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--> --> Aug. 10: Guthrie waits for Bucs By Sarah Petersen Ashland Daily Tidings The anticipation is mounting for former Ashland High star and Stanford University pitching ace Jeremy Guthrie. After being selected in the third round by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the June draft, Guthrie still hasn't signed a contract. The Pirates offered Guthrie $450,000 as an initial offer, but Guthrie did not accept. Now he must play the waiting game while he decides to stay in school or move onto the show. "I haven't even met anyone from the coaching staff or team," Guthrie said. "The Pirates really didn't expect me to sign with that kind of an offer. It was just an early offer that they made me. They haven't made another offer yet." Next week, Pirates head scouting director Mickey White will travel from Pittsburgh to Ashland to meet Guthrie, his new wife, Jenny, his agent Scott Boras and the rest of the Guthrie family. "I don't really have a set price in my head," the 22-year-old Guthrie said. "I just want to be treated fairly and get paid what I am worth. I want the figure to satisfy both parties and hopefully the offer will be good for both sides." If Guthrie decides not take the Pirates' offer then he and his bride will head back to Stanford for Guthrie's junior year and another season of Cardinal baseball. If Guthrie decides to sign with the Pirates then it's off to a farm team right away. "No matter what happens I will be eligible for next year's draft in June," Guthrie said. "I am just going to take it year by year if the Pirates deal does not work out." During the waiting period Guthrie has been staying in shape by running and lifting weights six days a week. Along with keeping his body in condition he has also been keeping his arm in shape by throwing several times a week. "In a few weeks I am probably going to go back to Stanford and work out with my coach (Mark Marquess)," Guthrie said. "Mark, along with the rest of the coaching staff at Stanford, have been excellent coaches to me. I have learned so much from them and they all support me and whatever decision I am going to make. All of my coaches are really excited for me. Mark knows that his players have the potential to go pro so he tries to prepare them for the big leagues. At the same time he also tries to get his athletes closer to completing their education." Guthrie may not know what his immediate future holds for him, but what he does know is that it will be a winning choice no matter what he decides. "We'll know more in a week and until then we'll just have to wait and see what will happen," Guthrie said. Guthrie was drafted by the New York Mets in 1997 after his senior year at Ashland. Despite being offered a high signing bonus, Guthrie turned down the Mets and enrolled at Brigham Young University. After his freshman year of baseball at BYU, Guthrie spent two years on a mission in Spain before transferring to Stanford. Despite not playing baseball for two years, Guthrie became the ace of the Stanford staff and led the Cardinal to the NCAA championship game. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing