Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • 53

Chicago Tribune, Wednesday, March 3. 1993 Section 4 5 i i WTrr lift iDi h- Ex-Cub bosses pop up in 'Peoria' I Jerome Holtzman On baseball Atlanta Braves WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. last year outfielder Dave Justice wouldn't be a part of the Braves' team picture in spring training. This year he sat and smiled for the cam-era. He says controversy is behind him.

"I'm just going to go out and relax, not have too much to say." said Justice, who in his three years with the Braves has been at odds with the media, fans and management "I'm going to be more accessible and just be the regular person that I am, a nice person." Cincinnati Reds PLANT CITY, Fla. Outfielder Kevin Mitchell reported to camp Tuesday, but not in time to participate in workouts. The Reds are eager to find out how much Mitchell weighs. He was overweight last year, when injuries limited him to nine homers in 99 games for Seattle. itcheS had promised to report in good shape.

Colorado Rockies TUCSON Charlie Hayes' stature as the New York Yankees' starting third baseman last season and his credentials 509 at-bats, 18 homers, 66 RBIs, a 257 average and a .963 fielding percentage that was third- best in the American League make him a logical, If reluctant candidate for leadership of the Rockies. Hayes said he win lead, but by example. I'm not real big on talking," he said. "Most of the time, whether I'm going great or going bad, you won't even know I'm in the clubhouse. But I might step in if I feel something needs to be said." Florida Marlins MELBOURNE, Fla.

There was no fanfare and no final score and three outs didn't necessarily end an in- ning but the Marlins did play their first game Tuesday. The intrasquad game lasted seven innings and let history record that rookie Charles Johnson waved at a Charlie Hough knuckler for the first out "It was dancing," said Johnson, the Marlins' first pick In the amateur draft last June. Hough pitched two Innings before reaching his allotted pitch count. "It's fun to play -baseball again," Hough later said without looking up from his crossword puzzle. Veteran Dave Magadan was eager to test his mended broken wrist in game-like conditions.

"You can only go through so many game situations and drills, so it was fun to get out there for a change," said Magadan, who passed the test with a line-drive double. Houston Astros KISSIMMEE, Fla. Left-hander Rob Mallicoat will re- turn to Houston to have his ailing shoulder examined by the team physician, the team said Tuesday. Although -Mallicoat began training camp throwing normally, he -v started complaining of persistent pain in his shoulder a few days ago. Mallicoat 28, missed the entire 1988 and Chicago Tribune PEORIA, Ariz.

Drove here to the outer edges of the so-called Paradise Valley with the best intentions: to preview the Seattle Mariners, who could be much improved and capable of leaping into contention in the American League West But I was waylaid by two former Cub managershead coaches, both of whom have come out of the woodwork. It has been three years since I last shook the hand of Lee Elia, who, of course, shook the hand of Dallas Green, etc. And it has been much longer than that, probably 10 years, since I encountered Charlie Metro, a grizzled diamond warrior who still bears a remarkable resemblance to Clark Gable. Elia first. He was on the third base side of the batting cage slapping grounders to Greg Pirkl, an aspiring rookie first baseman who, after five seasons in the minors, may be ready for the big time.

I asked Elia, a baseball lifer, how many grounders he has hit during infield practice. A million? "Easy, a million," Elia replied. "Maybe 2 million." Whatever, Elia, 56, is returning to the big leagues after a three-year absence. He has been managing minor-league clubs in the Phillies' system. Before that, he put in a year with the Yankees as a coach; before that, there were two managerial hitches, two years with the Phillies and two years with the Cubs, 1982 and most of '83.

He took off his cap. "Look," he said. "Gray hair. I didn't have a gray hair on my head until I managed the Cubs." I told him he looked fine, that he has been aging well. He snapped his fingers, indicating the passage of time.

"Poof," he said. "Ten years. They've gone by like the blink of an eye." I mentioned that nobody can foresee the future. For example, here he was about to start his first season as a coach with the Seattle Mariners while Jim Lefebvre, who managed the Mariners for three full seasons, was starting his second year as the so-called Cub pilot "Thank God, we've all got work," Elia said. Not quite.

Metro is looking for a job. "My wife chased me out of the house," Metro said. "She said, 'You're driving me crazy. Why don't you go to So Metro kissed the missus goodbye and left his Denver manse. He has been here only a few days.

He wants to get back in the action and is looking for a scouting assignment "I want to cover all the National League teams as they come through Denver," Metro advised. "Scouting, that was my strong point." Metro, 74, was the Cubs' head coach for much of the 1962 season. "I refused to be rotated," he said. And so he was dismissed and spent the next three seasons with the White Sox, the first two as an assistant to General Manager Ed Short, the third as a Sox coach. "I coached for Al Lopez," Metro said.

"One of the finest years of my life." My most vivid recollection of Metro's tour with the Cubs was a night in Pittsburgh when he was honored by some 60 or 80 people from his home town of Nanty-Glo, Pa. The women were in long, white dresses; the men in black suits, some with black hats. They stood behind the mound, assembled in one row, stretching from first to third base, a tintype photograph from the 1920s. The people in the middle held a banner "Nanty-Glo Loves You." Enough of such sentimentality. It was time to get to the business at hand.

Lou Piniella, the new Seattle manager, was behind the cage, keeping a steely eye as his hitters took batting practice. "You're starting too early," he told infielder Bret Boone, who is baseball's first third-generation big leaguer. He's Bob Boone's son and Ray Boone's grandson. He's learning to hit to all fields and appears to have good power for his size. The Mariners are coming off a last-place finish, 32 games behind the champion Oakland A's, but should be much stronger.

Their principal off-season acquisitions were established pitchers Chris Bosio, a starter, and Norm Charlton, a left-handed reliever who played for Piniella when he managed the Cincinnati Reds. "We've got a good nucleus of talent," Piniella said. And he rattled off the names of some very good players, rising stars such as outfielders Ken Griffey Jay Buhner, third baseman Edgar Martinez and shortstop Omar VisqueL Pitching is the Mariners' strength. Their starting rotation of Bosio, Randy Johnson, Dave Fleming and Erik Hanson could be among the best in their division, particularly if Hanson is healthy. Charlton and Mike Schooler, a veteran right-hander who is coming off a poor season, are the principal relievers.

Bosio joined the Mariners as a free agent He was one of the American League's most effective pitchers last yean a 16-6 record for a remarkable .727 winning percentage. Bosio revealed he almost hooked on with the Cubs. "I was this close," he said, holding his fingers an inch apart I said if he was that close, he should have taken less money and signed with the Cubs. "I would have taken less money, but they wanted Jose Guzman," Bosio said. "They never called me back." Good fortune to all.

Baltimore Orioles SARASOTA, Fla. First baseman Davis Segui hopes the two-year, $780,000 contract he signed Tuesday is a sign of good things to come, if not this year then next "I was surprised about the multiyear deal," Segui said. '1 think it's a good deal for both sides. I hope it's a sign I I get more playing time. It tells me that they have plans for me." He noted that the contract of Glenn Davis, who figures to start at first runs out after this season.

Boston Red Sox FT. MYERS, Fla. Mike Greeowel grew up and stilt lives in the Ft Myers area, so he was thrilled when the Red Sox moved their training camp here. He's also smiling these days at the prospect of putting his worst season (.233, two homers, three DL stints) behind him. "I just know that I've done everything I can to prepare myself for this year," Greenwell said.

"I'm in great shape. I've worked really hard from the injuries. There's no reason why I'm not going to go out and have a good year. Confidence has not been a problem." California Angels TEMPE, Ariz. Third baseman Gary Gaettj said the Angels seemed to be edging him toward retirement this winter, and that's why he and his agent have been trying to arrange a trade.

According to Gaetti, Angels vice president Whitey Herzog asked Gaetti's agent Jim Bronner, if Gaetti, 34, intended to retire. Fat chance, since Gaetti has two years left on a contract that guarantees him $6 million. But if the Angels don't want Gaetti, he hopes somebody else does. "When the general manager, or whatever Whitey's title is, asks your agent if you're going to play this year and then he says you're not going to be happy here because you're not going to play much I can read between the lines," Gaetti said. "They trade for a third baseman Kelly Gru-ber and they trade for a first baseman J.T.

Snow, and I play both of those positions I don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure it out" Dan O'Brien, another Angels vice president, said he found virtually no interest in Gaetti. Cleveland Indians WINTER HAVEN, Fla. The Indians aren't sold on a third baseman yet but they're pretty sure about one thing: He'll be tall. Incumbent Carlos Martinez, at 6-foot-5-inches, is the favorite. The leading challenger is 6-4 Jim Thome.

"Carlos is tall and gangly. Sometimes he looks awkward at what he's doing, but he always seems to end up with the ball," manager Mike Hargrove said. "He always throws it to the right base. He just looks like a giraffe. The Indians moved Martinez to third last August so they could keep his bat in the lineup in spite of a logjam at first base, where Paul Sorrento and Reggie Jefferson had developed into promising players.

Detroit Tigers LAKELAND, Fla. Mike Moore needed to leave the Athletics to pitch on Opening Night in Oakland. Manager Sparky Anderson said Monday that Moore will pitch the Tigers' opener April 5 at Oakland Coliseum. Dave Stewart always pitched the opener for Oakland while Moore was there. "You've got to pitch against your old team sometime, so why not do it right away? Moore said.

Moore is the logical choice because Bill Gullickson, last year's Opening Day starter, is recovering from shoulder surgery. Anderson has let Kirk Gibson set his own timetable, and Gibson said he probably won't play In an exhibition game until next week. Kansas City Royals BASEBALL CITY, Fla. Royals manager Hal McRae is counting on a healthy Marie Gubicza for his starting rotation, and Gubicza hasn't disappointed so far. Gubicza, who missed the second half of the 1992 season with shoulder trouble, has thrown "very well" in three batting practice appearances, McRae said.

Milwaukee Brewers CHANDLER, Ariz. Robin Yount had two hits and four RBIs Tuesday in the Brewers' first intrasquad game, an opportunity for manager Phil Gamer to look at nine pitchers. Gamer was pleased with the infield work of B.J. Surhoff and Bill Spiers. Surhoff is moving from catcher to third and Spiers from shortstop to second.

"I thought B.J. and Billy did a super job of turning a double play with the runner moving," Gamer said. "They looked good out there." Left-hander Teddy Higuera, trying to come back from rotator-cuff surgery, had an impressive 30-pitch session on the sidelines. Higuera should pitch in a game for the first time early next week. Minnesota Twins FT.

MYERS, Fla. Right-hander Paul Abbott, suffering recurring shoulder problems, got his unconditional release Tuesday. Once one of the Twins' top pitching prospects, Abbott was able to work only 11 innings with the Twins and 46Va innings in Triple-A last season. Abbott said he was shocked by the release but didn't want to talk about it further. New York Yankees FT.

LAUDERDALE Melido Perez has been designated the Yankees' Opening Day starter, which came as no surprise. What was surprising was that the normally cautious Buck Showalter made the announcement barely a week into spring training. Hoping to assure Perez that his superb efforts last season (2.87 ERA, 218 strikeouts) had noi been overlooked, Showalter gave Perez the news that had been anticipated for weeks. "I think it's important that Melido pitches there," Showalter said. "The things he talks about shows me he's hungry." Since the Yankees have a day off after the opener, Perez has been penciled in to pitch the fifth game of the season, against the White Sox in Chicago on April 10.

Pitcher Steve Howe, making his eighth comeback from a drug-related suspension, said George Steinbren-ner sought him out for a brief one-on-one meeting Tuesday. "He said, 'I don't care about the past Just do your Howe said. "He's been through a lot too, and I think I understand him." Oakland Athletics PHOENIX For the third straight year, Rickey Henderson was the last player to report at the Athletics' camp. Minutes before Henderson arrived Tuesday, manager Tony LaRussa talked about how he would like his left-fielder to become baseball's highest-paid player. "My goal for Rickey is to be the first $10 million man, LaRussa said.

Ten million has nothing to do with me," said Henderson, 34, who'll be a free agent after this season. "It's not the money, It's pride. I can play this game as well as anybody." Seattle Mariners PEORIA, Ariz. Relief pitcher Mike Schooler became the symbol of all that went wrong with the Mariners last season. "I've taken a lot of kidding over the last year," Schooler said.

He yielded seven home runs last season, after a total of 13 over the previous five years. He gave up four grand slams, tying the major-league record set by the Tigers' Ray Narleski in 1959 and the Phillies' Tug McGraw In 1979. After the first game of 1992, when he gave up a three-run homer to Geno Petralli of Texas, "it started to hit me I was not on top of my game," Schooler said. Texas Rangers PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. Jose Canseco singled, homered and was hit by a pitch in an 8-2 victory for the Dave Oliver-coached team over the Bobby Jones-coached team In Tuesday's intrasquad game.

The homer came off Terry Brass and sailed over the center-field wall in the third inning. "I would like to see a lot of that," rookie manager Kevin Kennedy said. "That's a nice start for the first day." Toronto Blue Jays DUNEDIN, Fla. Much-traveled Billy Taylor, 31, a 6-foot-8-lnch, 230-pound right-hander, is hoping to reach the majors after 13 professional seasons. "I feel that I still have good enough stuff that I can pitch at the big-league level," Taylor said.

"It's just a matter of getting an opportunity." Taylor, selected from Atlanta In the supplementary draft, had 34 saves and 147 strikeouts in 156 innings in Double-A and Triple-A the last two seasons. mini i MMMMMMiiMiiriiiiiiiiiiiimiiiinn il liMiiroim-Wrifa i i Im. tions. He nao a IZA tHA wren no recora in appeal- ances for the Astros last year and was 1-3 with a 2.32 ERA in 37 games for Triple-A Tucson. "We were hoping -he could stay healthy," Astros manager Art Howe said.

"He has such a good arm." Los Angeles Dodgers VERO BEACH, Fla. On Jan. 8, 11 days after reliever Wally Ritchie signed a minor-league contract with the Dodgers, his 11 -year-old adopted brother, Alan, died of AIDS. Alan Ritchie battled a birth defect and got AIDS via a blood transfusion during surgery. Wally Ritchie told the Los Angeles Daily News that the way Alan faced his problems was an inspiration.

"He was always very posi- tive and excited about everything, wanted to have a lot of fun. And I think that should be an example for every- body." This spring's battles for roster spots are at catcher (Mike Piazza, Carlos Hernandez and Lance Par-rish vying for two spots) and for left-handed relief (Steve Wilson, Lee Guetterman and Ritchie trying to fill one or 1 two slots). Montreal Expos WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. First baseman Lee Ste- I vens, 25, is enthusiastic about the fresh start the Expos have afforded him. "It's like I was back at my first 1 spring-training camp," he said.

"I haven't felt like this in a long time." He said the Angels, for whom he hit just .221 last season after high expectations, gave up on him too soon. The Expos signed eight players to one-year contracts, including pitcher Chris Nabholz (11-12, 3.32 ERA last year), who accepted a $300,000 deal. New York Mets PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. Right-fielder Bobby Bonilla, diagnosed as having acute bronchitis, missed his fourth day of practice.

Bonilla left practice Saturday feeling ill. His most taxing physical endeavor was 3-mile run completed by 8:15 a.m. Sid Fernandez will start Friday's exhibition opener against Kansas City. The agent tor Fernandez, eligible for free agency after this season, talked contract with Mets GM Al Harazin and said later the two sides were far apart. Philadelphia Phillies CLEARWATER, Fla.

The Phillies signed third baseman Dave Hollins to a two-year contract "The club didn't have to go to two years, but they did it and that shows me something," Hollins said. Pittsburgh Pirates BRADENTON, Fla. Reliever Alejandro Pena looks like a $1.35 million mistake. He was ordered Tuesday to stop throwing because of problems with his right elbow. X-rays revealed evidence of what appeared to be float- Ing debris In the elbow, meaning surgery may be re- quired.

"I'm concerned that he's done for the year," -i General Manager Ted Simmons said. "If he needs sur- gery, I don't see how he can come back this season." Simmons said that when Pena signed a guaranteed $1 one-year contract last December, doctors assured him the pitcher's elbow was sound. Pena didn't take a physical or work out for a scout r. St Louis Cardinals ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.

The Cardinals renewed outfielder Ray Lankford's contract Tuesday, but neither the outfielder nor his agent, who wanted a two-year deal, were hiding their disappointment about the deal. Lankford, who was paid $230,000 last year, was re- newed at $290,000 a $35,000 reduction from the team's original offer. "I won't forget this," said Lankford, -who led the Cards in most offensive categories last season. "I'll go out and do what I'm supposed to do play ball but it's not a happy day." San Diego Padres YUMA, Ariz. The Padres hope that Dan Walters plus Mike Scioscia equals Benito Santiago.

Walters is the heir apparent to Santiago, who signed with the Marlins. But since he has less than a full season's experience in the majors, the Padres signed Scioscia, who 'v spent more than 12 seasons with the Dodgers. "Both those guys are going to get a lot of playing time," manager Jim Riggleman said. "I want to get them both in there so much. If one of them gets 110 games and the -other gets 50, that's really not what we want." Walters, who's 6 feet 4 inches and 230 pounds, will be satisfied with any arrangement.

"Ideally, I'd like to be the No. 1 guy. I'd like to catch 120 to 140 games. If not, that's fine, too, I'm young and I'm still learning." Riggleman said there's a 50-50 chance that the Padres would carry '-a third catcher. That battle would be among Tom Lampkin, Bob Bathe, Bob Geren, Kevin Higgins and Brian Johnson.

Left-hander Bruce Hurst continuing 4 his rehabilitation from off-season shoulder surgery, played catch on Tuesday for the fourth time since coming to camp. He said his shoulder is progressing. He -threw for 10 minutes, extending out to about 100 feet and pushing his shoulder until he felt slight discomfort San Francisco Giants SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. Right-hander Rod Beck, the San Francisco Giants' premier reliever In 1992, was one -of four players to sign contracts with the club Tuesday, i Center-fielder Dave Martinez, who is scheduled to platoon with Darren Lewis, suffered a hyperextended left -elbow. Compiled by Mark Shapiro from wire reports.

1 AP Laserphoto Cubs pitching coach Billy Connors (left) works with Jose Guzman on his grip Tuesday in Mesa, Ariz, Ikrly adversity steels Cubs' Smith over it anytime," Smith said. "I built more than just a good season. I built a lot of character. I learned a lot about me." The Cubs, nonetheless, went out and signed Willie Wilson over the winter to play center field. They signed Candy Maldonado.

They already had Derrick May and Sammy Sosa. On paper, it would appear Smith is a fifth outfielder. Manager Jim Lefebvre says that's not necessarily so. "He deserves an opportunity to go out there," Lefebvre said Tuesday, "and I'm going to try to give it to him. He's come a long way." Smith not only can sing.

He can count. He sees what's there. "But I'm not going to look at it that way," he said. rT'm going to see what happens over the next six weeks. I'm not set up for being a fifth outfielder or even a fourth outfielder.

I'm a top-three outfielder, and I know that. I think things can change." What doesn't seem to change is Smith's soul. "The heck with crying," he said. "The heck with feeling sorry for yourself. "Luck is preparation and missed opportunity.

Prepare for an opportunity, and when it comes, be ready for it." Whatever comes, Dwight Smith will deal with it. Always has. The man can sing. By Alan Solomon Chicago Tribune MESA, Ariz. They came up together, Dwight Smith and Jerome Walton.

Walton was Rookie of the Year in 1989, and Smith finished second. The next three seasons were struggles. There were injuries for Walton, disappointments and demotions for both. Walton sulked, the Cubs finally dumped him, and now, without a major-league contract, he's trying to nook on with the Angels. Smith, through it all, didn't sulk.

The down moments and they were there were moments, not a lifestyle. Dwight Smith still is a Cub. He still sings in the clubhouse. He still is a joy. Walton and Smith: Two kids from small towns in the South with so much in common and yet so entirely different.

"I learned to deal with adversity young," Smith said Tuesday after another long workout. "And when adversity hit at the major-league level, it wasn't a first time for me. I had a somewhat tough childhood." It was more than somewhat. The youngest of four children, Smith was 7 when his father died. "My mother was a great mother and she did everything she could for me," he said.

But she was ailing much of the time, and there was no money. "I was deprived of a lot of things. "Even right now at Christmas, I like giving so much but I get a sad feeling because I remember my mother crying because she couldn't give me what I wanted to have. "I told her, 'Momma, don't worry because I'm going to make it better and if you stay here, you're going to be that way, too. Smith's mother died in 1985, before he could make it better.

He was at Class-A Geneva. "It was tough, losing my momma, who meant the world to me. It was tough. Everything else is second-nature, baby. To Jerome Walton, adversity was a stranger.

"Jerome being an only kid, one, and flying through the minor leagues, two, and having all that success in the first year when he had adversity, he just didn't know how to rebound from it as quickly as I did," Smith said. "I'm hoping he does in the Angels' organization." Once again this spring, Smith faces some uncertainty, i -After a slow start and a week-long trip back to Triple-A, he came back to hit .302 in the second half last year and astonish ev-. eryone with his defense as an emergency center-fielder. "I hit .324 my first year, and I'll take the year I had last year .1.