Do Or Die Spring
It's Starting Spot Or Minors For Vogelsong
By John E. Sacco

He remains the lone potential salvation of Dave Littlefield's initial trade as the Pirates' GM in July 2001.

That alone puts pressure on pitcher Ryan Vogelsong.

Add in a lack of big-league success, continuing recovery from reconstructive elbow surgery and increasing competition on the pitching staff, and Vogelsong knows that this spring has become now or perhaps never for him as a Pirate.

He will compete for the No. 5 spot in the rotation against veteran free agent Rick Reed, Dave Williams, also recovering from injury, and Sean Burnett, the club's No. 1 pick in 2000.

I'm not really worried the competition, the right-handed Vogelsong said. I just have to get myself ready to go. As far as being confident, I really don't know yet. I guess I'll know after first week of spring training.

I'm going in there with the intent that I'm going to win a job. I don't have the luxury of coming in and knocking the rust off.I have to come in and be 100 percent ready. I think I am up for the challenge and going to give it a run. Physically and mentally I am better than I've ever been. My confidence has been down a little bit with everything going on.

The only job available to him is the fifth starter spot. Vogelsong won't be considered for the bullpen.

Working against him is the fact he has another minor-league option, which means the Pirates can shuttle him between AAA Nashville and Pittsburgh all season without exposing him to waivers.

At the end of last season and through most of the off-season, the Pirates and Vogelsong thought he was out of options, and if he didn't make the major-league roster this spring, he would have to be placed on waivers.

I think it's down to being a starter here or Nashville, Vogelsong said. When I got the option put back on me, it was a shock, It changes the scope now. Before if they didn't want me around, I would have been going to the wavier wire. Now, if they don't want me, it's Nashville again.

Vogelsong owns a 2-7 record in the majors in parts of three seasons with San Francisco and Pittsburgh. He was considered a prime prospect when Littlefield traded Jason Schmidt and John VanderWal to the Giants for him and Armando Rios, who injured his knee in his first game as a Pirate and never recovered.

Last season, a little more than one year removed from Tommy John surgery, Vogelsong performed well at Nashville but was unimpressive with the Pirates.

He was 2-2 for Pittsburgh with a 6.55 earned run average in six games and five starts.

Vogelsong was an integral part of the Sounds' staff, going 12-8 with a 4.29 ERA in 26 starts.

At 26, the prospect tag is quickly disappearing and his time for gaining a meaningful job with the Pirates is narrowing. He'll have his hands full overcoming Reed and Burnett.

I knew they were looking to bring some other guys in, Vogelsong said. I don't really care who is coming in. As long as I do what I can do, I should win the job.

Steelers' coaches and front office staff spent most of last month behind closed doors, meeting with coach Bill Cowher, director of football operations Kevin Colbert, team capologist Omar Khan and other top officials. The objectives included:

¥       Discovering what went wrong last season. Every play of the 16-game season was studied to determine if it was scheme or performance that misfired. Be assured that it was both.

¥       Finding out, and this is where Khan's number-crunching abilities are key, which players need to be kept, weeded out or added to an already bloated salary cap. Only a few weeks ago, the Steelers were nearly $5 million over the cap, according to figures obtained by ESPN.com. Only five other teams in the 32-team NFL were over the cap at that time.

¥       Identifying possible players the team might target in free agency, which starts March 3.

Who's Out There

Talk-show hosts and fans who don't have to worry about a salary cap want the Steelers to trade for players such as cornerback Champ Bailey, who rejected a nine-year, $55 million contract from the Washington Redskins and wants to become one of the highest-paid defensive players in the league. Bailey would clearly be the best player in almost any team's secondary, but investing in him might preclude the addition of other key elements, such as a top running back, pass rusher or offensive tackle. It can be argued that the Steelers need help at those positions more desperately than at cornerback. Most likely, considering their cap problems, the Steelers might have to settle for corners such as Antoine Winfield of Buffalo or Jason Webster of San Francisco, both of whom have been mentioned in conversations among Steelers' officials. If they want an affordable veteran tackle, the Miami Dolphins' Todd Wade or the Indianapolis Colts' Adam Meadows might be possibilities.

Speaking of pass rushers, the Steelers believe they can improve their situation at outside linebacker by releasing Jason Gildon and allowing unrestricted free agent Clark Haggans, who has made only four starts in four seasons, to test the market. If they reach free agency, defensive ends Bertrand Berry of Denver or Baltimore's Adalius Thomas could be moved to linebacker in Dick LeBeau's 3-4 scheme. Berry was fifth in the AFC last season with 11-1/2 sacks.

New Faces

Eight positions on the coaching staff will be manned by different people than were in place a year ago. Don't expect the team's philosophies to change dramatically, though. LeBeau still will run a 3-4 defense, maybe with more aggression, and new offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt will search for a good blend of passing and running.

But look for increased emphasis on the running game under Whisenhunt. When asked his offensive philosophy shortly after taking the job, Whisenhunt said, You mean besides the running the football?

Translation: If it's snowing in New Jersey this year when the Steelers play the New York Giants, don't expect Tommy Maddox to throw the football 38 times like he did last December.

John E. Sacco has covered the Pirates and major league baseball for PSR since October 1998. He previously covered the Pirates from 1986 to 1992 and is a former member of the Baseball Writers of America Association, Pittsburgh Chapter.