Stars' LaRocca full of fire in blowout loss to Fresno

Peek into the locker of Las Vegas Stars utility-man Greg LaRocca and you'll come across a black T-shirt with the word, "Goldberg" across it in large capital letters.

Goldberg is Bill Goldberg, who recently defeated Hollywood Hulk Hogan for the World Championship Wrestling heavyweight title. LaRocca, a former New Hampshire state wrestling champion who received scholarship offers from several Division I schools in that sport, and a number of his Stars' teammates are big fans of pro wrestling.

And for a few moments during the Stars' 11-2 loss to the Fresno Grizzlies on Thursday night at Cashman Field, it looked like LaRocca might have an opportunity to use a few of his submission holds on Fresno pitcher Cory Bailey.

Angry over getting hit in the hip with a Bailey pitch in the eighth inning, LaRocca angrily flipped his bat toward Bailey as he walked slowly to first base.

Both Bailey and Fresno catcher and Valley High grad Doug Mirabelli walked down the line after LaRocca before cooler heads prevailed. LaRocca was ejected from the game and there were no further incidents in the contest.

"What can I say?" LaRocca said afterward. "I don't have any comment. It was a little frustration on my part I guess."

"I don't think it's ever a very good idea to throw a bat at a pitcher," Stars manager Jerry Royster said. "I don't condone throwing at people and I don't condone throwing bats. ... (But) if you're going to get kicked out of a game, make it worth it."

The 6-1, 202-pound Bailey, who has a two-inch and 17-pound edge against LaRocca, issued a warning afterward.

"He better take a bat with him if he wants to come out to my mound," he said.

Sounds like fighting words, huh? Things could be more than a little interesting when the two teams get together again July 29 through Aug. 1 in Fresno.

"Part of the game is pitching inside," Bailey said. "Their pitchers probably hit more of our guys in the series."

Actually, it turned out to be even, 2-2. However, it was the hot-hitting LaRocca, who was batting .393 with three homers and 12 RBIs in his last 18 games, who got plunked both times for the Stars.

"I couldn't believe he would throw at me in that situation (Fresno led 11-1 at the time)," LaRocca said.

"He had been hitting well and swinging at the first pitch," Bailey said. "I just wanted to back him off the plate."

For LaRocca, who has gone from a backup utility man to a legitimate major league prospect this season, it might be viewed as a sign of respect.

In what might have been a make-it or break-it year with the Padres organization, the 25-year-old LaRocca has opened more than a few eyes in San Diego with his versatility (he's started at third, shortstop, second and left field), his hitting (.317, 6 HRs, 32 RBIs) and his tough, hard-nosed play.

"From what I've heard, going into this season a lot of guys (in the Padres organization) were real high while others were lukewarm about Greg," Royster said. "A season like he's having goes a long way to convincing the non-believers. To play four positions well and to hit like he has ... that's real tough to do. I know because I've done it."

"The way the Padres are going, I don't expect to get called up this year," LaRocca said. "This is not really a "up" year for me. But I want to go out and have a good year so that maybe next season I'll have a better chance at getting my shot."

If not, LaRocca has a degree in marketing and finance from the University of Massachusetts to fall back on. And, of course, he could try to bulk up his 5-11, 185-pound frame and follow some of his old high school wrestling buddies into pro wrestling.

"My wrestling days are done," LaRocca says with a smile. "That's too tough. My focus now is on baseball."

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