MARYVALE, Ariz. -- Too many cooks spoil the broth. Too many infielders don't do much for the Milwaukee Brewers' third base situation.
Tyler Houston, Ronnie Belliard and Mark Loretta all are working out at third this spring. None are all that happy about the situation, but say they are willing to live with it.
All three also expect one of them will be traded before the season starts, or early into it.
{INSERT_RELATED}"We definitely have too many infielders," said Houston, who played 73 games at the position last season when he wasn't on the disabled list with a foot injury.
"I can't see us going very far into the season with this situation. There are just too many guys here who can play the same position."
Loretta, who is coming back from a broken leg, agreed with Houston. "I'm willing to try to contribute any way Davey (Lopes) wants me to, but we do have a surplus of people at one or two positions. Barring injuries, it seems like somebody could be moved."
Belliard lost his second base spot to veteran Eric Young, who was signed as a free agent over the winter. He is not real happy about that, but also said he is willing to share time at third if it is the only way he can get playing time.
Houston seemed to be the most discontent with the clogged situation. After hitting .289 with 12 homers and 38 RBI in his limited duty last season, he had hoped for more.
"I'd like to think I'd get more respect after showing what I could do last season at the plate and in the field," he said. "But, I'm basically in the same situation as last spring, where I'm competing with two other guys (Tony Fernandez and Jose Hernandez last spring) for playing time."
GM Dean Taylor has been trying to trade Loretta, who at $5 million is the most expensive of the three players.
"I understand the situation," Loretta said. "The injuries I've had the last couple seasons cost me a great deal. They will do what they have to do. I don't have any control over that. All I can do is make sure I'm in shape to play."
Just one year ago, Loretta was the starting shortstop coming into camp. He tore a ligament in his left thumb and started the regular season on the disabled list.
Hernandez was moved from third to shortstop, played much better there than he had at third the year before and never gave up the position. Loretta split his time between second and third until he broke his leg late in the season.
The Brewers are hesitant to trade Belliard, who at 26 is the youngest of the three infielders. He showed great potential as a rookie in 1999, when he hit .295, but has never approached that level since.
Conditioning has been an issue with Belliard, who is built like a fireplug. He spent most of the last two months on the disabled list last season with a sprained left ankle.
Belliard played third base in winter ball in preparation for the switch this spring. "It's different than second base, but I can play it," he said. "All I can do is play as hard as I can and see what happens."
That's the case with all three infielders. With several pitchers nursing nagging injuries this spring, it seems dealing an infielder for pitching depth is very likely.
