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Area camps roundup

By MARK DIDTLER, JAMAL THALJI, Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 30, 2001

Decision time for Gooden

TAMPA -- St. Petersburg's Dwight Gooden should find out today whether he will have spot on the opening roster.

The Yankees are expected to trim their roster today, and Gooden's status is in limbo. The right-hander went 0-1 with a 7.90 ERA in six games.

New York is looking at Darrell Einertson, Brian Boehringer and Todd Williams to fill out the bullpen.

"I said early on, all things being equal, he would have an advantage over other people," manager Joe Torre said. "I think the evaluation has to come down to if everything is equal. We'll see."

Gooden said he has not been told anything by team officials.

"Mel has been poker-faced," said Gooden of pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre.

WHITHER JETER?: There has been no decision on whether shortstop Derek Jeter, who has been slowed by a right quadriceps injury, will start the season on the disabled list. His chances of playing in the opening game have been hurt by the recent rainy weather.

"Obviously, it doesn't help," Torre said.

The Yankees' tentative plan to have Jeter play the field today for the first time since March 16 might be doomed by more rain.

SHORT HOPS: Orlando Hernandez (right elbow inflammation) is scheduled to pitch at the minor-league camp Monday, and barring setbacks will start April 8 against Toronto. ... Rookie Christian Parker was named the fifth starter. He is scheduled to face Minnesota in today's 1:15 p.m. game at Legends Field. ... Sid Fernandez, who is coming back after not pitching since 1997, appears headed to Triple-A Columbus to start the season. ... Andy Pettitte is scheduled to pitch in a minor-league game today. -- MARK DIDTLER

Rain prompts Jays' early departure

DUNEDIN -- The Blue Jays are out of here.

After heavy rains canceled Thursday's game against the Devil Rays at Grant Field, Toronto decided today's forecast didn't look much better. So the club canceled today's game against Syracuse and is scheduled to leave at 10 a.m. today for the airport to catch a plane to Puerto Rico.

There, at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, the team will work out in preparation for Saturday's 7 p.m. spring training finale against Texas. Right-hander Pasqual Coco will get the start.

"Everybody's ready to go," manager Buck Martinez said. "We get two days to run around in the sun."

The Jays and Rangers open the season in Puerto Rico on Sunday.

WATCH OUT: Martinez said first baseman Carlos Delgado's defense is improved thanks to extra tutoring from first-base coach Garth Iorg and bench coach Cookie Rojas.

"You know what, Carlos has gotten so much better this spring," Martinez said. "He's playing very well and playing very aggressively. Garth and Cookie have given him some guidelines, how to judge the ball, when to go after it and when not to go after it, and some new angles of pursuit he wasn't previously aware of."

REALLY?: : Asked about the weakness of the 2001 Blue Jays, Martinez replied bluntly: "Manager."

But the first-year manager and former broadcaster said he is quickly learning on the job.

"I've said this along the way, each game, different things happen and you go, "Wow, I forgot about that,' " Martinez said. "The other night I had a double switch and all these pitching matchups, and all of that came back to me like I was catching again."

MOVES: Right-hander Kevin Beirne was kept on and right-handed reliever John Frascatore was reassigned to minor-league camp. -- JAMAL THALJI

Fighting for his spot

CLEARWATER -- David Newhan knows he'll be in Cooperstown, N.Y., in August. The infielder isn't sure he'll be in Philadelphia next week.

Newhan, a non-roster utility player, is fighting for a spot on the Phillies' bench.

His father, Ross Newhan of the Los Angeles Times, will receive the J.G. Taylor Spink Award on Aug. 5 and enter the writers' wing of the Hall of Fame.

"I'm really proud of him," said David, nicknamed "Son of Scribe" by Philadelphia writers. "I have a lot of respect for what he's done. It's really an unbelievable honor."

The 27-year-old Newhan has impressed manager Larry Bowa with a solid spring.

"The kid has good makeup and he likes to play," Bowa said. -- TIMES WIRES

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