Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 17

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WASHINGTON PA RIVER ARSEfJAL. 614 ALLEGHENY RVH.BLVD. VERONA, PA 412-826-9699- 800-660-5470 VI- Ron FrehmAssociated Press Pirates Ivan Cruz, center, is greeted by on-deck batter Brant Brown after hitting a three-run home run against the Blue Jays Saturday. The Agony Of Da Feet! Get Back In The Game! Custom Comfort Orthotic Products Services 4722 Liberty Avenue Tel: 412-802-8660 Inside Gordon's Shoes in the Bloomfield shopping restaurant district ainst am odes Ag Calmer minor-leaguer faces upliill battle to stick with Pirates Women's We've Expanded The Area's Largest Selection of Women's Golf Apparel and Accessories JUST GOT HUGE SAVINGS! Bra Oakmont (412)-828-5527 607C Allegheny Ave. Push for instant 24 HOURS MJAYSWFFrf car loan approval.

1 "It's going to be hard for him to make it, especially if we wind up taking 12 pitchers," Manager Gene Lamont said. "And he's a first baseman. That's the hard thing." "Usually when you sign six-year minor-league free agents, it's so they can play in the minor leagues for you," Lamont said. "But he's opened some eyes. He's done a heck of a job.

Sometimes a guy plays so well that he forces you to do something. He's a guy nobody's ever taken a chance on. He's been impressive here swinging the bat." At the very least, Cruz wants to be so impressive that he makes the Pirates' decision a tough one. "I'm just waiting for a chance," he said. "Most of the time, if you don't play up to your capabilities in spring training, it makes it an easy decision for the team.

I know I'm not getting younger, but I'm just going to keep fighting until I can't fight anymore." Bad timing General Manager Cam Bonifay said yesterday country singer Garth Brooks, a huge Pirates fan who's in spring training with San Diego, wanted to come to major league spring training with the Pirates this year. "I just didn't think the timing was right for us, coming off last season," Bonifay said. Bonifay did offer Brooks a chance to attend minor league camp, but Brooks declined. Silva hurting Jose Silva still is bothered by a stiff neck. If he can't make his next scheduled start Friday, the Pirates might begin getting Kris Benson ready to take Silva's spot in the rotation if the right-hander isn't ready to begin the season.

By Paul Meyer Post-Gazette Sports Writer BRADENTON, Fla. Even though he'd never been in the Pirates' organization until this spring, Ivan Cruz finds himself in familiar territory. He's in camp trying to win a major-league job with the odds stacked against him. "I've been there all through my career," Cruz said yesterday before rain canceled the Pirates' game against Texas. Cruz, a left-handed hitting first baseman with power, originally signed in 1989 with Detroit as a 28th-round pick out of Jacksonville University.

However, the Tigers signed Rico Brogna, another left-handed hitting first baseman, as a No. 1 draft pick. And they had Cecil Fielder at first base at the major league level. Cruz languished in Detroit's minor league system for seven years, including three consecutive seasons with Class AAA Toledo. He never got a sniff of the major leagues.

After the 1996 season, he opted for minor-league free agency and signed with the New York Yankees. The Yankees had a left-handed hitting Tino Martinez at first base. This time, Cruz did make the major leagues. In 1997, he appeared in 11 games with the Yankees, going 5 for 20. However, he spent an injury-riddled 1998 season at Class AAA Columbus, then became a minor-league free agent again.

The Pirates, who noted Cruz's 65 home runs in 1,065 at-bats for Columbus over three seasons, signed him in December. Cruz knew what he was getting into here. Kevin Young is the regular at first base. Brant Brown also can play first base, subbing for Young against some right-handed pitching. 0 PIRATES NOTEBOOK Cruz, 30, doesn't seem to have a chance.

Again. "I have to be realistic," Cruz said. "But I also understand the Pirates have a need for left-handed power off the bench." Cruz has demonstrated he can provide that. In his first 13 at-bats this spring, he hit three home runs. Which hasn't surprised pitcher Jason Schmidt.

In 1996, while with Atlanta, Schmidt rehabbed with Class AAA Richmond. He pitched against Cruz. "He took me off the wall four times in one game," Schmidt said. "I threw him one of every pitch I had, and he hit every one hard. He was the best hitter I ever faced.

He ripped me. I was extremely impressed." "He remembers that?" Cruz said. "I can't even remember what I did yesterday." Schmidt has followed Cruz's career ever since. "He's an awesome guy to sit down and talk to," Schmidt said. "He's a class act.

He's intelligent. A couple times a week, we sit down and talk about pitching and hitting. The last few days, there's been a buzz in the clubhouse guys asking, 'Have you seen Cruz I just say, 'I told you Schmidt is one of Cruz's biggest supporters in camp. "I'm not a I think if he ever got a break he'd do some damage in the major leagues. The guy has some pop.

I'd love to have him on our team. I think he could help. And it's only fair that somebody gives him a shot. "And he'd fit right in. He's awesome.

You don't expect him to be so down to earth, but then he's played 10 humbling years in the minor leagues." Cruz probably will play an llth, too. I SLOW CREDIT REPOS if DIVORCE fcf CHARGE OFFS jg WBEM What do Respironics, IDl, Beckwirh Machinery, Robert Morris College, and Remax Realty have in common? LfA All have chosen Al Systems for Affordable, high quality, remanufactured office panel systems and work stations. Make the Smart Choice and call Al Systems for your next work station project! MAJOR LEAGUE SPRING TRAINING AIs YSTEMS 724-733-1555 www.aisystems.com Rsmanufactured Wasting houKnoll Equity Executive work station Al SYSTEMS 4903 OLD WILLIAM PENN HIGHWAY MONROEVIILE, PA 15146 vtri swtfrius -A 1 Am IIAS IN THE SPOTLIGHT Pirates vs. Red Sox: 1:05 p.m. today, Fort Myers, Fla.

No radio or TV. The Pirates return to action after yesterday's game with the Rangers was rained out. Rough start: A day after his 1999 debut, Kerry Wood woke up with a sore elbow yesterday and returned to Chicago for an examination. The NL Rookie of the Year threw 26 pitches Saturday against Anaheim, just 10 for strikes. During one stretch in the second of his two innings, he threw 10 consecutive pitches out of the strike zone, with catcher Tyler Houston leaping up to catch some.

He didn't strike out anyone. Around the diamond: Florida reliever Vic Darensbourg walked home the tying and go-ahead runs in the ninth inning as a Mets split squad defeated the Marlins, 3-2. Albert Belle and Will Clark hit their first home runs in an Orioles uniform in an 8-6 loss to the Expos. Mark your calendar: The Orioles and Cuba's national team will play a return game May 3 at Camden Yards to complete their historic home-and-home exhibition series. Cuba already had agreed to have the Orioles play March 28 in Havana, the first time in 40 years a major-league team will play in Cuba.

RUMORS REPORTS Feeling blue: Dodgers OF Gary Sheffield, bothered by a sore shoulder, a position change and the team dress policy, is talking about possible retirement. "To be honest with you, if I still didn't have five years left on his contract, and if not for the trade, I would retire right now," Sheffield said, referring to the seven-player deal last May that sent Mike Piazza to the Marlins. THE FINAL PITCH Si or No? The Orioles' trip to Cuba this year could start an annual meeting of U.S. and Cuban teams. The Yankees, considered the most popular major-league team in Cuba, are naturals to make the trip, but they'll do so without Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez, who has no desire to return to his native soil.

Hernandez said, "Yankees go to Cuba. Si. Duque go to Cuba. No." what are 4w waiting SraE ir iiii iir-r-rr additional Spring Discounts include: EXHIBITION National League Pet. Arizona 10 2 .833 Philadelphia 7 2 .778 San Diego 8 3 .727 Pirates 7 3 .700 Houston 6 3 ,667 Los 7 4 .636 Cincinnati 8 5 .615 New York 8 5 .615 Colorado 7 6 .538 Atlanta 5 5 .500 Montreal 6 7 .462 Chicago 4 6 .400 St.

Louis 4 6 .400 Milwaukee 4 8 .333 San Francisco 3 8 .272 Florida 3 9 .250 American League Pet. Kansas City 1 .909 Boston 7 4 .636 Seattle 6 4 .600 Baltimore 4 4 .500 Oakland 6 6 .500 Chicago 6 7 .462 Texas 4 5 .444 Minnesota 5 7 .417 New York 5 8 .384 Cleveland 3 5 .375 Anaheim 4 7 .364 Detroit 3 7 .300 Tampa Bay 3 7 .300 Toronto 3 8 .273 NOTE: Split-squad games count in the standings; games against non-major league teams do not. RESULTS SUNDAY'S GAMES Boston 8 Cincinnati 7 Montreal (ss) 8 Baltimore 6 New York Mets (ss) 3 Florida 2 a-Los Angeles 9 St. Louis 8 New York Mets (ss) 5 Montreal (ss) 3 Anaheim (ss) 9 San Francisco (ss) 8 Oakland 4 Milwaukee 1 Chicago White Sox 10 Colorado 7 San Diego 6 Anaheim (ss) 4 Seattle 8 Chicago Cubs 7 Arizona 5 San Francisco (ss) 0 Texas vs. Pirates, rain Kansas City (ss) vs.

Detroit, rain Cleveland vs. Tampa Bay. rain Houston (ss) vs. Kansas City (ss), rain New York Yankees vs. Atlanta, rain Minnesota vs.

Philadelphia, rain Toronto vs. Houston (ss), rain a-10 Innings SATURDAYS GAMES Pirates 7 Toronto 5 Boston 8 Minnesota 2 Texas 13 Detroit (ss) 7 Detroit (ss) 5 New York Yankees (ss) 4 Los Angeles 7 Cleveland 4 Kansas City 3 Atlanta 2,10 innings St. Louis 3 Florida 2 Cincinnati 7 Philadelphia 1 Montreal (ss) 5 New York Mets 4 (ss), 1 1 innings New York Mets (ss) 7 Houston 1 Tampa Bay 3 New York Yankees (ss) 2 Seattle 15 Chicago White Sox (ss) 4 Anaheim 6 Chicago Cubs (ss) 5 Oakland 9 San Francisco 4 Colorado (ss) 13 Arizona 8 Milwaukee 2 San Diego (ss) 1 Montreal (ss) 7 Baltimore 6 Colorado (ss) 18 Chicago White Sox (ss) 7 San Diego (ss) 8 Chicago Cubs (ss) 2 SCHEDULE (All Times EST) MONDAY, MARCH 15 Kansas City vs. Toronto (ss) at Dunedin, 1:05 p.m. Toronto (ss) vs.

Tampa Bay (ss) at St. Petersburg, 1:05 p.m. Florida vs. Cleveland at Winter Haven, 1:05 p.m. Pirates vs.

Boston at Fort Myers, 1:05 p.m. Philadelphia vs. Texas at Port Charlotte, 1:05 p.m. Baltimore vs. New York Mets at Port St.

Lucie, 1:10 p.m. Atlanta vs. St. Louis at Jupiter, 1 :05 p.m. Los Angeles vs.

Houston at Kissimmee, 1:05 p.m. Milwaukee (ss) vs. Seattle at Peoria, 3:05 p.m. Oakland vs. Chicago Cubs at Mesa, 3:05 p.m.

San Diego (ss) vs. Arizona at Tucson, 3:05 p.m. San Deigo (ss) vs. Milwaukee (ss) at Maryvale, 3:05 p.m. New York Yankees vs.

Cincinnati at Sarasota, 7:05 p.m. Tampa Bay (ss) vs, Detroit at Lakeland, 7:05 p.m. Chicago White Sox vs. Colorado at Tucson, 9:05 p.m. TUESDAY, MARCH 16 Houston vs.

Kansas City at Haines City, 1:05 p.m. St. Louis vs. Baltimore at Fort Lauderdale, 1:05 p.m. Cincinnati vs.

Detroit at Lakeland, 1:05 p.m. Cleveland vs. Atlanta at Kissimmee, 1:05 p.m. Texas vs. Pirates at Bradenton, 1 :05 p.m.

Tampa Bay vs. Philadelphia at Clearwater, 1:05 p.m. New York Mets vs. Montreal at Jupiter, 1:05 p.m. Florida vs.

Los Angeles at Vera Beach, 1:05 p.m. Chicago White Sox (ss) vs. Anaheim at Tempe, 3:05 p.m. Chicago Cubs vs. Seattle at Peoria, 3:05 p.m.

Arizona (ss) vs. Chicago White Sox (ss) at Tucson, 3:05 p.m. Arizona (ss) vs. Colorado at Tucson, 3:05 p.m. San Diego vs.

San Francisco at Scottsdale, 3:05 p.m. Boston vs. Minnesota at Fort Myers, 7:05 p.m. Toronto vs. New York Yankees at Tampa, 7:15 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17 Texas vs. Boston at Fort Myers, 1 :05 p.m. New York Yankees (ss) vs. Minnesota at Fort Myers, 1:05 p.m. Tampa Bay vs.

Cleveland (ss) at Winter Haven, 1:05 p.m. Cleveland (ss) vs. Kansas City (ss) at Haines City. 1:05 p.m. Toronto vs.

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