New Roles for Vizcaino, Hollandsworth

Infielder Jose Vizcaino and outfielder Todd Hollandsworth find themselves in unfamiliar--and uncomfortable--positions as spring training winds down.

Barring injuries or trades, Vizcaino and Hollandsworth are expected to begin the season as reserves. Although they knew their roles would probably change before spring training began, each hoped they would somehow remain in the starting lineup.

But it appears they won’t.

“I need both of them, and I’m going to use both of them,” Manager Davey Johnson said. “As long as everybody is working hard for the same goal, I can make it work.”

Vizcaino expected to be the starting shortstop, and he believes he has earned the job, but Mark Grudzielanek is the starter for now. The switch-hitting Vizcaino, who plays second base and shortstop equally well and can play third and first, primarily will back up Grudzielanek and second baseman Eric Young, and Johnson will use him as a pinch-hitter.

Hollandsworth, the fourth outfielder, will fill in when left fielder Gary Sheffield takes days off. Hollandsworth bats left-handed, and Johnson also plans to give him regular work pinch-hitting.

Vizcaino and Hollandsworth played well in Grapefruit League games, and Johnson said they will play key roles.

“It’s not something I want to do for the rest of my career, but I’m willing to give it a shot and see what happens,” Hollandsworth said. “Davey said he’s going to get me in there, so that’s what I’m going on.”

Vizcaino, on the other hand, is still struggling to accept his diminished role. But Vizcaino, popular in the clubhouse, won’t rock the boat by making demands. And if Johnson can really keep him busy, who knows?

“I want to go to the World Series, and if I was on a World Series team, maybe that would [affect his attitude about being a backup],” Vizcaino said. “I feel I should be in the lineup, that’s the way I feel and that’s not going to change, but I don’t know.

“Maybe this can work, I’ll just have to see what happens.”

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Jacob Brumfield, a nonroster player, is expected to be the fifth outfielder. Trenidad Hubbard, a valuable reserve outfielder last season, is expected to be optioned to triple-A Albuquerque. . . .

Barring injuries or last-minute trades, the opening day 25-man roster will include outfielders Sheffield, Devon White, Raul Mondesi, Hollandsworth and Brumfield; infielders Eric Karros, Young, Grudzielanek, Adrian Beltre, Vizcaino, Dave Hansen and Tripp Cromer; catchers Todd Hundley and Paul LoDuca; pitchers Kevin Brown, Chan Ho Park, Ismael Valdes, Carlos Perez, Darren Dreifort, Dave Mlicki, Jeff Shaw, Alan Mills, Onan Masaoka, Mel Rojas and Pedro Borbon. Reliever Antonio Osuna will open the season on the 15-day disabled list.