It's The Maine Attraction

"Seams, my dear," said Jordan. "Those threads are called seams."

Nicci's father, a Baptist minister, gave the invocation, and George Ouellette, the executive director of the Chamber of Commerce and—everybody seems to wear two or more hats, probably from L.L. Bean, 40 minutes up the road—the public address announcer, sang the national anthem. Then Nicci went halfway to the mound and threw the ball homeward, high and tight to a lefthanded hitter.

A sellout crowd of 6,104 braved near-freezing temperatures to watch the Guides beat Rochester 13-9 to go 6-1 on the season. Off to a fast start, the Guides would still be in first place in the IL had the Indians not started raiding them for pitchers. As of Sunday they were in second, trailing Columbus by half a game.

THE TEAM

The manager of the Guides is Doc Edwards, a 47-year-old ex-catcher (the Indians, Athletics, Yankees and Phillies) with a quiet demeanor and a soothing West Virginia accent. In 11 seasons of managing in the minors, he has been named Manager of the Year three times and was runner-up five others. "If anybody on this club deserves to be promoted to the majors," says Kobritz, "it's Doc. The way he holds this team together when roster moves are tearing it asunder is nothing short of miraculous."

"I love it here," says Edwards. "The people have been just great, and I love this ball park, the whole setting. I'm also learning about the pride of the people in this state. They talk about Texas pride, but nobody is as proud as a Maineiac."

"This is like a dream come true," says Doc's effervescent wife, Connie, who married him while he was managing in Rochester in 1981. "Within a week of moving here, my 11-year-old son Eric had fallen in love with the girl next door. He made best friends with her brother, and my cocker spaniel, Buffy Lou Who, has learned to bahk. Pinch me. The only thing wrong is the mosquitoes. There was one as big as a bird chasing me last night."

The team Cleveland has given Maine has a few prospects and the usual suspects. Many of the players, including Kevin Rhomberg, Lorenzo Gray, Rodney Craig, Gerry Udjur, Otis Nixon, Geno Petralli and Juan Espino, have had cups of coffee. Thorne recently asked the players to come up with trivia questions about themselves, and they supplied some dandies. Which Guide roomed with Los Angeles Laker Kurt Rambis's older brother Randy in the minors? (Robin Fuson.) Which Guide gave up Carl Yastrzemski's last hit? (Bud Anderson.) What Guide shared Player of the Year honors with Seattle's Alvin Davis, then of Arizona State, in the Pac 10 in 1982? ( Oregon State's Wilson.)

None of them wants to be in Triple A, and some bridle at being in the Cleveland organization. After reading an article in the local paper about Maine's search for an official state fossil, one player suggested Indians president Gabe Paul.

A few weeks ago, a moose came wandering into Old Orchard Beach early one morning and ended up in the water down by The Pier. A rescue squad had to pull the moose out.