Sardinha’s work
ethic, skills have the
Royals impressed

'Adviser' Scott Boras believes
those attributes will work in favor of
all involved in contract talks

By Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin

He may be a month or two away from stepping into the income bracket of a Bishop Estate trustee.

But 18-year-old Dane Kalahanauokekainalu ("Born on the day of high surf") Akina Akeo Sardinha is still driving 40 miles each way during the week from his Kahuku home to heave tourists' luggage into a truck at Honolulu International Airport.

That impresses both his high-powered agent (technically "legal adviser"), Scott Boras, and Kansas City Royals' general manager/vice president in charge of baseball operations Herk Robinson, who drafted Sardinha last Monday 59th overall in the second round of baseball's amateur draft.

For Boras, it means the 6-foot, 200-pound catching prospect from Kamehameha Schools possesses a work ethic that will help him fill the bill of goods he's going to try to sell the Royals. For Robinson, it means Sardinha is far enough removed from the lap of luxury to appreciate whatever the major league club offers.

"There's no question we are an organization quite absent of good catching prospects," Robinson said. "But unfortunately second-round selections don't get as much as first-round selections."

Boras agrees that has been true in past years. But the man that Tampa Tribune columnist Bill Chastain last week called, "the agent who put the decimal point in bonuses paid amateur draft choices," insists it isn't true this time.

"We think second-rounders in this draft are going to get seven figures," Boras said. "In the previous second-round drafts, players were there because there was a concern about their talent. But Dane was the best catcher in this draft. There was only a concern about his signability. Two teams (the Florida Marlins and Cleveland Indians) wanted to take this guy in the first round, but he wouldn't go along with the fixed price they proposed."

Boras said that University of the Pacific right-hander Dan Reichert, who committed to a fixed signing range of about $1.3-1.4 million, cannot offer what his client can offer to the Royals' organization.

"Like it or not, they know they're dealing with a first-round talent in Dane," Boras said.

Sardinha isn't the only Boras client originally projected to be a first-rounder who was passed over. Top prep pitching prospect Rick Ankiel of Florida dropped to the 72nd pick.

In addition, Florida State outfielder J.D. Drew, considered by many to be the top talent in the entire draft, was snubbed by the Detroit Tigers, the team with the No. 1 pick. The Philadelphia Phillies grabbed Drew with the No. 2 pick.

In the Tampa Tribune column, Chastain quoted former San Diego Padres' general manager Jack McKeon as saying, "There's no one any general manager hates dealing with more than Scott Boras."

But McKeon added that no agent "goes to the wall more for his clients."

Boras' ability to get big bonuses for his young clients through his hard-line negotiations, and his proven willingness to send them to school if the selecting team won't come across with the right deal, have made him a number of front-office enemies throughout the majors.

Tim Belcher, the No. 1 overall pick of the 1983 draft by the Minnesota Twins, was advised by Boras to reject their offer and go to college. Three years later, he signed for three times what he originally was offered, but by Oakland.

"The Twins lost a 13-year career player," Boras said.

Belcher is now one of six Boras clients playing for the Royals. The others are pitcher Jim Pittsley, infielders Jay Bell and Craig Paquette, and outfielder Johnny Damon and Bip Roberts.

It's no accident. Boras seems to get along with Robinson, and that fact might help keep Sardinha from accepting his Pepperdine scholarship in the fall.

"Herk is a very straight-forward and honest man and I have a good relationship with him," Boras said.

"I respect Scott and he has a job to do, but I think his expectations are quite high," Robinson said. "He is certainly unique in his profession."

Some of Boras' other major-league clients are Greg Maddux, Andy Benes, Steve Avery, Alex Fernandez, Ben McDonald, Kevin Brown and Kenny Rogers.

Robinson believes that one of his major bargaining chips might be his manager, Bob Boone, a former All-Star and seven-time Gold Glove-winning catcher who played with the Phillies, California Angels and Royals.

"There is no better tutor," Robinson said.

"The best thing is for Dane to start playing now. He can progress through the system as fast as his ability allows him."

Robinson said Sardinha would start with the Gulf Coast League and most likely would be invited to spring training with the Royals in February.

"Just so the staff could meet him," Robinson said.

But, as Robinson and Boras both know, Sardinha would be entering an organization that is ripe with opportunity for a standout catch-and-throw guy. The reports on Sardinha's ability to command a game from behind the plate have been glowing and his questionable bat is something Robinson believes can be solved.

The fact is that the Royals have had a much less than stable situation with catchers this season. As of last week they had used four different players: Mike Macfarlane (plagued by injuries), Mike Sweeney (now back in the minors), Tim Spehr and Sal Fasano.