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N.L. East

Sporting News, The, April 15, 2005

ATLANTA BRAVES

Newly acquired RHP Jorge Sosa gives the club a true power reliever, but he lacks control and command of his 97-mph fastball. Sosa's inconsistency adds uncertainty to a bullpen that has only three reliable relievers--RHPs Dan Kolb, Chris Reitsma and Roman Colon. LHP Tom Martin appears destined for a second straight disappointing season, and there still is concern about RHP Kevin Gryboski's shoulder. ... Pete Orr's gritty attitude and versatility helped him earn a roster spot as a utilityman. Orr will be the club's fifth outfielder and a backup at shortstop, second base and third base. SCOUTING REPORT: 3B Chipper Jones continues to field well, and considering the makeup of the pitching staff, that's very important. Kolb, RHP Tim Hudson and LHPs Mike Hampton and Horacio Ramirez all rely heavily on their sinkers, which produce a lot of ground balls. Jones has been better at third since moving back from the outfield last year.--Mark Bowman

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FLORIDA MARLINS

SS Alex Gonzalez worked on shortening his swing and being more selective at the plate this spring. Gonzalez says he had a slow bat early, partly because he didn't play winter ball in Venezuela. He also was recovering from October elbow surgery.... The club has options if it has to be without CF Juan Pierre (calf). The leadoff job would fall to 2B Luis Castillo, who handled the role before Pierre's arrival. RF Juan Encarnacion could slide to center, Jeff Conine could take over in right, and C Paul Lo Duca could replace Castillo as the No. 2 hitter. SCOUTING REPORT: 1B Carlos Delgado expects to receive the same defensive treatment from N.L. opponents he gat from A.L opponents as a member of the Blue Jays. Teams likely will use infield shifts, sometimes with the shortstop on the first base side of second base. Delgado, who considers himself a gap-to-gap hitter, says that through all of the seasons he has faced shifts, he never has attempted to bunt.--Joe Frisam

NEW YORK METS

Manager Willie Randolph says moving 3B David Wright into the eighth spot in the order is not a demotion; rather, Wright is the player best suited to hit there. Wright already works pitchers as well as any Mets regular, but now he will need to be even more selective. He will see more breaking balls and will need to be more willing to take a walk to keep the pitcher from leading off an inning. ... SS Jose Reyes, the leadoff hitler, will have plenty of chances to steal because the Mets won't be able to hit and run much with 28 Kazuo Matsui batting second. Matsui strikes out too much for a No. 2 hitter. SCOUTING REPORT: Matsui made 335 outs in 460 at-bats last season, with 97 (29.0 percent) coming on strikeouts. Of the 37 N.L players who struck out more times, only three-CF Scott Podsodnik, IF Bill Hall and SS Alex Gonzalez-had lower on-base plus slugging percentages than Matsui's .727. Matsui's swing-and-miss ways might force the club to move him out of the No. 2 spot.--Marry Noble

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

LHP Billy Wagner, the closer, is frustrated with his location; he says he is throwing too many pitches down the middle. Despite throwing as hard as he does, Wagner still relies on movement--especially against righthanded hitters. His velocity, though, has been in the 94- to 96-mph range, about 5 mph below his normal speed.... 1B Jim Thome says there shouldn't be any concern over the back stiffness that kept him out of action for a week in spring training. He has experience treating the condition. SCOUTING REPORT: RHP Gavin Floyd, 22, is ready for a regular turn in the rotation. His four-seam fastball was at 91 to 94 mph this spring after being at 85 to 89 mph last September. His best pitch is a 12-to-6 curveball that has showed improved bite. His changeup also is improving. Floyd will fill in for RHP Vicento Padilla (elbow), who is on the D.L. If Royd puts together a few solid performances, it will be difficult to send him to the minors when Padilla returns.--Ken Mandel

WASHINGTON NATIONALS

RHP Chad Cordero's willingness to challenge hitters this spring helped him secure the full-time closer job. The club was contemplating a committee approach, mainly because Cordero, 23, lacks experience. ... RHP John Patterson is back in the rotation now that RHP Tony Armas (groin) is on the D.L. Patterson, who started 19 games in 2004, throws a Iow-90s fastball, a slider, a curve and a changeup. SCOUTING REPORT: The club wants SS Cristian Guzman to improve his career .303 on-base percentage, but it appears he will be the same free swinger he was with the Twins. The Nationals wanted Guzman to become their leadoff hitter after they sent OF Endy Chavez to the minors, but Guzman doesn't have the patience for that. A couple of times this spring, he swung at 2-0 pitches and made outs. Guzman will bat second, and the club hopes he can use his speed to steal bases.--Bill Ladson

N.L. East

Sporting News, The, April 15, 2005

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