Los Angeles Dodgers: Dodgers right fielder Shawn Green put together a powerful batting practice display Saturday despite a sore left shoulder.

	Green

Green said the shoulder feels better than last year and he dismissed it as a nagging problem. He underwent an offseason MRI that revealed nothing more than tendinitis.

Green has participated in all the workouts except for throwing from the outfield.

He missed most of the first week of spring training games last year, but he doesn't expect to stay out that long this year. He might not play in Thursday's spring opener against the Detroit Tigers at Vero Beach.

"I don't consider him to be a guy I'm looking to rush out there on the first day anyway,'' Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said. "We're just making sure Shawn Green is ready to play on March 31. It's not about getting him ready to play the Detroit Tigers on Feb. 27.''

Green became the first player to hit the team's new two-story indoor training building behind Holman Stadium's fence in right center field Friday.

With the wind blowing out, he repeated the feat several times Saturday, including one drive that appeared to sail over the roof.

Dodgers vice president Craig Callan paced off the distance and estimated the building was 420 feet from home plate down the right field line. The distance to the building would be much further for a ball hit more toward right center.

"It's a good target,'' Green said. "I just have to try not to aim for it and change my approach. My approach is to hit it up the middle.''

Colorado Rockies: For most of the last two seasons, Larry Walker and Todd Helton have hit third and fourth, respectively, in the Rockies batting order.

	Helton

	Walker

While they've been a fearsome left-handed tandem, the Rockies have gone 73-89 both years, and manager Clint Hurdle isn't opposed to shaking things up in 2003.

Hurdle, who batted Helton third and Walker fourth on several occasions late last season, said he might do so on more occasions this year.

"I think throughout spring training we'll continue to dabble,'' Hurdle said Saturday. "I dabbled with it a little bit last year at the end just to take a different look at it. I think I learned some things about the two of them, of their abilities in the different roles. It will be something we continue to look at.

"Although our lack of offense really hasn't fallen into their laps, if we continue to do things the way we've always done them, I'm not so sure that's a positive either.''

Texas Rangers: Ugueth Urbina did not make it into the Rangers' training camp Saturday as expected because of travel delays.

	Urbina

"He reported he's still in flight,'' team spokesman John Blake said. "He will be here in the morning for workouts.''

Urbina, a two-time All-Star who signed a free-agent contract in December, has been spending the offseason at his home in strife-ridden Venezuela.

He is the only remaining player on the Rangers' 40-man roster not in camp.

Urbina was third in the American League last season with 40 saves for the Boston Red Sox. He converted 22 of his first 23 opportunities to be earn an All-Star berth. He appeared in a team-leading 61 games for Boston, striking out 71 batters in 60 innings.

The Rangers are looking for Urbina to be a solid contributor to a bullpen that lost a major league record 38 games in 2002. Texas finished last in the AL West for the third straight year.

San Francisco Giants: Felipe Alou is an old guy who got another chance. Andres Galarraga wants the same opportunity -- if Alou will help make it happen.

	Galarraga

At 41, Galarraga is fighting for a job with the Giants to be the backup to J.T. Snow at first base. The 17-year veteran's chances of making the defending NL champions' roster appear to be good, too.

San Francisco is an organization that likes experienced players, and Galarraga would provide a powerful right-handed bat off the bench. He spent last season in Montreal, but signed a minor league contract last month to return to the Giants.

Galarraga played the end of the 2001 season with San Francisco. He was one of the original Colorado Rockies, leaving the team in 1997 after five seasons in Denver.

The 67-year-old Alou has been a fan of Galarraga's for years.

The Expos almost released Galarraga -- a struggling third-base prospect -- 21 years ago when Alou fought for him.

"They were ready to let him go,'' said Alou, the Expos' Triple-A manager at the time. "I knew there was a Seattle scout waiting outside for us to release him, so he could sign him. I said he didn't have enough at-bats yet.''

Still, Galarraga will have to earn his spot. The 6-foot-3, 265-pound Galarraga hit .260 last season with nine home runs and 40 RBI in 104 games.

New York Yankees: Yankees designated hitter and first baseman Nick Johnson will undergo a bone scan Monday on his ailing left wrist.

	Johnson

Johnson has stopped taking batting practice because of the lingering injury. He did take grounders and threw during a workout Saturday.

"It's still sore,'' Johnson said. "I just want to figure out what it is and do whatever tests they need to figure this thing out.''

Johnson hurt the wrist last Aug. 7 while catching a line drive by Kansas City's Raul Ibanez. Johnson underwent an MRI on Thursday, and the team said Friday the results were negative.

"There was nothing different than his past MRIs,'' Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "The problem is, it hasn't gone away. Hopefully we can find out what it is and find the best way to go after it.''

Johnson, 24, hit .243 with 15 homers and 58 RBI in 129 games last season.

Anaheim Angels: Mickey Callaway, Anaheim's minor league player of the year in 2002, is vying for the opening in the rotation created by Aaron Sele's offseason shoulder surgery or a spot in the bullpen.

Callaway is out of options and cannot be returned to Triple A ball.

"It's either I make the team or I'm gone,'' he said Saturday. "I'm battling for any spot that they might offer. I'm in a decent situation. I'd like to stick around here. Of course, with us being world champions, it's going to be exciting around here.''

Callaway was 2-1 with a 4.19 ERA and made six starts last season, his first with the Angels.

Before joining the Angels, he was 9-2 with a 1.68 ERA in 14 starts at Triple A Salt Lake City last season.

Meanwhile, Anaheim pitchers threw for 10 minutes to hitters Saturday. Pitchers that were not scheduled to throw went through a 1.7-mile running course around the Tempe Buttes resort, which is on a mountain at the same complex as Diablo Stadium.

Several pitchers returned to the locker room out of breath, blaming the many inclines on the course. Pitchers will throw fastballs for 10 minutes every other day until Cactus League play begins next week. Pitchers not scheduled to throw do the running drills, similar to the Buttes' course.

New York Mets: Left-handed slugging first baseman Craig Brazell is putting on an impressive display of hitting for the Mets.

During live batting practice the 6-foot-3 Alabama native peppered the pines trees behind Field No. 5 with several home run balls.

The Mets are thin at first base with Mo Vaughn holding down the position. Both Ty Wigginton and Joe McEwing could play the spot if needed and the Mets recently signed switch-hitting Tony Clark to a minor league deal. They will also look at Clark in the corners of the outfield.

However, it's the 22-year-old Brazell who is drawing attention for hitting mammoth home runs on a daily basis.

"He needs to work on pitch recognition,'' Mets general manager Steve Phillips said after Brazell hit several balls into and onto the maintenance shed behind Field No. 4. "He only had 14 walks last year, but he can hit a baseball.''

Brazell played for both the St. Lucie and Binghamton affiliates last season and became the first Mets minor league player to drive in more than 100 runs since Chris Latham in 1996.

Brazell bats in the same group as Cliff Floyd on a daily basis and the veteran has been free with his time in educating the younger player.

All major leaguers like guys who can hit it out of the park,'' Phillips said. "Brazell can hit it out of the park.''