Jeff

Liefer

If should be Liefer’s job. Cordero hasn’t done anything this spring, and Liefer has played well after a slow start.

The Rays gave Liefer all of 12 at-bats to stick with the team before designating him for assignment last week.

Liefer was fantastic at Triple-A. He’s up to provide a little punch, so the team will probably use him as the DH in AL parks, and give him a chance to claim third base in Wes Helms’ absence. Don’t expect much, though. Liefer failed to shine in a similar trial with Tampa Bay last year.

Meanwhile, Jason Dubois and Ryan Garko both homered for Triple-A Buffalo. Either would be a better choice for a spot on Cleveland’s bench.

This is really bad news for Ben Broussard. Liefer was already taking playing time away from Broussard despite his lack of production. Even after tonight, he’s at .227 with 11 strikeouts and one walk in 44 at-bats. It’s unlikely that either Liefer or Broussard will start against lefty Mark Hendrickson tomorrow.

Liefer also had two singles. It looks like he’ll continue to start at first base when the Expos are facing right-handers.

Although Frank Robinson said he was giving the first-base job to Wil Cordero, it looks like Liefer is going to start against right-handers as long as he produces. The Expos are facing a lefty tomorrow, so Cordero should get the start.

Liefer has cooled off recently, so Wil Cordero might go back to getting the majority of the playing time at first base.

Robinson seems to be thinking about using a committee of first basemen. ''Even guys like a (Matt) Cepicky, Wil Cordero, Liefer, whoever else. We’ll play Michael (Barrett) some down there, maybe put in (Brian) Schneider,’' Robinson said. ''We’re going to try a little bit of everyone. We’ll work ‘em out down there, and they’ll let us know who and what before spring is over. They’ll eliminate themselves.’' If the Expos are serious about not making Liefer a regular, they should look into signing Tony Clark. Clark would come very cheap and he has far more upside than Cordero or Cepicky.

Liefer hit .283/.365/.519 for Triple-A Indianapolis last season. He’s probably not going to have a spot on the Cleveland bench.