Marquis' disaster could force him into bullpen

LAKELAND, Fla. - The sympathetic looks and pats on the back Jason Marquis received Tuesday morning were in direct proportion to the number of runs he gave up Monday night.

Barely 12 hours after the worst start of his career - 12 hits and 13 runs in three innings to the Indians - the 24-year-old right-hander was running sprints in the outfield at Disney.

"It seems like when you're out there for something like that, nobody is on your side," Marquis said. "You don't want to use the word panic, but you start to press. That's when you have to step back and try to make an adjustment, and obviously that didn't happen."

Marquis' performance in the 22-0 loss undoubtedly boosted rookie Horacio Ramirez into the No. 4 spot in the rotation. Manager Bobby Cox was diplomatic afterward, saying Marquis' outing didn't alter his choices for the rotation, but clearly Ramirez is everyone's pick to take a regular turn.

Marquis' outing also may have ended his chances of joining the rotation, at least to start the season. If he is banished to the bullpen, rookie left-hander Jung Bong or right-hander Trey Hodges would replace him in the rotation.

A fifth starter will be needed to face the Marlins twice within five days - April 6 in Atlanta and April 11 in Miami.

There's also a chance that Marquis could be sent to Class AAA Richmond to get some regular work and polish his pitches and command.

Ramirez put the finishing touches to his outstanding spring in Tuesday's 3-3, 10-inning tie with the Tigers, pitching five innings and allowing six hits and two runs. He has a 1.90 ERA in six starts this month.

"Ramirez was pretty sharp again," Cox said. "He's ready to go."

YOU CAN HAVE HIM: Less than two hours after surrendering the game-tying run to the Tigers in the bottom of the ninth, reliever Chris Spurling was traded to Detroit. The Braves swapped the 25-year-old right-hander, who was selected from the Pirates in last December's Rule 5 draft, for 23-year-old left-hander Matt Coenen.

The Braves were willing to part with Spurling because he didn't figure into their plans this season. In Coenen, they picked up a young pitcher who posted outstanding numbers at Class A West Michigan last year, going 14-8 with a 3.38 ERA in 28 starts. A second-round pick of the Tigers in the 2001 draft, he is 16-10 with a 3.30 ERA in two years of pro ball.

BACK AND FORTH: Chipper Jones said his left-handed swing felt good two weeks ago. Then his right-handed swing felt smooth, and his lefty stroke deserted him. Jones estimates that during the season, he feels comfortable on both sides of the plate at the same time for about two weeks. For the other 5 1/2 months, either swing is a work in progress.

"I get a little pull-happy sometimes and I roll over a lot of pitches," he said. "So I try to go the other way, which keeps me inside the ball."

AROUND THE DIAMOND: Trainers were encouraged by the absence of swelling in Paul Byrd's right elbow following his two-inning outing Monday. If he continues to make progress in his recovery from tendinitis, he will return to the mound Friday and pitch three or four innings. "I was looking for him to pitch effectively and feel good," head trainer Jeff Porter said. "It's a good sign that there's no swelling." ... It is Greg Maddux's turn today, but he will skip the trip to Vero Beach and stay at Disney to pitch a minor league game. Andy Pratt will start against the Dodgers. ... Cox's last word on the 20 hits the Indians produced in Monday night's 22-0 win: "We won't have to work on cutoffs and relays until 2006."

Reach Bill Zack at bzack30143@aol.com.