Coyotes to get early start

EDINBURG - Edinburg Coyotes manager Vince Moore will find out pretty early what kind of team he has in 2008.

Really early.

Because of a Kids Day promotion, today's opener against the San Angelo Colts is scheduled to start at 10:35 a.m., eight-and-a-half hours earlier than the standard 7:05 first pitch. Moore, who has been affiliated with Edinburg professional baseball since 2001, said he doesn't have many positive memories of the early starts.

"I've never liked morning games. When I was playing or when I was managing, I've never been too fond of morning games," Moore said. "It doesn't matter what situation it is. If it's a 10:30 game, I didn't like it. I can probably count on my hand, on one hand, how many games we've won, in Edinburg between the Roadrunners and Coyotes, at a 10:35 game.

"It's just one of those early games that you hate to play because the record's not good."

Other than just upsetting the players' normal bodyclocks, there are other and more practical concerns that come with the starting time.

For one, the Coyotes didn't start spring training until Tuesday, meaning the team has had only six days to prepare for the season. With a schedule that compact, Moore and his players need as much time as they can get to ready themselves for the year.

The early start somewhat takes away one day.

"The thing it does is it takes away an extra day of hitting for us. By playing early, we're not going to be able to hit," Moore said. "We might be able to hit afterwards, but when have you known a baseball player to play a game that counts and hit afterwards. It takes a day of hitting away from us, which is kind of not something you want to go through. But, it is what it is, we'll just go out there and try to be ready."

To start the season, Moore is giving the opening day assignment to right-hander Geivy Garcia. A 25-year-old, Garcia last played in the San Diego Padres organization. He will be followed in the rotation by Aaron Guerra, Bric Steed and Miliade Venestilian.

Staff ace Eric Montoya will not start until Saturday against Alexandria, though Moore said his arm is improving.

"He's coming along. Everyone knows he's our No. 1 guy," Moore said. "Let's just put him at the back (of the rotation) to give him a couple extra days to have the time to recuperate and get as close to 100 percent as possible."

Montoya sounded eager to start his season, one year after winning only six games.

"The main thing I'd like to do is stay healthy, and number two, have fun," Montoya said. "It's the game of baseball. If you come out here with expectations real high and you fail, that's never good. My main two things are to be healthy and have fun. If you have fun and you're healthy, good things will happen. Your talent will take over."

Brian Sandalow covers the Edinburg Coyotes for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4436.