Columnist Dean Juipe: Fourth year in Las Vegas for Royster?

IT TOOK 10 hours to get from Edmonton to Las Vegas and the threatened Northwest Airlines strike had nothing to do with it.

It's minor-league baseball, complete with a four-hour layover in Seattle.

The point is, Jerry Royster walked into the Las Vegas Stars' offices after being on the road with his team for 12 days and despite a mountain of messages and duties to attend to as the clock approached 5, he was gracious as always.

"You want what?" he said with mock indignation. And then he sat down and accommodated a request for a few minutes of his time.

Royster, completing his third season as the Stars' manager, never fails to come across as congenial and understanding. Those are obviously traits that serve him well as a manager.

They're also reasons to believe Royster, in spite of his team's mediocre ways, will eventually reach his goal of managing in the majors. He's a good communicator.

But he has to be uneasy, doesn't he? Three years in Las Vegas is a long time by baseball standards.

Would he come back for a fourth if no one at the top level of the sport beckons?

"Sure I would," he said and it was almost a surprise, given that Royster was the first manager in the Stars' 16-year history to have the team for a third season.

"There's no better job in the minors," he said Thursday as the Stars opened their final homestand of the year. "If I don't get a major-league job and San Diego asked me to come back here, I would."

Royster has managed in the San Diego chain since 1995. Factor in his 16-year playing career in the majors and he feels ready to take over a major-league team.

"There are several jobs that could come open that would interest me," he said, knowing there's a steady turnover rate that will cost a few big-league managers to soon be out of work. Royster, a candidate for the Chicago White Sox managerial position last winter, will draw consideration from any number of teams.

Unless ... unless his record with the Stars works against him.

They have a losing record this season and were 56-85 last year after going 73-67 in Royster's first year here. Does that hurt his chances?

"I've asked (major-league executives) the same question," he said. "The answer is, they say it has no bearing. If a general manager believes you can handle a major-league team, he'll offer you a job."

So he says it has no bearing, although that doesn't mean he's satisfied with the Stars' performance.

"I wish we'd have won more for Las Vegas, for the fans of the team," he said. "They're the people that get the most benefit out of a championship, them and no one else."

He's 45, still young some would say, yet hardly restless. There are only 30 major-league managerial jobs available and a man, even a qualified man, has to wait his turn.

He has relented in one respect, admitting he would go to the majors as a coach "under the right circumstances." There was a time when he wouldn't consider that option.

But the minors get old with their backwoods travel routes and occasional depressing days, and Royster could easily tire of flying coach.

Like the players he manages, he's hoping for something better.

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