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Around the National League

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 28, 2001

Griffey may be out for start of season

SARASOTA -- Ken Griffey won't play for the rest of spring training, and his status for opening day is in doubt.

The Reds won't know for a few days whether Griffey's pulled hamstring amounts to a minor setback or a problem that lingers for a few weeks.

Griffey pulled his left hamstring while rounding third base Monday and had to be helped off the field. The leg was swollen Tuesday, when he got several hours of treatment.

Dr. Timothy Kremchek said this type of injury is difficult to gauge in the first few days. The Reds expect to have a better idea by the weekend whether Griffey will be available for the season opener Monday.

"We're not looking at putting him on the disabled list," Kremchek said. "Right now I truly believe there's a possibility he'll play on opening day. We're going to do everything we can to get him in the best shape we possibly can.

"On the other hand, we're not going to do something that's going to allow him to rehurt himself on opening day, just to play that one particular game."

An hour before the game against Texas, former Notre Dame and Cincinnati Moeller High football coach Gerry Faust gave the Reds a pep talk in the clubhouse. He related his football experiences to baseball, recalling how his 1984 Notre Dame team pulled out of a slump by regaining its focus. Shortstop Barry Larkin played football for Faust one year at Moeller.

FAN IN BRAWL SUES CLUBS: A man arrested after Los Angeles players climbed into the Wrigley Field stands and fought with fans in May sued the Dodgers and Cubs. James Maness, 31, accused Cubs security guards of false arrest, malicious prosecution, creating a nuisance and battery.

BRAVES: Right-hander John Smoltz, who missed last season after reconstructive elbow surgery, will start this season on the disabled list and miss at least two starts. Smoltz, whose rotation spot will be filled by left-hander Odalis Perez, threw for 10 minutes in the bullpen and said he felt no pain. ... Catcher Javy Lopez, who fractured his left index finger two weeks ago, plans to play in a minor-league game Thursday and might catch for Atlanta next week.

CARDINALS: The team has seen enough to keep Rick Ankiel in the rotation to open the season. Manager Tony La Russa and pitching coach Dave Duncan said the 21-year-old left-hander, who threw nine wild pitches in four post-season innings in the fall, is scheduled to start at Arizona on April 7.

CUBS: Right-hander Jon Lieber got the nod over Kerry Wood as the opening day starter. Manager Don Baylor had been leaning toward picking Wood, the 1998 NL Rookie of the Year, but told Lieber four or five days ago.

DODGERS: Ace right-hander Kevin Brown is scheduled to throw on the side off a mound today. The team remains optimistic that Brown, who strained his right Achilles' tendon Friday, will start Monday in the season opener against the Brewers. ... Manager Jim Tracy said Chris Donnels will start at third base on opening day. Starter Adrian Beltre and backup Dave Hansen will start the season on the 15-day disabled list.

EXPOS: Montreal's games will be heard only in French on local radio for the second straight season. Talks with two English-language stations broke off after the stations wanted the team to pay part of the production costs, team vice president David Samson said. ... Centerfielder Terry Jones pulled up lame during the first inning and will be sidelined 7-10 days with a pulled left hamstring.

MARLINS: A plan to pay for a new ballpark has picked up steam in the Florida Capitol, gaining first approval by a House panel and support from political and business leaders. A bill that would allow a ballpark built along the Miami River to keep certain new sales tax revenue and spend it on construction passed the House Local Government and Veterans Affairs Committee 7-1.

PIRATES: Right-handed reliever Rich Loiselle apparently will start the season on the disabled list because of pain in his pitching shoulder. ... Right-hander Francisco Cordova doesn't need additional elbow surgery and has been cleared to resume throwing. Cordova had bone spurs removed from his right elbow in August.

REDS: Scott Williamson, who won the NL Rookie of the Year award as a reliever, is headed back to the bullpen. Williamson, who started 10 games last season, was beaten out by Chris Reitsma, who has never pitched above Double A. Filling out the rotation are Pete Harnisch, Osvaldo Fernandez, Elmer Dessens and Rob Bell.

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