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N.L. West

Sporting News, The, May 6, 2005

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

It will be interesting to see what the team does with OF Luis Terrero, who is out of minor league options. He's a five-tool player, but with the outfield full, his playing time is limited. Without playing time, he won't get better, which means it's unlikely the club could get what it thinks he's worth in a trade.... OF Scott Hairston was called up when OF Jose Cruz went on the D.L. with a strained lower back. It's an unusual call-up because Hairston won't start. Young players usually don't make good pinch hitters, but Hairston can turn on any fastball and has simple mechanics at the plate--two key qualities for pinch hitters.... RHP Javier Vazquez threw in more of a downward plane in his fourth start. He mixed his pitches well, and his two-seamer was strong as he picked up his first win. FEARLESS FORECAST: The team will try to bolster its bullpen, which has been overworked and overexposed early. But the club will not give up one of its top prospects for a reliever.--Steve Gilbert

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COLORADO ROCKIES

An already reeling bullpen took a hit when LHP Bobby Seay went on the D.L. with a strained pectoral muscle. Seay was one of just two letfhanders in the bullpen, and the team is high on him.... Rookie SS Clint Barmes became the N.L.'s hottest early-season hitter by not worrying much about the scouting reports and focusing on staying in good hitting position. The deeper into the count, the better his approach has been.... Manager Clint Hurdle sometimes gets shorthanded in the bullpen because he is cautious with closer RHP Chin-hui Tsae, who missed the first six games with a sore rotator cuff. Tsao's fastball reaches 97 to 100 mph. FEARLESS FORECAST: LHP Jeff Francis, who had 1-run outings in two of his first three starts, and Barmes will remain among the best N.L. rookies. Francis' lack of fear and combination of a tricky delivery and good strategy-he's not over-powering, but he changes speeds well-help him. Barmes is strong at the plate and is improving in the field.--Thomas Harding

LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Last season, CF Milton Bradley was concentrating on hitting for a high average rather than belting home runs. This year, he has learned how and when to go deep, and the result has been five home runs in his first 17 games. Bradley says that his mechanics and plate discipline are better this year.... The difficult part about having players such as RHP Eric Gagne, LHP Wilson Alvarez and LF Jayson Werth come off the D.L. is demoting players who have made unexpected contributions in the injured players' absences. The group of impressive fill-ins who could be sent down includes RHPs Steve Schmoll, Buddy Carlyle and D.J. Houlton and OF Jason Repko. FEARLESS FORECAST: Bradley, under the microscope when the season started because of his volatility last year, will begin being mentioned as an All-Star and MVP candidate. A switch hitter, Bradley is starting to tap into his potential and develop the power that long has been predicted for him.--Ken Gurnick

SAN DIEGO PADRES

Geoff Blum has played a bigger early-season role than the Padres had expected. Blum is the primary fill-in for injured SS Khalil Greene (finger), who will be out until mid-May. Blum, 32, has displayed a strong arm but certainly not the agility of Greene. A switch hitter, Blum has a good stroke and has displayed some power.... RHP Brian Lawrence might benefit from the large outfield at Petco Park as much as any Padres starter. With his low-velocity, high-movement stuff, he doesn't get many strikeouts. He strives for grounders but induces a lot of fly balls, which generally don't carry well at Petco. FEARLESS FORECAST: 18 Phil Nevin will heat up and produce more runs, in part by driving the ball into the gaps at home. Nevin has struggled with men in scoring position this season, but with CF Dave Roberts, 2B Mark Loretta and RF Brian Giles in front of him, he'll get plenty of opportunities.--John Schlegel

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

C Mike Matheny is playing nearly every day, so backup Yorvit Torrealba is desperate for playing time. In fact, Torrealba had 10 at-bats in the first 17 games of the season. The team, though, will give Matheny more rest as the season progresses, and manager Felipe Ainu is hinting that Torrealba could become a superutility player who could play some at second and in the outfield.... RHP David Aardsma, who once was considered the possible closer of the future, is being converted into a starter at Class AA. Aardsma, who fizzled in spring camp, has a good fastball and slowly is developing his breaking pitches. FEARLESS FORECAST: The club will shake up the rotation, and RHP Jesse Foppert will be promoted. He has regained his health and strength after elbow surgery and has revamped his delivery. LHP Kirk Rueter is battling a sports hernia and has had a slow start. He might need some down time.--Rich Draper

N.L. West

Sporting News, The, May 6, 2005

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