Muddywater

Sporting News, The, Feb 12, 1996 by Paul Hagen

Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time. It was two offseasons ago and the Phillies, casting about for a way to improve their offense and defense to recapture 1993's World Series glory, decided to move Dave Hollins from third base to first. That's where it started.

So when Gregg Jefferies was signed to a four-year, 20-minion contract in December 1994, his most natural spot on the field was occupied. No problem: Jefferies would play left. Charlie Hayes was brought back to play third in spring training. General Manager Lee Thomas was convinced he had a lineup that would score a ton of runs and a defense that would rank among the best in the National League.

Now the Phillies are about to reconvene at the Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Fla., and that blueprint is little more than a bad memory. Hollins was benched a week after the All-Star break, then traded. Jefferies moved back to first. Hayes was cut loose at the end of the season. And after all that happened last week, it's obvious the Phillies will report to spring training with more "Ifs" than Rudyard Kipling.

After weeks of speculation, Thomas completed a trade with the Red Sox that sent closer Heathcliff Slocumb and two minors leaguers (outfielder Rick Holifield and lefthander Larry Wimberly) to Fenway Park for outfielder Lee Tinsley, reliever Ken Ryan and minor league slugger Glenn Murray. That created some confusion. Slocumb saved 32 games last season. Instead of getting a desperately needed starter pitcher in return, the Phillies brought in three guys who didn't appear to have defined roles. Tinsley was presented as the key to the deal even though he figured to compete for playing time in left with Tony Longmire, Jim Eisenreich and Pete Incaviglia.

The situation became ever more muddled the next day when All-star catcher Darren Daulton confirmed numors he had begun to seep out After undergoing an operation to repair the tom anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee - plus the seventh arthroscopic surgery of his career to clean out his left knee - he informed club officials he no longer is capable of catching.

"I don't want to be a mediocre, beat-up ball player," says Daulton, 34. "Catching is one thing that comes natural to me, but I want to be able to hit And I'm concerned that catching will take away from my hitting. I feel there is a lot of pressure off my shoulders. Catching is so mentally draining, just getting ready every day. I wasn't sure I could do it. I wasn't sure I wanted to at all."

Because Daulton is guaranteed $10.5 million for the next two years, the Phillies had to find a spot for him. First base would have been logical, but Jefferies is there now. And because Jefferies hit .265 as a left fielder last season but .344 after being moved to first - the same success he had found in St Louis when playing first - there was a natural reluctance to ask him to change again. Daulton, instead, was moved to left which was getting pretty crowded by now.

Even as Phillies fans wondered why the club would subject Daulton to the wrath of Veterans Stadium's infamous left-field carpet, catcher Benito Santiago suddenly arrived with a one-year, $1.1-million contract.

With that, the Slocumb trade came into clearer focus. A team that was at its mandated payroll limit needed to move salary. Slocumb will make between the $1.025 million he was offered in arbitration and the $1.69 million for which he had asked. None of the three players the Phillies gained in return is arbitration-eligible.

But even this is not as cut-and-dried as it might seem.

For one thing, there is a real question about what will happen when Daulton tries to play outfield for the first time since 1983 at Double-A Reading (Eastern). The Phillies tried to make second baseman Juan Samuel an outfielder in 1989. He flopped, both in the field and at the plate, and was traded by June. Jefferies clearly was uncomfortable last season before being brought back to first.

"You can name two players out of a thousand who didn't do it I think it would be better to name those who were able to," Daulton says. "I've shagged flies. I don't think there are any tricks of the trade I haven't seen in my 11 years in the big leagues. ... I made mistakes at catcher. I'll make mistakes at another position. But whatever position I play will be a helluva lot easier on my knees than catcher."

Manager Jim Fregosi says of Daulton: "I think hell be a fine left fielder. I don't think we'll give up that much defensively.' Still, the Daulton switch is another giant step forward in the team's apparent attempt to comer the market in question marks. Consider:

* The starting pitching is a jumble. Four projected starters from last spring - Curt Schilling, David West, Tommy Greene, Bobby Munoz - are coming off significant surgery and there is no guarantee any will be ready by Opening Day. Paul Quantrin, who led the staff in 1995 with 11 victories, was traded to the Blue Jays. Tyler Green made the All-Star team, then didn't win another game. Sid Fernandez, the likely Opening Day starter, was terrific in August after being released by the Orioles but missed almost all of September with pain and stiffess behind his shoulder. The Slocumb trade leaves Ricky Bottalico, with one full year of major league experience, as closer. It's no coincidence Fregosi plans to look at more than 30 pitchers.