National League

Sporting News, The, Feb 28, 2000

Arizona

ON THE SPOT: Travis Lee doesn't see his career being at a crossroad, but it may be. After finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting in 1998, Lee lost his starting first base job to an Erubiel Durazo/Greg Colbrunn platoon last year and enters camp this season battling David Dellucci and Bernard Gilkey for the right field job. Lee even faces the possibility of starling the season at Class AAA. Those who know him well expect Lee to turn things around. "He's got two things he wants to prove: One, the first year he had wasn't a fluke; and two, he can play right field," says IF Andy Fox, who has the locker next to Lee's at Bank One Ballpark. Lee says he played a lot of center field in high school, but his experience in the outfield since then consists of two games after the team clinched the N.L. West last year, two games at Class AAA Tucson in 1997 and 11 games in his freshman and junior seasons at San Diego State.

FEELING GOOD: Darren Holmes, a candidate for the righthanded setup role along with Russ Springer, says a winter workout routine has him over back problems. Recurring back trouble limited Holmes to just 16 appearances after the All-Star break last year. He considered offseason surgery but instead cut back his winter pursuits of hunting, fishing and golfing and opted for a rigorous workout routine to strengthen his back.... Colbrunn was in camp early to get work as a catcher. A catcher as a minor leaguer, he serves as the emergency third catcher Even though Colbrunn likely will open the season as the first baseman against lefthanded pitching, Buck Showalter also wants to get him time in the outfield and at third base to improve the team's depth. --Ed Price

Atlanta

SIDELINED: LHP Odalis Perez, who won the fifth starter's job in spring training last year, is an observer in camp this year. After undergoing elbow surgery last summer, he doesn't expect to return until July or August He has begun throwing again and hopes to return to the mound during the next three weeks.... Several months after knee and shoulder surgery, backup C Eddie Perez says he'll be ready to start the season. Trainers are approaching his return cautiously and not allowing him to catch for more than 15 minutes at a time. Perez says his knee is completely recovered but his shoulder needs more time.... Several position players reported to camp with the pitchers and catchers last week, including RF Brian Jordan, SS Walt Weiss, 1B Wally and 2B Quilvio Veras. The team asked Weiss, Veras and Joyner to report early so they can work together and smooth the middle-infield transition.

POSSIBLE RELIEF: The number of vacancies in the bullpen depends on RHP Rudy Seanez's health and whether LHP Terry Mulholland is needed in the rotation. There are two or three spots open and a large field of candidates. RHP Rafael Medina, a Marlins castoff, throws hard but has control problems. LHP Paul Assenmacher has been effective in the past, but he is getting old and had an 8.18 ERA last year with the Indians. RHP Luis Rivera has a fastball in the high 90s, but he hasn't pitched above Class A and has had trouble with blisters on his index finger. Other candidates for bullpen support are LHPs Derrin Ebert and Bruce Chen, both of whom will be competing with Mulholland for the fifth spot in the rotation. --Bill Zack

Chicago

WOOD WORKS: RHP Kerry Wood completed two pain-free throwing sessions in the first week of workouts in Mesa, Ariz., mixing in a few changeups with a diet of fastballs. He won't throw breaking balls until mid-March. Wood's fastball was popping the catcher's glove. One sticking point is command. Wood, who had reconstructive surgery on his right elbow last April and missed the 1999 season, is expected to make his exhibition debut March 9. It's still possible he could begin the season at extended spring training or on a rehab assignment.... The team has carried three catchers in recent years, but manager Don Baylor considers that a luxury. He'll stick with Joe Girardi and Jeff Reed. If the Cubs were to carry a third catcher, he'd have to be a versatile player or a good pinch hitter. No one in camp fits either description.

BATTING SECOND ... : It appears Girardi will follow leadoff man Eric Young in the batting order. Baylor used Girardi, who handles the bat well, in the No. 2 position when he managed him at Colorado. Baylor hasn't ruled out CF Damon Buford for the second slot. The problem with Buford, however, is contact. Playing for the Red Sox last season, he struck out 74 times in 297 at-bats. Girardi fanned only 26 times in 209 at-bats for the Yankees, and his career high is 55 strikeouts (in 462 at-bats with the 1995 Rockies).... Baylor, who wants opponents to deal with a different look, hopes to find a lefthander who could crash what is now an all-RHP rotation (Wood, Ismael Valdes, Jon Lieber, Kevin Tapani and Kyle Farnsworth). The top candidates are Micah Bowie and Andrew Lorraine. --Bruce Miles

Cincinnati

ETCHED IN CEMENT: Despite having 70 players in camp, the Reds will be able to provide genuine competition for few of them. The only job openings are for a utilityman (Chris Stynes or Chris Sexton), No. 5 starter (Mark Portugal has the inside track) and a reliever (Rule 5 pickup Adrian Burnside or minor leaguer Pat Flury have a shot).... RHP Pete Harnisch and LHP Denny Neagle are healthy after suffering shoulder problems last year. Having them healthy all year would go a long way toward easing the Reds' main preseason fear: that their pitching won't complement their formidable lineup. In reality, Harnisch and Neagle could generate 30 to 35 victories.