The Hot Corner

The reds have had Mark Wohlers for less than two weeks, but already Cincinnati pitching coach Don Gullett, the king of reclamation, believes he has spotted some fixable flaws. Gullett says Wohlers, the erstwhile righthanded relief ace for the Braves who lost his control suddenly last season, has been falling off toward the right side of the mound, thus reducing his momentum toward the plate. Wohlers also has "no true release point," says Gullett, which could be why his pitches are high....

Jealous of the glamorous life of a major leaguer? Consider righthander Jerry Spradlin, the Giants' newest reliever. Last season Spradlin, expecting to stick with the Phillies, bought a town house in Philadelphia. When he was dealt to the Indians in the off-season, he went hunting for Cleveland digs. He and his wife, Paulette, settled on an apartment and last week were nearly done moving when Spradlin, as he was getting off the team bus, was told he'd been traded to San Francisco. "It's shocking," says the 31-year-old Spradlin. "I've still got stuff in storage in Philly that I was going to move to Cleveland. I have stuff in storage in Cleveland that I was ready to put in the new place. Now I have no house, and my things-who knows where they are?"...

Reports of righthander Jason Isringhausen's demise have been greatly exaggerated. Through last week, Isringhausen, a onetime Mets phenom who has battled assorted ailments for the past three years, was 1-0 with a 3.80 ERA for Triple A Norfolk. If Masato Yoshii continues to struggle as New York's fifth starter, Izzy, still only 26, will most likely take his place....

Three-time American League All-Star Carlos Baerga, batting .260 with six RBIs in 19 games for Triple A Indianapolis, will most probably be released by the Reds if he doesn't improve soon....

Last year Pittsburgh was agog over rightfielder Jose Guillen, owner of a lethal arm and potentially powerful bat. Times change. The Pirates, miffed at Guillen and his lackadaisical attitude, shipped him to Triple A Nashville on April 18. Guillen wasn't hustling on the bases and rarely drove the ball....

Lefthander Bruce Chen, 21, who entered spring training as the likely fifth starter for the Braves but had a dismal preseason, has recovered nicely with Triple A Richmond, where he was 3-0 with a 0.72 ERA and 32 strikeouts over his last 25 innings....

Were the Angels thrilled to see Mo Vaughn homer against the Blue Jays last Thursday in his first at bat since spraining his ankle on Opening Day? Says lefthander Chuck Finley, "When we saw that, everybody patted the trainer on the back."