European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 17, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wedrow Tyty. F to Briary 16, 1993 sports the stars and stapes Page 31 Spring blossoms for baseball pitchers catchers can report Friday by Murray chass the new York times the los Angeles dodgers Are read for Spring training to begin. We Don t want to spend a lot More time thinking about last year general manager Fred Claire said trying to expunge thoughts of the dodgers nightmarish last place finish their first since1905. It was t much fun for anyone with the dodgers last year. We re anxious to get  for their own reasons 27 other clubs Are eager to begin too none More so than the expansion teams. The Colorado Rockies hold their first workout for pitchers and catchers Friday in Tucson Ariz. The Flor Ida marlins begin saturday managers of the new clubs won t learn much from the Early workouts but they will derive great satisfaction out of seeing their Long hours of planning come to fruition. Every club is anxiously awaiting the appearance of its players coming Back from serious injuries. Here is a club by club look at the status of those players As Well As the most significant changes Tea shave undergone since the end of 1992. National league West Atlanta the league s Best pitch ing staff gets better with Greg Maddux the by Young award Winner replacing Charlie Leibrandt. Catcher Greg Olson expects to be recovered from a broken leg and a dislocated ankle. Cincinnati Kevin Mitchell Roberto Kelly John Smiley and Jeff Reardon head a platoon of new players  new manager Tony Perez. Colorado the Rookie manager Don Baylor leads a Rookie club into the wasteland of expansion baseball. His first assignment Mold Charlie Hayes Andres Galarraga Dante Bichette Jerald Clark Daryl Boston Alex Cole and Joe Girardi into some semblance of respectability. Houston Doug Drabek and Gre Swindell join the division s up and com ing team. Minus Bone chips in his Elbow Eric Anthony could become even More dangerous than his 80 Bis last year. Los Angeles Darryl Strawberry and Eric Davis the disappointing duo who Between them played 119 games appear to be healthy again Strawberry after Back surgery Davis after wrist  Martinez still has to show his Elbow is sound again. Same with Tod Worrell and his shoulder. Kevin Elster s shoulder not ready for him to Challenge for shortstop Job. San Diego the key question offspring for the impoverished padres is Bruce Hurst s surgical shoulder sound enough so they can Trade him and further pare their payroll san Francisco new Star Barr Bonds new manager Dusty Baker and new owners strive to save a fading fran Chise. Will Clark previously the fran Chise prepares for the season and negotiations for a Bonds Type contract. National league East Chicago Greg Maddux is gone. Andre Dawson is gone. Shawon Dunston s herniated disk is gone. Dunston 18 games is healthy. So Are be Vizcaino broken hand and key Sanchez herniated Dis who replaced him. One of the three should be traded before the end of Spring. No further problem with Sammy Sosa s broken ankle is expected. Florida if Bryan Harvey s elbows sound do they Trade the reliever or keep him thinking they might win som games manager Rene Lacheman looks to veterans Benito Santiago Dave mag Adan Walt Weiss and Charlie Hough for leadership for the neophyte team and to Orestes Destrade for a Cecil fielder re peat. Montreal Felipe Alou looked Good recharging the Young expos last year but can he win with Greg Colbrunn Wil Cordero and Sean Berry As three fourths of the infield new York Jeff Torborg will pre tend last year did t happen. Howard Johnson wrist Vince Coleman Ham string Bobby Bonilla shoulder ret Saberhagen Finger and John Franco Elbow should t have to pretend they re healthy. Philadelphia John Kruk Mustbe serious working out in the off season to strengthen his surgically repaired shoulder. Dale Murphy s left knee on intimate terms with a surgeon s Scalpel i supposedly ready. Lenny Dykstra s Bro Ken hand has knit not so the rotator cuff of Jose Dejesus. Danny Jackson adds experience if also losses to the pitching rotation. Pittsburgh say goodbye Mobarry Bonds Doug Drabek Jose Lind and a fourth consecutive division  Albert Martin replace Bonds. Zane Smith a crucial part of the plan Towin with pitching is said to be recovered from a shoulder ailment. St. Louis sights of Spring Greg Jefferies trying to play first base. Ozzie Canseco trying to win the right Field Job and be like twin Jose. American league East Baltimore where do the orioles go now that they have cornered the mar Ket on players named Harold Baines an Reynolds the Only players with that name in the majors last year maybe finding a fifth starting Pitcher perhaps Mark Williamson recovered from Elbow  Mike Greenwell s Elbow works again. Time will Tell if Carlo Quintana does after a lost season be cause of an Auto  after years in the Ari Zona desert the indians wandered to Florida Only to have a Hurricane level their new sons site that never happened in Tucson. Additions they Hope hold up Are Bob Ojeda and Mike Bie Lecki for the pitching staff and Jef Treadway for the infield. Detroit ancient Frank Tanana has departed but the seemingly More ancient Kirk Gibson has returned. Is this any Way to build a contender adding Mike Moore and Bill Krueger to the pitching staff should be More  Trammell 29 games has a sound ankle but Travis Fryman has his Short Stop Job. Milwaukee Paul Molitor heart or soul of the team whichever Robin Yount in thas defected. Chris Bosio is gone from the rotation. Bill Spiers 12 games is Back with a healthy Buck to play second. Jed Higuera who pitched seven games in 1991, none last year by for 1993, Atlanta adds by Young Winner Greg Maddux to baseball Best pitching staff. Cause of a torn rotator cuff will try to Winthe fifth spot in the rotation. New York in a major overhaul Jim Abbott and Jimmy key join the pitching rotation Wade Boggs and Spike Owen the infield Paul o Neill the out Field and George Steinbrenner the front office. Mike Witt who pitched twice in first two years of three year contract will test his Elbow in a bid for a starting Job in the last year of his contract. Toronto Canada gets its firs world series championship and the team gets a wholesale shuffle. Paul Molitor re places Dave Winfield Dave Stewart re places David Cone or Jimmy key or both Dick Schofield takes Over for Manny Lee. Who replaces Kelly Gruber can Duane Ward do what Tom Hunke did us closer american league West California Gene Autry and Champion never looked so shabby. You d think the saddlebags Are empty. They were for Jim Abbott who is gone along with Bryan Harvey and his big contract. Maybe the bats of Chili Davis Kelly Gruber and . Snow can help revive the league s least productive offence. Chicago anyone who knows to will be watching the Jackson hip with the idea that he can come Back. Just Asim portent if not More so will be the physical readiness of shortstop Ozzie Guillen 12 games and his damaged knee and outfielder Ellis Burks and his Back fro Boston. Pitcher Dave stick would be a plus if his aching parts Elbow Back co operate. Kansas City a Busy Winter brought David Cone Jose Lind Greg Ganc and Felix Jose. Gregg Jefferie was sent away after a season. Mark Gubicza s shoulder is sound meaning he could add As much to the pitching staff As Cone. Minnesota after performing for eign service Ditc Winfield returns to the United states for a tour of duty on Home turf. If Bert Blyleven can pitch he would help alleviate loss of John Smiley if Kent Hrbek s surgical shoulder holds up he would be appreciated again. Oakland Dave Stewart and Mike Moore have left the pitching rotation Carney Lansford has retired Walt Weissand Harold Baines have been traded. The usually awesome athletics finally have a Challenge from within. Dave Hen Derson 20 games could be Over his Ham string problem. Seattle the new manager Lou Piniella will raise the kingdom roof if the mariners play As lethargic ally As Las year. Kevin Mitchell who did t Dent the Walls let alone the roof has been traded. Texas Kevin Kennedy is the new manager and he is joined by new pitch ers Charlie Leibrandt Tom Hon pc Craig Lef forts and new Middle infield cars Manny acc and Billy Ripken