SARASOTA, Fla. - A large white board covers an entire wall in Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker's office and it lists all 63 players in camp.
Baker stares at it as if a superstar might come crashing through. "We have a whole wall full of guys who at one time were good players expected to be star-caliber players," Baker said. "You look at Jonny Gomes - he was almost rookie of the year. There is Jacque Jones, a star at USC and a big-time player at Minnesota just a couple of years ago.
"Look at Darnell McDonald - a firstround draft pick (Baltimore, 1997). Then there is Laynce Nix - he was a high-round draft pick (Rangers, fourth round, 2000).
"At any given time or day, they could play like they were touted," Baker said. "I keep looking for a guy like (Ryan) Ludwick - a No. 2 draft pick and highly touted and it took him a while, four or five organizations, then 'bam,' he got it.
Ludwick, drafted No. 2 by Oakland in 1998, bounced from the A's to Texas to Cleveland to St. Louis.
Cordero struggling
While Baker correctly points out that one week into the exhibition season is too early to make rash judgements, it is true that closer Francisco Cordero's three one-inning appearances have been laced with ugly pills - six runs, nine hits, one walk, five strikeouts.
"It's too early to worry," Baker said. "No need to worry about something that doesn't need worried about yet. If this is the last week of the preseason, then you're a little bit concerned."
Cordero finished last season with a sore ankle and Baker said, "It's better than it was at the end of the year. He's still hobbling a little bit, but he doesn't have any pain."
Gonzalez: Running with a funny gait
Even though things appear OK with shortstop Alex Gonzalez so far, he has yet to play in the field - the big challenge.
As Baker watched closely in Gonzalez's debut (as a designated hitter) Wednesday, March 4, "I noticed a funny gait as he ran to first base. He has to get it (his left knee surgery) out of his head. You tell guys to quit limping and it's like your mother telling you to quit scratching."
Gonzalez had two more at-bats Thursday as a DH (single, ground out), "And it was hot today so my knee felt even better," he said.
He'll get today off, then DH again Saturday, "And we'll see about getting him in the field - maybe early next week," Baker said.
Quote of the day
"The game is going to go back to speed in the poststeroids era." - Baker.
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