AN ATTITUDE THAT WILL BE BIG-LEAGUE; MANAGER MCCLENDON WANTS STEALTH TO BE AGGRESSIVE IN CAL FALL LEAGUE.

Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer

Pete Rose, who carved out a reputation in the baseball cosmos as the quintessential hard-nosed player, once offered his old teammate Lloyd McClendon some useful advice.

``I learned a long time ago from Pete Rose, in order to play this game, you've got to be a little cocky; you've got to have your chest out a little bit. That just means you've got to believe in yourself,'' McClendon said. ``You've got to treat people with respect, but also when you get between the lines you don't have any friendships.''

McClendon predicts the Lancaster Stealth players he'll manage in the California Fall League will take the field with those principles.

The Stealth kicks off the inaugural California Fall League season Thursday night against the Rancho Cucamonga Surfers in a 7:15 p.m. start at Lancaster Municipal Stadium.

McClendon, the Pittsburgh Pirates hitting coach who spent eight seasons as a big-league outfielder, is the lone skipper in the four-team league currently on a major-league staff.

So expect the Stealth, which received prospects from the Pirates and six other organizations, to display a big-league attitude both in the clubhouse and the dugout.

``I think a good manager, his players are going to mirror him. I feel I bring that to the table for our team. We're going to be aggressive. We're going to be somewhat cocky but respectful,'' said McClendon, whose only previous managing experiences was in Pittsburgh's instructional league last season.

``Hopefully I'll bring positive major-league leadership. I think more than anything it'll probably teach our kids in order to get to the big leagues you've got to be consistent day in and day out. They've all got the talent to play at the major-league level obviously. . . . The difference between kids that make it or don't make it are those that are consistent in their work habits.''

The 28 players on the Stealth's opening-day roster peaked the attention of their respective organizations to earn spots in the Cal Fall League, considered a notch below the talent base in the established Arizona Fall League.

McClendon sees the Stealth as another opportunity for players to play before more scouts and front-office personnel with the lure of possible spots on a big-league roster for the 2000 season.

``I think they've got to get better. The talent level is not going to be the same as I'm used to seeing. It's important that I stress to them how lucky they are and how fortunate they are to have this opportunity,'' McClendon said. ``These kids' stock is going to take off, there's no question about it, because they're a select few to be playing in a select league.''

While considered prospects, the Cal Fall League is lacking many of the young minor-leaguers projected as major-league superstars. The Arizona Fall League traditionally attracts that crop.

The Stealth's roster includes no first-round picks but several breakout performers drafted in the lower rounds, including Pittsburgh pitcher Mike Gonzalez (30th), Arizona pitchers Ryan Price (40th) and Chris Bloomer (46th) and Minnesota pitcher Pete Fisher (44th).

McClendon had a serviceable major-league career as an eight-round pick of the New York Mets in 1980.

``I don't think position of the draft really means that much. If you look at the percentage of guys that make it to the major leagues, from (rounds) 1-10, it's very, very low,'' McClendon said. ``I would say from 11-30 it's probably where you find the highest percentage of players who are drafted that make it.''

McClendon, 40, has an impression to make himself as a manager. He's spent the past three seasons as the Pirates' hitting coach and even during his playing days considered himself a coach on the field.

``I played at the major-league level for nine years. I've been in professional baseball for this is my 19th year,'' McClendon said. ``I think it's important that I try to understand my players. Their needs, their wants. Maybe if I do that they'll have a chance to understand me.''

Notes: With McClendon still having his commitments with the Pirates through the last day of the season on Oct. 3, former Dodgers infielder Tracy Woodson serves as the Stealth's interim manager until McClendon arrives on Oct. 5. Woodson managed the Pittsburgh's farm team, the Hickory Crawdads, in the Single-A South Atlantic League this season. McClendon expects to keep in touch with Woodson during the season's first two weeks. ``Probably more than he would probably want me to,'' McClendon joked. . . . Outfielder Kory DeHaan, one of Lancaster's top major-league prospects, was expected to arrive in town a couple days after Thursday's season opener while tending to personal business. DeHaan's absence shouldn't have any negative effect, with the outfield being the Stealth's deepest position. . . . The Colorado Rockies made a roster change, sending right-handed pitcher Justin Miller to Lancaster in place of Josh Kalinowski. . . . After Thursday's opener against Rancho Cucamonga, the Stealth won't play at home until next Friday. In between is a five-day road trip to Rancho Cucamonga and Lake Elsinore sandwiched between consecutive off days on Monday and Tuesday.

LANCASTER STEALTH AT A GLANCE

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Chris Bloomer, P (Arizona): A 1997, 46th-round draft pick out of Purdue, Bloomer is one of the top closer prospects in the Diamondbacks organization. At Single-A South Bend, Bloomer recorded 21 saves while allowing 44 hits and striking out 54 in 49-2/3 innings.

Kyle Lohse, P (Minnesota): The right-hander was traded from the Chicago Cubs in midseason and pitched for three teams and went a combined 10-10.

Kevin Sheredy, P (St. Louis): The UCLA product served a role as a long reliever and spot starter at Single-A Potomac of the Carolina League. Sheredy went 5-5 with a 3.98 earned run average on a team that finished 31 games under .500.

Brandon Inge, C (Detroit): Inge, a second-round pick of the Tigers in 1998, seeks some confidence in the fall league after never getting untracked at West Michigan of the Midwest League. He hit just .244 with nine homers and 46 RBI in 100 games for the Whitecaps.

Harvey Hargrove, IF (Seattle): The JetHawks' starting center fielder much of 1999, Hargrove's natural position has always been in the middle infield, and an abundance of outfield prospects in Lancaster equates to extensive playing time at shortstop or second base. Hargrove figures to hit inside the familiar confines of Lancaster Municipal Stadium. A torrid second half resulted in a solid offensive season (.294, 11 homers, 80 RBI).

Jack Wilson, SS (St. Louis): The Thousand Oaks High graduate has proved to a big-time hitter at every one of his minor-league stops thus far. Wilson won the Appalachian League batting crown at Johnson City last season and was hitting .343 in 64 games at Peoria of the Midwest League before finishing the year at Potomac.

Kory DeHaan, OF (Pittsburgh): Combined for 46 stolen bases while splitting time between Single-A Lynchburg and Double-A Altoona.

Rod Lindsey, OF (Detroit): A former San Diego farmhand, Lindsey was one of the most proficient base stealers in the minors, swiping 61 at Single-A Lakeland of the Florida State League. He finished the year at Double-A Jacksonville.

Juan Pierre, OF (Colorado): Another talented Lancaster outfielder, Pierre had 66 steals at Asheville of the Single-A South Atlantic League while hitting .320.

Michael Restovich, OF (Minnesota): One of just two California Fall League players ranked in Baseball America's preseason Top 100 prospect list, Restovich was ranked 50th and justified it with a solid season at Single-A Quad City of the Midwest League. The 20-year-old hit .312 with 19 homers and 107 RBI.

COACHING STAFF

Manager: Lloyd McClendon (Pittsburgh); Pitching coach: Jerry Cram (Colorado); Coach: Jeff Carter (Minnesota); Trainers: Troy McIntosh (Seattle) and B.J. Romero (St. Louis).

HOME SCHEDULE

Sept. 23 Rancho Cucamonga 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 1 San Bernardino 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 2 San Bernardino 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 3 San Bernardino noon (DH)

Oct. 5 Lake Elsinore 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 8 Lake Elsinore 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 9 Lake Elsinore 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 10 Lake Elsinore noon (DH)

Oct. 12 Lake Elsinore 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 14 Rancho Cucamonga 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 22 San Bernardino 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 23 San Bernardino 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 24 San Bernardino 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 26 Rancho Cucamonga 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 27 Rancho Cucamonga 7:15 p.m.

Nov. 2 Rancho Cucamonga 7:15 p.m.

Nov. 3 Rancho Cucamonga 7:15 p.m.

Nov. 4 Rancho Cucamonga 7:15 p.m.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo: (1 -- color) Harvey Hargrove, who hit 11 home runs and drove in 80 runs as the center fielder for the JetHawks, figures to move to the infield in fall play.

(2 -- color) JetHawks pitcher Justin Kaye is expected to be part of the Stealth staff.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer

Box: Lancaster Stealth at a glance (see text)