N.L. Central

Sporting News, The, Sept 20, 1999

September auditions

Teams are listed alphabetically

A look at three prospects who are getting significant playing time this month:

Chad Hermansen, OF, Pirates: Hermansen is the Pirates' top power-hitting prospect, and the team hopes he can fill the need for a righthanded hitter with punch. He is expected to play most of the remaining games in left or fight field, and occasionally in center. If Hermansen plays well, then the team will step up its efforts to trade Brant Brown in the offseason. Hermansen, 22, hit .270 with 32 homers, 97 RBIs and 19 stolen bases at Class AAA Nashville this season. His biggest problem, though, has been his strike-zone judgment, which has led to 271 strikeouts and only 85 walks in the past two seasons.

Adam Kennedy, 2B, Cardinals: Kennedy has hit well at every stop in the minors, including .327 with 10 home runs and 63 RBIs at Class AAA Memphis this season. Kennedy was drafted as a shortstop but has since moved to second base. He also saw action in left field. Kennedy was called up August 20 and will start at second base the rest of the season. He hit .302 with one homer and 12 RBIs in his first 18 games, and 10 of his 19 hits were for extras bases. Kennedy's defense has been better than expected, but he may not have the range or quickness required for second base.

Cole Liniak, 3B, Cubs: The Cubs acquired Liniak from Boston when they traded closer Rod Beck. They hope Liniak can be a long-term solution at third base--a position that has lacked consistent quality since Ron Santo's last season in 1973. Liniak, 23, doesn't have a lot of power, but the club likes his line-drive swing. Liniak has soft hands and a strong arm. --Jared Hoffman

Chicago

56-86: 6th

Sosa staying put in order during chase to 70

As Sammy Sosa nears Mark McGwire's home run record, Manager Jim Riggleman says he will not move Sosa up to first or second in the batting order to get him more plate appearances. Sosa will continue to bat third or fourth. Riggleman does not think Sosa is a leadoff hitter and he doubts the No. 3 hitter gets many more at-bats than the leadoff hitter. Sosa says pitchers from contending teams aren't giving in during key situations, throwing him breaking pitches on 3-0 and 3-1 counts. Riggleman will concede one rule: Sosa is allowed to swing at 3-0 pitches.... The team recalled OF Roosevelt Brown from Class AAA Iowa, where he hit .358 with 22 homers and 78 RBIs.

PLATE PLATOONING: Veteran Jeff Reed and rookie Jose Molina will share time at catcher, leaving Benito Santiago out of the team's future. The team has options for Santiago and Reed, but it will keep only one. Reed, a lefthanded hitter in his 16th year in the majors, will stay. After a slow start since signing in early July, Reed has improved his defense and hitting. Molina, who came up in late August, threw out 43 percent of the basermmers who tried to steal on him in the minors. He will work on his hitting during this winter.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: Sandy Alomar, the organization's roving infield instructor, has been working with 2B Chad Meyers and SS Jose Nieves on their play around the second-base bag. Alomar is teaching them to get in proper position, turn double plays and handle different situations. At third, Cole Liniak, acquired in a trade with Boston, has been getting pointers on his footwork and the angle of his arm on his throws to first. --Bruce Miles

GRADING OUT

OFFENSE C

Grace and Rodriguez waking; team needs more baserunners to set up the big three.

PITCHING D

What a year. Steve Trachsel may end up with the most wins on the staff.

DEFENSE D

Grace, at times, is only infield vet. Rookies at pitcher, catcher, second, third and short.

                           CUBS

                AVG     G    AB     R     H   HR   RBI

Grace( )       .312   141   519    94   162   14    79
Rodriguez( )   .309   123   424    68   131   24    84
Hill           .303    88   231    40    70   17    48
Sosa           .297   142   549   104   163   59   128
Alexander      .281    82   171    17    48    0    15
Reed( )        .266    89   222    24    59    2    23
(*) Liniak     .261     8    23     3     6    0     1
Johnson( )     .256    76   277    37    71    1    17
(*) Molina     .250     4     8     1     2    0     1
Morandini( )   .246   129   426    56   105    4    36
(*) Nieves     .244    38   127     9    31    1    11
Blauser        .239    92   176    37    42    8    23
Santiago       .237   101   325    27    77    6    32
(*) Meyers     .206    28    97    12    20    0     2
Gaetti         .204   105   270    21    55    9    45
(*) Brown( )   .200    13    15     2     3    0     1
Andrews        .181    98   281    28    51   11    37
(*) Porter     .125    10     8     0     1    0     0

                OBP    SLG   SB     K   BB    E

Grace( )       .390   .476    3    36   71    6
Rodriguez( )   .386   .547    2   101   54    6
Hill           .356   .571    5    56   20    4
Sosa           .371   .667    7   153   65    7
Alexander      .319   .368    4    35   10    7
Reed( )        .379   .374    1    48   39    6
(*) Liniak     .292   .348    0     3    1    0
Johnson( )     .319   .343   13    13   26    3
(*) Molina     .333   .375    0     1    1    0
Morandini( )   .320   .338    6    54   43    4
(*) Nieves     .274   .307    0    23    2   13
Blauser        .352   .420    2    48   24    7
Santiago       .304   .363    0    68   30    5
(*) Meyers     .267   .278    4    17    6    2
Gaetti         .262   .341    0    50   21    9
(*) Brown( )   .250   .267    1     3    1    0
Andrews        .287   .327    1    88   43   14
(*) Porter     .222   .125    0     5    1    0