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COPYRIGHT 2003 Sporting News Publishing Co.
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS RHP Matt Mantei, returning to closer this year, is reviving his curveball and wants to make it an alternate second pitch. Mantei has been using a slider; now he wants to be able to test both pitches in warmups and pick one to complement his fastball.... RHP Byung-Hyun Kim has provided more evidence he can make the transition from reliever to starter. He needed just 42 pitches to go four scoreless innings against the Angels last week and worked with a good tempo ... RHP Bret Prinz has tweaked his mechanics, coiling more so the batter can see his back left pocket and keeping his weight moving forward. If RHP Mike Jackson makes the team as expected, Prinz could battle BHP Mike Koplove for the final bullpen spot.--Ed Price
ATLANTA BRAVES Manager Bobby Cox likely will use Robert Fick, Julio Franco and Matt Franco at first base, with the majority of at-bats going to Fick. The team hasn't had a regular first baseman since Andres Galarraga played 141 games in 2000. Fick was brought in to improve offensive production at the position.... 2B Marcus Giles' sore right ankle concerns the team more than it admits. Giles tweaked the same ankle he sprained last season, an injury that kept him out for nearly six weeks. Giles admits the ankle may hamper him all season.... Cox talks as though he already has decided rookie LHP Horacio Ramirez will be the fifth starter, but Cox swears no decision has been made in the battle among incumbent RHP Jason Marquis and challengers Ramirez, LHPs Jung Bong and Andy Pratt and RHP Trey Hodges, Ramirez has a hard fastball and a nasty slider that he throws at any count.--Bill Zack
CHICAGO CUBS 1B Hee Seop Choi has taken advantage of the opportunity he received while Eric Karros was nursing a back injury and a coldlike infection. Choi, who hits lefthanded, is making good contact and looks smooth in the field. The club was concerned about how he'd do against lefthanded pitching, but he has looked good against it. Choi has hit outside pitches to the opposite field with authority. The team wants to see how...
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