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Tom Verducci

March 29, 1999

Righthander Terry Adams is so eager to avoid further injuries that when a fan sent him an orthopedic pillow during spring training, Adams took it home to give it a go. "I'll try anything," the reliever says. Last season, partly because of an injured collarbone that resulted in pain in his right shoulder, Adams had such an awful second half that the Cubs briefly sent him to the minors. He walked 23 batters in his last 28? innings, continuing to frustrate Chicago with his inability to be effective for an entire season. (His career ERA before the All-Star break is 2.94, afterward it's 5.31.) Starting his fifth big league season, Adams is only 26, can throw 97 mph and can be a good power setup man.