National League Capsules

Friday, Feb. 7, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

A team-by-team look at the National League in spring training:

EAST

ATLANTA BRAVES

Manager: Bobby Cox (8th season).

Training Town: West Palm Beach, Fla.

Park: Municipal Stadium.

Pitchers and Catchers Report: Feb. 14. Rest of Squad: Feb. 19.

He's Here: P Paul Byrd.

He's Outta Here: P Steve Avery, P Greg McMichael, 3B Terry Pendleton.

Worth Watching: Braves looking to make a big trade real soon - might be David Justice, if his shoulder is healed, or Fred McGriff. This is 35th and final spring in West Palm Beach for NL champions; next year, they move camp to Disney World.

FLORIDA MARLINS

Manager: Jim Leyland (1st season).

Training Town: Viera, Fla.

Park: Space Coast Stadium.

Pitchers and Catchers Report: Feb. 15. Rest of Squad: Feb. 21.

He's Here: P Alex Fernandez, OF Moises Alou, OF Bobby Bonilla, OF Jim Eisenreich, P Dustin Hermanson.

He's Outta Here: 1B Greg Colbrunn, 2B Quilvio Veras, OF Andre Dawson.

Worth Watching: Marlins spent nearly $100 million in offseason for Leyland and big-name free agents. That formula worked for the expansion Rockies -- will it pay off for Florida?

MONTREAL EXPOS

Manager: Felipe Alou (6th season).

Training Town: West Palm Beach, Fla.

Park: Municipal Stadium.

Pitchers and Catchers Report: Feb. 17. Rest of Squad: Feb. 22.

He's Here: P Lee Smith, C Chris Widger.

He's Outta Here: OF Moises Alou, P Jeff Fassero, P Mel Rojas, P Mark Leiter.

Worth Watching: Once again, low-budget Expos lost major talent in the winter. Their hope for the future is outfielder Vladimir Guerrero, last season's Eastern League MVP.

NEW YORK METS

Manager: Bobby Valentine (1st full season).

Training Town: Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Park: St. Lucie County Stadium.

Pitchers and Catchers Report: Feb. 14. Rest of Squad: Feb. 19.

He's Here: 1B John Olerud, P Greg McMichael, P Toby Borland. He's Outta Here: 1b Rico Brogna, P Robert Person, P Paul Byrd, P Doug Henry.

Worth Watching: The whole year depends on the health of pitchers Paul Wilson, Bill Pulsipher and Jason Isringhausen. All three starters could start the season on the disabled list.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

Manager: Terry Francona (1st season).

Training Town: Clearwater, Fla.

Park: Jack Russell Stadium.

Pitchers and Catchers Report: Feb. 15. Rest of Squad: Feb. 20.

He's Here: OF/IF Rex Hudler, 1B Rico Brogna, C Mark Parent, P Mark Leiter, P Scott Ruffcorn, OF Derrick May.

He's Outta Here: C Benito Santiago, OF Jim Eisenreich, P Sid Fernandez, P Toby Borland.

Worth Watching: Lenny Dykstra (back) and Darren Daulton (knee) want to play again, but injuries may force them to retire. 3B Scott Rolen could become Phils' first rookie of year since Richie Allen in 1964.

CENTRAL

CHICAGO CUBS

Manager: Jim Riggleman (3rd season).

Training Town: Mesa, Ariz.

Park: HoHoKam Park.

Pitchers and Catchers Report: Feb. 14. Rest of Squad: Feb. 20.

He's Here: SS Shawon Dunston, P Mel Rojas, P Kevin Tapani, P Terry Mulholland, 3B Dave Hansen.

He's Outta Here: P Jaime Navarro, OF Luis Gonzalez.

Worth Watching: Rookie 3B Kevin Orie, co-MVP of the Arizona Fall League, could win the regular job if he plays well at remodeled HoHoKam.

CINCINNATI REDS

Manager: Ray Knight (2nd season).

Training Town: Plant City, Fla.

Park: Plant City Stadium.

Pitchers and Catchers Report: Feb. 14. Rest of Squad: Feb. 19.

He's Here: OF Deion Sanders, OF Ruben Sierra, P Kent Mercker, P Ricky Bones, 3B Terry Pendleton.

He's Outta Here: OF Eric Davis, OF Kevin Mitchell, 3B Chris Sabo, P Lee Smith.

Worth Watching: Neon Deion returns to baseball after a year layoff. He's still fast and exciting, but can he hit?

HOUSTON ASTROS

Manager: Larry Dierker (1st season).

Training Town: Kissimmee, Fla.

Park: Osceola County Stadium.

Pitchers and Catchers Report: Feb. 14. Rest of Squad: Feb. 19.

He's Here: P Sid Fernandez, OF Luis Gonzalez, C Brad Ausmus, P Jose Lima, IF Pat Listach.

He's Outta Here: P Doug Drabek, P Todd Jones, P Doug Brocail, SS Orlando Miller, OF Brian Hunter, P Xavier Hernandez, C Kirt Manwaring, OF Derrick May.

Worth Watching: Could be an odd first camp under Dierker. The team's color commentator since 1979, he had never managed or coached when the Astros moved him from the broadcast booth to the dugout.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES

Manager: Gene Lamont (1st season).

Training Town: Bradenton, Fla.

Park: McKechnie Field.

Pitchers and Catchers Report: Feb. 13. Rest of Squad: Feb. 19.

He's Here: SS Kevin Elster, 3B Joe Randa.

He's Outta Here: SS Jay Bell, IF Jeff King, OF Orlando Merced, 2B Carlos Garcia, P Dan Plesac, P Dan Miceli.

Worth Watching: Another mass exodus in the offseason leaves Lamont short. This could be the season 24-year-old Jason Schmidt establishes himself in the rotation.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

Manager: Tony La Russa (2nd season).

Training Town: St. Petersburg, Fla.

Park: Al Lang Stadium.

Pitchers and Catchers Report: Feb. 15. Rest of Squad: Feb. 20.

He's Here: 2B Delino DeShields.

He's Outta Here: SS Ozzie Smith.

Worth Watching: With the Wizard's retirement, SS Royce Clayton and newcomer DeShields become the Cardinals' regular double-play combo. Does closer Dennis Eckersley still have the stuff at 42?

WEST

COLORADO ROCKIES

Manager: Don Baylor (5th season).

Training Town: Tucson, Ariz.

Park: Hi Corbett Field.

Pitchers and Catchers Report: Feb. 14. Rest of Squad: Feb. 19.

He's Here: C Kirt Manwaring.

He's Outta Here: P Bret Saberhagen.

Worth Watching: As always, the Rockies go on a spring search for pitching. Jamey Wright becomes a full-time starter at age 22.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Manager: Bill Russell (1st full season).

Training Town: Vero Beach, Fla.

Park: Holman Stadium.

Pitchers and Catchers Report: Feb. 15. Rest of Squad: Feb. 20.

He's Here: 3B Todd Zeile.

He's Outta Here: 2B Delino DeShields, 3B Mike Blowers, OF Chad Curtis, 3B Dave Hansen.

Worth Watching: Vero Beach won't be the same without Tom Lasorda scooting around camp in his golf cart. 2B Wilton Guerrero, who hit .344 at Triple-A, could become Dodgers' sixth straight NL rookie of the year.

SAN DIEGO PADRES

Manager: Bruce Bochy (3rd season)

Training Town: Peoria, Ariz.

Park: Peoria Stadium.

Pitchers and Catchers Report: Feb. 14. Rest of Squad: Feb. 19.

He's Here: 2B Quilvio Veras, P Sterling Hitchcock, C Don Slaught, P Joey Eischen.

He's Outta Here: P Scott Sanders, P Bob Tewksbury, C Brian Johnson, P Willie Blair, P Dustin Hermanson.

Worth Watching: Padres want to see how quickly NL MVP Ken Caminiti recovers from rotator cuff surgery. If he'll be ready shortly after opening day, extra OF Rickey Henderson may be traded.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

Manager: Dusty Baker (5th season).

Training Town: Scottsdale, Ariz.

Park: Scottsdale Stadium.

Pitchers and Catchers Report: Feb. 14. Rest of Squad: Feb. 20.

He's Here: OF Darryl Hamilton, 1B J.T. Snow, IF Jose Vizcaino, IF Jeff Kent, P Julian Tavarez, OF Darrin Jackson, P Doug Henry.

He's Outta Here: 3B Matt Williams, SS Shawon Dunston, 2B Robby Thompson, P Allen Watson.

Worth Watching: Hometown fans were not happy with the trade that sent Williams to Cleveland. Now, Giants look to rebuild entire infield.