Royster skips break to manage at PCL all-star game

If there ever was a time Jerry Royster could use a few days lounging around the beach, this is it.

Royster's Las Vegas Stars have just been swept in their big showdown with Pacific Coast League South Division-leading Fresno to fall 16 games out of first place. What looked like a potentially promising season has gone south in a hurry.

But Royster, who usually spends the days off during the All-Star break for some quality time with his wife Kathy and his daughter Kristie in Newport Beach, Calif., will have to postpone his annual mini midseason vacation this year.

That's because he will be managing the PCL team against the International League squad in the triple-A All-Star Game in Norfolk, Va., on Wednesday night on ESPN2.

Royster and two of his players, third baseman George Arias, the PCL leader in home runs (24) and RBIs (74), and second baseman Dave Hajek, flew a private jet from Fresno back to Las Vegas following Monday night's 10-2 loss to the Grizzlies.

After a short layover in Las Vegas, they flew all night to Newark, N.J., then caught another flight to Norfolk.

As if that wasn't enough flying for a while, the trio will have to fly all day Thursday just to make it back for their second-half opener in Tucson, Ariz., that night.

Despite the logistical nightmare of getting to Norfolk, Royster and company are looking forward to their chance to shine on national television. There are no major league games because of the All-Star break, so the triple-A contest will take center stage on Wednesday night.

"I'm really looking forward to it," Royster said. "There are a lot of plusses to being there. You can get a lot of exposure out of it thanks to the fact that it's nationally televised and there is no other baseball going that night."

"It's not what I play for, but it's nice to be selected," Hajek said. "It's a honor to play in the game."

Arias, who had planned to spend the All-Star break in Tucson visiting his mother, was the PCL's top vote-getter.

"It's a chance to show people in the baseball world what you can do," he said. "I'm lucky in that I'll still get to see my mom a couple days later because we open the second half in Tucson."

The only negative, according to Royster, is not being able to spend the days off with his family. However, he said the Padres have agreed to let him take a few days off from his Stars' managing duties later in July to make that trip to Newport Beach with his family.

"Those are precious days off," Royster said. "Ask anybody if they'd like to have two or three days off in the middle of the season to be with their family and they'd say yes. But they'd also be very disappointed if they didn't get selected to participate in something as great as the All-Star Game.

"I'm just fortunate the Padres have decided to give me a few days off later in the month. It's an honor to be selected to manage in the game, but it's also very important that you get to spend a few precious days with your family. I'm looking forward to both very much."

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