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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 11, 1994)
IMu*iqueGourn*t Catanng lotto Dtacrtmlnrtno Cctoclor CRfTICALLY ACCLAIMED CLASSICAL MUSIC, OPERA, BROADWAY & FILM SCORES ON COMPACT DISC 1 CD S FROM $5.95 In the Flfthpeart Building ?07 E. 5th Avenue OPEN 7 DAYS 343-9000 SPWNGftlDi SCIENTIFIC | SUPPLIES 11^4 lift* Wftft / So. r&ma O^gpr i 9MT? / (503) 726-9176\ ! -000 3*4-2047 r (-\ “31 years of Quality Service” Mercedes • BMW • Volkswagen Audi • Datsun • Toyota ,3Emna iiminnrpsjB 342-2912 2025 Franklin Blvd. -GERMAN - AUTO SERVICE, INC. Eugene, Oregon, 97402 I I I I (/Z/t'S'/o/t'S 1311 Lincoln Willamt-nt* To\\« rs Building 345-1810 Haircuts. ..*8 reg $15 with shampoo & condrtioner Perms...S29K & spirals ••••• • 3s reg. 15CV65 w/ conditioners, cut & styte longer, cokx heated hair shghdy more. Cm^m gMd aad Mary. Mat Uoru Mm. V»4i Ml RmtMM aomun **•/ U«W urn VWtm 4 M*U WMxfc Good Through August 12, 1994 Loop rods LAZAR'S BAZAR OVER 500 DIFFERENT TYPES AND STYLES OF MEN’S & WOMEN'S SHOES. SIZES 1-16 AlrtWALK Simple. • L.A. GEAR • HI-TECH • VISION • SAGA CLOGS • SCOTT • ELLESSE • SABRA NECEY • SENSI • BOKS • PUMA JOHWlfKVOC \w/ w$*h}c5K* 57 w. Broadway Downtown Mall 9 SHORT BLOCKS WEST OF CAMPUS LAZAR'S BAZAR ob 687-0139 a* OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK M-F 10-7. SAT & SUN 12-6 EUGENE S POPULAR PIPE & TOBACCO STYLES SINCE 1974 ~oregon Daily Emerald Sports Low pay, bus trips worth it for Ems By Chris Metz ><M lfx> Ovyan 0»*f I mtvtkl "This is what I've wanted to do my whole life." said Em* pitchar Jason Hitter with a l>oy ish seriousness "I’m going to bust my butt for two or three years and see where it takes me If it looks like I’m not going any where, then I’m going to have to get out into the real world." It’s hard to imagine that the real world would take a bark seat to a fast food diet. 10-hour bus rides, and barely enough money to buy a 107H Pinto, but while this, the life of a minor league iMselmll player, falls a bit short of the Utopian dream, it all seems worth it for the chance to one day button up a major league uniform t-or Class A ballplayers, play ing lh*> game they love brings with it a fair amount of pressure to succeed. Each player is undoubtedly aware that the odds of making it to the big leagues rests somewhere between slim and none "It hasn't really bit mu yet." Scott Pinoni, the Kms' power hitting first baseman, said "Nest spring when there's 160 guys fighting for 100 spots, that's when I'll realize it." Watching the Kms take batting practice on a cool Oregon after noon with the fresh sound of the bat crocking line drives out to center, interrupted ou asionnlly by a random hoot from first base coach Rafael Santana, patrolling the field with his infamous swagger, it becomes dear that, at this level, this is still a game. Talk of salary arbitration and revenue sharing are fur removed from this playing field Most of these young men have been playing baseball for most of their lives and the Class A Emeralds is a logical step toward their dream of one day walking between the lines of a major league park. Even so, Eugene is the first professional experience for most of the Kms. and some times it's easy for them to forget that they are pros now. as to them, it's still just a game that they love. "Sometimes I’m out there and really enjoying the crowd, the atmosphere ana the opportunity that I've been given to play,” starting third baseman Sean McNally said politely, weighing out fhe pressures and pleasures of playing professional baseball. "And other limes, I'm upset about my Iasi at-hat. I could bo al home playing Balie Ruth when I was 14.“ The Northwest league also provides some reality checks to remind the players that they are now professionals "When 1 see the ninth hitter hit it out," said Malcolm Cepe da. “that's when I know 'hey, I'm a professional One problem that comes with the first year of pro hall is the adjustment that has to be made Iwith on and off the field. Every year the Kms meet a few days liefore actual games begin, which proves to lie interesting as "When you first come out horn, you don't know the guys." Pinoni ndded. “It was a lot easi er to make the adjustment, being real good friends If you've got a problem, you can always go to him, or he can come to me." To a man, this year's Ems agree that the experience they have gained in Eugene and minor league baseball has been not only worth it in the long run, but it has been an exciting experience overall. "I wouldn't want to spend the rest of my life at this level, but it's one of those steps you've got to take." Jed Hansen, the Ems' second baseman, said. "It's a lot GARY GRAS&*or fm«rakl Signing autographs la fust ona ot tha many experiences that minor taagua playars hava to gat usad to on thalr path to tha mafor leagues the players get to know each other, both on a personal level and a talent level as well, "You have five days, and everybody's trying to show off and show that they belong," McNally said. "It takes a few weeks to just settle in and relax." For McNally, the adjustment was made a bit easier by the fact that Pinoni. his college team mate at Duke, wound up with him in Eugene as well. While both Pinoni and McNally say that everybody on the team "gets along great," they admit that coming to Eugene together has been an extra cush ion in their adjustment to the life as a minor leaguer. "It's a little bit traumatic for anybody — going away from home and ploying, even though that's what all of us want to do," McNally said. "I was really excited just to know somebody. For the first couple of weeks it helped a lot." of fun though." Anybody who has even seen Bull Durham knows that the minor leagues come with their share of pitfalls like long bus rides and low pay. But while those subjects bring grimaces and smirks to the faces of the 1994 Ems, it’s all just a labor of love. Just ask pitcher Mike Kurnick, who measures in at 6'9”, 225 pounds. “I don’t like buses, but I'm a big guy." Kurnick said, with a grin. "You’ve got to deal with it though. If you want to play, it's just what you've got to go through." "I don’t like the bus rides at all." McNally said grudgingly. "You've got to learn how to play after a JO-hour bus ride and you’re exhausted. Somehow you've got to get yourself going, and I’m just now getting used to it." Turn to MINORS, Page 8 The Largest Video Came Store -in the Northwest y\ iwi We buy, sell, trade & rent • Nintendo • Super Nintendo • Sega Genesis • Gameboy • Game Gear • Machines For cash or store credit! Come check it out! Located at: 1508 Coburg Rd., Sheldon Plaza • 683-5598 Open Daily
