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Sporting News, The, March 11, 2005

Damaso Marte's ERA and home runs allowed increased dramatically last season mostly because the WHITE SOX lefthander stopped working the inner half of the plate against righthanded hitters. Marte was able to hold lefthanded hitters to a .143 average, but the needs to do a better job of keeping righthanded hitters honest with fastballs and sliders inside.... Expect to see a lot of RHP Esteban Yah this year. The ANGELS love his power arm and will use him mostly in middle relief. You also will get a spot start if one of the five starters is injured.... New DEVIL RAYS RHP Hideo Nomo, who had shoulder problems last season, seemed to be progressing at the start of camp and already was throwing as hard as he was at the end of 2004 with the Dodgers. LHP Denny Neagle, another new acquisition coming off an injury, says he feels great because he started throwing two months earlier than usual. Chances are Neagle will start the season in Class AAA and work on building up his arm strength. He missed last season because of elbow surgery.... ROYALS RHP Scott Sullivan reported late because of a lower back strain, the same problem that cost him the final month of last season. After a poor 2004, he'll need a quick recovery to fend off a rush of younger pitchers bidding for bullpen spots.... The TIGERS will use righthanded long reliever Gary Knotts as a sixth man in the rotation this spring to prepare him to start in case an injury hits the rotation when the season begins.... YANKEES OF Gary Sheffield aggravated his surgically repaired left shoulder in the early days of camp by taking too many swings, but he's not concerned about it bothering him throughout the season. Sheffield says the soreness he battled for the final four months of 2004 is gone and he's looking forward to a pain-free season....

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BLUE JAYS RHP Kerry Ligtenherg's arthritic hip condition might not be as troublesome as originally feared. The former closer says he ignored advice from doctors last season; he kept running for distance long after they told him to stop, which likely contributed to the constant pain. Ligtenberg worked on flexibility during the winter and expects to be effective this season.... With RHP Ricardo Rodriguez looking sharp in the early days of spring training and veteran RHP Pedro Astacio coming aboard, the pressure is on RHP Chan Ho Park to earn a spot in the RANGERS' rotation. Park has been a disappointment in his first three seasons with the team, and the Rangers could be inclined to cut their losses if Park doesn't pitch well this spring.... With so many veteran arms in the bullpen, the INDIANS might not have spots for two of their most productive relievers in 2004. RHPs Rafael Betancourt and Matt Miller won't be able to afford many bad outings if they hope to make the opening day roster.... After an injury-plagued 2004, RED SOX RF Trot Nixon rededicated himself over the winter and seems to be in top shape. He appears primed to return to the level he was at in 2003, when he hit .306 and had 28 homers and 87 RBIs.... If he's healthy and performing well, TWINS RHP Joe Mays should regain a spot in the rotation. Mays, 29, missed all of last season alter having elbow surgery but has progressed well in an aggressive rehab program. ... To take advantage of the best team speed the ATHLETICS have had in years, manager Ken Macho is placing a much greater emphasis on bunting and situational hitting this spring. Expect the A's to run more this year.... RHP Jorge Julio's strained forearm injury likely means LHP BJ. Ryan will be the Orioles' closer on opening day. Julio's injury also could determine how the team's bullpen is set for the early season. Julio's prospective setup role likely will go to RHP Steve Reed.... Although he's determined to win a starting job, ROYALS RHP Kevin Appier is not ruling out pitching in relief. He could be solid in the middle.... LHPs Jamie Moyer and Bobby Madritsch and RHP Joel Pineiro would have to pitch themselves out of the MARINERS' rotation, but RHPs Gil Meche and Ryan Franklin mast do well this spring to maintain their jobs.... OF Chris Singleton, a lefthanded hitter who can play center, has a good chance to earn the last spot on the DEVIL RAYS' roster. Singleton, 32, failed a physical with the Pirates last spring and sat out 2004.... YANKEES RHP Carl Pavano impressed C Jorge Posada in early bullpen sessions. Posada compared Pavano with former Yankees RHP Jon Lieber in terms of his control and pace.

Back in swing

OF Bobby Higginson believes that by working out this winter in Lakeland, Fla., where the Tigers hold spring training, he finally has found the swing form he had been seeking the past two years. He's staying back on pitches instead of lurching forward with his legs, something he blames, in part, for his struggles. Manager Alan Trammell believes Higginson will become more of a pure hitter who uses the whole field instead of pulling almost everything.

Hide and tweak

Royals G.M. Allard Baird says four starters are penciled in: RHPs Zack Greinke, Jose Lima and Runelvys Hernandez and LHP Bran Anderson. That assurance takes pressure off Anderson, who already is preoccupied with restructuring his delivery. Pitching coach Guy Hansen says Anderson has been giving hitters too much time to follow the ball. Hansen is working with Anderson on hiding the ball and increasing his deception.

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Sporting News, The, March 11, 2005

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