Matthews shining with Stars

Ever since he burst onto the triple-A baseball scene in Las Vegas with a bang earlier this month, the biggest question surrounding Stars center field prospect Gary Matthews Jr. has been when, not if, he'll pack his bags and head to San Diego to play for the Padres.

Some speculated July. Others thought it might be in September when rosters are expanded.

Despite a recent 1-for-16 slump, it might be sooner than anyone imagined.

ESPN major league baseball analyst Peter Gammons reported in his Sunday column in the Boston Globe that "The Padres are fed up with Ruben Rivera, Gary Matthews Jr. .... may be up and playing very soon."

The Padres upset with Rivera, who sleepwalked his way to a .144 average in Las Vegas last spring only to be promoted to the big leagues? Imagine that.

Matthews, who started his first triple-A season with the Stars on fire (.435 average the first week) but has since cooled off, said he had not heard of Gammons' report prior to Tuesday night's 10-8 loss to Calgary at Cashman Field. He was too busy taking extra batting practice.

"I try not to let that talk affect me because I know for a fact that it (getting promoted to the big leagues) won't happen if I'm not doing what I'm supposed to be doing here," Matthews said.

But he has a booster in his corner in Stars' manager Mike Ramsey.

"He's not very far away right now," Ramsey said. "He can go up there this year.

"Is he ready right now? He's close. Is he going to be rushed a little bit if he does go there now? Perhaps. But he'll learn up there. He just may end up making an impact (in San Diego) this year. If not, he'll probably have a real good shot at making the team in spring training next year."

* TRAGEDY HITS HOME: The topic of the Columbine High shootings in Littleton, Colo., has been a hot topic in the Stars clubhouse in part because many of the players and coaches have spent time in the last few years with Rancho Cucamonga pitching coach Darrel Akerfelds.

Akerfelds graduated from Columbine and played basketball for William "Dave" Sanders, the teacher who was killed during the shooting last week. His father lives a mile from the school.

"It didn't surprise me that that happened to him," Akerfelds told the Boston Globe. "He'd never think of himself, only the kids. He'd give his life for any student. He was a special man."

* NEXT UP: The Stars continue their series with Calgary tonight at 7:05 at Cashman Field. Right-hander Bryan Wolff (2-1, 3.79 ERA) will start for Las Vegas while right-hander Dario Perez (2-1, 5.56) goes for Calgary.

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