Healthy Field competing for bullpen spot

Friday, February 25, 2005

Associated Press

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Nate Field hurt when he laughed or coughed last August.

The Kansas City Royals' right-hander tore his left oblique in an outing at the Chicago White Sox and did not play for the rest of the season.

''I was miserable for three weeks. Everyday things I couldn't do,'' Field said.

Now, Field is competing for a spot in the Royals' bullpen. Kansas City likely will begin the season with a seven-man bullpen with the competition wide open for two to four spots.

Field, who made the Opening Day roster last year for the first time, is confident he will be among the seven.

''I don't see why not,'' he said. ''I think I was one of the important factors of the bullpen last year.''

Field was throwing off the mound the final week of the season, but the Royals decided not to rush him back into games and left him on the disabled list. He said the oblique is 100 percent for spring training.

''I'm ready to go,'' he said. ''I'm getting anxious. I've been out awhile.''

In 2004, Field was 2-3 with three saves and a 4.26 earned run average in 43 appearances. He led the American League in inherited runs scored percentage (14.3 percent), permitting only five of 35 inherited runners to score.

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