Trade stays on hold, so Bush suits up with Stars

      Homer Bush might eventually be headed to the New York Yankees' organization.
      For now, however, the speedy second baseman and leadoff hitter is still property of the San Diego Padres and a member of the Stars. And that's good news for his Las Vegas manager and teammates, who all would like to hang onto Bush for as long as they can -- especially considering his performance Thursday night.
      Putting aside a recent injury and questions concerning his baseball future, Bush came off the disabled list and went 3-for-5 against the Vancouver Canadians at Cashman Field.
      Bush's presence wasn't enough to carry the Stars to their fifth straight victory -- they lost 5-1 -- but he did have half of this team's hits and drove in Las Vegas' only run. He also played flawless defense, throwing a runner out at home plate and saving two other runs by snaring a line drive.
      He did it all despite playing his first game in 11 days and his first since learning he was part of the Padres' trade that sent the rights to Japanese pitching sensation Hideki Irabu to the Yankees. The trade won't be finalized until Irabu agrees to a contract with New York, which leaves Bush in limbo.
      "I wasn't thinking about (the trade) at all out there," said Bush, who was returning from a pulled quad muscle that landed him on the disabled list April 13. "I know it came up in a couple of conversations when a couple of (Vancouver players) came to second base and said `Man, what are you still doing here?' Other than that, it was all about trying to get it done out there."
      And he did.
      After grounding out in his first at-bat in the first inning, Bush singled to right field in the third, taking third base when the ball got past Vancouver right fielder Jovino Carvajal.
      Bush then doubled in the fifth, driving in Angelo Encarnacion for the Stars' only run. After another groundout in the seventh, he slapped a single to right as Las Vegas (9-11) tried to mount a ninth-inning rally.
      With the three hits, Bush raised his season average to .375, and he has committed just one error at second base.
      "It was good to see him playing like he did," Stars manager Jerry Royster said of Bush. "He's been working pretty hard while he was hurt.
      "He's always been able to hit, but he played very strong defense today. He did everything right. He did everything right ... This is player development and personal development at its best when you see Homer Bush put together that kind of performance after what happened to him."
      By the looks of things, Bush could be playing here for awhile.
      On Tuesday, the Padres traded Irabu's negotiating rights to New York along with Bush and two minor leaguers in exchange for $3 million and two of the Yankees' minor-league prospects.
      However, the trade is contingent upon Irabu signing a contract with the Yankees, which apparently will be no easy task. A published report today said Irabu's agent quickly rejected the Yankees' first offer -- a three-year contract worth about $14 million to $15 million.
      So while Irabu and the Yankees talk money, Bush will remain in Las Vegas' lineup, anxiously waiting to learn his fate.
      "I really would like to see it go one way or the other," the 24-year-old Bush said. "Either way it goes, I'll be satisfied with the situation, quite naturally (because) there's nothing I can do about it. Until then, I just want to come here, get treatment and play every day until Jerry sits me on the bench."
      -- NOTES -- Stars starter Chris Hook dropped to 0-4 as he gave up three runs (two earned) and seven hits in six innings. ... Royster said pitcher Pete Smith will rejoin the team today after tending to an unspecified family emergency the past three days. Royster said Smith will start Saturday's game against Tucson if a finger injury on his pitching hand is healed.