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Wednesday, March 1, 2000
Slim, trim Fetters
is on mission
The 35-year-old veteran aims
By John Nadel
to land a spot on the Dodgers'
pitching staff
Associated PressVERO BEACH, Fla. -- The belly is mostly gone, and thanks to surgery, the sinker has returned. Mike Fetters believes that combination is going to help him become a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In fact, the former Iolani pitcher was able to smile yesterday despite straining a left quadriceps muscle in an intrasquad game, an injury that figures to keep him on the sidelines for at least a few days.
"I came into camp in the best shape of my life," said Fetters, a 35-year-old right-hander who signed a minor league contract with the Dodgers in December and is at spring training as a non-roster player.
"This thing ain't going to stop me, I won't let it.
"I came here for one reason -- to be a Dodger. I won't settle for anything less."
When asked if he would be cautious in returning to action, Fetters replied, "I'm not guarding against anything, I'm trying to make the ballclub. I've got to be smart about the way I handle things, but I'll do whatever they ask me to do. I think it will only be a couple days."
Fetters had 32 saves with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1996, but has been mostly ineffective since with Milwaukee, Oakland, Anaheim and Baltimore.
But he said he's a new man since having six bone chips and two bone spurs removed from his right elbow last June.
