Who he is, and what he’s not

By Ron Kantowski

Thursday, April 9, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Provided it doesn’t snow or something like that, former Las Vegas Stars catcher Mike Basso will exchange lineup cards with Tom Runnells at home plate at Security Service Field in Colorado Springs at a little past five this afternoon, thereby officially becoming the 19th manager in Las Vegas’ Triple-A baseball history.

He follows Harry Dunlop, Bob Cluck, Larry Bowa, Jack Krol, Steve Smith, Pat Kelly, Jim Riggleman, Russ Nixon, Tim Flannery, Jerry Royster, Mike Ramsey, Duane Espy, Tony Franklin, Rick Sofield, Brad Mills, John Shoemaker, Terry Kennedy, Royster again and Lorenzo Bundy as the man the Stars and 51s have called “Skipper.”

Unlike Dunlop, Basso never caught a no-hitter in the minor leagues in which the starting pitcher struck out 27 batters. (Had it not been for Harry’s dropped-third strike with two outs in the ninth, it only would have been 26).

Unlike Bowa, Basso has never been thrown out of a game and suspended for refusing to stand in the third-base coach’s box.

Unlike Nixon, Basso didn’t call the pitch that Roger Maris hit off Tracy Stallard for his historic 61st home run.

Unlike Flannery, Basso doesn’t have a singing and recording career outside of baseball.

Unlike Royster, Basso never managed the Lotte Giants of the Korean professional league.

Unlike Mills, Basso did not become a footnote in baseball history by becoming Nolan Ryan’s 3,509th career strikeout victim, thereby lifting Ryan past Walter Johnson as the all-time strikeout leader.

Unlike Shoemaker, sixth in basketball assists at Miami of Ohio, Basso’s not that good as distributing the rock.

Unlike Kennedy, Basso never tied Johnny Bench’s record for doubles in a single season (40).

But during a five-minute chat Tuesday at Cashman Field I learned that his favorite baseball movie battery is Kevin Costner pitching and Kevin Costner catching, and that he likes to throw his peanut shells on the floor.

Although we didn’t touch all the bases, the 51s’ new manager graciously agreed to go around the horn with my questions, even the frivolous ones that had little to do with baseball.

Conversely, when I asked Steve Yeager, the former 51s hitting instructor, about posing for “Playgirl” when he played for the Dodgers, he basically told me to go straight to Helena of the Pioneer League.

Q: Three-run homer or sacrifice bunt?

I like the three-run homer. It’s three runs.

Starting pitchers: Leave ’em in or take ’em out?

Leave ’em in. They need the work. They’re the workhorses of the staff. They need to be in there.

Ex-catchers make the best managers because ...

Because they are in charge of a 12-man pitching staff with all those personalities and they have the whole field in front of them from a defensive standpoint.

Peanuts or Cracker Jack?

Peanuts. Plus, I get to litter. I can just throw the shells on the floor.

Who would you pick to sing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” during the seventh-inning stretch?

George Strait would be really nice. I like country music a lot. I like classic rock, too.

Why don’t today’s players choke up when they have a count of two strikes, like my Little League coaches used to tell me?

They feel like they have bat control. One of the best players I’ve ever seen is Tony Gwynn, and he didn’t have a two-strike approach. Why should you have a two-strike approach when the pitchers are still throwing the same? It’s more of a defeatist attitude. So let’s take that (full) swing with two strikes.

Do you have a favorite baseball movie?

I really like “Bull Durham” and the second one is “For Love of the Game.” I think they’re close to being realistic. There’s always that entertainment value but the trials and tribulations are there.

Baseball is better than football because ...

Because you have to play every day. You are tested every day. Plus, I just feel it takes more skill.

What do you consider your biggest baseball thrill?

Managing the 2004 Eastern League champion New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

And I thought winning is secondary to developing players in the minor leagues.

We’re here to win. We’re not here to lose. We’re here to win.