The Triple-A Charlotte Knights are on the market, and Maryland Baseball Limited Partnership is a potential buyer.
"We expressed an interest," said Peter Kirk, chief executive officer of the company that owns the Bowie Baysox, Frederick Keys and Delmarva Shorebirds.
"At this point, I don't know any details. They asked us to put our interest in writing, and we expect to go down there and talk to them, but right now it's not a big deal."
Knights owner George Shinn has become increasingly frustrated in his attempt to land major-league baseball and has offered the club for sale.
Kirk's group is shopping for an existing Triple-A franchise after expansion teams went to Durham, N.C. and Memphis, Tenn.
Foul weather for Shorebirds
The Delmarva Shorebirds set a South Atlantic League attendance record last season, but are currently running behind at the gate despite their new affiliation with the Orioles.
"I hate to use the weather as an excuse, but it's killing us," said Shorebirds general manager Keith Lupton. "We could go through the entire first half and only have two ideal baseball days."
Cold, wind and rain have been the primary culprits. The team still leads the league by a wide margin, but Lupton says it could be much better.
"I think the Oriole tie is helping us," he said. "If it weren't for that, I think we'd be even farther behind."
Keys' Seaver injured
Frederick is closing in on a first-half title in the Carolina League's Northern Division, but will have to do without one of its aces.
Right-hander Mark Seaver, a fourth-round pick last June, has been sent to Sarasota, Fla., indefinitely after suffering a slight tear of the rotator cuff in his pitching arm. Tentatively, he is to be gone at least six weeks.
Seaver is 3-2 with a 3.05 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 62 innings. His spot will probably be divided among a group of pitchers.
Teammate Francisco Hernandez will take Seaver's place on the league all-star team, which plays the California League stars June 17.
Interest in women's league
Kirk said he has received "up to 400 applications" from players for his proposed women's league.
"There is no doubt in my mind that this is the time if there is one," Kirk said. "We're getting calls from as far away as Japan, where they have baseball leagues for girls."
The Colorado Silver Bullets also have inquired about a berth in the league.
Krivda remains on roll
The story at Rochester continues to be Rick Krivda.
In his past four starts, the left-hander has averaged 9.25 innings, pitching 10 for the first time as a pro in his last outing. He allowed one run and struck out nine in a no-decision.
"Krivda has been unbelievable," said Red Wings manager Marv Foley.
Opposing batters are hitting .195 against him, and he is second in the league in ERA (2.59) and strikeouts (75; teammate Jimmy Haynes leads with 85).
Around the horn
After a .184 start and some bench time with an injury, first baseman Tommy Davis has gotten hot at Rochester. He hit his first grand slam, won a game with a two-out homer in the ninth and is up to .272. He reached base in 35 of 37 games. With C Tim Laker idled by a pulled hamstring, Ryan Luzinski was promoted from Bowie. Two other Red Wings starters are out, Kelly Gruber (strained hip) and Willis Otanez (bone chips, elbow). Rod Steph has not walked a batter in 19 1/3 innings. Outfielder Dave Dellucci was the first Bowie position player promoted directly to the Orioles. Julio Moreno leads the Eastern League with a 2.12 ERA and has allowed only four earned runs in his past 26 2/3 innings. Bowie's Johnny Isom is hitting .360 as an outfielder, .143 as a designated hitter. Three other Frederick players were named to the all-star team -- catcher Jim Foster, pitcher Dan Reed and infielder David Lamb. Hagerstown native Derek Brown has joined the Shorebirds from extended spring. He was 6-1 at Gulf Coast last summer after being converted from the infield. Josh Towers went to Frederick to make room for him. Delmarva was 11-0 against starting left-handers at home until losing to Kevin Needham of Charleston, W.Va., last week.
Pub Date: 6/11/97
