Relievers exceeding expectations

Three major league castoffs have made an early impression.
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates invited eight relievers with major-league experience to camp on tryout contracts, hoping one or two might surprise them.
So far, their expectations have been exceeded, especially for Scott Strickland, Terry Adams and Brandon Duckworth.
Strickland, still battling back after elbow surgery in 2003, has pitched five innings this spring without allowing a run or hit. He has faced one batter above the minimum. Adams, who left the Philadelphia Phillies in July after being demoted to Triple-A, has pitched three innings and given up only a walk.
And Duckworth, a Houston Astros farmhand most of last season, has been impressive enough to warrant surprising consideration for starting duty. He has allowed one run in five innings while striking out seven.
"No question there's a lot of pitching here," Pittsburgh manager Jim Tracy said. "And we're keeping an open mind to everything we see."
Coming back from surgery
Strickland, 29, pitched five years with the Montreal Expos and New York Mets, all with a 3.60 or lower ERA. But reconstructive elbow surgery in 2003 derailed his career, and it was not until September that he made it back to the majors with Houston. There is no lingering effect from the surgery, he said.
"It took two years, and there were some tears," Strickland said. "You never know if you're going to be one of those guys who never makes it back. But I made it. I'm back. I'm healthy. And I know we've got a couple spots open, so I just have to get people out."
Adams, 33, has a 51-62 career record with a 4.17 ERA, but he went 0-2 with a 12.63 ERA for the Phillies last season.
"Last year was the first one where I really struggled," Adams said. "I'm determined to make it back."
He spent 2001 under Tracy in Los Angeles, which could help.
Struggled with Astros
Duckworth, 30, was a touted prospect early in his career with the Phillies, but made only seven appearances with Houston last year and was 8-6 in 19 starts for Triple-A Round Rock.
"The past two years, I just haven't been given any innings," Duckworth said. "I was just kind of the emergency guy. That's tough for anybody."
Duckworth was thrown into the rotation mix after the Pirates knew Kip Wells would need blood-clot surgery and miss the opening of the season.
Giovanni Carrara, 37, is another reliever on a minor-league contract expected to challenge for a roster spot. He is representing Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.
"It's going to be interesting, I think," Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield said. "There will be a few guys who will pop out of this thing. It's hard to say who it's going to be."
Notes
Shortstop Jack Wilson made his first appearance of the spring in the Pirates' exhibition Friday against the Minnesota Twins. He missed the first nine games because he had a wisdom tooth removed March 1. ... Reliever Roberto Hernandez, slowed by a sore shoulder, threw his first batting practice of the spring Friday and could pitch in an exhibition Sunday or Monday. ... The Pirates will face Curt Schilling today when the Boston Red Sox visit them in Bradenton, Fla.
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