By Bob Hohler
Boston
2/20/2003
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Shea Hillenbrand on Easy Street? Not since he can remember. Not when the Red Sox plunked down a measly $25,000 in 1996 to sign him out of Mesa (Ariz.) Community College. Not when he arrived in camp two years ago like a refugee, hoping to somehow find a home as a catcher, first baseman, third baseman, outfielder, or designated hitter. Not even last year, when former manager Joe Kerrigan warned him after a promising rookie season that he could lose his third base job if he failed to report in shape -- an ultimatum he never understood since he is a fitness fanatic.
Yet again, Hillenbrand yesterday reported to spring training as if he were headed for a back-alley brawl instead of Easy Street. Seven months after he was introduced as the American League's starting third baseman in the All-Star Game, Hillenbrand found himself battling to keep his job against a newly signed veteran, Bill Mueller, whose glove and .370 career on-base percentage tantalize the Sox brass.
Looming even larger perhaps is the possibility that Hillenbrand will be gone by Opening Day, traded for a top pitching prospect.
A tad awkward for an incumbent All-Star who recently bought his first home in Massachusetts, on the South Shore, and felt financially secure enough for the first time this winter to enroll in Nomar Garciaparra's pricey offseason fitness program?
''Let me ask you a question,'' Hillenbrand said. ''Has it been any different my whole career? Haven't I had to fight my whole career? No, this is not awkward. This is not uncharted territory for me.''
This is Chez Shea. In his house, you do what it takes to survive, from keeping the organization's sports psychologist on speed dial to cold-calling general manager Theo Epstein to sell yourself. Though his production sagged in the second half, Hillenbrand hit .293 with 18 homers and 83 RBIs last year and became the first Sox third baseman to start an All-Star Game since Wade Boggs in 1992. His 43 doubles would have led the team most years, except Garciaparra hit 56, a major league record for shortstops.
''I wanted to make a point to Theo that I've only reached about 60 percent of my potential,'' Hillenbrand said. ''I don't know if the organization knows that.''
The organization knows Hillenbrand has made remarkable strides since he jumped from Double A to the Opening Day lineup in 2001, thanks to winning over former manager Jimy Williams. The team has not forgotten his heroics last season, most notably his game-winning, two-run homer off Mariano Rivera April 13 against the Yankees and his game-winning, pinch-hit grand slam May 4 against the Devil Rays. But the Sox remain concerned about Hillenbrand's plate discipline, best reflected by his .313 career on-base percentage (he improved from .293 his rookie season to .330 last year), and his defense at third (he tied Yankee Robin Ventura last year with a league-leading 23 errors among third basemen).
As a result, Hillenbrand arrived in camp with a first baseman's glove, expecting to compete for time against the likes of David Ortiz, Kevin Millar, Jeremy Giambi, and Julio Zuleta since he almost certainly will see less action at third, unless the Sox trade him. The Mets rank among the teams most interested in acquiring him after they jettisoned Edgardo Alfonzo to free agency.
Epstein has reassured Hillenbrand that the Sox value him and would move him only if it would significantly help the club. And Hillenbrand has vowed to improve, particularly with his pitch selection. He spent much of the winter studying videotape of his at-bats last season and has taken to heart Epstein's reminder that he ranked among the league leaders in batting when he worked the count in his favor.
''I agree with their philosophy because if you don't get on base you don't score,'' Hillenbrand said. ''I think I had a couple of mechanical breakdowns that weren't allowing me to keep consistent in the second half, like pre-committing to pitches. I'll adjust to that.''
Hillenbrand went home last season amid the possibility the Sox considered him valuable enough to reward him with a multiyear deal. Instead, he was left to track the news of his possible departure, perhaps never more likely than when Epstein tried to package him in a trade for Montreal's Bartolo Colon or Javier Vazquez. And he regularly fielded calls from family and friends curious about his fate.
Hillenbrand, whose marketability has been enhanced by his relatively puny salary ($260,000) last year, has learned better than ever the realities of the game.
''I'm playing my dream in a business,'' he said. ''People have control of my dream that I have no say over. All I know is, I'm going to go out and play as hard as I can every day. But with the situation right now, who knows?''
If past is prologue, Hillenbrand may be well positioned. He has been a monster the last two years in spring training, batting .423 in 2001 and .364 last year. He also said he is far more comfortable playing first base than third.
''I'm just hoping I have the opportunity to show them again that I can play here,'' he said. ''It's a situation where I want to help this team win. But if I don't fit, so be it.''