Chrabascz gives rookies and scrubs a chance September 5, 1997
Hartford (AP)- The Hartford Whalers return home from South Dakota today to host a series with last-place Montreal. In an attempt to rest up and spare his stars from injury, Manager Jeremy Chrabascz has decided to make radical changes to the lineup for the series. Said Chrabascz, "There's no need to risk injury to our stars, especially since it is doubtful that this series will have any real significance to either club. Besides, I kind of want to see what some of this kids can do BEFORE the playoffs."
Rookies such as SS Ron Choate and RF Ozzie Timmons will start along with Luis Sojo, Terry Pendleton, John Wehner, Chris James and Jake Ruberto. The only "regular" in today's proposed lineup is slumping lead-off man, Tony Phillips. Timmons will get a shot at playing center for the first time in place of Junior while Pendleton will try his hand out at first base and Sojo will DH. Only Harold Reynolds, Pendleton, Choate and Girardi have appeared in games this season (and very few at that). Jake Ruberto, recently recalled from AAA Glastonbury, will make his major league debut in place of Aaron Sele in the fifth spot in the pitching rotation today.
The Whalers currently hold a slim 3-game lead over the Deadwood Outlaws whom they swept on the road earlier this week. Montreal is in last place in the McCoy and pushing to avoid finishing 20 games out or worse.
Here's where everybody will be for the Montreal series:
LF Tony Phillips, C Joe Girardi, 1B Terry Pendleton, 2B Harold Reynolds, SS Ron Choate, 3B John Wehner, RF Chris James, CF Ozzie Timmons, DH Luis Sojo.
