N.L. reports

Sporting News, The, August 18, 2003

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Since returning from a monthlong stint on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis, closer Matt Mantei has made 12 straight scoreless appearances, covering 12 innings. His velocity has been high, and he has shown good command. And after years of trying to decide between his curve and slider as a second pitch, Mantei has grown comfortable and effective with both, giving him a different way to pitch good fastball hitters. Mantei is flashing the type of ability that made the team believe it could go without Byung-Hyun Kim in the closer's role. "It's nice to leave the bullpen pretty much every day with three pitches I can throw for strikes," Mantei says. "Back in '99 when I (came) here, I was just a fastball pitcher. I was wild in the strike zone then." ... With 1B Mark Grace going on the D.L. with a hyperextended right elbow, utilityman Robby Hammock was recalled from Class AAA Tucson. Hammock, in the majors for the fourth time this season, was recalled because he can play, among other positions, catcher. C Chad Moeller recently hurt the middle finger of his throwing hand, and the team needed a catcher besides Rod Barajas who could throw.... In light of the Dodgers' firing of hitting instructor Jack Clark, manager Bob Brenly gave a vote of confidence to hitting coach Dwayne Murphy. But entering the week, the Diamondbacks had scored three or fewer runs in 14 of their last 17 games.

ATLANTA BRAVES

C Javy Lopez says he can tell LHP Mike Hampton is starting to find a comfort zone after two rocky seasons in Colorado and a slow start in Atlanta. "His control is a lot better," Lopez says. "He doesn't throw many in the dirt, and if he does, it's one or two the whole game." Manager Bobby Cox raves about Hampton's sinker, calling it the best in baseball. Hampton got away from throwing the pitch when he was with the Rockies; he was throwing across his body so much that he couldn't get the pitch inside on righthanded hitters. Now that he has straightened out his mechanics, his sinker again has become a strength.... RHP Will Cunnane was called up to replace RHP Darren Holmes, who went on the disabled list with a strained right shoulder. Cunnane appeared in 15 games at Class AAA Richmond, going 1-0 with two saves.... Though Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen struck out the side in the ninth inning of the Braves' loss last Saturday, the team entered the week as the toughest to strike out in the N.L., with a season total of 639.

CHICAGO CUBS

The Cubs had a strict pitch limit for RHP Mark Prior in his first game back from a stint on the D.L. with an ailing shoulder, and manager Dusty Baker said that made Prior "much more pitch-effective," The Cubs planned to limit Prior to 85 to 90 pitches, and he threw 79. He went six innings against the Padres, allowing two hits and striking out six. High pitch counts long have been an issue with Prior, who has been criticized for working too carefully to hitters, running up pitch counts. Twice this season, he has thrown as many as 124 pitches--once in a six-inning stint.... With Mark Grudzielanek out for a month with a broken hand, the Cubs are looking for a second baseman. They have been shadowing the Devil Rays' Marlon Anderson.

CINCINNATI REDS

The Reds, whose rotation had an N.L.-worst 6.04 ERA entering the week, lost their third starter to injury in seven days when RHP Jose Acevedo sprained his left ankle August 6 after missing the bottom step in the visiting dugout at Dodger Stadium. RHP Jimmy Haynes went on the D.L. two days earlier with a bulging disk in his lower back. And RHP Ryan Dempster had surgery to remove a bone chip from his right elbow, then learned he would need Tommy John surgery. LHP John Bale started last Friday in Dempster's place, and RHP Aaron Harang got his first major league victory after being called up from Class AAA Louisville. The other starter's spot has yet to be filled.... Season-ending surgery may he imminent for OF Austin Kearns, who felt increased soreness in his right shoulder during a rehab assignment with Class AA Chattanooga.... Freddie Benevides, the club's minor league infield coordinator, joined the big-league staff to work with the infielders, allowing Ray Knight to concentrate on his duties as third base coach and hitting coach.

COLORADO ROCKIES

Though SS Tony Womack hit .234 with five RBIs in his first 20 games with the Rockies, manager Clint Hurdle isn't concerned. "We have talked with him about having more strike zone discipline," Hurdle says, "and I'm confident that he's going to find the barrel of the bat any day now." ... Rookie RHP Chin-hui Tsao throws a mid-90s fastball, a plus changeup, a slider and a curve. But he might have found a new pitch for his repertoire--a two-seam fastball. Tsao allowed two hits in six innings against the Phillies last week. For the second time in three starts, he allowed a leadoff homer, but the Phillies were shut out the rest of the way. Tsao says after allowing a home run, he usually is able to slow himself and regain his mechanics.... Garrett Atkins was called up from Class AAA to split time at third base with Chris Stynes. Stynes, who never has had more than 380 at-bats in a major league season, entered the week with 321. Having Atkins, who was hitting .320 at Colorado Springs, available should help keep Stynes fresh.