Spring Training Roundup

At West Palm Beach, Fla., the Atlanta Braves began fining shortstop Rafael Ramirez, who is late reporting to spring training because of what team officials call a “personal problem.”

Ramirez, who is still in his native Dominican Republic, was officially due in camp Friday. He had been telling team officials that his wife was having problems getting a visa to leave the country with him, but he called Sunday night and explained the real problem, officials said.

“It’s a minor thing, but it’s a jam that he got himself into, and for that reason we are going to take disciplinary action,” Braves General Manager John Mullen said. “He belongs here, at spring training, with his teammates.”

Mullen declined to be specific about Ramirez’s problem, but he said it does not involve drugs. Ramirez was to meet Monday with a lawyer at Santo Domingo in an attempt to work out the problem.

In other news from the Braves’ camp, slugging third baseman Bob Horner, coming back from wrist surgery, took batting practice for the second straight day. He reported no pain in Monday’s workout, and no stiffness from Sunday, when he hit for the first time since last May.

Pitcher Steve Bedrosian, bothered with a sore right shoulder since reporting to camp, pitched off the mound for the second straight day, and he, too, reported no pain.

At Winter Haven, Fla., Boston Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens signed a one-year contract, four days before the team’s exhibition opener against the Detroit Tigers.

General Manager Lou Gorman met with Clemens’ agent, Alan Hendricks, and agreed to a one-year deal for a reported $130,000 to $140,000, with $40,000 in incentives. Clemens was 9-4 as a rookie last year with 126 strikeouts in 133 innings.

Dennis Boyd remains unsigned, but his contract is expected to be renewed today.

At Sarasota, Fla., Julio Cruz ran for the first time since his arthroscopic knee surgery two weeks ago. Cruz said he ran a couple of times around the park in the continuing rehabilitation of his left knee. He also had off-season surgery on his right big toe to remove calcium deposits.

“I had no pain, just a little stiffness when I first started,” said Cruz, who has been riding a stationary bicycle and lifting weights for more than a week.

But doctors say Cruz is another two to four weeks away from being ready. The White Sox play their first exhibition game on Friday and open their season April 9 in Milwaukee.

Meanwhile, starting pitcher Cliff Speck is expected to undergo surgery to have bone chips removed from his right elbow. He was 12-11 at Denver of the Triple-A American Assn. last season.

At Scottsdale, Ariz., relief pitcher Frank Williams signed a two-year contract with the San Francisco Giants. Williams, a 27-year-old right-hander, had a 9-4 record last year with three saves and an ERA of 3.55.

Salary terms were not disclosed.

Only two players remain unsigned, catcher--utilityman Johnny Rabb and rookie outfielder Alex Sanchez.

At St. Petersburg, Fla., New York Mets Manager Dave Johnson hinted that veteran right-hander Ed Lynch may be earning a job in the team’s starting rotation.

“The pitcher I like this spring more than I did last spring is Lynch,” Johnson said. “He is throwing hard, has good movement and good command of his pitches.”

Johnson also cited left-handed rookie Randy Myers as having had an impressive early spring showing. Myers, along with Calvin Schiraldi, Roger McDowell and Rick Aguilar, is one of the pitchers Johnson is considering for steady work in May or June, when he increases his staff from nine to 10 pitchers.

At Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the New York Yankees were dealt their first injuries of the spring, although neither of them is considered serious.

Dave Winfield, the Yankees’ right fielder, showed up at camp complaining of pain in his lower back that was later diagnosed as muscle spasms. He missed Monday’s workout and is expected to miss today’s as well.

At the same time, right-hander Rich Bordi, who is a candidate for Jay Howell’s vacated role as “setup man” for Dave Righetti, has been sidelined for a few days with a strained muscle in his buttocks’ area.

At West Palm Beach, Fla., Montreal outfielder Miguel Dilone and third baseman Tim Wallach worked out, leaving only John Dopson missing from the Expos’ spring training camp.

Dilone was six days late reporting to the club after running into visa problems in his native Dominican Republic. The base running specialist was escorted to West Palm Beach by Montreal’s Dominican scout Jesus Alou.

Wallach limited his activity to jogging. He missed three days practice and lost seven pounds after having his wisdom teeth removed Thursday.