DODGERS SPRING TRAINING: HE WON'T BE CAUGHT SHORT : JOHNSON MAY BEGIN WITH THREE CATCHERS; HUNDLEY A CONCERN.Byline: Brian Dohn Daily News Staff Writer Dodgers manager Davey Johnson Todd made his major league debut with the New York Mets on May 18, 1990 when he was only 20 years old. to prove he could handle the everyday rigors of catching. Johnson added that Hundley, bothered by a sore right elbow, could begin the season on the disabled list. ``That may be something we have to deal with,'' Johnson said before the Dodgers and Baltimore Orioles This article is about the contemporary American major league baseball team. For other uses, see Baltimore Oriole (disambiguation). The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. played Saturday. ``We're kind of running out of time. It's probably doubtful that Hundley will show me enough between now and opening day that I can go with two catchers, and I don't want to get caught short.'' If Hundley can't catch, 24-year-old rookie Angel Pena could be the Dodgers' opening-day catcher. Paul LoDuca is the favored backup, but Johnson brought four catchers to play against the Orioles - Pena, LoDuca, Rick Wilkins Wilkins was selected #99 on the list of the "Top 100 Cubs of All Time" compiled by the Cubs blog and Tim Laker Timothy John Laker (born November 27, 1969 in Encino, California) is a former Major League Baseball catcher. He played for the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, Montreal Expos, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. - to maximize his evaluation time on each. ``I haven't voiced it, but it's an issue,'' Johnson said. ``I've been thinking about it for 10 days. When Hundley had the setback, (carrying three catchers) immediately jumped through my mind. It may not be a distinct possibility. It may be a necessity.'' Johnson said Hundley won't catch before Tuesday's day off, which will leave less than two weeks before the April 5 opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks This article is about the baseball team. For other uses, see Diamondback. The Arizona Diamondbacks (also referred to as the D-backs) are a Major League Baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They play in the West Division of the National League. . ``With Hundley, I want to be able to find out what he can do and can't do,'' Johnson said. ``Can he play four or five days a week or can he play two days a week?'' Until this time, the Dodgers have maintained Hundley would be ready for the opener. Hundley hasn't caught a game during the spring training. He's been the designated hitter designated hitter n. Baseball Abbr. DH A player designated at the start of a game to bat instead of the pitcher in the lineup. Noun 1. twice but not since March 10. He injured his right elbow the day before that when he hit left-handed for more than 30 minutes in an extended batting cage Noun 1. batting cage - a movable screen placed behind home base to catch balls during batting practice cage baseball equipment - equipment used in playing baseball session. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. team doctors, that caused inflammation in his right elbow, though doctors say it's unrelated to the reconstructive surgery reconstructive surgery n. Plastic surgery. reconstructive surgery, n surgery to rebuild a structure for functional or esthetic reasons. he had on the same elbow Sept. 26, 1997, as a member of the Mets.Hundley has thrown on the side periodically since aggravating the elbow. Hundley played in 53 games for the Mets last season but caught just twice. He spent most of his time in an ill-faded left-field experiment. He was acquired in a trade with minor-league pitcher Arnold Gooch for Charles Johnson and Roger Cedeno on December 1, 1998, in a move that will help define general manager Kevin Malone's tenure with the Dodgers. But Johnson and Malone both said they wouldn't have traded for Hundley if Pena wasn't in the organization and ready to play at the major-league level. Pena is supposed to start the season with Triple-A Albuquerque, but Hundley's availability could change that. When asked if he thought he had a chance to start the season with the Dodgers, Pena said: ``For some reason, yes, I feel like I do. The pitchers say they like me, and that's the best thing they can say.'' Hundley's played in two Grapefruit League games and has one hit in eight at-bats. He's being counted on to handle a veteran pitching staff expected to be one of the best in baseball. The switch-hitting Hundley also is expected to be the much-needed left-handed bat in a lineup dominated by right-handers. Hundley also brings power. His 41 homers with the Mets in 1996 is a major-league record for catchers. He followed that by hitting .273 with 30 homers and 86 RBI RBI abbr. Baseball runs batted in Noun 1. rbi - a run that is the result of the batter's performance; "he had more than 100 rbi last season" run batted in in 132 games before elbow problems ended in 1997 season. ``I think all the guys we have backing up are capable,'' said Dodgers pitcher Darren Dreifort, speaking particularly about their defense. ``LoDuca's good back there, Pena's good back there. Wilkins is an experienced guy who's been around for a while and Laker is another guy who's been around for a long while.'' CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: TODD HUNDLEY Richard Drew/Associated Press |
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