Sardinha
has heavy hitter
on his side

Scott Boras, whose clients include
Greg Maddux and Alex Rodriguez,
is his adviser

By Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin

Kamehameha Schools catcher Dane Sardinha, expected to be one the early selections in tomorrow's amateur baseball draft, is being represented by one of baseball's heaviest hitting agents.

Scott Boras, whose clients include Greg Maddux, Steve Avery, Alex Rodriguez, Andy Benes, Kevin Brown and Ben McDonald, came on board with Sardinha last week.

Although no catchers were selected in the first round last year, Boras said Sardinha is a cut above the 1996 crop.

"In Dane we have one of the best catch-and-throw guys we've seen in a long time," Boras said.

"He is the best I've seen since another young man I saw play in high school seven years ago. That's a guy named Charles Johnson, who's got two Gold Gloves under his belt."

Boras also represents Johnson.

The Boston Globe's Peter Gammons has predicted that Sardinha will be taken 12th overall by the Florida Marlins. Fortifying that projection last night was Darneen Sardinha, Dane's mother, who said the Marlins have told her to expect a telephon call tomorrow around 7 a.m.

Boras negotiated a $10.2 million bonus for right-hander Matt White, a top pick in last year's draft. Sardinha caught White's pitches as a member of the USA Junior Team last year.

He helped McDonald sign in 1989 for $1 million and got $1.2 million for Todd Van Poppel in 1990.

But Boras' success in negotiating big bonuses has earned him the ire of many scouts. He has encountered his share of problems representing Sardinha.

Darneen Sardinha said that of the 12 calls she's logged from major-league scouts since May 2, nine clubs (Boston, Pittsburgh, Colorado, Baltimore, Los Angeles, San Diego, Cleveland, Arizona and Kansas City) expressed dismay that Boras was in the picture.

"They called and asked who's representing us and if Dane was drafted in the first round, would he sign for X amount?" she said.

She said the clubs not turned off by the mention of Boras' name were Atlanta, Florida and Seattle.

Boston Red Sox scout Wally Komatsubara said Friday night that because of Boras' involvement with Sardinha, the Sox probably will not draft him.

"He (Sardinha) was on the Red Sox board as No. 1, but I think we're out now," Komatsubara said.

"I've been watching Dane since he was a sophomore and sure I would love to have had him. But he'll go high anyway. We're the 17th pick in the first round and I'm sure he won't be around when it comes to us."

Boras scoffed at the Red Sox scout's remark.

"I don't believe that. I believe that's some local scout popping off. Call (Sox general manager) Dan Duquette and ask him if he'd do that."

Boras said he finds it impossible to believe that the Red Sox would shun one of his clients. After all, he represents two current Sox players: Avery and Aaron Sele.

As for why scouts don't seem to like him, Boras said, "I go in and set a new market value for a player and the scout has to turn in a signability figure that's double what he originally turned in. It makes the scout look bad."

Boras, an attorney and former minor league player, said he is acting in the role of "adviser" to Sardinha instead of agent right now. Because Sardinha's collegiate eligibility will be a major bargaining chip in negotiations with the club that drafts him, Boras will remain in the background until the actual signing and advise the family by telephone.

Sardinha has signed a letter of intent with Pepperdine.

"I feel confident that he'll represent me well," Dane Sardinha said last night after returning after church from batting practice. "I'm only nervous right now about when I'll be drafted and where I'll go," he said.

"Dane's talent is first-round, although prep catchers are typically downdrafted," said Scott Chiamporino, a former major-league pitcher who was represented by Boras and who also is helping advise Sardinha.

"Last year, there were no catchers taken until the second round. Then Josh Glassy, who went with the Dodgers, and Eric Munson, who opted for USC, were taken. But Dane, in my opinion, has more ability than them. "

Punahou right-hander Justin Wayne (Stanford recruit) is considered a third-round possibility.

Wayne's fastball has been clocked at up to 91 mph.

But Sardinha is the hardest thrower in the state, scouts say.

They have clocked him at up to 94 mph as a relief pitcher.

"It just reassures everyone that his arm is special," Chiamporino said.

Other prep players likely to be drafted much later are Punahou's Scooter Martines and Iolani's Thad Estrada and Greg Omori.

College players seen as possible draftees in later rounds are UH-Hilo's Keiki Matson, and University of Hawaii players Jay Spurgeon, Robert Medeiros, and Andrew McNally.

On the bubble, scouts say, is Iolani shortstop Keoni DeRenne, a University of Arizona recruit.