PVBL: Larimer Knights
Larimer drafts pitching, infielder
February 18, 1998

by sportswriter Brian Pertner
Special to the Laporte Herald-Tribune

GALENA, IL: In the words of the late singer, songwriter, and activist Harry Chapin: "And the excitement continues to build." And excitement about the 1998 season truly is building along the Colorado Front Range following last night's Free Agent draft and today's release of Larimer's Opening Day lineups. The Knights have made two additions to their pitching staff and tried to shore up the middle infield during Saturday's draft at league headquarters in Galena, Illinois.

The Knights chose as their first-round pick lefty reliever Garry DellaVentura. There was speculation that team owner John Dybala might choose 2B Craig Counsel with the first pick, but he instead chose to listen to the wise advice of many people, this columnist included, and shore up his bullpen.

DellaVentura immediately boarded a plane to Denver to report to Spring Training upon receiving the telephone call from Dybala. He arrived in Fort Collins around noon today and met Dybala, along with backup catcher Curry Powell, at Boltz Field, across from Dybala's Fort Collins home. After the young lefty played catch with Powell for half an hour or so, he was signed to a major-league contract and will be on the Opening Day roster. Unfortunately, Dybala's gamble that Craig Counsel, along with backup selection Scott Spiezio, would survive the first round failed. Hence, Dybala opted to draft 24 year old switch-hitting 2B Jason Bates. Bates's offensive numbers are noticably less stellar than those of either Counsel or Spiezio, but he is qualified at four different positions, something the owner is known to look for in his players.

"With all due respect to both Bates and Mark McLemore, we are in the market for a second baseman. We have initiated discussions with Motor City concerning the availability of Jody Reed," was all Dybala would say about Bates, who was sent to the low-minors roster and will play in Fort Morgan for at least the first month of the season.

The third round pick was 24 year old lefty reliever Ricardo Jordan. Jordan will also be sent to Fort Morgan on the low-minors roster. "We feel he has the potential to develop into a solid lefty reliever eventually," said Dybala. "I think he'll prove to be a welcome addition to the club."

There were rumors that Larimer was also trying to sign free agent Floyd Hoerst, though that could not be confirmed at press time.

Also today, the Knights released their Opening Day lineup, which is as follows:

1B Jose Offerman
SS Miguel Friantague
LF Brian Giles
3B Jim Edmonds
DH Paul Sorrento
CF Lenny Dykstra
C  Chris Hoiles
RF Orlando Merced
2B Mark McLemore


The Opening Day pitcher will be last season's team Most Valuable Pitcher, Paul Quantrill.

There is some controversy surrounding the lineup, as many observers thought Curry Powell, who raised many eyes with his better-than-expected performance during Hoiles's two stints on the DL in 1997, would be behind the plate on Opening Day. Manager Don Baylor, however, apparently opted for Hoiles's offense over Powell's defense. The manager subtly indicated in his statements to the press, however, that he would probably not tolerate a sub-par performance from Hoiles for very long: "I myself wasn't sure what to do behind the plate. I'll see how things go with Chris for a couple of weeks, and then I'll have to evaluate my options."

Baylor may not have to worry about what those options are, as the Knights front office, through assistant GM Allison Cashwell, released a list of players on the trading block, which includes Hoiles:

C  Barney Robinson
2B Howie Paulette
3B Jeff Branson
3B Steve Buechele
OF Bud Fisher
OF Joe Orsulak
P Dave Burba
P Marv Geraghty
P Jose Lima


"Of course we'll listen to offers on any player," commented Cashwell, "but these are the players we probably have more interest in trading for some more help in the middle infield and the bullpen."

--written by John Dybala