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Gamel left off Olympic roster
Stars third baseman not headed to Beijing, but LaPorta will be
By SKIP VAUGHN
For The Huntsville Times, skip.vaughn@htimes.com

Huntsville Stars third baseman Mat Gamel isn't devastated about missing out on the ultimate road trip - the Beijing Olympics.

"I don't really like flying as it is," Gamel joked, "and being stuck on a plane for that long is not really my cup of tea."

Gamel wasn't selected Wednesday to the U.S. baseball team headed to Beijing. However, the roster does include former Stars outfielder Matt LaPorta, traded by Milwaukee to Cleveland this month in the CC Sabathia deal.

Davey Johnson will manage the squad of mostly minor leaguers.

"I know there's a reason I didn't make it," Gamel said while dressing before the Stars' 3-1 loss to the Tennessee Smokies. "I'd just as soon stay here the season with these guys, finish with them, see if we can win a (Southern League) ring.

"It would've been a good opportunity, but it's still a good opportunity for me here."

Asked to describe his disappointment, Gamel said, "I'm not heartbroken. I wasn't really getting my hopes up for it. I would've loved to go, but in the same breath I'd love to be here with these guys, too."

Gamel, 22, from Neptune Beach, Fla., plans to watch the games on television. The team's first game is against Korea on Aug. 13. Team USA, which won gold in Sydney in 2000, is back in the Olympics after missing out on a bid in 2004.

"I think it's better for me to be here," Gamel said regarding his baseball development. "To stay and keep working with (Stars manager) Don Money."

Entering the five-game series against Tennessee, Gamel was leading the Southern League in batting (.375) and RBIs (81). He also had 15 home runs.

Gamel went 1-for-4 in the series opener as the Smokies beat the Stars 3-1 before an announced crowd of 1,711 at Joe Davis Stadium. Brae Wright (6-8) took the loss for Huntsville (14-12) against first-place Tennessee (17-9).

Money was asked about Gamel's non-selection to the U.S. team.

"Put it this way, it's good for us," Money said. "When I say us I mean organization and team and Huntsville.

"To me it's a shame because I think the man's leading all minor leagues, maybe all of baseball, in hits. I feel bad for him because I know his name's been surfacing the last month or so. But you never know. Maybe it's a blessing in disguise. You just never know. He'll be with us all year now. We might win a championship. You never know. I mean I know he would've loved to be on it but it didn't work out this time."

Money praised Gamel's offense but said he needs more work on his defense.

"I think he's made tremendous progress," Money said. "It still at times seems he falls into funks sometimes. You've got to feel that every ball's coming to you.

"Offensively he's ready to go (to the majors). Is he a .300 hitter? I wouldn't doubt it one bit."