Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, February 22, 1991 TAG: 9102220258
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Skies were sunny in Florida and Arizona as 15 teams opened for business with just a minor hitch or two. Gone were the dark clouds that kept camps closed last year because of a 32-day lockout.
"There seems to be a lot of anxious anxiety to get going," New York Mets manager Bud Harrelson said in Port St. Lucie, Fla., where about 100 fans watched David Cone, Mackey Sasser and some others run through the outfield.
Officially, only pitchers and catchers were supposed to show up Thursday, and then just to check in. But rather than merely report, the march of the millionaires began when a lot of players broke out the bats and balls.
Davis, Barry Larkin, Rob Dibble, and Tom Browning were among more than a dozen regulars from the World Series champion Cincinnati Reds on the fields in Plant City, Fla. Manager Lou Piniella met with his coaches in preparation for today's first formal workout.
Davis, recovering from offseason knee surgery and a kidney injury suffered in Game 4 of the Series sweep over Oakland, will take it slow for awhile. So will Bo Jackson.
The Kansas City Royals put their star outfielder on crutches for four weeks after discovering that a hip injury he suffered in the NFL playoffs is more serious than originally thought.
"It's not just the usual pulled muscle," Royals trainer Nick Swartz said Thursday. "He's not in the mild-injury category."
Jackson is to report to the Royals' camp in Haines City, Fla., along with the position players. He will undergo therapy and do exercises, but he is likely to miss the first part of the exhibition schedule.
"He was pretty upbeat, not real down," Royals manager John Wathan said after a telephone conversation with Jackson. "I guess disappointed is the right word."
There were a few other glitches, too.
The Minnesota Twins, who moved their training site from Orlando to Fort Myers, Fla., this year, aren't quite ready to move in yet. The major-league clubhouse and batting cages at the Lee County Sports Complex are not finished, so all players will be crammed into the minor-league headquarters for about 10 days. Newly acquired Jack Morris, Kirby Puckett and Kent Hrbek were among the Twins at the new location on Thursday.
At the New York Yankees' camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where last year's lockout resulted in a "No Trespassing" sign being posted above the players' locker room entrance, pitcher Pascual Perez was absent. The reason: that catch-all cause, visa problems.
But the big news from the Yankees was that Howe, once one of the game's most promising pitchers, was getting another chance. In his case, it is a seventh chance.
Howe, the National League rookie of the year in 1980, has been suspended six times because of drug and alcohol use. He has not pitched in the majors since 1987 with Texas, but after a two-day tryout, got invited to the Yankees' camp.
"I feel there have been a lot worse things in baseball than bringing Steve Howe back," Yankees general manager Gene Michael said. "If he was my son or your son, you'd want somebody to bring him back. It's a good business deal and a nice opportunity for this young man."
It also made sense for the Yankees - they've needed a left-handed, short reliever ever since Dave Righetti signed a free-agent contract with San Francisco.
"Drugs taking away my whole career has been hard to deal with. It probably cost me $8-10 million in salary alone," said Howe, 33 next month. "I feel real thankful I got this opportunity. I've been walking around praying that this wasn't a cruel trick nature played."
Whether Palmer's body will enable him to make a comeback at age 45 is still uncertain. The Baltimore Orioles, however, have invited their former ace to camp and Palmer has accepted a conditional contract.
He could be in uniform as early as Saturday, the team announced Thursday night.
Terms of the contract weren't disclosed, but are contingent upon Palmer's making the team.
"It's a performance contract that is fair," Palmer said. "I don't want to be paid for anything I don't do. I've never operated like that."
He has not pitched in the big leagues since 1984 and if he successfully returns, Palmer would become the first baseball player to return to the field after being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Manager Frank Robinson has said he would give Palmer the entire six weeks of spring training before making a decision on whether to make him the first Hall of Famer to return to the majors.
"It's not the money," Palmer said. "It's a very insignificant offer. There are some incentives, but it's less than I made in 1984, and I didn't make much at that time.
"It's just something that happened and I'd like to see if I can do it," he said. "I know that no Hall of Fame pitcher has ever tried a comeback, but that's not the reason.
"I've been throwing since Dec. 17 and my arm feels terrific. I've spent two months doing something and it would be real difficult not to do it."
Palmer was inducted into the Hall of Fame last summer, and for the past week has been throwing under the eyes of scouts from several major league clubs.
His fastball has been clocked at speeds of 86-87 mph, he said, adding that he threw 200 pitches a few days ago and pitches batting practice every other day.
Ben McDonald, the Orioles' newest ace, was among the players in Sarasota, Fla., where Baltimore began spring training. Mike Flanagan, once one of Palmer's rotation mates, was also there, courtesy of an invitation.
"I've never been more excited about a camp," Robinson said.
Guillermo Hernandez, the American League's MVP in 1984, got an invitation from Philadelphia. He last pitched in the majors for Detroit in 1989.
In Bradenton, Fla., Bonilla stopped by Pittsburgh's camp to pick up a huge stack of mail.
In Mesa, Ariz., Wally Joyner and Lance Parrish passed by California's camp and then headed for a round of golf.
by CNB