The San Bernardino County Sun from San Bernardino, California • Page 33

The Sun FRIDAY. March 25, 1988 C4 1 BASEBALL 1 Angels' late-spring form is less than encouraging 'J Expos acquire veteran Nettles Graig Nettles experienced a smooth job change Thursday. All it took was a walk underneath the stands. In literally the traveling distance from first base to third, Nettles became a Montreal Kxpo after the Atlanta Braves sold his free-agent contract for an undisclosed amount. The two teams, who share spring training facilities at Municipal Stadi- By MIKE TERRY Sun Sports Writer sir BASEBALL NOTES um in West Palm Beach, completed the deal moments before playing each other Thursday af I Kvr A I spring" lamented Fraser.

"ou break down me-rhanieallv and those things are going to happen. I was no getting the ball where I should and I didn't adiust I should have at least thrown something inside to send a message they could not keep digging in like they did." Both catcher Bob Boone and pitching coach Marcel Lachemann were a bit more blunt. ile threw horsebleep pitches out there," Boone said "His breaking ball was lazy and his fastball didn't have much juice and stayed up in the strike zone." "He didn't throw very smart, Lachemann said. "There's a time not to throw strikes. I guess that's part of the education of a young pitcher." Krawczyk picked up for Fraser and barely stemmed the tide, giving up two runs on four hits.

No one except Bryan Harvey was immune. Hotshot rookie Frank DiMichele pitched theeighih and gave up his first run this spring on two hits. DeWayne Buice pitched the ninth and allowed two runs on three hits. Harvey pitched the sixth and did not allow a run or hit. Angel nolei In agreeing to leave second base and move to the outfield Johnny fl8y the last year ot his contract was seeking an extension it appears he will get it "I think we re close." Ray said Thursday think it will happen before we leave (Palm Springs)." General manager Mike Port would not comment on the negotiations There may be two spots at best left open on the 10-man pitching staff three if reliever Greg Minton (sore elbow only two innings pitched the past three weeksl begins the season on the disabled list Leading candidates among the seven still battling are Frank DiMichele.

Stewart Cllbum and Rey Krawcxy. Lachemann said final cuts are not expected until the last weekend ot spring training One mediocre performance is not going to put a guy out." Lachemann said George Hendrick, who hasn talked with the media in 14 years has an appropriate license plate Sylent PALM SPRINGS The calendar says March, but it's looking an awful lot like last September. That's when the Angels did little pitching or hitting while stumbling to a 7-19 record for the month and winding up in a tie for last place with Texas in the American League West. No one takes spring training seriously, of course. Not unless your pitching staff gives up 25 earned runs and 34 hits in two days, like the Angels' staff has.

Or if your offense scores one run in two days, like the Angels have. In getting deluged by the San Francisco Giants 13-1 Thursday before 4.154 at Angels Stadium, the Angels had only one bright spot they ended an 18-inning scoreless streak. Typical of the offense of late, the run came home on an infield out in the eighth inning. By that time, the Giants had already hit home plate 1 1 times. San Francisco broke open a scoreless tie in a big way, scoring nine times in the fifth.

Twelve men came to bat off Willie Fraser and Ray Krawczyk. Nine got hits all singles. Fraser, trying to go five innings for the first time this spring, unraveled brutally in the Palm Springs sun, getting only one out in the fifth while facing nine batters. He also contributed a wild pitch that allowed a score. Most notably, the Giants outside of a six-minute at-bat by Jose Uribe that ended in a flyout ere bopping Fraser's first or second pitch.

"That's the first bad inning I've thrown this ternoon. The 43-year-old Nettles, a 21-year major-league veteran, now is playing for his sixth different team. He had 10 hits in 27 at-bats (.370) in 13 games for the Braves this spring. Rcdrosian begins workouts CLEARWATER, Fla. Steve Bedrosian, relief ace for the Philadelphia Phillies who has been suffering from pneumonia, got the green light to begin his rehabilitation from the team doctor Thursday.

Dr. Phillip Marone, who examined Bedrosian, felt the pneumonia was "clearing but not fully gone yet." Bedrosian hasn't worked out since March 7. Molitor hurting again CHANDLER. Ariz. Paul Molitor's switch to second base for the Milwaukee Brewers this season could be put on hold because he is having problems again with his hamstring.

Molitor, who spent two stints on the disabled list for a hamstring injury last season, also underwent offseason elbow surgery and the Brewers decided to APWIREPHOTO JUGGLING ACT: Philadelphia catcher Darren Daulton (left) loses ball after colliding with third baseman Bill Almon during exhibition game against St. Louis on Thursday at St. Petersburg, Fla. The pair was chasing a pop fly hit by the Cardinals' Bob Horner. move him from third base to reduce the strain on the elbow.

But now his hamstring is bothering him again and he might end up the designated hitter. NOTABLE: The Cleveland Indians, who had hoped to strengthen their sickly pitching staff with the addition of several experienced relievers this spring, cut veteran right-handers Bill Caudill, Greg Harris and Steve Crawford on Thursday. From Sun News Services st II, 'If ri 0 st te k) a a o' it a a a New bullpen duo gives Dodgers some relief at last By STEVE DILBECK Sun Sports Writer ruv mm mr -m But Thursday against the Boston Red Sox, the two looked just the way the Dodgers are hoping they will during the regular season: Super Stoppers. Howell pitched two scoreless innings, and afterward did not complain of elbow or back problems. He has not allowed an earned run in his 8 innings this spring.

Orosco, who had a fat 7.20 spring ERA, pitched the eighth, striking out the side. "He threw today like the Jesse Orosco I know and wanted," said Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda. Orosco had remained behind during a brief two-day road trip to Tampa, throwing four innings in a camp game. Orosco said he was able to work out some mechan get my arm in shape." A test still remaining for Howell is to see if his elbow will allow him to pitch in back-to-back games. He hopes to try it before camp breaks, but in the meantime is being cautious.

Dodger notes Ben Nines is returning to the Dodgers as a hitting instructor, joining Manny Mota. Hines was with Mola in 1985-86. but spent last season with the Dodgers' Triple-A club in Albuquerque The eight players who were under Hines at Albuquerque who have played this spring are hitting a combined .377 John Roseboro, the ex-catcher for the Dodgers who now serves as a minor-league instructor for the team, was released from a local hospital and returned to Los Angeles Roseboro. who had heart bypass surgery during the offseason, was suffering from a circulatory problem in his leg. Right-hander Orel Hershiser, who left after two innings in his last appearance Sunday because ot elbow stiffness, is scheduled to start today ical problems.

"I got a good workout and really stretched it out," Orosco said. "I'm getting there more and more each time out. The first four weeks of spring I try to get my arm strength, then I work on by breaking stuff. Now it's time to go. "Still, if I go out my last time before the season starts and I get shelled, I won't worry about it." Orosco is supposed to team with Howell to give the Dodgers a pair of the best closers in baseball.

But Howell had elbow surgery to remove bone chips last August and is also something of a question mark. "It's been awhile since I pitched," Howell said. "I've just been heaving, trying to WINTER HAVEN, Fla. No doubt the Dodgers could relate to the words of that classic rock band of the 1970s, K.C. and the Sunshine Band: "That's the way, uh-huh, it." Just the way they figured it.

Just the way Fred Claire imagined it when he spun his three-way trade to bring the Dodgers relievers Jesse Orosco and Jay Howell. It hadn't been the best of springs for either. Howell had been effective when he pitched, but was plagued by the flu, a sore back and a tender elbow. Orosco just hadn't been effective. SAT.

SUN. MARCH 24-27 RIVERSIDE CONVENTION CENTER 3rd Orange See Our Ad In Tuesday's Sports Section Brennan: 5k Making an impressive pitch Continued fromC1 Brennan is doing. Brennan has only become the surprise of the Dodgers' spring training camp this season. Brennan has come from almost nowhere to become a candidate to earn a spot on the Dodgers staff. In six games, he has a 2.92 ERA in 12" innings, with 10 strikeouts and only four walks.

"I think he's maturing with every outing," said Dodgers pitching coach Ron Perranoski. "He's taking charge when he gets in trouble instead of pitching defensively. And he's getting out of some tough situations." This is all news in Dodger-town, here Brennan with only three years of minor-league experience came to camp probably the 16th pitcher out of the 16 on the roster. "He was just one of those who were going to try and make the 10-man staff," Perranoski said. "Now he's proven himself.

He's certainly opened some eyes." Brennan knows it's true, but he's still unsure just what to make of it all. He sat in the Dodgers clubhouse after throwing two more scoreless innings Wednesday and tried to take it in stride. "Well, my locker's still here," he said. "I knew they'd look at me, but I didn't think I'd have a legitimate chance, just because of the numbers, if nothing else." The numbers didn't look promising early. The Dodgers plan to carry five relievers, with Jesse Orosco and Jay Howell assured of spots.

They'd like to carry a second left-hander and Brad Havens, who has been pitching well, is the only candidate. If Alejandro Pena or Tim Leary don't earn a spot in the rotation, they'll go to the bullpen. Which leaves probably only one open spot available for Tim Crews, Brian Holton, Shawn Hill-egas and Brennan the only one of the group without major-league experience. And Brennan has always been a starter during his three years in the minors. Even at Mercer University, he was a starter.

Even while playing semi-pro ball for the Warner-Robins Reds, where he was discovered by Dodgers scout Tommy Mixon in 1984, he was a starter. "I was just trying to get in shape for my senior season," Brennan said. "I just ran into a scout who had some money on him." Brennan signed for $25,000, which kind of dwarfed the $6,000 the Atlanta Braves had offered. At the time, they told him he not only looked like Orel Hershiser, he pitched like him. "I didn't even know who Orel Hershiser was," Brennan said.

"I didn't know a lot about the Dodgers' personnel." Brennan, 25, is 6-foot-3, 187 pounds, with a fair complexion and light brown hair. Hershiser, 29, is 6-3. 192, with a fair complexion and light brown hair. It wasn't hard to figure. In his third season last year at Albuquerque, Brennan went 10-9.

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