After Seven Silent Months, We’re Talkin’ Baseball Again

Granted, the talent dump by the Montreal Expos and the Kansas City Royals was symptomatic of the problems of baseball.

OK, so it stinks that small-market clubs are at a disadvantage, their windows of opportunity much smaller and their capability to rebuild reduced, in relation to the big- market brethren.

But what fun. How great to be discussing transactions instead of luxury taxes again, and there was so much to talk about.

In a way, this week-long swap meet was the best thing for baseball. It put the game back in the news, gave fans another reason to ignore Bud Selig and Don Fehr, got everybody excited again.Best to worry about that other stuff later.

Nomo delights Dodgers

At Vero Beach, Calif., Hideo Nomo, the former pitching star of the Japanese Pacific League, faced major-league batters for the first time Saturday and retired all six during an intrasquad game for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Nomo, 26, who signed a minor-league contract with the Dodgers in February and received a reported $2 million signing bonus, struck out two and allowed and only one ball out of the infield.

Naturally, Nomo’s unorthodox windup, in which he stops and starts, and at one point has his back completely to the batter, got plenty of attention.

Remarked strikout victim Carlos Hernandez: “I didn’t know if he was going to throw it into center field or to home plate.”

A svelte Sheffield

For the first time in his life, Florida Marlins right fielder Gary Sheffield is lifting weights and improving his eating habits. He cut beef and pork from his diet, employed two personal trainers and took up aerobics, and added 10 pounds of muscle. “He’s amazing,” said Marlins first baseman Greg Colbrunn. “To get that strong and have that much bat speed. He could be scary this year.”

Ode to Doc

The New York Mets have left two lockers open in the corner of their clubhouse, lockers that used to be home to Dwight Gooden, who is suspended from baseball because he tested positive for drugs.

“In my mind, Doc should be here,” said third baseman Bobby Bonilla. “He’s the only thing missing. I’m sure Joe McIlvaine will give him the benefit of the doubt. He didn’t kill anybody. He’s getting himself together.”

Lee Smith takes it easy

Reliever Lee Smith, expressing confusion over where he was supposed to be and when he was supposed to be there, arrived one day late at the California Angels’ spring training camp.

“So tell me, how late am I?” Smith asked as he pulled on an Angels uniform for the first time.

Told that he was scheduled to pitch batting practice 24 hours earlier, baseball’s career saves leader joked, “Well, tell them I’ll throw extra-long today - two extra pitches.”

Smith, called “The Big Easy” and known for his long, slow strolls in from the bullpen, took some good-natured ribbing from his new teammates.

Still, he insisted that he was never told when to report, or even the location of the Angels’ camp.

He first went to Tempe Diablo Stadium, where a Native American Pow Wow was being held. The field was covered with teepees.

“I looked at that,” Smith said, “and thought, ‘They ain’t going to play baseball on this thing.”’

He finally found out the Angels had moved temporarily to Gene Autry Park in Mesa, Ariz.

Diamond dust

Expos general manager Kevin Malone, the day before he began trading the core of his roster: “The best bet in Vegas right now is that we’ll have the lowest payroll in baseball.”… St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Ozzie Smith may return for 1996. “I’ve said I wanted to get to 2,500 hits, no matter how long it would take,” said Smith, who needs 135 to reach that mark… . One who may never play another game is Philadelphia Phillies first baseman John Kruk, who makes it clear he does not miss spring training. “I’ve always thought it was kind of worthless,” he said. “I’m just kind of here waiting. I’m watching the O.J. trial. Do I miss (Philly third base coach) Larry Bowa yelling at me and dragging my butt onto the AstroTurf field? No. Do I miss everyone getting on me when I come in a little overweight? No.”