Friday, March 28, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
PEORIA, Ariz. -- Although he has had a pretty good idea of what his team will look like, Las Vegas Stars manager Jerry Royster finally saw it in black and white.
And he still likes what he sees.
The San Die go Padres held an organizational meeting this week to assign their minor-league players to various affiliates. While still subject to change pending final roster cuts by the Padres, the Stars' 1997 roster is as follows:
* Pitchers: Andres Berumen, Marshall Boze, Jim Bruske, Jamie Daspit, Brian Drahman, Chris Hook, Brad Kaufman, Marc Kroon, Heath Murray, Todd Schmitt.
* Infielders: Homer Bush, Derrek Lee, Chad Tredaway, Jorge Velandia.
* Outfielders: Stoney Briggs, Derek Lee, Phil Plantier, Mark Smith.
* Catchers: Craig Colbert, Eric Helfand.
Royster said the Stars' 23-man roster will be filled out by players cut by the Padres this weekend. San Diego still has seven player moves to make to get down to the 25-man limit by April 1.
Spring flings
* WEEKEND STARTERS: Southern Nevada baseball fans will get to see some big-name pitchers during this weekend's Big League Weekend exhibition series at Cashman Field. Seattle is scheduled to start Dennis Martinez against Boston's Tom Gordon tonight at 7:05. The Mariners will start Bob Wolcott Saturday at 7:05 p.m. against the Mets' Bobby Jones. On Saturday, the San Diego Padres will start Sterling Hitchcock against Boston's Tim Wakefield and on Sunday, Fernando Valenzuela will take the mound for the Padres.
* TOO CLOSE TO CALL: In a sneak preview of next week's Pacific Coast League-opening series at Cashman Field, the Las Vegas Stars and Edmonton Trappers played to a 1-1 tie Thursday in a spring game at Peoria. Trailing 1-0 going into their final at-bat, the Stars rallied to tie the score on a leadoff double by Homer Bush, a sacrifice bunt and a run-scoring fly ball by Phil Plantier. Former Stars pitcher Mike Oquist started for Edmonton while Jim Bruske, who allowed only an unearned run in five innings, made the start for Las Vegas.
* COLE SORE: Former Stars outfielder Alex Cole, who was cut earlier this week by the Oakland Athletics, refused an assignment to triple-A Edmonton and became a free agent. Cole, who has played in the major leagues for the Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates, Colorado Rockies, Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox, was hitting better than .300 for much of the spring, but slumped to .243 by the time he was cut.
* MADDUX A PADRE?: Las Vegan Mike Maddux, released by the Boston Red Sox on Thursday, could return to the team with which he resurrected his major-league career in 1991. Padres sources said the team is "very interested" in talking to Maddux, as are a number of Cactus League teams that are in need of pitching help -- the Anaheim Angels included.
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