BASEBALL INSIDE LOOK: STOPPED SHORT VIZCAINO FEELS HE WAS DECEIVED.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - For the second consecutive spring, Jose Vizcaino was told he would have a chance to win the Dodgers' shortstop job.

Last season, he lost out to Mark Grudzielanek. This year, an unhappy Vizcaino believes he was never given a chance.

While Alex Cora, Juan Castro and Kevin Elster battle for the starting shortstop job, Vizcaino feels as if he's been left out of the equation.

``I came to try for a shortstop job,'' Vizcaino said. ``It's what (general manager) Kevin Malone told my agent, and that's not what has happened. I'm just here to be a backup, a utility player. It's not like I was fighting for a job. I came here to work hard and play every day, and that's not what it is.

``It bothers me. If you told me what my role was going to be before I came here, that's different.''

Malone said all player personnel decisions are left up to the uniformed personnel.

Dodgers manager Davey Johnson said Cora, the front-runner for the spot, Elster, Castro and Vizcaino were all in the mix. But it's no secret Johnson likes Vizcaino's versatility, which makes him an ideal utility player.

Vizcaino played shortstop, second base and third base last season, and his switch-batting capability only accentuates his role as a vital utility player.

``To me, the one thing about the way I manage a team is, No. 1, I let everybody go play,'' Johnson said. ``By their performance, and by the needs of the team, that defines roles. The players define their own roles. For me, like I told him last year, you're more valuable to me being in that utility role. And I still see him that way.

``I know early on he wanted me to give him the job, but then I was going to be short a guy that could do what he could do. I think it may have been hard for him to take last year, but I think he understood it. Even when we talked (last year), he said Grudzielanek deserves to be playing.''

Vizcaino, 32, understands his value as a utility player, but he's still bothered by his lack of playing time at shortstop. Through the Dodgers' first 13 Grapefruit League games, Vizcaino played 10 innings at shortstop. Castro played 17, Elster was at 32 and Cora had 43. By contrast, Vizcaino has played 12 innings at third and eight at second.

``If that's it, you come to me and tell me,'' Vizcaino said. ``You tell me this is how it is. That's different. You can't tell me this is how it's going to be and then you come here and it's different. I understand that, but just tell me right away what you're going to do so I can be prepared.

``I just want to know what my role is going to be. It's nice to know.''

Also, with his focus on trying to win the shortstop job, Vizcaino has done most of his work in the spring at shortstop. He said he hasn't taken many balls at second or third base.

The Dodgers talked during the winter about trading Vizcaino. The Atlanta Braves were one of several teams interested in acquiring him, numerous industry sources said, but the sticking point was the $3.5 million Vizcaino's due this season.

Vizcaino, a 10-year veteran, was signed to a three-year free-agent deal after the 1997 season and was supposed to be the starting shortstop. But he missed the final three months of the 1998 season with a severe ankle sprain, and with the Dodgers making a playoff push, they traded for Grudzielanek.

Last spring Vizcaino battled Grudzielanek for the starting shortstop job, but Grudzielanek, favored by management in the competition, won the spot.

Vizcaino, in turn, fell into the utility role. He started 40 games at shortstop, 15 games at second base and five games at third. The opportunity arose to claim the starting shortstop job when Grudzielanek spent five weeks on the disabled list with a broken hand, but Vizcaino hit .214 during the spell.

``Last year I didn't know until the end,'' Vizcaino said. ``This year, I knew since the beginning. I figured it out.''

LOCAL WATCH

JEFF WEAVER 

Detroit Tigers 

Former Simi Valley High standout Jeff Weaver may be left behind when the Detroit Tigers break spring training, but it's not because Weaver isn't in manager Phil Garner's plans. With open dates, the Tigers can get by with four starting pitchers until the 13th day of the season. To conserve right-hander Weaver's long-term strength - the strength that ran out last season - Garner might not start him until that 13th game, which is April 18 at home vs. Boston. Weaver, who has a 5.40 ERA in five spring-training innings, would use the interim to pitch in minor-league games.

JON GARLAND

Chicago White Sox 

Former Kennedy High standout Jon Garland fared better in his second outing of the spring for the Chicago White Sox than he did in his first. After allowing three runs in two innings in his first start vs. Arizona, Garland shut out the Diamondbacks over four innings Friday on just one hit. His ERA fell from 13.50 to 4.50.

``The first time out he seemed like he was a little nervous,'' pitching coach Nardi Contreras said. ``That's to be expected of a 20-year-old in a major-league camp. His stuff is there. His pitches are there. He just has to put it all together.''

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo: Jose Vizcaino believes he was never given a chance to win the Dodgers' shortstop job.

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer

Box: LOCAL WATCH (see text)