— White Sox first-base coach Ed Brinkman, 45, will undergo triple-bypass heart surgery Tuesday at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. During a check-up Saturday, doctors discovered blockage in three arteries leading to the heart. Doctors said it`s still too early to determine how much of the season Brinkman will miss. Manager Jim Fregosi said that either Art Kusnyer or Dyar Miller will replace Brinkman in the first-base coaching box.
”They both have experience there,” Fregosi said.
— The high expectations for rookie outfielder Rafael Palmeiro are not confined to the Cubs` front office. Palmeiro has been named the top rookie prospect by ”Baseball America” newspaper in its preseason look at the top 16 rookies.
Palmeiro, projected to be the Cubs` starting left-fielder, hit .306 with a league-leading 95 RBIs at Pittsfield of the Class AA Eastern League last season. Called up to the Cubs last September, he hit .247 with 3 home runs and 12 RBIs in 22 games.
Sox right-handed reliever Bobby Thigpen, 2-0 with a 1.77 earned-run average with the Sox last year, was also on the list–he was the No. 3 choice. San Diego catcher Benito Santiago was the No. 2 choice and Phillies pitcher Marvin Freeman, a Chicago native, was No. 16.
— Hall-of-Fame broadcaster Jack Brickhouse has mixed feelings about subbing for the ailing Harry Caray on WGN`s Cactus League telecasts.
”I hope this turns out to be the most temporary job I ever had,” said Brickhouse. ”If Harry walks into the stadium in the third inning of the first game, I`ll be the happiest man in the world. Harry is a good friend and it is not any fun taking the place of Harry under these circumstances.”
— Pitchers for the Cubs against Arizona State in Wednesday`s exhibition will be rookies Carl Hamilton, Lester Lancaster, Jackie Davidson, George Mecerod and Drew Hall. Each will throw two innings, except Hall, who will work one.
— Scout Hugh Alexander of the Cubs said he has talked with several teams training in Florida about trade possibilities. ”I talked to (Phillies president) Bill Giles a week ago and had some coffee with him, and he said he had Gary Redus available. I told him we have 10 or 12 outfielders already in camp,” said Alexander.
”I talked to (Mets GM) Frank Cashen over in St. Petersburg. He`s always looking for pitchers. Then I talked to Whitey Herzog in the Cardinals`
complex. He said he`s still looking for a third baseman, if they can find the right trade.”
— Among the several coaching changes by the Cubs this season includes the shift of Johnny Oates from the bullpen to the dugout. ”Johnny Oates will make the changes in the lineup from the dugout,” said Michael. ”He`ll make suggestions to me during the game. And I want (pitching coach) Herm Starrette right next to me during the game.”
