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Cards■ Continued from Page C-1(Lance) Painter in the spots they belong in. It’s just going to make them that much better.”For now, however, Juan Acevedo will be the closer.Bottalico, 29, is expected to be the set-up man for Acevedo. Bottalico, a right-hander, is coming off elbow surgery and was 1-5 with a 6.44 ERA and six saves last season. Bottalico, who makes $2.2 million and is eligible for arbitration after the 1999 season, was one of the dominant closers in the league in 1996 and ’97 when he collected 34 saves in each season. In those two fine campaigns, he struck out 163 batters in 141 2/3 innings.Radinsky, 30, also will bolster the bullpen. He was 6-6 with 13 saves and a 2.63 ERA last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He signed a two-year, $5 million contractwith St. Louis holding the option for the third season. Radinsky just got back from a tour of Europe with his rock band, Pulley.Both said they are happy to be with the Cardinals. They both plan on going to spring training in February and battling for the closer’s role. But they said they could be set-up men as well.“As Scott said. I’m happy to be playing in St. Louis,” Bottalico said. “I could have gotten traded to a lot of other teams in this league but there’s no other organization I'd rather come to than St Louis. The main thing is I'm proud to be a St. Louis Cardinal.No matter what way I’m used, I’m proud to be in that bullpen with Scott and Juan Acevedo and Lance Painter and the rest. I'm looking forward to having a good yearand proving to everybody and myself that I’m coming back from this surgery last year and have a good year.”Radinsky has recovered from cancer. He was diagnosed with Hodgkins disease in 1994 and missed that season. In the past three years with the Dodgers, he has gone 16-8 overall with a 2.65 ERA. He has 17 saves over that span.I don't see myself as purely as set-up man,” Radinsky said. “Once you’ve been a closer, that’s what you want to do. But most winning teams have a couple of guys that can get you the saves. 1 can do more than just pitch to left-handed batters.“Pm coming in to spring training with the idea of battling for the closer’s role and seeing what happens. Any way it works out will be fine with me.”
Newspaper Details
Alton Telegraph
Alton, Illinois, US
Wed, Dec 02, 1998
Page 26
Full Page
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Anonymous
MD, USA 28 Jul 2024
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