Tribe of Unknown Warriors : Kuld Among Non-Roster Invitees Hoping to Catch On With Indians

The pocket schedule lies in the red clay near an empty dugout, its trademark caricature somewhat modified.

Chief Wahoo, the mascot, logo and schedule coverboy of the Cleveland Indians, has experienced a slight change in his toothy smile.

Somebody blacked out one of his chompers, giving the grinning cartoon character a distinct Alfred E. Neumann look.

What, me worry?

As the first day of spring workouts opened Saturday at the Chain O’ Lakes Stadium complex with many players who aren’t exactly atop every general manager’s most-wanted list, things actually proceeded quite smoothly. Orderly, even.

No picket signs or injuries. Nobody had a heart attack or keeled over. No runs, no hits, no terrors.

“I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I’m real happy with the way things went,” Manager Mike Hargrove said. “I’ll tell you the truth, it just feels good to be back out there with the bats and balls.”

Of course, this is all about balls and strikes, particularly the latter.

The Indians, like most big-league teams, have several non-roster invitees in camp in case the six-month-old major league players’ strike lingers into the regular season.

Call this spring the irregular season and call these guys the irregulars. It’s as accurate as any other euphemism.

“We’re even not replacement players,” said Pete Kuld, a catcher from Canoga Park and a possible substitute. “We’re fill-ins. We do our job until they get their (expletive) together, then they take over.”

Kuld, 28, played last summer in the independent Northern League after spending time in the minors with four organizations. He is one of a handful of players already in camp who likely will be asked to cross the imaginary picket line if the strike continues. Kuld, in fact, has made it widely known that, if asked, he will serve.

While the assemblage of pitchers and catchers wasn’t top flight, it wasn’t exactly tramps and thieves, either. Hargrove and his staff spent much of the first day trying to figure out who was who, though.

“We’re trying to put names with faces, seeing what everybody’s strengths and weaknesses are,” he said. “They’ve got talents and skills, though not the talent and skill we’re used to seeing, obviously.”

It wasn’t a freak show by any means, despite the presence in camp of six guys who didn’t play ball at all last summer. It was an eclectic mix that included young

minor leaguers, retreads and at least one player toting around a spare tire.

Among the Cleveland farmhands were right-hander Roland De La Maza of Arleta and catcher Steve Soliz of Oxnard, who each played Class A ball in 1994. De La Maza, in what the superstitious might interpret as a bad omen, was confused with a former teammate named De La Rosa. De La Maza, 13-2 last season, was listed on the team roster as a native of the Dominican Republic, De La Rosa’s home port.

La de da, De La Maza said.

“That might not be all bad if he’s younger than me,” De La Maza said.

Fans who bothered to attend the free daily drills--and there were fewer than 40--spent the day in searing humidity fruitlessly searching for recognizable names. Prospecting for prospects, if you will.

Jack Donnelly, 60, rented a condominium that overlooks right field at the complex’s main diamond. He feels more like a guy with a view of the city dump. Quite a mouthful from a guy who lives in Cleveland, mind you.

Who was that man in the iron mask?

“It was a roll of the dice, but I’m still real disappointed that I don’t know any of the names and faces,” said Donnelly, a lifelong Indian fan attending his first spring training.

Saturday’s party was composed of 37 pitchers and 15 catchers. Of the group, 16 played in another organization or not at all last summer.

Position players are scheduled to report today, a group that should include former Montclair Prep High and UCLA standout Torey Lovullo, an infielder who hit .222 in 36 games last season with the Seattle Mariners. Several other players with big-league service also are expected.

Kuld, who signed a minor-league contract last month, said the Indians could field a starting replacement lineup of former major leaguers if everyone reports.

The Indians’ first spring game is set for March 1 and they might need time to jell. Hargrove conceded that among the invitees from outside the organization, he was familiar with only “four or five” including Kuld, who was drafted out of Pepperdine by Cleveland in the 12th round of the 1987 draft. Kuld later was traded to Oakland.

When it came time to hit, Kuld put on a show, especially in comparison to the club’s other catching candidates. One coach called Kuld “El Ropo.”

This shouldn’t come as a shock, since Kuld hit 27 home runs last season for the Thunder Bay (Ontario, Canada) Whiskey Jacks to set a minor-league short-season record. None of the other catchers in camp hit more than six home runs in 1994 and two didn’t hit any--because they didn’t play.

With a few exceptions, the Cleveland replacement candidates seemed prepared for their shot at stand-in glory.

Will it sell in Sheboygan?

“That’s the $64,000 question,” Donnelly said. “Some people say baseball is baseball, but I don’t see (success) happening.

“I think people want the real deal.”