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Sunday, March 24, 2002

By Robert Dvorchak, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

On the day he learned he would be pitching in the bullpen, Sean Lowe notched his first save of the spring by recording the final six outs in the Pirates' 5-4 win against the Texas Rangers yesterday at Port Charlotte.

"I don't care where I pitch just as long as I get to," Lowe said. "It's whatever they feel is best for the team, whether it's me or not. I'm not going to hang my head. It's not that big a deal to me."

Lowe's versatility was one reason he was chosen as a reliever. He was 4-4 with a 4.46 ERA as a starter and 5-0 with a 2.69 ERA and three saves as a reliever last year with the Chicago White Sox.

"We like what Lowe has done. I think he's more capable of doing a tremendous job out of the bullpen," Manager Lloyd McClendon said. "Certainly, he's disappointed [about not starting]. But he's a team player. He's going to be a tremendous asset to this organization, hopefully, for years to come."

General Manager Dave Littlefield said, "It's nice to have that type of versatility on your staff."

The bullpen picture is much clearer, but some decisions will have to be made when the 25-man roster is set next Sunday.

Mike Williams is the closer, with right-handers Lowe, Brian Boehringer and Mike Fetters set along with left-handers Scott Sauerbeck and Joe Beimel.

If the Pirates elect to start the season with 11 pitchers, the final spot comes down to left-hander Damaso Marte and right-handers Tony McKnight and Mike Lincoln. Marte and McKnight are out of options.

Josias Manzanillo won't be able to pitch in a major-league game until May 1. In his first game action of the spring, he threw in a minor-league game at Pirate City yesterday.

"Right now, it's hard for him to take innings away from guys who are going to be there. He's not going to be there for another month," McClendon said.

Josh Fogg, who made the starting rotation, allowed a two-run home run to Carl Everett and solo home runs to Alex Rodriguez and Juan Gonzalez, but the bullpen did not allow the Rangers a hit.

Aramis Ramirez had a four-hit game, including a solo home run and a two-run double. The double came with the bases loaded and never made it out of the infield; the ball glanced off pitcher Kenny Rogers' leg and caromed into the dugout.

Kevin Young's solo home run in the seventh, his first homer since he hit a grand slam in the exhibition opener, produced the winning run.

In the final week of spring training, the games have taken on a different look.

"It's time. From this point out, it's game operation, full speed," McClendon said. "You build up toward the start of the season. I think that engine's starting to turn, and guys are getting excited."

Right field unsettled

With opening day a week away, the Pirates' lineup seems set with Young at first, Pokey Reese at second, Jack Wilson at short, Ramirez at third, Jason Kendall catching, Brian Giles in left and Adrian Brown in center. Right field remains a question, however. Derek Bell is injured, Armando Rios is coming off knee surgery, and Craig Wilson has been pushing for more at-bats.

"Right now, I would probably say, no, we're not going to have an everyday right fielder," McClendon said. "We're probably going to have a platoon situation. But that's not to say somebody can't step up and say the job is mine. I love to have that. I'd love to run eight guys out there every day.

"One of the things that really killed me last year was people making this big deal about me using so many lineups. What do you want me to do? It isn't like we had the '62 Yankees out there."

The Pirates have seven infielders and seven outfielders in camp. One of the questions to be answered this week involves infielder Pat Meares.

"We still have tough decisions to make," McClendon said. "The bottom line is we make our decisions based on what's best for the team."