American League

Sporting News, The, April 2, 2001

Anaheim

OFF INTO THE SUNSET: Baseball lost an eloquent player and fiery competitor when RHP pitcher Tim Belcher retired after a 14-year career that began with the Dodgers and a Word Series title in 1988 and ended with two frustrating, injury-marred years with the Angels. Belcher, 39, had a 10.80 ERA in five spring starts, giving up 15 runs in 7 2/3 innings of his last two games. Though he felt sound physically, it was apparent he wouldn't make the rotation. After a meeting with Manager Mike Scioscia and GM Bill Stoneman, Belcher retired.... The Angels signed RF Tim Salmon to a $40 million extension that virtually ensures that he will remain with the club through the 2005 season and adds to a strong core. 3B Troy Glaus and C Bengie Molina also signed four-year deals, and LF Garret Anderson and 1B Mo Vaughn are on board through '04. The team also hopes to secure CF Darin Erstad.

HEAD TO HEAD: Several roster decisions can't be made until a winner is declared at first base from among Wally Joyner, Scott Spiezio and Larry Barnes. If Joyner or Barnes starts, Spiezio will be a backup corner infielder and outfielder. If Spiezio starts, 1B/3B Jose Fernandez's chances improve over Shawn Wooten's. Orlando Palmeiro will be a backup outfielder, Jorge Fabregas a backup catcher, and David Lamb has the edge for backup middle infielder. --Mike DiGiovanna

Baltimore

HOCUS POCUS: The team altered its rotation at the request of RHP Jose Mercedes, who wanted to be moved out of the No. 3 spot because he is superstitious. Mercedes will be dropped to fourth and RHP Jason Johnson moved up to third. Mercedes says he has had bad luck as a third starter throughout his career.... Reserve C Greg Myers likely will be released because rookie Fernando Lunar, acquired last July in the B.J. Surhoff deal, is out of options. Because Lunar is the only player the Orioles have to show for Surhoff--RHP Luis Rivera is out for the season, and OF Trenidad Hubbard was released--the team seems determined to keep him at Myers' expense. The Orioles think another team will claim Lunar if they try to pass him through waivers. A late trade involving Myers is still possible, but other teams are aware of the Orioles' predicament and likely would wait till the Orioles are forced to release him. The Orioles then would be responsible for most of his salary.

HEAD TO HEAD: Battling for the last three bullpen spots, RHP Calvin Maduro has come on strong, RHP Jorge Julio has faded and LHP John Bale is somewhere in between. Julio's fastball drew raves in early spring, but he appears to have slipped behind Maduro and Chad Paronto in the race for the two righthanded spots. Bale's fate depends in part on whether the team keeps LHP Chuck McElroy in the rotation. --Dave Sheinin

Boston

SHORT ANSWERS: The team's list of names unavailable for opening day was increasing, and there was growing concern that the player at the top of the list, SS Nomar Garciaparra, could be unavailable for a lot longer than that. If Garciaparra needs surgery, the top candidates to play his position, at least for the short term, are utility infielder Lou Merloni and 2B Mike Lansing. Also unavailable for the opener are RHPs David Cone (shoulder), Bret Saberhagen (shoulder), Hipolito Pichardo (right forearm) and 3B John Valentin (left knee).... 3B/C/1B Shea Hillenbrand, who was hitting above .500 after his first 15 games and playing good defense, was battling for a spot on the 25-man roster.... Manager Jimy Williams was tinkering with the idea of playing 2B Jose Offerman at first base against lefthanded starters.

HEAD TO HEAD: The team's starting rotation finally began to take shape. After RHP Tim Wakefield was told he would be the fifth starter, the injury to Pichardo pushed Wakefield into the bullpen. That opened the door for RHP Paxton Crawford to make the final cut. The injury to Cone provided an opening for RHP Tomo Ohka. RHP Rolando Arrojo was removed from the rotation and put in the bullpen. The coaches were unhappy with Arrojo's focus since he joined the team, and they hope more frequent work will result in better pitching. --Michael Silverman

Chicago

WELCOME RELIEF: The team believes it filled a glaring hole in the bullpen with the acquisition of RHP Antonio Osuna. Osuna, who was 3-6 with a 3.74 ERA in 46 appearances with Los Angeles last season, was very impressive in his spring debut with Chicago. While Osuna is expected to spend most of his time pitching in the sixth and seventh innings, manager Jerry Manuel said Osuna, 27, might get a save opportunity from time to time.... DH Frank Thomas has started picking up the pace after an early slump that Thomas attributed to a lack of timing. Thomas said his six-day holdout had nothing to do with his performance. When he was struggling, Thomas appeared to be fooled by pitches, and he was often off-balance.

HEAD TO HEAD: The team wants a lefthanded batter with power on the bench, and DH/1B Harold Baines and IF/OF Jeff Liefer are battling for the job. Baines, a non-roster invitee, looks like the winner. Baines, 42, still has a steady stroke, and he has even been playing first for the first time. Liefer, who hit 32 home runs at Class AAA Charlotte last season, needed to have a strong spring training to beat out Baines. It hasn't happened. Liefer is a big (6-3, 210), strong athlete, but he has had trouble taking advantage of his size. Hitting coach Von Joshua has been spending extra time with Liefer in an attempt to get him to stand up taller at the plate. --Scot Gregor