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N.L. report

Sporting News, The, Feb 25, 2005

As many as nine pitchers will audition for the ROCKIES' closer job in spring training. LHP Brian Fuentes and RHP Chin-hui Tsao are the favorites, but RHP Marcos Carvajal and LHP Matt Merricks, both of whom came out of the Rule 5 draft, will get to audition against opponents' regulars in the initial spring games. RHPs Aaron Taylor, Eddie Galliard and David Cortes also will get early work, and RHPs Allan Simpson and Scott Dohmann will pitch later in the schedule.... CARDINALS RHP Matt Morris (shoulder surgery) will be behind the other starters in camp, and G.M. Walt Jocketty says it might be unrealistic to expect Morris to be in the rotation at the start of the season. LHP Rick Ankiel would be the first in line to fill in for Morris.... PIRATES SS Jack Wilson (appendectomy) will miss at least the first two weeks of camp, which means IF Freddy Sanchez will play a lot as he competes for the job backing up Wilson and 2B Jose Castillo. Bobby Hill is the other candidate for that role.... BRAVES LHP Mike Hampton had offseason surgery on his left knee but still might have to have the knee, which has been bothering him for four years, drained regularly.... PADRES manager Bruce Bochy wants his baserunners to be more aggressive and to take advantage of every scoring opportunity, especially at home in spacious Petco Park. Waiting for the home run didn't work last season.... 1B Chad Tracy might bat second for the DIAMONDBACKS. The lefthanded-hitting Tracy can take advantage of the hole between first and second when a runner is on base, and he has good plate discipline. But look for manager Bob Melvin to experiment with the order all spring.... RHP Jim Mecir's screwball makes him an interesting relief option for the MARLINS. The pitch allows Mecir to be effective against lefthanded hitters, so he could be used in a role similar to that of a lefthanded specialist. ... Losing RHP Tyler Yates (rotator cuff surgery) damages the METS' bullpen plans. He was expected to fill a setup or middle-relief role. Manager Willie Randolph will try to piece together a middle-relief corps from a group that includes nonroster RHPs Roberto Hernandez, Juan Padilla and Manny Aybar. ... PHILLIES RHP Brett Myers says he received input from too many sources when he struggled mightily last season. He plans to go back to what made him successful in the minors.... Keep an eye on NATIONALS LHP Mike Hinckley, ASTROS RHP Ezequiel Astacio and CUBS LHP Raul Valdez, prospects who could win rotation spots in spring training. Hinckley, 22, has a low-90s fastball and a solid curveball. Astacio, 25, throws hard and has impeccable control. Valdez, a 27-year-old Cuban defector, was overpowering while pitching last summer in the Dominican Republic (0.51 ERA, 152 strikeouts, eight walks in 87 2/3 innings).... RHP Wes Obermueller has been slow to gain confidence and consistency with his pitches, and the BREWERS might be running out of patience. His best chance to make the team might be as a long reliever.... RHP Todd Coffey will need an impressive spring to make the REDS' staff, but he has the stuff to pull if off. He has a 96-mph fastball and has developed a split-finger pitch. Coffey, a closer in the minors, is shooting for a relief role.... 2B Willy Aybar, 21, could help the DODGERS before the year is out. Aybar, a former third baseman who drove in 77 runs at Class AA Jacksonville last season, is scheduled to begin the season at Class AAA Las Vegas.... GIANTS RHP Kevin Correia needs to improve his location, aggressiveness and consistency to win a relief job. He might be at least a year away from being a full-time big-leaguer.

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See a different game

New Phillies hitting coach Milt Thompson does net want his players swinging for the fences in batting practice. He wants hitters to focus on using the middle of the field and on taking line-drive swings. Thompson, who was the team's first base coach last season, believes the team's hitters tried to pull the ball too often. That led to struggles with runners in scoring position.

Plan in place

Lou Palmisano is a rarity for the Brewers-a home-grown catching prospect. With C Damian Miller signed through 2007, the team is hoping Palmisano, 22, can develop in time to take over by then or in 2008. Even spending time in the spring watching the veteran Miller handle pitchers will aid Palmisano's development. Palmisano already is regarded as a take-charge type who works well with pitchers. He also has above-average speed for a catcher has shown promise at the plate, though he needs to be more selective.

Hot prospects

SS Luis Hernandez might be the Braves' best defensive infielder since Rafael Belliard. Hernandez, a 20-year-old from Venezuela, could be Atlanta's shortstop in 2006 if he continues to improve at the plate. Rafael Furcal, the incumbent, can become a free agent after the 2005 season.... With the Pirates desperate for power in the middle of the lineup, 1B Brad Eldred--all 270 pounds of him--should get some playing time early in the spring. Eldred, 24, had 38 home runs and 137 RBIs in 130 minor league games in 2004.... RHP Ramon Pena, 23, will have an opportunity to be the Diamondbacks' fifth starter. Pena, who until last summer used a fake name--Adriano Rosario--and claimed he was four years younger than he is has a mid-90s fastball that has good life, a power slider and a circle change.

N.L. report

Sporting News, The, Feb 25, 2005

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