramento. Sturtze, 33, is 3-0 with a 2.50 ERA in six starts.

Sturtze had signed with the Dodgers in the offseason in hopes of finding his way to the big leagues in some capacity and expecting some of the Dodgers' pitching would be traded.

It didn't work out that way, and Sturtze, an eight-year major league veteran, started the season at Triple-A Las Vegas, much like former 51 Wilson Alvarez. Alvarez pitched nine shutout innings Wednesday for the Dodgers and lowered his 2004 ERA to 1.10.

"I know what Wilson did; we talked about it in spring training once it started looking like things weren't working out," Sturtze said of his 2002 teammate with the Devil Rays. Sturtze went 4-18 that year.

After spring training, though, Sturtze noticed that the Dodgers teach pitching differently from other teams he'd been with.

"I feel good; the pitching and coaching staff of the Dodgers have helped a lot through spring training. They taught me a lot about mechanics, the 'Dodger way' of throwing the ball. It seems to work for me," he said.

The "Dodger way" includes staying back longer over the rubber instead of attacking too early. It's something Sturtze hadn't learned in the 15 years he'd been playing professional baseball.

"You're always going to be learning," he said. "We have a coaching staff with each guy having 15 years in the big leagues. These guys have spent a lot of time in the game."

But as the veteran starter on a club with many prospects in the starting rotation, Sturtze himself has advice to offer the team's young guns, although he prefers to defer to McDowell.

"They know they can say whatever they want to me when maybe they'd watch what they'd say to Roger because he's a coach," Sturtze said. "When you're young, it seems like every pitch is the last pitch you're ever going to throw. I tell them that it's a long season, it's not just one pitch.

"They put a lot of pressure on themselves because they want to get there, and sometimes you put a little too much pressure on themselves."

And as of Wednesday night, it appeared that Sturtze himself has worked his way back to the big leagues, too, through a patient start in Triple- A.