Plain Dealer sportswriter Bill Nichols, a baseball coach on the sandlots of Lakewood, recently put on the uniform of the Batavia Trojans to be a coach of the Indians' lowest minor league team and chronicle the experiences of youngsters getting their first taste of the professional sport. This is the fourth of his reports.

Young players go to Batavia green as grass

by Bill Nichols

Some have the confidence of General Patton. Some have no outward feelings at all. Others are so nervous they become ill. But all are green as the grass when they arrive in Batavia, N.Y., for their first exposure to professional baseball.

Batavia, the Cleveland Indians' rookie team in the New York-Penn Class A League, is the proving ground for young baseball players.

Kelly Gruber, an 18-year-old shortstop from Austin, Texas was the Indians' top pick in the June draft. He arrived with his confidence bolstered by a signed contract that included a sizable (but undisclosed) bonus.

Mark Wright, an 18-year-old shortstop from Newberry, Fla., came to Batavia with only his glove, baseball shoes and a severe case of nerves that put him in bed. He was the 37th round choice in the June player draft.

Today, Gruber and Wright form the double play combination for the Trojans.

Gary Holden, a 19-year-old outfielder from California, joined the team after the NYPL season began. He didn't own a glove or baseball shoes. He had no money. But that didn't stop him from chasing his own private rainbow.

Then there were Luis Duarte, a 20-year-old catcher, and Matt Minium, 21, an outfielder, who started for the University of Miami and played in the College World Series.

The oldest players on the roster at 23, were Mike Schwarber, a righthanded pitcher from Cleveland State, and Chuck Melito, a power-hitting first baseman from Metairie, La. The baby was 16-year-old Justo Saavedra, an outfielder from Panama.

Although the players come from throughout the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Panama, they all have something in common - an unbending desire to succeed.

Kevin Malone, 20, Steve Jenter, 20, and Andy Alvis, 21, led the club in worrying. The uncertainty ahead always was on their minds.

Malone, a second baseman from Louisville, wanted to do well enough to be invited to the Indians' Instructional League. He worried daily about his chances.

Jenter, a righthanded pitcher from Jackson, N.J., got sick everytime he pitched. He called it a virus.

Alvis, a distant relation of former Indian Max Alvis, was frustrated by his inability to pull the ball. He was a candidate for both third and first base.

But, the early nerves award went to Wright. Upon arrival, he was so sick that he couldn't eat. He finally had to call his father, George, who flew to Batavia to be with his son.

A week later, George returned to his farm in Florida after he was convinced his son would make it. "I think he is glad I'm leaving now," the elder Wright said. A single and triple in a game did as much as his dad's presence to restore his confidence.

Gruber showed up with a jammed finger suffered in a high school tournament game and couldn't play for a few days. Indians Farm Director Bob Quinn and superscout Dan Carnevale wanted Gruber in the lineup as soon as possible. So trainer Dennis Brogna had Gruber put his injured finger into a lemon overnight, one of his Grandma's home remedies he called lemonaide."

Gruber got into the lineup at shortstop right away and played thereafter.

Gruber and Wright were outstanding quarterbacks on their high school football teams, and Gruber was tempted by a football scholarship from the University of Texas.

"I'm glad I made the decision to go into baseball," said Gruber. "I can get to the majors a lot quicker. At first, I wanted to play football because of the glory, but I really didn't think I had a future and I feel I do have one in baseball."

Gruber, 6-0 and 175 pounds, has a powerful arm, pretty good range, but needs the invaluable experience he is gaining by playing daily.

Another shortstop, Eddie Tanner, a 17-year-old prospect from West Columbia, S.C., looked so good in his first appearance that the Indians sent him to Auburn, an independent team in the same league, so he could play every game. There are about a dozen Indians' rookies on the Auburn roster under similar circumstances.

Wright is giving himself four years to make the big leagues.

"Being drafted felt pretty good," says Wright, who is 5-10 and 160 pounds. "All I could think about was going to the big city. Then when I got here (Batavia), I find it's not much bigger than Newberry.

"I played shortstop all my life and now I'm playing second. I like it. There isn't much difference. I'll play anything as long as I can play. Everything here is so much faster than in high school. The competition is so much tougher. I love it, though.

Tom Burns, an 18-year-old righthanded pitcher who is 6-3 and 200 pounds, thought pro ball was better than he ever expected. "I knew it was a business though," he added realistically, "the minute I put my John Hancock on the contract."

"I know I'm just a piece of meat, a commodity. But that's okay. I just want the opportunity."

Terry Norman, a 19-year-old lefthanded pitcher from Elyria, typified the determination these youngsters possess. "I'll never quit," he said. "I'll stay in this game until they kick me out."

Jack Cassini, the Indians' roving coach who was helping the Batavia players, is happy about the recruits, but added, "These kids come here and don't know the fundamentals. Some of them think they do. But, we hope they do know something when they leave."

Patience is the key with rookies, according to Carnevale. "You have to see them play everyday for months before you can make an evaluation."

Carnevale called this a quality group of rookies. But it is unlikely that more than 5% will ever put on a major league uniform.

Jeff Moronko, a 20-year-old third baseman who is 6-2 and 190 pounds, may well emerge as the top prospect. He hits, fields and throws well. He also has blond hair and is called Cowboy - a pretty good combination.

Gruber, Wright and Moronko may one day play at the Stadium. Only time will tell.

Judging the rookies at Batavia is an inexact science at best. If they look good here, it doesn't mean they will star at the Stadium. Most will never even see it.

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