The Paducah Sun from Paducah, Kentucky • 18

1dmy, March 20i2001 Paducah $un 4B Heedersoe finds way to Padres to a much lower mound on the field. Spring training trying to rediscover his arm's accuracy. But he made six errors in 14 spring training games, five on throws. "He needs to be comfortable for me to be comfortable, and we're not there yet," said Torre, the Yankees manager. "I've always thought spring training was too long as it is.

I just need enough to get my timing down," be said. Henderson is closing in on two major records. He is three walks short of breaking Babe Ruth's career record of 2,062 and needs to 68 runs to top Ty Cobb's record of 2,245. He also is 86 hits shy of 3,000. Henderson, 42, will have to play his way onto the team.

If he does, he 11 make $50,000 more than the major league minimum. The contract doesn't include any incentives for playing time, just the standard Padres package for things like making the All-Star team or winning a Gold Glove, Towers said. "Nobody has woriea harder than be has. There is nothing more he can do at second base that is going to make him a better second baseman. Maybe getting away from second base will solve second base." The move, which calls for Alfonso Sori Despite the layoff, Benson said he is still on schedule to pitch either the Pirates' opener April or the next day in Cincinnati and doesn't feel the soreness will affect either his sharpness or his arm strength.

Benson threw 41 pitches Monday and is expected to start again Saturday against Texas. "This was more relaxed today. They wanted me to take my pitch count up and see some live hitters," Benson said. "There is still a little discomfort in the elbow and the forearm. I'm still not 100 percent, but at least I pitched my four innings." At Vero Beach, Shawn Green went through his first full workout with the Los Angeles Dodgers since spraining his right thumb in the team's exhibition opener.

The 28-year-old right fielder was injured sliding into second base on March 2. It was originally thought that Green would sidelined only a few days, but the injury turned out to be more serious. Green will be playing in the near future and is expected to be ready to start the season, according to team spokesman John Olguin. Knoblauch Auoctaud Pmi Rickey Henderson and the San Diego Padres agreed on a one-year deal Monday that will pay bun $250,000 if he makes the club. Henderson, the career steals leader who is closing in on other marks, was at the Padres' complex, general manager Kevin Towers said.

The rest of the team had the day off. "I know there was a Rickey sighting," Towers said. Henderson spent about three hours at the Padres' complex, but not before getting lost on his way to Peoria, where be went through spring training with the Padres in 1996 and '97. "They done built new freeways," be said. "I had to flag a guy down on the highway and ask him, 'Am I going the right Henderson took about 100 swings in the batting cage and ran some sprints in the outfield.

He hadn't taken batting practice off a machine in 24 weeks, he said, but has been taking 300 swings a day off a batting tee with the ball on a string. The New York Yankees are goini ahead with moving Chuck Knobtaucl ano to take over at second, won't take place immediately. Monday night's game against Detroit was washed out and more rain was forecast for today, when the Yankees play a Houston split squad. At Bradenton, Kris Benson, expected to be the Pittsburgh Pirates top starter, returned after missing nine days with a sore elbow to pitch four innings in a minor league game. Benson hadn't pitched since an ineffective outing March 10 against Minnesota, when be felt a twinge in his elbow after moving from a high bullpen mound from second base to the outfield.

"It's just not happening now. I've done every possible thing," said Knoblauch, who has been plagued by throwing problems since 1999. "My teammates know that Joe Torre knows that. The coaches know that. And more important, I know that." Knoblauch, who made 41 errors the past two seasons, spoke with a psychologist during the offseason and reported to spring training more than a month early Back in the game: Rickey Henderson prepares to take his cuts in a batting cage at the San Diego Padres spring training facility.

Pujols already has La Russa taking notice 0 I Associated Preti No slowing down: St. Louis Cardinals catcher Mike Matheny slides into third base during a recent game against the New York Mets. Busy, backstop. Workaholic Matheny ensures no cut in playing time 13th round of the June 1999 free agent draft, hit three doubles last weekend and even played a little shortstop Sunday. "He's been doing everything," La Russa said.

"You can't ask him to do more than that. He's played well defensively, taken a lot of tough at-bats. "Wherever he plays this year, the manager is going to have an outstanding player." After J.D: Drew struggled in his first full year in the majors and Rick Ankiel's troubles which began last fall and continued Sunday you'd think the Cardinals would be a little gun-shy about moving Pujols too far too fast. They're trying to be patient, but there's all that talent. "I have a different feeling about Pujols," farm director Mike Jorgensen said.

"Farm directors as a rule are conservative because we've seen too many times you rush a guy and make a mistake. "But Albert does so many things instinctively, even running the bases. He's disciplined as a hitter, he's mature beyond his years." That maturity translates into Pujols' contentment about his ultimate playing destination this year, a decision that will come in the next two weeks. For now, Pujols expects to wind up at Memphis. "That would be fine with me," he said.

"My expectation was just to come down here and just to do a little bit, and show that I can hit a little bit, try to do the little things that I have to do to stay around the game. 1 "But I know I'm still young and I have a lot to learn still about the game. That's one of the weaknesses I have: I probably don't have the experience of most of the guys who are in front of me." No. Just the talent to turn heads. By Jo Ostarmetof Belleville (III.) News Democrat Albert Pujols is trying his best to turn beads, and Tony La Russa is trying his best to resist temptation.

"Somebody asked me why he wasn't playing more," La Russa said. "I said. 'If I play him, he's going to make the Pujols, 21, playing in the first month of his second year as a professional baseball player, has been nothing short of spectacular in the St. Louis Cardinals' spring camp. He is hitting .345 with four doubles, two homers and five RBIs, has yet to make an error in the field, and doesn't look like the youngest guy in camp with a shot to make the team.

"A lot of people said the things I do, they don't think a 21 year-old can do." said Pujols, without a trace of swagger in the words. Pujols may have just turned old enough to drink on Jan. 16, but be looks every bit a big-league player. At 6-3, 210 pounds, there isn't an ounce of baby fat on him, or a smidgen of scare in him. "I just came here with the mindset of a player trying to make the team," Pujols said.

"And if I don't, I'll just go wherever they send me and just try to do well and see if I can get a callup." Pujols hit .314 with 19 homers and 96 RBIs as he rose three levels in the minor-league organization last year, winding up at Triple-A Memphis. He was the organization's minor league player of the year. "I knew I could have a good year, but I was really surprised I finished at Triple-A in my first year," Pujols said. "And coming to the big-league camp for my second year was a big jump. You look around, you shoula have taken five years to get to a big-league game.

"That doesn't mean I'm going to make the club this year. You never know. But it's a big jump." Pujols, a native of the Dominican Republic and chosen in the Extra dedication might be expected this spring. Matheny accidentally sliced two tendons' on his right ring finger with a hunting knife he had received as a gift three days before the regular season ended, and felt he let down the team when the Cardinals' season ended in an NLCS loss to the New York Mets. Matheny resumed throwing in early January, but was naturally anxious to see how he'd do in games.

"They were telling me everything would turn out fine, but you never know for sure until you get there and try it all out," Matheny said. "I found it feels great, like it never happened. That's a good thing." The first three baserunners that attempted to steal on Matheny this spring were thrown out and he was 5 for 11 overall. In Matheny's Gold Glove season last year, he gunned down a league-leading 51 percent of basestealers. He's in good shape, too, playing all 10 innings of a recent game.

"A little time in the hot tub helped me the next day," Matheny said. "But during the season I'm sore too. Those are hard innings." A catcher's work is never done, and Matheny is playing a major role in the rehabilitation of Rick Ankiel. Matheny was Ankiel's catcher most of last season, but Carlos Hernandez was behind the plate in the playoffs when the rookie uncorked nine wild pitches and walked 11 in four innings. Matheny caught all of Ankiel's early-morning workouts, and then caught Ankiel's strong two-inning spring debut.

"You'd like to think you compliment each other," Matheny said. "We worked a lot together last season and I'd like to have been there for him in the postseason. I felt like I had my hands tied." Matheny also was behind the plate during Ankiel's winning wild stint on Sunday. Ankiel walked eight of the 13 batters he faced in that outing, but 1 Matheny said he saw positive signs. "Last time things went so smooth, it was encouraging to see a little adversity and keep his composure," Matheny said.

"It might not look like it to you or in the box score, but I know what I saw." Matheny has been a regular for four seasons in the major leagues. Yet he acts like a backup scuffling for a job, which he was in Toronto before last season. Zeroing in on his fifth job, Matheny isn't about to relax. "Tony's been pretty adamant about not letting anybody get too comfortable, and I think that's a good philosophy," Matheny said. "We can't get complacent." By R.B.

Fallstrom Associated Press JUPITER, Fla. The spring training work day begins so early for Mike Matheny, be watched a recent space shuttle launch from the St. Louis Cardinals' complex. Matheny is a workaholic, and it has nothing to do with the freak accident that ended his season just before the playoffs last fall. He usually shows up at Roger Dean Stadium about 6:30 a.m., or 6V4 hours before spring training games start.

"He's one of the first in early, and one of the last to leave," manager Tony La Russa said. "Catchers usually pay more of a price, but he's even unusual that way." All of the hours before game time means weight lifting, cardiovascular work, fielding drills and video homework can be squeezed in. "I'm usually rushing around," Matheny said. Edwards vows to build winner Rgmington Turkey Hunting Seminar Thursday, March 22nd 6:30 bv LWl Paducah Shooters Supply Cai Una nunier specialties perennial power in western Kentucky until Bushong, now the principal at Reidland Middle School, resigned after the 1995 season to enter the administrative ranks. Rejoining the Class 2A ranks in 1995, Heath has struggled over the past five years, going 11-44 since 1996.

Last year's team had expectations of contending for the district title, but got off to a slow start. Dew suffered a heart attack in midseason and missed several games, and Heath ended the campaign with a 3-8 record that included a win over eventual district champion Reidland. "I know 99 percent of the kids at the high school, so they will know what to expect from me," Edwards said. "I'm a firm disciplinarian, and that's something I will bring to the program." Contest'. Mii lurKey nunung supplies up io Ract Camouflaged 3 intends to talk to Dodd, the lone remaining assistant.

He can start conducting spring practice on April 3, when classes resume after the McCracken County system's two-week spring break. "I've got two weeks to get ready for it," Edwards said. "The break gives us some time to plan everything." A Mayfield native who played a year of college football at Memphis State before finishing his education at Murray State, Edwards has spent his entire teaching and coaching career in the Heath system. He joined the football program in 1972 and served as Haskins' defensive coordinator for 13 seasons. The Pirates reached the Class A state championship game in 1975, losing to Ludlow 7-6 in only its fifth varsity season.

He stayed on as a volunteer assistant after Bushong was elevated to the head coaching job in 1985, when Haskins left for Calloway County. Heath won the Class A state title in 1986 and was a Turkey Continued from 1B lower grades, Heath was considered by some as one of western Kentucky's most appealing coaching openings. And, unlike the late 1970s and early 1980s, Heath won't have to worry about unseating Mayfield now in Class A as the top dog in Class 2A's First District. Trigg County, Caldwell County and Webster County are rated among the district favorites next fall, with Heath and Reidland as potential challengers ahead of Fort Campbell and Muhlenberg South. "There are no Mayfields there," Edwards said.

"Some the kids coming through the middle school program now are sons of former players, who still have that pride from when they came through the program. If we can instill that kind of pride, I think we can turn things around." Edwards said he has "some good friends and good coaches in mind" to serve on his staff and Remington unterL Model 870 SPS Super Magnum Mossy Oak Break-Up Camo Shotgun 12 ga. 26" 312 $429.95 1187 Super Magnum 12 ga. 3 12 26" Black Synthetic Stock While Supplies Last $639.95 Remington Premier Magnum Turkey Loads 12ga. 3" 312 ON SALE IU7U.S.

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