Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • 45

Chicago Tribune, Friday, March 2, 2001 Section 4 3 INSIDE THE WHITE SOX CAMPREPORTS A DAILY LOOK AT SPRING TRAINING Mixed reviews for new zone Selig decision on trade due Friday jeered, and Kendall and Foster talked about the pitch between innings. "That was pretty ridiculous," Kendall said. "It was by my chest. It was a ball. But it shows they're really going to do it.

I'll take striking out if our pitchers get that pitch." Foster's work was under careful watch. Umpiring supervisor Marty Springstead was on hand, and a camera recorded pitches for later review. "I didn't see too many high strikes called," Springstead said. "It will take some adjustments, and we'll have a better feel for it later in the spring." Iassogna thought he followed the instructions. "I felt I called a lot of them today," he said.

"After the first one, I was like, 'Whoa, I can do "he said. DUNEDIN, Fla Raul Mondesi watched the fastball whiz past the Blue Jays emblem on his chest, keeping the bat on his shoulder. He expected to hear the hiss of the heater. It was another sound that surprised him. "Strike three!" plate umpire Dan Iassogna shouted.

The Toronto star blinked and asked, "Is that what you guys are calling?" The start of the exhibition season Thursday provided the first real look at the expanded strike zone baseball intends to enforce this season. At Bradenton, Pittsburgh star Jason Kendall also was not impressed. In the first inning, Kendall was called out by Marty Foster on a decidedly high pitch from Detroit knuckleballer Steve Sparks. Some fans at McKechnie Field AMERICAN LEAGUE said. "If he gets on a streak, I wouldn't hesitate to leave him in at the end of ballgames." Howry, who will be arbitration-eligible next year, saw how Foulke's salary soared to $3.1 million after only one full season as a closer.

Howry saved 28 games for the Sox in '99, including 19 of 21 chances at Comiskey Park. But he lost the job to Foulke early last April when a bone spur in his shoulder affected his velocity. Howry opted to pitch through the pain and not have surgery until after the season, keeping the injury quiet rather than using it as an excuse. Game time: Frank Thomas won't play in any of the Cactus League games this weekend but should be ready by Monday or Tuesday, Manuel said. Outfielder Joe Borchard, the $5.3 million bonus player from Stanford, will make his Sox debut Friday in the opener, which pits Jon Garland against Arizona's Curt Schilling.

amined Sirotka, who has been on a shoulder-strengthening program for the last two weeks. "The doctor recommended he have another week of rehab with no throwing," Toronto manager Buck Martinez said. Both sides have been asked not to comment on the incident, but the Sox believe their case is strengthened because Sirotka may not have to undergo surgery at all. In the Sox's extensive written presentation to baseball operations chief Sandy Alderson, who handled the investigation for the commissioner's office, they pointed out cases in which a player was dealt and later turned out to be injured, with no compensation given. If the doctor's name sounds familiar, it's because he also was the physician who first examined Sirotka in January after the trade was made.

Mirabello said then that the 29-year-old left-hander had "slight tightness" in his pitching shoulder but should be ready for spring training. Another doctor's examination of a second magnetic-resonance-imaging test discovered the tears, which the Jays believe make their case for compensation. The tone of the disagreement has turned nasty. White Sox General Manager Ken Williams claimed his reputation has been "dragged through the mud" after the Jays' protests and Toronto General Manager Gord Ash took a veiled swipe at Williams, referring to him as someone who stands "on a soap box and cries foul and makes accusations and jumps up and down." Tag team? Keith Foulke isn't in danger of losing his closer's role at least not yet. But manager Jerry Manuel said he may give Bob Howry more opportunities to close games this year now that his shoulder is strong again after off-season arthroscopic surgery.

Howry seemingly has his velocity back, so the two could become one of the league's best combos. Howry "will probably get a few opportunities to close," Manuel Sirotka rehab seems to save compensation By Paul Sullivan Tribune Staff Writer TUCSON, Ariz. Commissioner Bud Selig will announce his fmal ruling on the Mike Sirotka saga Friday, according to a Major League Baseball official. Toronto has asked for compensation from the White Sox because Sirotka was discovered to have a torn labrum and partial tear in his rotator cuff after the six-player David Wells trade Jan. 14.

The Sox contend no compensation is necessary because Sirotka passed the Blue Jays doctor's initial examination and that he still should be able to pitch this year. A ruling will be made before Si-rotka's full condition is known. On Thursday Dr. Steve Mirabello ex NATIONAL LEAGUE East Braves: At Kissimmee, Chan Perry, a long shot to make the At lanta roster, homered and drove in five runs as the Braves banged out 22 hits in an 18-4 victory over Georgia Tech, the nation's No. 1 ranked college team.

Rookie of the year shortstop Rafael Furcal, not eligible for arbitration, agreed to a one-year, $355,000 deal. Marlins: At Melbourne, six prospects combined on a five-hitter as the Marlins beat Rorida State 7-0. Gary Knotts, Wes An derson and Michael Tejera worked two innings apiece. Hflgj tor Almonte, Geoff Goetz and Blaine Neal each worked an irwt ning. Central Reds: Lenny Dykstra, a hard- 9 nosed player for 12 seasons w8h the Mets and Phillies, resigned Thursday after just two weeks as a minor-league manager.

He had been scheduled to manage the Reds' affiliate in Stockton, Caflfc the Mudville Nine, and had been with the Reds at their training camp in Sarasota, Ra. "He was-really fired up in the off-season but the reality of being away from his family hit him, I think," said-Tim Naehring, Reds director of player personnel. At Winter East Yankees: New York started spring training essentially the same way it did last year. Dwight Gooden gave up a leadoff home run, Chuck Knoblauch made a throwing error and the Yankees lost to the Toronto Blue Jays 6-4. Last year the Yankees started the spring season 0-6, getting out-scored 56-21.

They won't mind if they finish the way they did last season, winning their third straight World Series title. "I told them in our meeting that we were 0-6 and you made my life miserable," Yankees manager Joe Torre said before the game at Dunedin, Fla. "It really cut into my enjoyment of spring training." Blue Jays: Toronto scored four times in the sixth off losing pitcher Darrell Einertson, giving new manager Buck Martinez a win in his first game. "It was a lot different than being in the broadcast booth," said Martinez, a former ESPN announcer. "Things moved a lot more quickly down there on the field.

But it was a great day." Red Sex: Eight days after manager Jimy Williams said he would switch Manny Ramirez from right field to left, he announced Ramirez was uncomfortable there and moved him back to right before the outfielder played a single inning. "That's been the position that he's played his whole career," Williams said, "so you have to listen to him. He's a very important part of our club." Boston made seven errors in a 12-5 loss to the Twins in Ft. Myers, Fla. Devil Rays: In a 17-4 victory over Notre Dame in Tampa, Tampa Bay scored five runs in the second and seven in the fifth when Ron i jjp Haven, Ken Griffey Jr.

an Barry Larkin each homered as 1 Reds tied the Cleveland India Tribune photo by Charles Cherney Tribune photo by Charles Cherney Kip Wells: "Whoever gets the job, there's no'ill will. Jon Garland: "It's competition for me to make the rotation." Sox thriller: Duel in the sun Youngsters Wells, Garland put it on the line for rotation spot 3-3. Larkin, who has agreed to experiment as the leadoff hittejr, drove Cleveland starter Dave Btir ba's second pitch over the waiMli left field. Brewers: Right-fielder Jeromy Burnitz agreed to a two-year, $20 million contract through 2003.12 making him the highest-paid prff-er in franchise history. Just day after signing their own lucrative, extensions, Richie Sexson andR Geoff Jenkins homered in a 7-flr victory over the Athletics in Phoenix.

Pirates: At Bradenton, De troit's Shane Heams walked in two runs as Pittsburgh scored '1l four runs in a go-ahead eighth inning of a 6-3 victory over the Tigers. Aramis Ramirez was and hit a solo homer. West a Diamondbacks: At Tucson, Randy Johnson allowed four I Wells doesn't mind being listed as the favorite to be the last man standing, but things can change quickly. All the candidates will get plenty of chances to prove themselves, with David Wells saving his arm for the regular season and Baldwin on the mend. "David Wells may decide at the end of camp he wants to pitch some and Baldwin may come back, so I have to get innings for these guys now," Contreras said.

If Garland and Kip Wells drop off the map, the next candidates in the pecking order may be Rauch and Wright. The 6-foot-ll-inch Rauch is taking over Garland's role last year as the prospect on everyone's must-see list, but the 6-5 Wright is gaining ground quickly. A second-round draft pick in '99, Wright has what is considered the best fastball and the best breaking ball of any pitcher in the Sox system. No matter which of these prospects is the survivor, all of them figure to get a shot at the rotation somewhere down the road. "I'd like to think that regardless of how this season goes, it's just a matter of time before all of us are in the rotation," Wells said.

else," he said. "I had a good year last year, got my feet wet, had a few bad outings. But overall it was good for me." Garland was inconsistent after his July call-up, going 4-8 with a 6.46 earned-run average. After dominating at Class AAA Charlotte with a 2-1 strikeouts-to-walks ratio, Garland struck out 42 in 69 innings with the Sox, walking 40. Wells was sent down to Charlotte twice, finishing with a 6-9 record with the Sox and 6.02 ERA.

He also suffered from control problems, and manager Jerry Manuel later conceded that putting him second in the rotation was a "disservice." Wells doesn't want to use that as an excuse for his poor start. "I don't think that had anything to do with my performance last year," Wells said. "In hindsight there were times when I was facing guys who had the ability to challenge me to throw more strikes than I normally do. It was challenging, but I was more focused on the hitters I was facing than the pitchers I was pitching against. Pitching is kind of like golf.

You can't go out and play the person you're playing against. You have to play the course." land, 21. The competition begins Friday when Garland is slated to start the Sox's Cactus League opener against Arizona at Tucson Electric Park. Wells will make his first start Saturday. The two shared the same experience last year, failing to live up to the hype that surrounded them in the spring.

Wells was inserted into the No. 2 slot in the rotation last spring, based on his success at the end of '99, while Garland was being touted as the best Sox pitching prospect since Jack McDowell. By the end of their up-and-down seasons, both were left off the playoff roster. Wells and Garland realize they're in competition, but they're trying not to think of it in those terms. "We talk about how we're all doing, but it's not like we're keeping a checklist, or I call Garland late at night the day before he's pitching and make crank calls," Wells said.

"I want the best for him and I'd think he wants the best for me. Whoever gets the job, there's no ill will." Garland agreed. "It's competition for me to make the rotation, but I don't look at it like it's competition against anyone By Paul Sullivan Tribune Staff Writer TUCSON, Ariz. It's expected to be a duel between Kip Wells and Jon Garland, but with a month to go before Opening Day, one or both of the White Sox starters could wind up back in the minors. There's one spot remaining in the White Sox rotation, or perhaps two if James Baldwin's shoulder isn't healed by the end of camp.

Wells and Garland are co-favorites to go north, but a diverse cast of characters is ready to make them sweat. "You might say Garland and Wells can be at the top, but that doesn't mean they'll go as Nos. 4 and 5, or No. 5," pitching coach Nar-di Contreras said. "If one of these other kids really open up eyes and these guys falter, it's not like these guys have claimed the jobs.

It's just that they have more experience. We're going to let them all go out there and pitch. They'll all get their chances." Contreras mentioned Rocky Bid-die, Matt Ginter, Mark Buehrle, Jon Rauch and Dan Wright as the "other kids" who will get a shot, though the experience gap is hardly a great leap. Wells, after all, is only 23; Gar Wright hit a solo homer and Derrick Gibson followed with a three-shot. Tampa Bay had 20 hits.

Central Indians: Roberto Alomar is getting used to being the only Alomar on the Indians "It's strange," said the little brother of new White Sox catcher Sandy Alomar. "I never thought Sandy would leave for another team, but that's the way the game goes sometimes. No matter where he is, Sandy will always be an Indian." GM John Hart says owner Larry Dolan is willing to go "into deficit spending" this season because "we can make a run at it." The Indians have shown a profit for seven straight years. Twins: Doug Mientkiewicz, a star for the winning United States team in the Sydney Olympics, hit two homers, was 3-for-5 and reached base four times in a 12-5 victory over the Red Sox. A capacity crowd of 7,060 attended the game between the crosstown rivals in Ft.

Myers, Ra. West A's: For the small-market A's, MVP Jason Giambi's situation he could become a free agent at the end of the season could be the first of many contract issues that the club encounters with star players. "At some point, we're all going to be the bad guys here," General Manager Billy Beane said. "But it's not going to be the function of the A's or management being bad guys. It's going to be a function of these guys being great players." Mariners: John Halama, who went 14-9 for Seattle last season, was among six Mariners signing contracts Thursday.

He came to Seattle from Houston in the July 31, 1998, trade that sent Randy Johnson to the Astros. Angels: Left-fielder Garret Anderson skipped Thursday's workout to get treatment on his strained groin. He will not play in Friday's Cactus League opener against Seattle in Tempe. Second baseman Adam Kennedy agreed to terms on $280,000 contract. and one run in two innings of 4 6-5 victory over the Colorado Rockies.

Arizona exercised its $12 million option on Johnson before the game. "I felt pretty ZT good," he said. "I actually got out on a changeup, and that's encouraging. I didn't walk anybody so I'm pleased with that." Rockies: Left-hander Denny Nee-gle made his Colorado debut in' the team's exhibition opener with a solid two-inning perform- ance. He allowed two hits and run on Reggie Sanders' firsfcfflP ning homer.

"For the first timff out, I was pretty sharp," Neagle said. Padres: At Peoria, Ichiro Suzuki, the major leagues' first; Japanese position player, was 1-for-3 in his American debut. San, Diego's 4-3 victory over Seattle was a charity game that doesMk count in the spring statistics, which is fine by Suzuki. "That wasn't a hit," he said through en interpreter. "That was bad fielding by the pitcher." Tony Gwynn! was O-for-2.

He was the DH because the Padres want to keep him off his surgically repaired left knee as much as possible. Dodgers: Eric Karros (sprained lower back) won't be in the starting lineup when Los Angeles opens its exhibition season Frt day against the Astros. He said he felt fine Thursday after taking about 70 swings at live pitching and fielding grounders. Gary Sheffield won't be in the lineup -either, but manager Jim Tracy said his trade demand won't altflr the way he uses Sheffield. jj; McGwire's contract breath of fresh air Slugger makes own deal to stay with Cardinals baseball city.

"What Mark McGwire has meant to this franchise and to the industry is immeasurable," Jocketty told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "He's a player who really gets it. He loves the game of baseball, he loves playing it, he loves the history of it and that's why he loves playing in St. Louis so much." McGwire, 37, appears healthy again after off-season knee surgery.

He is the active leader with 554 career home runs, includingl67inthe last three seasons. If McGwire maintains that pace through the next three years, he will be at 721 when his contract extension expires. That would leave him only him only 34 short of Aaron's career mark of 755. not out here trying to set salary precedents. I'm just doing what I think is right.

I'm happy where I'm at. That's the bottom line." McGwire represented himself in talks with Cardinals General Manager Walt Jocketty and owner Bill DeWitt Jr. He says it took about 25 minutes to reach agreement. "From Day One it has been a real pleasure working with Mark," De-Witt said. "He offers a great perspective when it comes to contract negotiations.

He takes a real interest in securing a deal that he believes to be fair not only for himself but also for the team." Jocketty said McGwire's approach has carried over to other teammates. He has been a great recruiter in selling St. Louis as a low the Cardinals to sign other players. The two-year, $30 million package is far less than McGwire could command as a free agent. McGwire could have joined Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez in the free-agent class of 2001 but instead quietly exercised a mutual option that will pay him $11 million this season.

Sammy Sosa, who helped push McGwire to 70 home runs in 1998, has a mutual option for $12 million in 2002 but long ago made it clear he will file for free agency if the Cubs don't sign him to an extension at about $20 million per season. But don't suggest McGwire is underpaid. "That's pretty ridiculous," McGwire said. "It's a lot of money. I'm By Phil Rogers Tribune Baseball Writer Making a statement about his happiness, Mark McGwire agreed to a contract extension with the St.

Louis Cardinals that might have insulted another superstar. McGwire will earn $14 million in 2002 and $16 million in 2003 as his pursuit of Henry Aaron's career home run record heats us, with 25 percent of his salary deferred to al.