Camping out with Scott Miller

Still as big and imposing as ever, Goose Gossage -- the former closer who inexplicably still isn't in the Hall of Fame -- continues to stay involved with the Colorado Rockies, his home-state team. Gossage is a frequent contributor as a coach at spring camp, and watching the big guy and his trademark mustache in action pitching batting practice can still bring back vivid memories. Outfielder Preston Wilson, among others, likes when Gossage throws batting practice because even at b.p. speed, Gossage's pitches still move. Somehow, even at 52, it's not too difficult to believe that Gossage still has some snap, crackle and pop on his pitches.

He signed as a free agent Dec. 16 as a setup man, and it was only about six weeks later Eddie Guardado was installed by the Seattle Mariners as their new closer. It was almost enough to make a guy think Guardado had some insider knowledge things were going south with Kaz Sasaki in a hurry, and the Mariners wanted someone ready for when Sasaki fled back to Japan. Not so fast, Everyday Eddie says. "Not at all," Guardado said. "I had no idea. I'm not the type of guy who needs to be the guy who is the closer, or the superstar. I'm just here to play the game and to help the team win." Sasaki, homesick for Japan, asked out of his contract and forfeited some $9 million when the Mariners agreed (happily, given Sasaki's disappointing 2003). "It seemed to work out for me," Guardado said. "Nothing against Sasaki. But they gave me the job, and hopefully I make the best of it." Working in a pitcher's park should help Guardado, who collected 41 saves for the AL Central champion Twins last season. Right now, though, Guardado is simply attempting to adjust to his new surroundings. For example, he started to throw a pitchout in a Cactus League game the other day after reading a sign from the dugout. But he realized halfway through his delivery that, whoops, the sign he read was a pitchout sign in Minnesota with the Twins. In Seattle, the sign meant he was supposed to throw over to first base. Guardado realized it halfway through his delivery, tried to adjust, and wound up tossing a wounded duck pitch that somehow grazed the corner of the plate for a strike. "For me, I think it's just getting to know everybody," he said. "Getting familiar with the system. When you've been with one team for a long time, you know what it's like in spring training, where to live, where to eat. That's about it, man. The biggest thing is probably getting to know the guys."

Spring is all about phenoms, and the Chicago White Sox have a doozy this year in outfielder Ryan Sweeney. Not that he will break camp with the major league team. The kid is just 19, and he was their second-round pick in last June's draft. But he's played in several Cactus League games this spring thanks to a rash of injuries, and he seems to do something noticeable each time he gets in. He cracked a hit against Anaheim's Bartolo Colon, he collected another hit in a game that was being telecast on Chicago's WGN, heck, he's even starred in the media training session the White Sox do with their minor leaguers. They had the players ask questions, and one of them asked Sweeney, "What's it like to play with big leaguers?" Heck, a year ago Sweeney hadn't even started his high school season. Now, he's being called over from minor-league camp to start random Cactus League games. "He's got talent," White Sox slugger Frank Thomas said. "He's a talented kid. We haven't seen him struggle yet."

Maybe he's got friends in low places, too, but singer Garth Brooks has a whole lot of friends in high places -- which is why he's able to participate in baseball camps as a non-roster player to bring attention to his voluminous charity work. Brooks is working out with the Kansas City Royals after spending previous springs with the San Diego Padres and New York Mets, and, as usual, the humble country and western star is impressing his more athletic colleagues. "Garth Brooks has been great," Royals Hall of Famer George Brett said. "You get a guy who does it for the passion of the game. He's running sprints, he's doing drills, he's in the batting cage by 7:30 a.m. I would have loved to have had a guy like that around when I played. It brings out the passion in you. Here's a guy who doesn't have to be here, or doesn't have to work that hard, and he still does it." Brooks, 42, was invited to the camp to raise awareness for his Teammates for Kids Foundation, which he founded in 1999. The baseball division is called "Touch 'em All," and Brooks says his foundations have raised more than $40 million for children's charities. He isn't expected to make the team, but hey, you never know. Though he looks slightly pudgy in uniform, so did John Kruk and Sid Fernandez. Right?

The long and short of it, as the Arizona Diamondbacks prepare for what should be a wide-open season in the NL West, is that new first baseman Richie Sexson is a little different than, say, Mark Grace. And not only because Sexson almost certainly will increase the home-run output from Arizona first basemen. "Needless to say, he presents a good target over there at first base," Diamondbacks manager Bob Brenly said of Sexson, who's 6-8. "We've told our infielders when they throw, better high than low. With Gracey, we always said better low than high. But with Richie, we prefer the high throws." The Diamondbacks, who weren't the most fundamentally sound team last season, are working on several things this spring -- infield defense among them. While the other infielders are becoming accustomed to working with Sexson, Shea Hillenbrand -- whose main position is swinging the bat -- continues learning the nuances of third. "We're starting to see the results," Brenly said. "His footwork is much better, his movement is more fluid, his throwing is more fluid. It's not by coincidence. He's out there working every day."

David Wells is on the Top Secret Curt Schilling plan here in the Cactus League. Remember how Schilling, when he was with Arizona, pitched against the Chicago White Sox -- fellow Tucson residents -- about 40 times each spring because he didn't want National League teams to get an early look at him? The Padres are doing the same with Wells, who made his third start of the spring here Wednesday -- but pitched in a minor-league game on one of the Padres' back fields. At the major-league level, the Padres were playing San Francisco in Scottsdale, and they figure there's no sense allowing opposing NL West hitters to get their licks in against Wells in meaningless games -- particularly because Wells is slated to face the Giants in San Diego's Petco Park opener on April 8. "He's been outstanding," San Diego general manager Kevin Towers said. "His back has healed up well, he's throwing strikes, he's feeling good." Wells also has dropped 30 pounds. The Padres are holding their breath. "It's great to have his mere presence in the clubhouse," Towers said. "He has a little cockiness and a little swagger. He's good for our young players."

I'm not sure if they had ballpark cuisine in mind when they dropped such a surprising name on this little city west of Peoria, but they very well could have. Working a game between Texas and Kansas City the other night -- the two tenants who share this facility -- I was cutting across the concourse when I noticed the sign: "Deep-fried Twinkies." Which, of course, will make a guy stop stone-cold in his tracks. "Batter dipped Twinkies fried and sprinkled with powdered sugar," read the sign. Mmmmm. The same stand also was offering deep-fried Oreos, Taco in a Bag ("Doritos or Fritos with ground beef, refried beans, cheese, lettuce, salsa") and Fry Bread. Though it all sounded delicious, alas, I must admit, I had already eaten -- and I simply didn't have the guts to try the deep-fried Twinkie for dessert. Look, I'm far from a sushi-at-the-ballpark kind of guy, but is there some kind of law that everything is fair game to be deep-fried? At the Strawberry Festival in Plant City, Fla., a few weeks ago, they were attempting to foist that old state fair favorite -- deep-fried candy bars -- on an unsuspecting public. They were selling, too. Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't think so.

There's no reason why Oakland's Big Three of Tim Hudson, Barry Zito and Mark Mulder shouldn't have very big seasons again in 2004. But there's every reason why things might look and feel totally foreign to them -- at least, initially. Oakland traded catcher Ramon Hernandez to San Diego over the winter, and not only is Hernandez highly respected for his game-calling abilities, he goes back so far with Mulder and Hudson that he caught them in the minor leagues. Not only that, the Athletics have a new pitching coach in Curt Young after Rick Peterson left for the New York Mets. Hudson, Zito and Mulder have been doing this long enough that they should be able to handle the change with ease, but there's no question that some of their familiarity is gone. "I don't think there will be any adjustment, at least, not for me," Mulder said. "I'm not sitting here saying I'm a veteran, but it's not my first rodeo. If losing a pitching coach causes problems, then I think I have problems. I know what I have to do. Curt Young has been around in the minor leagues and the big leagues, and he knows. A pitching coach isn't going to teach you how to pitch. He can help you with your mechanics." New behind the plate this year is Damian Miller, whom Oakland general manager Billy Beane acquired from the Chicago Cubs to replace Hernandez. This isn't Miller's first rodeo, either: Last year, he caught Kerry Wood, Mark Prior and that staff in Chicago, and he caught Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling in Arizona before that -- including during the Diamondbacks' 2001 world championship year.

Good thing for Best Buy the Milwaukee Brewers have cooled off this spring. Otherwise, the electronics superstore might have to hire extra customer service reps just to deal with eager Brewers rookies. Here's the deal: In another in a long, storied line of baseball spring training pranks, the Brewers have convinced their rookies that players from the team finishing with the best Cactus League record each receive a free big-screen television. So, as the Brewers stormed out to a 10-1 record, you should have heard some of the talk. Lately, though, as the Brewers have suffered some losses, several rookies are becoming worried that their "free televisions" are in jeopardy. The other day, manager Ned Yost made it a point to walk up to coach Butch Wynegar with rookie infielder Trent Durrington within earshot. "Our big-screen TVs are in trouble," Yost told Wynegar, loudly. "We need some wins." At that, Durrington whirled around. "See, I knew it was true!" he exclaimed. "Those guys were trying to tell me it was a joke." The Brewers are loving it. "We told 'em it was sponsored by Best Buy," Yost said. "And all you have to do is go to customer service and they'll send it wherever you want." All I know is, I'd pay big money to watch a Best Buy customer service rep dealing with some rookie baseball player attempting to explain why he gets a free big-screen television for being part of a Cactus League team with the best winning record in March. But alas, going into their game on Sunday, the Brewers had slipped to 11-7, and the Seattle Mariners had taken over as leaders. Wonder what the Mariners are telling their rookies?

Jason Schmidt's elbow is tender, which should be worrisome for a team not exactly overloaded with starters. Closer Robb Nen missed the entire 2003 season following two shoulder surgeries. But right now, those two aren't the only pitching-related part of this team spending time in the trainer's room. Pitching coach Dave Righetti is walking with a bad limp after tearing both the ACL and MCL ligaments in his left knee while skiing at Lake Tahoe shortly before spring training started. Surgery must wait until after the season, because it will lay Righetti up for too long to fulfill his immediate responsibilities with the Giants if he does anything now. So he gimps onward, some days better than others, the pain usually not nearly as bad as it was a couple of weeks ago. But you try standing and walking for a couple of hours during drills and batting practice with a shredded knee and see how it feels. "I've got to take care of myself," Righetti said. "If you don't do it, nobody will do it for you." Besides, if he doesn't have surgery, he's got to worry about the early onset of arthritis and other maladies. It's just that, if it can wait until October ... or November ...

Center fielder Corey Patterson scored on a sweeping slide across home plate Thursday, and it might have been simply another nondescript moment in a nondescript Cactus League game were it not for the fact Patterson wrecked his left knee last July 6. Talk about poor timing: Patterson, after years of anticipation, finally was growing into his shoes, hitting .298 with 13 homers, 55 RBI and 16 steals. Nevertheless, it was season-ending surgery, and then he watched newcomer Kenny Lofton help push the Cubs into the NLCS. Well, Patterson is back this spring. He's expected to be the club's opening day center fielder, and with each small moment like a slide, that seems a little more real. "Every time he slides, as long as he doesn't get hurt, it's going to clear his mind," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. Patterson has progressed enough this spring that the manager is past the point where he holds his breath whenever Patterson does choose to hit the dirt. "I'm fine with it," Baker said. "It might have been a little different if a catcher was blocking the plate, but he had a clear view of the plate and he slid on the other leg. When I got hurt when I was playing, I hurt my slide leg and I had to adjust to (sliding) on the other leg. It was tough for me at the time." As for Patterson, he's only hitting .241 this spring (7-for-29). But with Patterson, more than with most players in camp, the little moments right now overshadow that.

Hoo boy, reliever Brendan Donnelly looked "great" -- manager Mike Scioscia's word -- in a bullpen session the other day, and he is expected to pitch in a game by week's end. Meantime, if the Angels see a black cat around here, count on them chasing it away. And if they see a ladder, you can bet they'll go as far around it as they can. These guys are the kings of freak spring training injuries, and Donnelly getting smashed in the nose while he was shagging balls in the outfield during batting practice last week only served as a grim reminder. In 1997, pitcher Chuck Finley suffered a broken orbital bone around his eye when he was struck by a foul ball while standing too close to the batting cage netting here. Two years later, shortstop Gary DiSarcina suffered a broken arm when he wandered too close to coach George Hendrick's fungo bat. As for Donnelly, he suffered 22 fractures in his nose, most of which were fixed by surgery, as a result of being clocked by a Chone Figgans fly ball. "I haven't really been injured before," Donnelly said. "This is the first one that's kept me out of pitching in games. But it's spring training. If it's going to happen, it's good it happened now." The way Donnelly figures it, it could have been a whole lot worse. "It could have hit me in the eye," he said. "Or on the cheek, or in the teeth. It hit me in the perfect spot, if it had to hit me."