Hitters make adjustments against K-Rod

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 .