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Area camps

By MARK DIDTLER, JAMAL THAJI and STEVE LEE

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 26, 2001

Jeter still pushing to be ready for season's start

TAMPA -- Shortstop Derek Jeter might return Tuesday as the designated hitter in a minor-league game.

Jeter has not played since March 16 when he left a game against Atlanta with a right quadriceps injury.

"I don't feel it walking around," he said. "The only time it bothers me is running."

The Yankees have not ruled out Jeter starting the season on the disabled list. Jeter is determined not to remain in Tampa, where he lives during the off-season, when the Yankees break camp.

"I'm out of here," he said. "If it was up to me, I would be playing."

St. Petersburg's Doc Gooden had his second straight rough outing Sunday, allowing four runs and four hits in three innings of Minnesota's 6-4 win against the Yankees.

With the team looking at starting the season with 10 pitchers instead of 11, Gooden is among a group looking to win a roster spot.

"He knows that," manager Joe Torre said. "Doc has taken nothing for granted."

SHORT HOPS: Orlando Hernandez (right elbow) will throw off a mound today. ... Mike Mussina will pitch in today's game against Cleveland in Winter Haven. ... Opening-day starter Roger Clemens will make his final spring start Tuesday against Boston at Legends Field. ... The Yankees exchanged right-handed pitchers with San Diego, getting Carlos Almanzar for David Lee. ... Cuban defector Andy Morales was among three optioned to Triple-A Columbus.

One wild ending for Phils, Pirates

CLEARWATER -- It was the bottom of the 10th inning when Pittsburgh sent its seventh pitcher of the day, Erik Plantenberg, out to protect a 6-4 lead against Philadelphia. The minutes that followed left the Jack Russell Stadium crowd of 4,983 in silence -- until the booing started.

The Phillies tied it without a bat leaving a shoulder. Plantenberg walked five in a row, scoring the fifth and sixth runs with wild pitches on ball four.

With the bases still loaded, no outs, Plantenberg helpless and no pitchers left, new Pirates coach Lloyd McClendon pulled his team off the field. Umpire Bill Welke got Philadelphia manager Larry Bowa's okay to call it.

"I asked if the kid had a bad arm and they said, 'No,' " Bowa said. "But I guess he did."

McClendon did not explain his decision. According to the box score, Plantenberg reached his pitch count.

Philadelphia's Pat Burrell homered, and he, Brian L. Hunter, Brian R. Hunter, Tomas Perez, Travis Lee and Kevin Jordan all had RBIs. Pittsburgh's John Vader Wal hit a three-run homer, Enrique Wilson homered (twice), and both finished with three RBIs apiece.

SECOND IT: Former shortstop Pat Meares is Pittsburgh's second baseman. McClendon said Meares will start on April 3 at Cincinnati.

TODAY: The Phillies' and Pirates' final meeting of the spring is at 1:05 p.m. at McKechnie Field in Bradenton. Randy Wolf will start for Philadelphia.

Hamilton finding his form

DUNEDIN -- Joey Hamilton gave the Blue Jays' struggling starting staff a boost with a solid outing in a 16-7 win against Detroit.

Hamilton, trying to bounce back from right shoulder surgery, pitched 5 2/3 innings and allowed three runs (one earned) on eight hits. He left with a 14-2 lead and improved to 1-2, struck out two and did not walk a batter.

"He had a tough day today in that he had so many long breaks in between," manager Buck Martinez said of Hamilton, who sat in the dugout as Toronto scored five runs in the fourth and six in the fifth.

"The people of Toronto haven't seen the real Joey Hamilton yet. If he gets it back to where he was in San Diego ... he's a cool pitcher. He knows how to pitch."

Shoulder problems have plagued Hamilton (9-9 in two seasons with Toronto) since he was traded from San Diego in 1998. Hamilton went 55-44 in five seasons with the Padres.

COMING-OUT PARTY: In dealing the Tigers their worst loss, the Blue Jays had their most productive day of the spring. Toronto's 16 runs topped an 11-6 win against the Yankees on March 11.

"That's been coming," Martinez said. "We've had a few games where we hit the ball, but the runs weren't there."

Brad Fullmer homered (his first), hit a two-run double and had four RBI.

Raul Mondesi, who missed the previous two games with the flu, added a two-run home run. Alex Gonzalez drove in three runs, and leadoff hitter Shannon Stewart had three hits and scored three runs.

CUTS: Non-roster invitees pitcher Jason Dickson and catcher Izzy Molina were optioned to the minors, reducing the roster to 35.

FREEBIE: Toronto added a game to the schedule and will play it's Triple-A affiliate, the Syracuse Skychiefs, Friday at 10 a.m. Admission is free.

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