www.whittierdailynews.com120351220648,00.html 3/5/2003 By Gabe Lacques , Staff Writer

Even though he has pitched just two innings this spring and has thrown less than 20 pitches, Francisco Rodriguez can sense a different mentality from opposing hitters.

In short, that mentality is to attack before Rodriguez has the count is in his favor.

"If a hitter goes deep into a count with me, he's in trouble,' Rodriguez said Tuesday after throwing a scoreless inning in the Angels' 5-4 loss to the Chicago Cubs at HoHoKam Park. "I'm going to attack him. So these guys are being aggressive, swinging early in the count. I'm trying to go after them and be aggressive. I have to attack.'

The result has been two lightning-quick outings. Tuesday, Rodriguez retired the side on just five pitches even though Corey Patterson reached on a wild pitch after striking out. Rodriguez induced a double-play ball from Nic Jackson to end the inning, then called it a day.

After two spring training outings, Rodriguez's line looks like this: Two innings pitched, no hits, no runs and just 17 pitches.

Tuesday's outing was so brief, Rodriguez didn't have a chance to work on a changeup he hopes to develop to go along with his more established fastball and slider.

Rodriguez pitched just four innings of winter ball because of political unrest in Venezuela, but he said his arm feels lively. He's only concerned with fine-tuning his mechanics this spring. He also said he's not taking anything for granted, even in the wake of his record-setting five- win performance last October.

"I'm not sure I'm making the team, so I'm working hard on that,' he said. "I've told you guys before, what I did is in the past.'

Pitching coach Bud Black is pretty sure Rodriguez will make the club. He also said when a pitcher is as talented and competitive as Rodriguez, outings tend to be over before he can work on supplementary pitches, especially when the word is out about the Angels' 21-year-old talent.

"That's his competitive nature coming out,' Black said. "I'd want to hit as early (in the count) as I could against Frankie, too.'

It seems likely pitcher Jarrod Washburn will be able to make his opening night assignment. Washburn originally said the Grade 1 sprain of his AC joint he suffered Monday would sideline him a week to 10 days, but he said Tuesday he could be throwing off a mound sooner than that.

Doctors told Washburn the pain in his shoulder would be worse the next morning. But he woke up Tuesday and discovered the shoulder actually felt better.

"Maybe I'll come in (today) and all the pain will be gone,' he said.

That might be wishful thinking. But even if Washburn can't throw off a mound for a week, as was originally believed, he said he would need only two weeks to build up sufficient arm strength to make a start in a regular-season game. If Washburn returns Monday, he will have 20 days to get ready for opening night.

Washburn also made sure to absolve reliever Brendan Donnelly of any blame for his injury. Washburn fell on his shoulder trying to avoid a collision with Donnelly in a fielding drill; Washburn was actually the baserunner on the play.

"He has nothing to feel bad about,' Washburn said. "He didn't have anything to do with it.'

The Cubs won Tuesday's game on Augie Ojeda's sacrifice fly off Mark Lukasiewicz in the bottom of the ninth inning. Starter Kevin Appier, who threw three scoreless innings, escaped the first inning unscathed despite giving up three hits and a walk. Appier allowed just one baserunner after that.

Fifth-starter candidate Matt Wise gave up a two-run home run to David Kelton but nothing else in three innings. Robb Quinlan hit a three- run homer for the Angels. Former USC standout Mark Prior looked sharp in a three-inning, one-hit, two-strikeout stint for the Cubs.

Tim Salmon, easing his way into shape after off-season knee surgery, was scheduled to bat in a simulated game Tuesday ... Catchers Jason Hill and Jared Abruzzo and infielder Dallas McPherson were sent to minor league camp. McPherson needs treatment on his back and is not expected to return. Hill has a shoulder injury and will return to big league camp.

Gabe Lacques can be reached at (626) 962-8811, Ext. 2239, or by e-mail at gabe.lacques@sgvn.com .

reuters.com Wed March 5, 2003 02:43 AM ET By Tanya Pang

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices firmed further on Wednesday, looking to key data on U.S. fuel stockpiles to drive direction in the short-term as the United Nations continued to debate possible war in Iraq.

Brokers said another bombing in the Philippines injected fresh uncertainty into the market along with news that members of the Russian business community in Iraq were leaving.

U.S. light crude CLc1 traded 32 cents higher to $37.21 a barrel after Tuesday's $1.01 rally in New York.

"Although there is no direct link with the Philippines and oil, people are taking the bombings as an overall rise in terror tensions and an area of concern," said analyst Lawrence Eagles at brokers GNI-Man in London.

"News that Russian families are pulling out of Iraq has also raised expectations of a step closer to war. But the U.S. data will dominate today," he said.

Police said a home-made bomb exploded in the southern Philippine city of Cotabato on Wednesday, a day after a bomb attack killed 21 people at an airport to the east, which military officials blamed on the Muslim separatist group the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The MILF denied any involvement.

U.S. crude has swung in a wide range of more than $4.50 in the last five trading days after touching a 12-year peak at $39.99 on February 27, and is about 20 percent higher then at the start of the year.

The prospect of a war in oil exporter Iraq comes at a time when crude stocks in the United States are hovering at low levels not seen since the mid-1970s, increasing anxiety that the world's biggest oil consumer may face a supply crunch.

Apart from lower sales from strike-bound Venezuela, which normally supplies 13 percent of U.S. imports, traders fear war in Iraq may disrupt supplies from other producers in the Middle East, which pumps about 40 percent of globally traded crude oil.

OPEC REASSURES

The OPEC producers cartel has sent reassurances to the market that it will cover any shortfall to world supplies should a military attack on Iraq disrupt its crude exports of roughly two million barrels per day.

But traders and analysts say that most members of the Middle East-dominated group are already pumping at full tilt and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has little spare capacity to utilize, except kingpin producer Saudi Arabia.

"We're looking for crude to move above $40 when the attack is launched on Iraq. Even if OPEC does increase production we still see supplies remaining tight," said Tetsu Emori, chief strategist at Mitsui Bussan Futures in Tokyo.

The U.S. government Energy Information Administration (EIA) will release later on Wednesday its weekly status report on the health of U.S. fuel stocks. Analysts predict crude supplies will increase slightly but winter heating oil stocks will fall.

In a Reuters poll, six analysts forecast U.S. crude inventories to show a rise of 1.25 million barrels as Saudi Arabia bumped up imports to its ally.

The survey showed stocks of distillates, including heating oil, falling by two million barrels with demand still running high as a severe spell of unusually cold temperatures continued.

Heating oil stocks fell below 100 million barrels last week for the first time in three years, EIA data showed.

Analysts pegged gasoline tanks declining by 500,000 barrels.

MORE TROOPS TO GULF

The United States ordered 60,000 more troops into the Gulf region on Tuesday in its preparations for a military strike on Iraq, which it says is not in full compliance with U.N. demands to disarm weapons of mass destruction.

The United States and Britain has already amassed a 250,000-strong force in the region.

Secretary of State Colin Powell said Washington was gaining support on the U.N. Security Council for a new resolution against Iraq, which at the weekend began to destroy its illegal al-Samoud 2 missiles.

Washington, backed by Britain and Spain, is meeting resistance for a new U.N. resolution permitting military force from Russia, France, China and Germany.

The Interfax news agency on Wednesday quoted a Russian diplomat in Baghdad as saying that about 150 members of the Russian business community in Iraq were flying out.

U.S. preparations hit a snag at the weekend when Turkey's parliament voted against the deployment of U.S. troops on its soil, which would have given access to northern Iraq.

Turkey's government said on Tuesday it was considering a second try at winning parliamentary approval.

www.stjoenews-press.com Wednesday, March 05, 2003 By KEN NEWTON kenn@npgco.com

On a cold day, the news from Washington warmed some low-income families in Missouri.

The Bush administration on Tuesday released $150 million for home-heating assistance. The allotment included $1.85 million for Missouri.

Funds from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program have helped about 1,500 families in Buchanan County, said Pat Niland, Division of Family Services income-maintenance supervisor in St. Joseph.

The program helps eligible families pay for heating and insulating their homes in the winter. They can get one subsidy per heating season, Ms. Niland said, with the amount dependent on household size, income and source of heat.

“Some folks are being threatened with shutoff, and others are not,” she said.

Missouri’s Cold Weather Rule, adopted by the state’s Public Service Commission in 1977, helps protect families having trouble paying their home energy bills. Between Nov. 1 and March 31, utilities under PSC jurisdiction can not shut off service on a day when the temperature is expected to be below 30 degrees.

Tuesday’s release of program funding was the second this year. In January, the administration turned over to states $200 million in emergency funds, $2.96 million of which came to Missouri.

“It’s always good news when we have a release of that money,” PSC Chairman Kelvin Simmons said Tuesday.

Mr. Simmons said that as early as last April, the PSC believed that the situation in the Middle East and political turmoil in Venezuela could push higher the costs of natural gas. This spike in heating costs would put a greater burden on low-income families.

“The only saving grace now is that we’re getting some warmer weather,” he said. “It would be a different story if this were November instead of March.”

Paul Snider, a spokesman for Missouri Gas Energy in St. Joseph, said recent warm winters and one heating season of extraordinarily high gas prices makes it hard to fully gauge the need for assistance this year.

But, he noted, the release of federal money is welcome to those who take advantage of the program.

“It will be put to good use,” he said.

Those interested in the program can call the local Division of Family Services office at (816) 387-2000, or the state office at (800) 392-1261.

www.sun-herald.com By CHRIS CURRY Staff Writer 03/05/03

Based on a spike in fuel costs, the state agency which regulates utilities approved a rate increase for Florida's three largest electric companies Tuesday. The Florida Public Service Commission will reconsider the mid-year fuel adjustment, at its regular fuel hearings in November.

"You have the largest oil strike ever in Venezuela, unusual cold weather in North America and Canada increasing demand for natural gas and the threat of war in the Middle East," PSC spokesperson Kevin Bloom said. "You put all those together, the rate adjustment was unavoidable."

Under the changes, which begin in the April billing period, Florida Power & Light residential customers, including those in Charlotte and Sarasota counties, will see a $4.75 increase from $76.85 to $81.60 for every 1,000 kilowatt hours of use. FPL commercial rates will increase 7.3 percent and industrial rates will rise 11.6 percent. Customers with Progress Energy Florida and the Tampa Electric Co. will also see rate increases.

Bloom said under state law, utility companies operate under a "straight pass-through" system and cannot make a profit.

"If during the year, the cost projections drop back down, than customers will see a refund in November," he said.

But if costs rise higher, the PSC will likely need to raise rates again at the November meeting.

Florida Public Counsel Jack Shreve, the state's advocate for all utility customers said if costs drop, the PSC should not wait until November to lower rates.

"If prices were to turn around and come down, we should turn around and get the rates down for the customers as quickly as we got them up for the companies," Shreve said. "But we don't know exactly what's going to happen. Right now, costs are significantly up all the way around and they may stay that way until we have some change in world affairs."

FPL spokesman Bill Swank said the utility's rates were highest in April 2001, when tension in the Middle East contributed to a rise to $87.98 for every 1,000 kilowatts per hour.

"We're hoping to see fuel prices go back down again," Swank said. "We understand it's real frustrating to see not only gas prices go up but electric prices as well."

Swank said since November, FPL has seen an 8-percent rise in oil prices and a 16-percent spike in the cost of natural gas. He said the company offers a number of billing and conservation options for customers, including a program which levels customer bills over a 12-month span so they do not feel the financial burden from increased use in the summer and winter months. The company also offers customers energy audits to determine if they are wasting electricity. More information on the programs can be found on the computer at www.fpl.com

FPL serves 4 million accounts in the state and approximately 8 million people.

www.tcpalm.com By David Royse The Associated Press March 5, 2003

TALLAHASSEE -- The state's three largest utilities, Progress Energy, FPL, and Tampa Electric, won approval Tuesday to increase rates to account for rising fuel costs.

Under the changes approved by the Public Service Commission, the state's utilities regulator, Florida Power & Light Co. customers would see the biggest increase, about $4.75 to make an average monthly FPL residential bill $81.60.

The increase passes higher prices for natural gas and oil on to consumers. The companies' profits won't increase because of it.

The utilities cited a cold winter in the north and a slow down in natural gas production for a spike in gas prices. They also cited rising fuel oil costs because of concerns about supply caused by an oil workers' strike in Venezuela and tension in the Middle East.

The average residential customer of Progress Energy would see their monthly bill increase by $3.36 to about $83.71.

Tampa Electric customers would see their bill go up by $4.46 on average, to $94.14 a month.

The increases will take effect next month.

Public Counsel Jack Shreve, who represents consumers before the PSC, and a coalition of large power customers, the Florida Industrial Power Users Group, both said they understood the rising cost of fuel and the need to pass the cost on. Both also urged the PSC to closely monitor fuel prices and quickly require the companies to adjust rates downward again when prices go down.

Last year, Progress and FPL both lowered rates as energy prices fell.

FPL serves 3.8 million customers in Florida, including much of South Florida and central Florida and nearly the entire east coast of the state.

Progress has 4.1 million Florida customers, with its major service areas being in the St. Petersburg area and the Orlando suburbs.

Tampa Electric serves 600,000 customers in Hillsborough County and parts of Pasco, Pinellas and Polk counties.