The Braves and Mets are set to open Grapefruit League play today (1:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network), the first day of a stretch in which winning takes a back seat to figuring out batting orders and filling out rotations.
For several contenders, such maneuvering is a no-lose deal. Consider these situations:
Placido Polanco’s arrival is setting off a chain reaction that could affect Jayson Werth (foreground).
Phillies: Lining up All-Stars
Placido Polanco was signed to give the NL champions a contact hitter in the second spot of the order. His arrival drops Shane Victorino from the two-hole and presents Charlie Manuel with a problem any manager would take. Manuel must decide how to line up his All-Star outfield of Victorino, Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez in the batting order after cleanup slugger Ryan Howard.
Rangers: Too many starting pitchers
To see how once slug-happy Texas has changed, consider manager Ron Washington’s plight. To fill out two spots in his rotation, he has a choice of at least six pitchers. The group includes a pair of 23-year-old hotshots who started last year, Tommy Hunter and Derek Holland, a 21-year-old who allowed one run in his first 22 innings last season in Neftali Feliz, and the club’s best reliever, C.J. Wilson.
"A very pleasant problem to have," Washington says. "We’ve got depth in the Texas Rangers organization. I’m pleased."
The Rays will play Ben Zobrist every day — somewhere in the field.
Rays: Where to play an All-Star
Ben Zobrist played seven positions in 2009 and made his first All-Star team. The Rays plan to use him primarily at second or right this season. The determining factor: the spring play of three prospects deemed major league-ready by manager Joe Maddon. If Matt Joyce shines in right, Zobrist plays second. If Sean Rodriguez or Reid Brignac emerges at second, Zobrist takes right.
Braves: Deciding on a phenom
Jason Heyward already has left an impact in spring training—literally. His long home runs in batting practice damaged two vehicles and led to the installation of safety nets at a practice field. Heyward, 20, is attempting to win the right-field job.
"We’re not going to give anybody the job," manager Bobby Cox says. "If he wins it, he wins it."
This story appears in March 2’s edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today for free.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
The Braves and Mets are set to open Grapefruit League play today (1:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network), the first day of a stretch in which winning takes a back seat to figuring out batting orders and filling out rotations.
For several contenders, such maneuvering is a no-lose deal. Consider these situations:
Placido Polanco’s arrival is setting off a chain reaction that could affect Jayson Werth (foreground).
Phillies: Lining up All-Stars
Placido Polanco was signed to give the NL champions a contact hitter in the second spot of the order. His arrival drops Shane Victorino from the two-hole and presents Charlie Manuel with a problem any manager would take. Manuel must decide how to line up his All-Star outfield of Victorino, Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez in the batting order after cleanup slugger Ryan Howard.
Rangers: Too many starting pitchers
To see how once slug-happy Texas has changed, consider manager Ron Washington’s plight. To fill out two spots in his rotation, he has a choice of at least six pitchers. The group includes a pair of 23-year-old hotshots who started last year, Tommy Hunter and Derek Holland, a 21-year-old who allowed one run in his first 22 innings last season in Neftali Feliz, and the club’s best reliever, C.J. Wilson.
"A very pleasant problem to have," Washington says. "We’ve got depth in the Texas Rangers organization. I’m pleased."
The Rays will play Ben Zobrist every day — somewhere in the field.
Rays: Where to play an All-Star
Ben Zobrist played seven positions in 2009 and made his first All-Star team. The Rays plan to use him primarily at second or right this season. The determining factor: the spring play of three prospects deemed major league-ready by manager Joe Maddon. If Matt Joyce shines in right, Zobrist plays second. If Sean Rodriguez or Reid Brignac emerges at second, Zobrist takes right.
Braves: Deciding on a phenom
Jason Heyward already has left an impact in spring training—literally. His long home runs in batting practice damaged two vehicles and led to the installation of safety nets at a practice field. Heyward, 20, is attempting to win the right-field job.
"We’re not going to give anybody the job," manager Bobby Cox says. "If he wins it, he wins it."
This story appears in March 2’s edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today for free.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
Three things I learned at Rangers camp:
Don’t underestimate the pride of a warrior
At 35, Vlad Guerrero is looking to prove detractors wrong.
Vlad Guerrero says he is healthy. He looks leaner in his upper body. He is actually running, not limping. In other words, watch out for Vlad Guerrero.
"Our doctor who did his physical said, based on what he saw as a fan last year, thought it was going to be worse. He said the physical was pretty clean," said Rangers GM Jon Daniels, adding that means clean for a 35-year-old who has undergone surgery on both knees.
Guerrero was limited to 100 games last season because of a torn pectoral muscle and a torn hamstring behind his left knee. That followed off-season cleanup surgeries on both knees.
"With the injuries that he had, your bat would slow down, too," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "He’s healthy right now and I don’t see anything wrong with his bat speed. He says he feels good and that’s good enough for me."
And Guerrero definitely has something to prove, to the Angels and all the other teams that did not offer him more than a one-year, $5.5 million deal that he settled for with the Rangers.
Don’t discount the loss of late-night dining
If Matt Harrison doesn’t make the Rangers’ rotation, it won’t be because he’s out of shape. After checking in at about 265 pounds before last season, he has lost 30 pounds and says he feels "100 times better." No more shin splints, no more back pain. "I have more endurance. I can run 15-20 sprints and I’m still good to go," he said. "No more huffing and puffing."
And get this, would-be dieters: Harrison dropped the pounds without changing what he eats. The secret: He eliminated post-game dinners.
"Oh man, it was hard," he said. "I went to bed starving. It took about a month to get used to it. Then I lost a little weight and I was able to run more, and that helped me lose some more."
Don’t think the Rangers don’t know Harden’s history
Talking to numerous Rangers, they all said newcomer Rich Harden is one of the game’s best starters "if he’s healthy." Ten days after pitchers and catchers reported, Harden is healthy. The Rangers will take steps to keep him that way. Harden already has been tabbed to start the opener, and not only because he’s projected to be the team’s ace. The way the three off-days in April are set up, Harden will be able to make his first three starts on five days rest.
Unlike some teams, the Rangers will stay on a five-man rotation partly to allow Harden an extra day but also because the difference in their No. 2 and whoever ends up their No. 5 is not as great as it is for a team like the Mariners, who have Cliff Lee as their No. 2.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
Three things I learned at Rangers camp:
Don’t underestimate the pride of a warrior
At 35, Vlad Guerrero is looking to prove detractors wrong.
Vlad Guerrero says he is healthy. He looks leaner in his upper body. He is actually running, not limping. In other words, watch out for Vlad Guerrero.
"Our doctor who did his physical said, based on what he saw as a fan last year, thought it was going to be worse. He said the physical was pretty clean," said Rangers GM Jon Daniels, adding that means clean for a 35-year-old who has undergone surgery on both knees.
Guerrero was limited to 100 games last season because of a torn pectoral muscle and a torn hamstring behind his left knee. That followed off-season cleanup surgeries on both knees.
"With the injuries that he had, your bat would slow down, too," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "He’s healthy right now and I don’t see anything wrong with his bat speed. He says he feels good and that’s good enough for me."
And Guerrero definitely has something to prove, to the Angels and all the other teams that did not offer him more than a one-year, $5.5 million deal that he settled for with the Rangers.
Don’t discount the loss of late-night dining
If Matt Harrison doesn’t make the Rangers’ rotation, it won’t be because he’s out of shape. After checking in at about 265 pounds before last season, he has lost 30 pounds and says he feels "100 times better." No more shin splints, no more back pain. "I have more endurance. I can run 15-20 sprints and I’m still good to go," he said. "No more huffing and puffing."
And get this, would-be dieters: Harrison dropped the pounds without changing what he eats. The secret: He eliminated post-game dinners.
"Oh man, it was hard," he said. "I went to bed starving. It took about a month to get used to it. Then I lost a little weight and I was able to run more, and that helped me lose some more."
Don’t think the Rangers don’t know Harden’s history
Talking to numerous Rangers, they all said newcomer Rich Harden is one of the game’s best starters "if he’s healthy." Ten days after pitchers and catchers reported, Harden is healthy. The Rangers will take steps to keep him that way. Harden already has been tabbed to start the opener, and not only because he’s projected to be the team’s ace. The way the three off-days in April are set up, Harden will be able to make his first three starts on five days rest.
Unlike some teams, the Rangers will stay on a five-man rotation partly to allow Harden an extra day but also because the difference in their No. 2 and whoever ends up their No. 5 is not as great as it is for a team like the Mariners, who have Cliff Lee as their No. 2.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
The No. 1 question regarding the Nationals in recent seasons has been whether they will lose 100 games. The past two seasons, the answer has been yes.
This season should be different. By July, the Nationals could feature a rotation that includes the Next Big Thing, Stephen Strasburg, and two-time 19-game winner Chien-Ming Wang. Their offense already is formidable with Adam Dunn, Ryan Zimmerman and Nyjer Morgan. If they can improve their defense, the Nationals’ focus could turn to finishing .500, instead of trying to avoid a triple-digit loss total.
Three questions
All eyes will be on stud prospect Stephen Strasburg throughout the Nats’ season.
1. Will the defense be better?
It can’t get much worse. The Nationals’ 143 errors last season were the most in the majors since 2004 and resulted in a major league-worst 83 unearned runs allowed. Getting Dunn out of left field should help; the more he settled in at first base last season, the better he played according to manager Jim Riggleman. The manager believes the addition of catcher Pudge Rodriguez will slow down opponents’ running games and help his young pitchers.
Second base and shortstop, however, could be trouble. Cristian Guzman and newcomer Adam Kennedy lack range, and young Ian Desmond is considered an offensive shortstop. One positive: The Nationals scrapped plans to move Guzman to second after they signed Kennedy.
2. When will Strasburg arrive?
Best guess: June 21, home vs. the Royals. If his stuff plays as well as advertised, Strasburg could pitch in the majors today. However, the righthander with the 100-mph fastball and the record contract never has pitched to a major league batter. Strasburg is scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut March 9, but regardless of how he performs this spring, the Nationals figure to start him in the minors.
Riggleman faced a similar situation when he managed the Cubs in 1998 and sent down a young Kerry Wood despite a strong spring. "It was tempting to keep him from Day 1," Riggleman said. "Now I don’t know if that would have been a bad decision, but he started the minors and joined us pretty quickly. I hope the same thing happens with Stephen."
3. What will Pudge provide?
Rodriguez is 38 and coming off his worst offensive season, but Washington gave him a two-year contract. One reason: Uncertainty around Jesus Flores. The 25-year-old catcher had a promising 2009 season derailed by shoulder problems, and the Nationals aren’t sure when he will be 100 percent.
The Nationals believe Pudge has plenty of spring left in his step. "He’s still a very athletic guy who can put his bat on the ball," said Riggleman, who added that Pudge could catch as many as 120 games. "Part of that will depend on Flores’ availability." Riggleman will be surprised if Pudge doesn’t improve upon his .249 batting average from 2009. "The last couple of years when my teams have played against Pudge, he was hitting line drives," Riggleman said. "He hit the ball much better than his average indicated. By the law of averages, some of those line drives will find holes instead of being hit right at people."
Projected lineup
1. CF Nyjer Morgan: Reached base 82 times in 49 games with Nats.
2. 2B Adam Kennedy: .289-11-63 with A’s in ’09.
3. 3B Ryan Zimmerman: Career highs in ’09: .292/.364/.525.
4. 1B Adam Dunn: 40 HRs from ’05-08; "only" 38 in ’09.
5. LF Josh Willingham: 24 HRs, .367 OBP last season.
6. RF Elijah Dukes: Nats want more than 8 HRs.
7. C Pudge Rodriguez: Struck out once every 4.6 at-bats.
8. SS Cristian Guzman: Only 16 BBs in 555 PA.
Projected rotation
1. LHP John Lannan: 33 starts, 206 IP, 3.88 ERA last season.
2. RHP Jason Marquis: Career-high 216 IP with Rockies in ’09.
3. LHP Scott Olsen: 6.03 ERA in 11 starts before injury.
4. RHP Livan Hernandez: 34 losses, 5.45 ERA since ’07.
4. RHP J.D. Martin: 5-4, 4.44 ERA in rookie season.
Projected closer
RHP Matt Capps: Experience gives him the edge over Brian Bruney.
Grades
Offense: B. Washington finished ninth in the N.L. in runs scored but clicked from the time it acquired Morgan (and put him in the leadoff spot) until his season ended in August because of a broken hand. The lineup should be deeper this season with the additions of Kennedy and Rodriguez.
Pitching: D. Until Wang (shoulder) is healthy, the rotation will be at least two starters thin. But the real issue is the bullpen, which finished with an MLB-worst 5.04 ERA. That ERA, however, still was better than the 5.80 mark Capps posted for Pittsburgh last season.
Bench: D. They lack power off the bench and depth in the infield, where Alberto Gonzalez will serve as the primary utilityman. Fourth outfielder Willie Harris had a .364 on-base percentage in 137 games last season. Wil Nieves will be the backup catcher until Flores is healthy.
Manager: B. Riggleman has had two winning seasons in 10 seasons (or partial seasons) as a manager, but that is a reflection of on-field talent more than his managerial skills. The Nationals went 33-42 under Riggleman after starting 26-61 under Manny Acta last season, prompting the club to remove the interim label and give Riggleman a two-year contract.
Sporting News prediction: They will be improved, but they still have a long way to go. Count on a third consecutive last-place finish and the end of an impressive streak: New starter Jason Marquis is likely to miss the playoffs for the first time in his 11-season career.
Coming Monday: Twins preview.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
The No. 1 question regarding the Nationals in recent seasons has been whether they will lose 100 games. The past two seasons, the answer has been yes.
This season should be different. By July, the Nationals could feature a rotation that includes the Next Big Thing, Stephen Strasburg, and two-time 19-game winner Chien-Ming Wang. Their offense already is formidable with Adam Dunn, Ryan Zimmerman and Nyjer Morgan. If they can improve their defense, the Nationals’ focus could turn to finishing .500, instead of trying to avoid a triple-digit loss total.
Three questions
All eyes will be on stud prospect Stephen Strasburg throughout the Nats’ season.
1. Will the defense be better?
It can’t get much worse. The Nationals’ 143 errors last season were the most in the majors since 2004 and resulted in a major league-worst 83 unearned runs allowed. Getting Dunn out of left field should help; the more he settled in at first base last season, the better he played according to manager Jim Riggleman. The manager believes the addition of catcher Pudge Rodriguez will slow down opponents’ running games and help his young pitchers.
Second base and shortstop, however, could be trouble. Cristian Guzman and newcomer Adam Kennedy lack range, and young Ian Desmond is considered an offensive shortstop. One positive: The Nationals scrapped plans to move Guzman to second after they signed Kennedy.
2. When will Strasburg arrive?
Best guess: June 21, home vs. the Royals. If his stuff plays as well as advertised, Strasburg could pitch in the majors today. However, the righthander with the 100-mph fastball and the record contract never has pitched to a major league batter. Strasburg is scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut March 9, but regardless of how he performs this spring, the Nationals figure to start him in the minors.
Riggleman faced a similar situation when he managed the Cubs in 1998 and sent down a young Kerry Wood despite a strong spring. "It was tempting to keep him from Day 1," Riggleman said. "Now I don’t know if that would have been a bad decision, but he started the minors and joined us pretty quickly. I hope the same thing happens with Stephen."
3. What will Pudge provide?
Rodriguez is 38 and coming off his worst offensive season, but Washington gave him a two-year contract. One reason: Uncertainty around Jesus Flores. The 25-year-old catcher had a promising 2009 season derailed by shoulder problems, and the Nationals aren’t sure when he will be 100 percent.
The Nationals believe Pudge has plenty of spring left in his step. "He’s still a very athletic guy who can put his bat on the ball," said Riggleman, who added that Pudge could catch as many as 120 games. "Part of that will depend on Flores’ availability." Riggleman will be surprised if Pudge doesn’t improve upon his .249 batting average from 2009. "The last couple of years when my teams have played against Pudge, he was hitting line drives," Riggleman said. "He hit the ball much better than his average indicated. By the law of averages, some of those line drives will find holes instead of being hit right at people."
Projected lineup
1. CF Nyjer Morgan: Reached base 82 times in 49 games with Nats.
2. 2B Adam Kennedy: .289-11-63 with A’s in ’09.
3. 3B Ryan Zimmerman: Career highs in ’09: .292/.364/.525.
4. 1B Adam Dunn: 40 HRs from ’05-08; "only" 38 in ’09.
5. LF Josh Willingham: 24 HRs, .367 OBP last season.
6. RF Elijah Dukes: Nats want more than 8 HRs.
7. C Pudge Rodriguez: Struck out once every 4.6 at-bats.
8. SS Cristian Guzman: Only 16 BBs in 555 PA.
Projected rotation
1. LHP John Lannan: 33 starts, 206 IP, 3.88 ERA last season.
2. RHP Jason Marquis: Career-high 216 IP with Rockies in ’09.
3. LHP Scott Olsen: 6.03 ERA in 11 starts before injury.
4. RHP Livan Hernandez: 34 losses, 5.45 ERA since ’07.
4. RHP J.D. Martin: 5-4, 4.44 ERA in rookie season.
Projected closer
RHP Matt Capps: Experience gives him the edge over Brian Bruney.
Grades
Offense: B. Washington finished ninth in the N.L. in runs scored but clicked from the time it acquired Morgan (and put him in the leadoff spot) until his season ended in August because of a broken hand. The lineup should be deeper this season with the additions of Kennedy and Rodriguez.
Pitching: D. Until Wang (shoulder) is healthy, the rotation will be at least two starters thin. But the real issue is the bullpen, which finished with an MLB-worst 5.04 ERA. That ERA, however, still was better than the 5.80 mark Capps posted for Pittsburgh last season.
Bench: D. They lack power off the bench and depth in the infield, where Alberto Gonzalez will serve as the primary utilityman. Fourth outfielder Willie Harris had a .364 on-base percentage in 137 games last season. Wil Nieves will be the backup catcher until Flores is healthy.
Manager: B. Riggleman has had two winning seasons in 10 seasons (or partial seasons) as a manager, but that is a reflection of on-field talent more than his managerial skills. The Nationals went 33-42 under Riggleman after starting 26-61 under Manny Acta last season, prompting the club to remove the interim label and give Riggleman a two-year contract.
Sporting News prediction: They will be improved, but they still have a long way to go. Count on a third consecutive last-place finish and the end of an impressive streak: New starter Jason Marquis is likely to miss the playoffs for the first time in his 11-season career.
Coming Monday: Twins preview.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
Pitchers and catchers reported last week, but my spring training begins today. A seven-day stint in Phoenix followed by a long stretch in Florida. In addition to sunshine, easy deadlines and guzzling Publix sweet tea straight from the jug, there’s plenty I can’t wait to see:
Torii Hunter. I want to ask him if the Angels still should be favorites in the AL West. Yes, I already know his answer, too. I also know this: He will be smiling. Any time you talk to Hunter, you walk away feeling better about the game.
Stephen Strasburg pitch. His Grapefruit League debut is set for March 9 against the Tigers in Viera, Fla. A Tuesday game in early March typically does not draw a big crowd unless it involves the Yankees and/or Red Sox. Not much with Strasburg, however, is typical.
Aroldis Chapman has wowed the Reds so far.
Aroldis Chapman pitch. He wowed the Reds during his first session of live batting practice. Too bad there is no chance that Strasburg and Chapman will pitch in the same exhibition now that the Reds have moved to Arizona. Also, too bad for the Nationals that the Reds swooped in and landed the young lefthander. Otherwise, word out of Nationals camp is that Chapman could have been in the same rotation with Strasburg.
A Tigers game at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland. An area outside the clubhouses down the right-field line is ideal for hanging out and snagging interviews. On a good day, you can sit at a table with Al Kaline. Last year, Yogi Berra was there, too, when the Yankees visited. First impression: How could someone that small have become so big?
Ken Griffey Jr. hold court in the Mariners’ clubhouse. Last year, Junior brought Ichiro out of a thaw. This year, he will work with Milton Bradley. No wonder the Mariners don’t care if Griffey doesn’t hit .300 anymore.
Braves prospect Jason Heyward take batting practice. Dale Murphy told me that unlike most young players, Heyward doesn’t use batting practice to see how far he can hit the ball. Oh, well. Should be fun, anyway.
Charlie Manuel watch batting practice behind the batting cage. Watch for just a little while and it is obvious that this is what Manuel was meant to do. Vin Scully behind a microphone could not be any more comfortable.
C.J. Wilson try to make the Rangers’ rotation. Not satisfied with being the club’s steadiest reliever, the lefthander has convinced Nolan Ryan and Co. to give him a chance to start. All he has to do is be one of the two best starters in camp to have a chance. If you don’t follow Wilson, you should — as much for his Tweets (str8edgeracer) as his twirling.
Neftali Feliz try to make the Rangers’ rotation.. If the 21-year-old isn’t their best pitcher today, he will be this time next year. If Wilson and Feliz have big springs, the Texas brain trust will have some interesting discussions in Surprise, Ariz.
Bobby Cox kick back in the dugout at Disney. In his spikes, as always.
Mark McGwire talk hitting. He has been in Cardinals’ camp only a week and perception already is changing. Maybe he can coach, after all. We should have figured. Tony La Russa would not set up McGwire to fail.
Jose Reyes at 100 percent. Baseball needs his smile. The Mets need his game.
Joe Maddon always has something interesting to say.
All the weight changes. Nowadays, more guys show up lighter than heavier. Russell Martin, however, has added 25 pounds, according to the Los Angeles Times. All muscle, of course. Among the reported losers: Andruw Jones (25 pounds), Aaron Cook (20), Anibal Sanchez (15), Aaron Rowand (10), Geovany Soto (a lot). Maybe the losers will inspire me.
A Joe Maddon session with reporters. You usually learn something, and not just about the Rays.
CC Sabathia shoot 3-pointers at an Orlando Magic game. Hey, it happened last year. Joba Chamberlain and Chien-Ming Wang took the court, too. I don’t remember if it was before or after the game, but I do remember they looked like big kids at the playground. I also remember thinking the backboard might need replacing after being hit by so many bricks.
The A’s work out at Papago Park. Talk about the way it should be. Nowhere can fans get closer to the action, plus an area between the fields and the clubhouses makes it easy for fans to walk right up to players. That doesn’t happen in Tampa.
The media lunch spread at a Braves game. You knew a baseball writer couldn’t do one of these columns without mentioning food.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
Pitchers and catchers reported last week, but my spring training begins today. A seven-day stint in Phoenix followed by a long stretch in Florida. In addition to sunshine, easy deadlines and guzzling Publix sweet tea straight from the jug, there’s plenty I can’t wait to see:
Torii Hunter. I want to ask him if the Angels still should be favorites in the AL West. Yes, I already know his answer, too. I also know this: He will be smiling. Any time you talk to Hunter, you walk away feeling better about the game.
Stephen Strasburg pitch. His Grapefruit League debut is set for March 9 against the Tigers in Viera, Fla. A Tuesday game in early March typically does not draw a big crowd unless it involves the Yankees and/or Red Sox. Not much with Strasburg, however, is typical.
Aroldis Chapman has wowed the Reds so far.
Aroldis Chapman pitch. He wowed the Reds during his first session of live batting practice. Too bad there is no chance that Strasburg and Chapman will pitch in the same exhibition now that the Reds have moved to Arizona. Also, too bad for the Nationals that the Reds swooped in and landed the young lefthander. Otherwise, word out of Nationals camp is that Chapman could have been in the same rotation with Strasburg.
A Tigers game at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland. An area outside the clubhouses down the right-field line is ideal for hanging out and snagging interviews. On a good day, you can sit at a table with Al Kaline. Last year, Yogi Berra was there, too, when the Yankees visited. First impression: How could someone that small have become so big?
Ken Griffey Jr. hold court in the Mariners’ clubhouse. Last year, Junior brought Ichiro out of a thaw. This year, he will work with Milton Bradley. No wonder the Mariners don’t care if Griffey doesn’t hit .300 anymore.
Braves prospect Jason Heyward take batting practice. Dale Murphy told me that unlike most young players, Heyward doesn’t use batting practice to see how far he can hit the ball. Oh, well. Should be fun, anyway.
Charlie Manuel watch batting practice behind the batting cage. Watch for just a little while and it is obvious that this is what Manuel was meant to do. Vin Scully behind a microphone could not be any more comfortable.
C.J. Wilson try to make the Rangers’ rotation. Not satisfied with being the club’s steadiest reliever, the lefthander has convinced Nolan Ryan and Co. to give him a chance to start. All he has to do is be one of the two best starters in camp to have a chance. If you don’t follow Wilson, you should — as much for his Tweets (str8edgeracer) as his twirling.
Neftali Feliz try to make the Rangers’ rotation.. If the 21-year-old isn’t their best pitcher today, he will be this time next year. If Wilson and Feliz have big springs, the Texas brain trust will have some interesting discussions in Surprise, Ariz.
Bobby Cox kick back in the dugout at Disney. In his spikes, as always.
Mark McGwire talk hitting. He has been in Cardinals’ camp only a week and perception already is changing. Maybe he can coach, after all. We should have figured. Tony La Russa would not set up McGwire to fail.
Jose Reyes at 100 percent. Baseball needs his smile. The Mets need his game.
Joe Maddon always has something interesting to say.
All the weight changes. Nowadays, more guys show up lighter than heavier. Russell Martin, however, has added 25 pounds, according to the Los Angeles Times. All muscle, of course. Among the reported losers: Andruw Jones (25 pounds), Aaron Cook (20), Anibal Sanchez (15), Aaron Rowand (10), Geovany Soto (a lot). Maybe the losers will inspire me.
A Joe Maddon session with reporters. You usually learn something, and not just about the Rays.
CC Sabathia shoot 3-pointers at an Orlando Magic game. Hey, it happened last year. Joba Chamberlain and Chien-Ming Wang took the court, too. I don’t remember if it was before or after the game, but I do remember they looked like big kids at the playground. I also remember thinking the backboard might need replacing after being hit by so many bricks.
The A’s work out at Papago Park. Talk about the way it should be. Nowhere can fans get closer to the action, plus an area between the fields and the clubhouses makes it easy for fans to walk right up to players. That doesn’t happen in Tampa.
The media lunch spread at a Braves game. You knew a baseball writer couldn’t do one of these columns without mentioning food.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
Signed as a free agent this offseason, new Mets left fielder Jason Bay recently spoke with Sporting News’ Stan McNeal about his new team:
‘If I get out there 150-plus times, my numbers will be there,’ Jason Bay says.
Having played in Boston will help me a ton moving to New York.
When I was traded from Pittsburgh to Boston, the difference was like, boom. There’s always an electricity at Fenway — every game matters so much. Like everyone who hasn’t had that opportunity, I wondered if I could handle it. After having that experience, it would be tough to go back to the old situation.
My expectations are the same as always. I will try to play as many games as I can. If I get out there 150-plus times, my numbers will be there. I can’t do that without having good guys around me. On this team, there’s not one or two guys expected to carry the team every day, and that helps us all.
People are hesitant to keep bringing up how many injuries this team had last year because it sounds like an excuse. As an outsider coming in, I can tell you it’s the truth. Talentwise, this team stacks up against anybody. It’s the same team that many people picked to go far in the playoffs before last year.
Everybody realizes we need to pitch better. We have arguably the best pitcher in baseball, Johan Santana, and behind him, there’s a lot of talent. Maybe they underachieved last year, but that stuff happens. What you hope is that it happened all at once for everybody and now it’s out of their system.
This story first appeared in the February 15 edition of Sporting News magazine. If you are not receiving the magazine, subscribe today, or pick up a copy, available at most Barnes & Noble, Borders and Hudson Retail outlets.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
Signed as a free agent this offseason, new Mets left fielder Jason Bay recently spoke with Sporting News’ Stan McNeal about his new team:
‘If I get out there 150-plus times, my numbers will be there,’ Jason Bay says.
Having played in Boston will help me a ton moving to New York.
When I was traded from Pittsburgh to Boston, the difference was like, boom. There’s always an electricity at Fenway — every game matters so much. Like everyone who hasn’t had that opportunity, I wondered if I could handle it. After having that experience, it would be tough to go back to the old situation.
My expectations are the same as always. I will try to play as many games as I can. If I get out there 150-plus times, my numbers will be there. I can’t do that without having good guys around me. On this team, there’s not one or two guys expected to carry the team every day, and that helps us all.
People are hesitant to keep bringing up how many injuries this team had last year because it sounds like an excuse. As an outsider coming in, I can tell you it’s the truth. Talentwise, this team stacks up against anybody. It’s the same team that many people picked to go far in the playoffs before last year.
Everybody realizes we need to pitch better. We have arguably the best pitcher in baseball, Johan Santana, and behind him, there’s a lot of talent. Maybe they underachieved last year, but that stuff happens. What you hope is that it happened all at once for everybody and now it’s out of their system.
This story first appeared in the February 15 edition of Sporting News magazine. If you are not receiving the magazine, subscribe today, or pick up a copy, available at most Barnes & Noble, Borders and Hudson Retail outlets.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
Acquired from Detroit in a three-team blockbuster trade this offseason, new Yankee center fielder Curtis Granderson recently spoke with Sporting News’ Stan McNeal about his new team:
When my family and friends start talking about me being a Yankee, I think about what it means. There’s the Lakers in basketball, the Cowboys in football and the Yankees in baseball. No matter where I travel around the world, people know about the Yankees. To now be a part of that franchise is amazing.
I’ll be wearing a new number, 14. The Yankees gave me the option to keep 28, but after last year, when (manager) Joe Girardi wore 27 and they won their 27th championship, I had no problem letting him take 28. Besides, I wore 14 in high school and my dad wore it in his softball league.
I look forward to going to Boston as a Yankee. When you go to Fenway with another team, you can see the confidence of the fans. Like, Hey, we know we’re going to win. When you go in as a Yankee, they’re like, We might win, but this is going to be a battle. That’s the kind of respect this franchise has earned.
I’ve been asked if I’m going to hit 40 home runs. I don’t think that’s what I was acquired for. With the guys who have made this lineup what it is, I look at myself as a small piece of the big puzzle trying to repeat as champions.
This story first appeared in the February 15 edition of Sporting News magazine. If you are not receiving the magazine, subscribe today, or pick up a copy, available at most Barnes & Noble, Borders and Hudson Retail outlets.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
Acquired from Detroit in a three-team blockbuster trade this offseason, new Yankee center fielder Curtis Granderson recently spoke with Sporting News’ Stan McNeal about his new team:
When my family and friends start talking about me being a Yankee, I think about what it means. There’s the Lakers in basketball, the Cowboys in football and the Yankees in baseball. No matter where I travel around the world, people know about the Yankees. To now be a part of that franchise is amazing.
I’ll be wearing a new number, 14. The Yankees gave me the option to keep 28, but after last year, when (manager) Joe Girardi wore 27 and they won their 27th championship, I had no problem letting him take 28. Besides, I wore 14 in high school and my dad wore it in his softball league.
I look forward to going to Boston as a Yankee. When you go to Fenway with another team, you can see the confidence of the fans. Like, Hey, we know we’re going to win. When you go in as a Yankee, they’re like, We might win, but this is going to be a battle. That’s the kind of respect this franchise has earned.
I’ve been asked if I’m going to hit 40 home runs. I don’t think that’s what I was acquired for. With the guys who have made this lineup what it is, I look at myself as a small piece of the big puzzle trying to repeat as champions.
This story first appeared in the February 15 edition of Sporting News magazine. If you are not receiving the magazine, subscribe today, or pick up a copy, available at most Barnes & Noble, Borders and Hudson Retail outlets.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
Spring training officially opened Thursday when 12 clubs held workouts for pitchers and catchers. Let the 44-day countdown to opening night begin.
If six-plus weeks of camp sounds like too many, you must not be a starting pitcher who has to slowly build arm strength for the long season. You definitely aren’t a starter seeking a strong spring in your attempt to bounce back from a disappointing 2009.
The quartet below has something else in common: All loom large in their teams’ chances to contend.
Carlos Zambrano, Cubs
The Big Z isn’t quite as large after dropping about 15 pounds and reporting to Arizona with a new, close-cropped haircut. Zambrano needed a change after a season in which he made nearly as much news for his dislike of sit-ups as he did for his pitching.
The Cubs are paying their ace righthander $17.875 million this season to win more than nine games and pitch more than 169 1/3 innings. Zambrano went on the disabled list twice last season, once because of back spasms that were attributed in part to a core that he admitted should have been better-conditioned.
"He’s got a lot of pride so he took to heart what happened last year," pitching coach Larry Rothschild said. "We need him to be out there with his good stuff consistently, and I don’t think he was."
Rothschild plans to tweak Zambrano’s spring routine to "refresh him a bit" but said, "There’s only so much you can do as far as using him (in exhibitions). We have to get him ready to start."
Cole Hamels, Phillies
One positive from the Phillies’ failure to win the World Series: Hamels, the darling of the 2008 playoffs, didn’t have to worry about an offseason celebration tour. The lefthander didn’t have much to gloat about after going 10-11 with a 4.32 ERA in the regular season, and 1-2 with a 7.38 in four postseason starts.
This spring, Hamels is expected to work on his curveball and experiment with a cutter, which would be a fourth pitch in his repertoire.
Chad Billingsley, Dodgers
He is only 25 but the righthander is entering his fifth season at a crossroads. Is he the guy who went 0-3 with a 5.16 ERA in his final six outings and was left out of the postseason rotation? Or is he the All-Star who went 9-4 in the first half?
His problems could be partially attributed to a balky left knee that is stressed because of a stiff landing on his delivery. Billingsley also struggles because he loses confidence and lets that affect his performance.
After Billingsley was pummeled by the Phillies in the 2008 NLCS, Dodgers manager Joe Torre was concerned enough to have a heart-to-heart chat with him before last season. Torre’s talk seemed to help, for the first half anyway.
Oliver Perez, Mets
Perez typified the Mets’ misery in ’09. He was lousy from the start after signing a three-year, $36 million deal in the offseason. Perez went on the disabled list in May with a left knee injury, returned in July and continued to struggle. His season ended in late August when he couldn’t make it through the first inning against the Phillies. He had surgery in September.
According to early reports, Perez is throwing free and easy so far. He needs to regain his command after walking 58 in his 66 innings last season.
"The big emphasis this spring will be on throwing strikes," Mets manager Jerry Manuel said. "If he can do that, being lefthanded gives him a tremendous opportunity to be productive for us in our ballpark. It’s a matter of us getting him to be somewhat consistent."
They have 44 days to try.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
Spring training officially opened Thursday when 12 clubs held workouts for pitchers and catchers. Let the 44-day countdown to opening night begin.
If six-plus weeks of camp sounds like too many, you must not be a starting pitcher who has to slowly build arm strength for the long season. You definitely aren’t a starter seeking a strong spring in your attempt to bounce back from a disappointing 2009.
The quartet below has something else in common: All loom large in their teams’ chances to contend.
Carlos Zambrano, Cubs
The Big Z isn’t quite as large after dropping about 15 pounds and reporting to Arizona with a new, close-cropped haircut. Zambrano needed a change after a season in which he made nearly as much news for his dislike of sit-ups as he did for his pitching.
The Cubs are paying their ace righthander $17.875 million this season to win more than nine games and pitch more than 169 1/3 innings. Zambrano went on the disabled list twice last season, once because of back spasms that were attributed in part to a core that he admitted should have been better-conditioned.
"He’s got a lot of pride so he took to heart what happened last year," pitching coach Larry Rothschild said. "We need him to be out there with his good stuff consistently, and I don’t think he was."
Rothschild plans to tweak Zambrano’s spring routine to "refresh him a bit" but said, "There’s only so much you can do as far as using him (in exhibitions). We have to get him ready to start."
Cole Hamels, Phillies
One positive from the Phillies’ failure to win the World Series: Hamels, the darling of the 2008 playoffs, didn’t have to worry about an offseason celebration tour. The lefthander didn’t have much to gloat about after going 10-11 with a 4.32 ERA in the regular season, and 1-2 with a 7.38 in four postseason starts.
This spring, Hamels is expected to work on his curveball and experiment with a cutter, which would be a fourth pitch in his repertoire.
Chad Billingsley, Dodgers
He is only 25 but the righthander is entering his fifth season at a crossroads. Is he the guy who went 0-3 with a 5.16 ERA in his final six outings and was left out of the postseason rotation? Or is he the All-Star who went 9-4 in the first half?
His problems could be partially attributed to a balky left knee that is stressed because of a stiff landing on his delivery. Billingsley also struggles because he loses confidence and lets that affect his performance.
After Billingsley was pummeled by the Phillies in the 2008 NLCS, Dodgers manager Joe Torre was concerned enough to have a heart-to-heart chat with him before last season. Torre’s talk seemed to help, for the first half anyway.
Oliver Perez, Mets
Perez typified the Mets’ misery in ’09. He was lousy from the start after signing a three-year, $36 million deal in the offseason. Perez went on the disabled list in May with a left knee injury, returned in July and continued to struggle. His season ended in late August when he couldn’t make it through the first inning against the Phillies. He had surgery in September.
According to early reports, Perez is throwing free and easy so far. He needs to regain his command after walking 58 in his 66 innings last season.
"The big emphasis this spring will be on throwing strikes," Mets manager Jerry Manuel said. "If he can do that, being lefthanded gives him a tremendous opportunity to be productive for us in our ballpark. It’s a matter of us getting him to be somewhat consistent."
They have 44 days to try.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
You need only check out the pitching staff of every contender to identify the No. 1 trend of the offseason. From Philadelphia to Seattle, from Boston to L.A., the rich got richer in the pitching department.
On the first official day of spring training workouts for pitchers and catchers, here are the top 20 offseason pitching acquisitions:
Roy Halladay joins the NL’s best team.
1. Roy Halladay, SP, Phillies. One of the game’s best starters ended up in an ideal spot: on the National League’s best team, which just so happens to train near his offseason home.
2. Cliff Lee, SP, Mariners. Admittedly shaken when traded by Philadelphia, Lee could have landed in far worse situations than behind one of the game’s best starters, Felix Hernandez, on the fastest-rising team in the game.
3. John Lackey, SP, Red Sox. His Angels managed to beat the Red Sox only once in the playoffs, so why not join them? Lackey’s arrival gives Boston the American League’s best rotation.
4. Billy Wagner, SP, Braves. With 26 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings after his return from Tommy John surgery last season, Wagner convinced Atlanta he has plenty left at age 38.
5. Javier Vazquez, SP, Yankees. Talk about sweet landings: Vazquez went from fourth in NL Cy Young voting to No. 4 in the World Series champions’ rotation.
6. Randy Wolf, SP, Brewers. The Brewers won 80 games with the majors’ worst rotation last season. They gave Wolf a three-year, $29.75 million deal to lead the turnaround.
7. Jose Valverde, RP, Tigers. His mistake in turning down the Astros’ arbitration offer might have cost him millions, but the Tigers were happy to take advantage. Valverde should be an upgrade over last year’s closer, Fernando Rodney.
8. Joel Pineiro, SP, Angels. Don’t think adding a No. 3 starter is a big deal? Consider: If Pineiro had ended up someplace else — such as Seattle — would the Angels still be favorites in the AL West?
9. Rafael Soriano, RP, Rays. For the first time since early 2008, manager Joe Maddon won’t have to rely on a closer-by-committee, or closer-by-matchups as the manager says. That is, if Soriano can be more consistent than he was with the Braves last season.
Can Rich Harden stay healthy in Texas?
10. Rich Harden, SP, Rangers. His stuff is undeniably better than previous No. 1 Kevin Millwood’s. But with Harden, the question is always about health. Maybe Nolan Ryan’s get-tough plan with his starters will work for Harden. If it does, the Rangers will have their best rotation in a long time.
11. Brad Penny, SP, Cardinals. The Oklahoman says he always has wanted to pitch for the Cardinals. Manager Tony La Russa says he always has wanted Penny on his side. Now they have each other. Time for pitching coach Dave Duncan to work his magic. "I’m excited to be part of this," Penny says. "I’ve heard how hard these guys work. I’m definitely going to learn from them. And we’ve got a great catcher (Yadier Molina) and he will also make it a lot of fun for me."
12. Edwin Jackson, SP, Diamondbacks. If Jackson pitches like he did in the first half of ’09 (2.52 ERA), Arizona will have the division’s top rotation from 1-3. Of course, the D-backs also need a healthy Brandon Webb to make that happen.
13. Ben Sheets, SP, Athletics. Giving $10 million to a guy who missed all of last season seems a bit excessive for such a fiscally responsible club. But if Sheets is right, the A’s could be one of the season’s surprise teams.
14. Max Scherzer, SP, Tigers. A win-win for Detroit: Many scouts like Scherzer more than the hard-throwing righthander for whom he was traded (Jackson). The bonus: Scherzer’s salary is much smaller.
15. Aroldis Chapman, SP, Reds. The lefthanded phenom won’t turn the Reds into contenders overnight, but Chapman might be ready sooner than many think. "Based on the pressure he’s already faced and the power arm he has, he should be more equipped to break into the big leagues even if he’s not completely culturalized," teammate Bronson Arroyo says. "You have more pressure pitching for the national team in Cuba than probably any team in the world. (On) no other team does the dictator of the country bring you in when you’re an 18-year-old kid and say, ‘Don’t let our country down.’ You know if you mess up too bad, you might not eat or your family might not eat."
The Nats signed Jason Marquis to be an innings eater.
16. Kevin Millwood, SP, Orioles. His new club believes his experience from pitching in hitter-friendly Texas makes him the right guy to put atop its up-and-coming rotation. The Red Sox and Yankees could have something to say about that.
17. Brandon Lyon, RP, Astros. No reliever signed for more ($15 million) than the righthander. No wonder the Astros are saying the cyst drained from Lyon’s shoulder last month was no big deal.
18. Darren Oliver, RP, Rangers. The Angels’ loss is the Rangers’ gain. Texas, in fact, arguably has a deeper bullpen than L.A. now.
19. Jason Marquis, SP, Nationals. The 2009 All-Star will eat innings and make the wait for Stephen Strasburg a little less painful for Nationals fans.
20. John Smoltz, SP/RP, TBD. Whoever signs the 42-year-old righthander will be getting a big-game pitcher who can start or close. Another future Hall of Famer, Pedro Martinez, also remains available.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
You need only check out the pitching staff of every contender to identify the No. 1 trend of the offseason. From Philadelphia to Seattle, from Boston to L.A., the rich got richer in the pitching department.
On the first official day of spring training workouts for pitchers and catchers, here are the top 20 offseason pitching acquisitions:
Roy Halladay joins the NL’s best team.
1. Roy Halladay, SP, Phillies. One of the game’s best starters ended up in an ideal spot: on the National League’s best team, which just so happens to train near his offseason home.
2. Cliff Lee, SP, Mariners. Admittedly shaken when traded by Philadelphia, Lee could have landed in far worse situations than behind one of the game’s best starters, Felix Hernandez, on the fastest-rising team in the game.
3. John Lackey, SP, Red Sox. His Angels managed to beat the Red Sox only once in the playoffs, so why not join them? Lackey’s arrival gives Boston the American League’s best rotation.
4. Billy Wagner, SP, Braves. With 26 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings after his return from Tommy John surgery last season, Wagner convinced Atlanta he has plenty left at age 38.
5. Javier Vazquez, SP, Yankees. Talk about sweet landings: Vazquez went from fourth in NL Cy Young voting to No. 4 in the World Series champions’ rotation.
6. Randy Wolf, SP, Brewers. The Brewers won 80 games with the majors’ worst rotation last season. They gave Wolf a three-year, $29.75 million deal to lead the turnaround.
7. Jose Valverde, RP, Tigers. His mistake in turning down the Astros’ arbitration offer might have cost him millions, but the Tigers were happy to take advantage. Valverde should be an upgrade over last year’s closer, Fernando Rodney.
8. Joel Pineiro, SP, Angels. Don’t think adding a No. 3 starter is a big deal? Consider: If Pineiro had ended up someplace else — such as Seattle — would the Angels still be favorites in the AL West?
9. Rafael Soriano, RP, Rays. For the first time since early 2008, manager Joe Maddon won’t have to rely on a closer-by-committee, or closer-by-matchups as the manager says. That is, if Soriano can be more consistent than he was with the Braves last season.
Can Rich Harden stay healthy in Texas?
10. Rich Harden, SP, Rangers. His stuff is undeniably better than previous No. 1 Kevin Millwood’s. But with Harden, the question is always about health. Maybe Nolan Ryan’s get-tough plan with his starters will work for Harden. If it does, the Rangers will have their best rotation in a long time.
11. Brad Penny, SP, Cardinals. The Oklahoman says he always has wanted to pitch for the Cardinals. Manager Tony La Russa says he always has wanted Penny on his side. Now they have each other. Time for pitching coach Dave Duncan to work his magic. "I’m excited to be part of this," Penny says. "I’ve heard how hard these guys work. I’m definitely going to learn from them. And we’ve got a great catcher (Yadier Molina) and he will also make it a lot of fun for me."
12. Edwin Jackson, SP, Diamondbacks. If Jackson pitches like he did in the first half of ’09 (2.52 ERA), Arizona will have the division’s top rotation from 1-3. Of course, the D-backs also need a healthy Brandon Webb to make that happen.
13. Ben Sheets, SP, Athletics. Giving $10 million to a guy who missed all of last season seems a bit excessive for such a fiscally responsible club. But if Sheets is right, the A’s could be one of the season’s surprise teams.
14. Max Scherzer, SP, Tigers. A win-win for Detroit: Many scouts like Scherzer more than the hard-throwing righthander for whom he was traded (Jackson). The bonus: Scherzer’s salary is much smaller.
15. Aroldis Chapman, SP, Reds. The lefthanded phenom won’t turn the Reds into contenders overnight, but Chapman might be ready sooner than many think. "Based on the pressure he’s already faced and the power arm he has, he should be more equipped to break into the big leagues even if he’s not completely culturalized," teammate Bronson Arroyo says. "You have more pressure pitching for the national team in Cuba than probably any team in the world. (On) no other team does the dictator of the country bring you in when you’re an 18-year-old kid and say, ‘Don’t let our country down.’ You know if you mess up too bad, you might not eat or your family might not eat."
The Nats signed Jason Marquis to be an innings eater.
16. Kevin Millwood, SP, Orioles. His new club believes his experience from pitching in hitter-friendly Texas makes him the right guy to put atop its up-and-coming rotation. The Red Sox and Yankees could have something to say about that.
17. Brandon Lyon, RP, Astros. No reliever signed for more ($15 million) than the righthander. No wonder the Astros are saying the cyst drained from Lyon’s shoulder last month was no big deal.
18. Darren Oliver, RP, Rangers. The Angels’ loss is the Rangers’ gain. Texas, in fact, arguably has a deeper bullpen than L.A. now.
19. Jason Marquis, SP, Nationals. The 2009 All-Star will eat innings and make the wait for Stephen Strasburg a little less painful for Nationals fans.
20. John Smoltz, SP/RP, TBD. Whoever signs the 42-year-old righthander will be getting a big-game pitcher who can start or close. Another future Hall of Famer, Pedro Martinez, also remains available.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
Like pitchers who fancy themselves as hitters, sometimes position players think they can pitch. Sometimes they even get to take the mound. Who cares if their team is losing big and they’re out there only so their manager can save his bullpen?
The experience remains memorable for six players who talked to the Sporting News about pitching in a big-league game.
How did you get the chance?
‘I’d always wanted to pitch in the big leagues,’ Cody Ross says.
Marlins outfielder Cody Ross: "I’d always wanted to pitch in the big leagues, just to get in an inning in. I started lobbying for it in 2006, when Joe Girardi was here. I told him if you ever need someone to come in and eat up an inning, I’ll be the guy. I told Fredi (Gonzalez) the same thing."
Yankees right fielder Nick Swisher: "I was standing there. They said, ‘Have you ever pitched?’ I said, ‘Yeah.’ I didn’t tell them it was in high school."
Former Dodgers infielder Mark Loretta: "We had used a lot of pitchers and one of our setup guys was up and getting loose. (Third-base coach) Larry Bowa and I looked at each other and said, hopefully he doesn’t have to come into a game like this. I said, ‘I’ll go out there if I have do.’ Larry goes, ‘Are you serious?’ Then he goes, ‘Joe (Torre), Loretta will go.’ So Albert Pujols walked and Joe said, ‘Let’s go.’"
Reds infielder Aaron Miles: "Tony La Russa initially asked So Taguchi if he wanted to pitch, as a courtesy to the veteran guy who might want the experience. So didn’t want to. The only other guy was me. Tony looked over at me, there was no asking. You’re going down to the bullpen to get warmed up. You’re pitching the eighth."
Reds shortstop Paul Janish: "I’m from Houston and I went to Rice. Dusty (Baker) is very good buddies with Ralph Garr, who is a scout in Houston who had seen me pitch a bunch in college. He brought that up in the clubhouse when we were in Houston, and Dusty and I talked about it. Not long after that, we had Milwaukee in town and our bullpen had been pushed. He asked me and I said OK."
What were you thinking?
Ross: "You don’t want to walk anyone. Your team has been out there all day, you’re losing and this was a day game in Florida."
‘The pitcher’s mound is a lot closer than right field,’ Nick Swisher says.
Swisher: "You’re scared somebody’s going to hit a line drive back at you. The pitcher’s mound is a lot closer than right field."
Loretta: "We didn’t take batting practice so literally the first ball I threw that day was my first warm-up pitch. I wanted to be careful. I wasn’t about to start breaking off curves. I was just hoping I wouldn’t get hit in the face by a line drive and I would not walk the whole world."
When was the last time you had pitched?
Phillies first baseman Ross Gload (who was with the Marlins): "The 1994 Long Island championship game. My big league pitching debut (one inning, no runs) was better than my high school pitching career ended. We lost."
Janish: "In college, about six years before."
Ross: "When I was drafted in ’99, a lot of teams wanted me to pitch. They were comparing me to a Mike Hampton type. I pitched in instructional league in 2000 and a little with the Tigers (system) in 2001. I quickly realized I wanted to play the outfield."
How hard did you throw?
Ross: "On my first pitch, I felt like it was 95 and I looked up, it said 79. I think I got it up to 84."
Gload: "When I was warming up, I thought I might be in the 80s. I got out there and had to peek. It said 78. I knew my pitching career was over."
Miles: "I saw 73. The guys in the bullpen told me to try to throw slower than what hitters are used to, and that wasn’t very hard for me. I tried to throw a couple max effort. I got one to 79, and I might have had a little more in the tank. I didn’t want to throw it so hard to where I might hit somebody."
Janish: "I was 88-92. At Rice, I was about 94."
Loretta: "They turned it off (inside the stadium), but someone who saw it on TV said 78 or something like that. I was over the speed limit."
How did you feel the next day?
‘I got one to 79, and I might have had a little more in the tank,’ Aaron Miles says.
Ross: "My whole left side of my back, my legs and my buttocks were sore. I felt it for the next couple of days."
Janish: "Sore for a week."
Gload: "My body hurt for four days."
How do you assess your performance?
Loretta: "The first pitch I threw hit Matt Holliday in the foot. I’m thinking, here we go. But it was all right after that. You get adrenaline. It’s exciting, kind of a fun thing but the circumstances aren’t too good when you get the chance."
Ross: "My claim to fame is I went through the heart of the lineup of the (then) defending World Champions and I mowed right through them. I had as much fun as you can have when you’re losing by 12 runs. When I ran out to the mound, everything was like I was making my major league debut. My heart was racing. Everything was going a million miles an hour. Then all of a sudden, I hear, "Now batting Ryan Howard." I think no way is he my first batter. Please don’t hit it right back at me. I got ahead 0-2 when he fouled a couple of pitches off. I threw him a curveball and he fouled it. That was the only curveball I threw. One of my closest friends is Jayson Werth and I wanted to strike him out so bad. He got the only hit off me. He rolled over to the shortstop and beat it out. A cheap hit."
Swisher: "Zero point zero zero, baby."
What do you remember about the experience?
Ross: "I was 3 for 3 when I went in to pitch. After the inning, we had another at-bat. I was the second guy hitting and when I got up to the plate, I still was nervous from pitching. I took three straight pitches for strikes, came into the dugout and someone said, ‘Hey, you hit like a pitcher.’"
Janish: "I focus on the (two) strikeouts, not the (nine) hits."
Miles:: "I’ve got three innings. I know what it’s like to give up a homer. I know what it’s like to go 1-2-3. If the situation comes up again, I will be the guy to say yes, I’ll do it."
How they fared
Gload: One outing. One inning, no runs. Two walks, no hits, no strikeouts.
Janish: Two outings. Two innings, 11 earned runs allowed. Nine hits, two walks, three strikeouts.
Loretta: Two outings. One and ome-third innings, no runs. One hit, one walk, one hit batter, two strikeouts.
Miles: Three outings. Three innings, two runs allowed, one home run allowed. No strikeouts, no walks, one hit batter.
Ross: One outing. One inning, no runs. One hit, no walks, no strikeouts.
Swisher: One outing. One inning, no runs. One hit, one walk, one strikeout.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
Like pitchers who fancy themselves as hitters, sometimes position players think they can pitch. Sometimes they even get to take the mound. Who cares if their team is losing big and they’re out there only so their manager can save his bullpen?
The experience remains memorable for six players who talked to the Sporting News about pitching in a big-league game.
How did you get the chance?
‘I’d always wanted to pitch in the big leagues,’ Cody Ross says.
Marlins outfielder Cody Ross: "I’d always wanted to pitch in the big leagues, just to get in an inning in. I started lobbying for it in 2006, when Joe Girardi was here. I told him if you ever need someone to come in and eat up an inning, I’ll be the guy. I told Fredi (Gonzalez) the same thing."
Yankees right fielder Nick Swisher: "I was standing there. They said, ‘Have you ever pitched?’ I said, ‘Yeah.’ I didn’t tell them it was in high school."
Former Dodgers infielder Mark Loretta: "We had used a lot of pitchers and one of our setup guys was up and getting loose. (Third-base coach) Larry Bowa and I looked at each other and said, hopefully he doesn’t have to come into a game like this. I said, ‘I’ll go out there if I have do.’ Larry goes, ‘Are you serious?’ Then he goes, ‘Joe (Torre), Loretta will go.’ So Albert Pujols walked and Joe said, ‘Let’s go.’"
Reds infielder Aaron Miles: "Tony La Russa initially asked So Taguchi if he wanted to pitch, as a courtesy to the veteran guy who might want the experience. So didn’t want to. The only other guy was me. Tony looked over at me, there was no asking. You’re going down to the bullpen to get warmed up. You’re pitching the eighth."
Reds shortstop Paul Janish: "I’m from Houston and I went to Rice. Dusty (Baker) is very good buddies with Ralph Garr, who is a scout in Houston who had seen me pitch a bunch in college. He brought that up in the clubhouse when we were in Houston, and Dusty and I talked about it. Not long after that, we had Milwaukee in town and our bullpen had been pushed. He asked me and I said OK."
What were you thinking?
Ross: "You don’t want to walk anyone. Your team has been out there all day, you’re losing and this was a day game in Florida."
‘The pitcher’s mound is a lot closer than right field,’ Nick Swisher says.
Swisher: "You’re scared somebody’s going to hit a line drive back at you. The pitcher’s mound is a lot closer than right field."
Loretta: "We didn’t take batting practice so literally the first ball I threw that day was my first warm-up pitch. I wanted to be careful. I wasn’t about to start breaking off curves. I was just hoping I wouldn’t get hit in the face by a line drive and I would not walk the whole world."
When was the last time you had pitched?
Phillies first baseman Ross Gload (who was with the Marlins): "The 1994 Long Island championship game. My big league pitching debut (one inning, no runs) was better than my high school pitching career ended. We lost."
Janish: "In college, about six years before."
Ross: "When I was drafted in ’99, a lot of teams wanted me to pitch. They were comparing me to a Mike Hampton type. I pitched in instructional league in 2000 and a little with the Tigers (system) in 2001. I quickly realized I wanted to play the outfield."
How hard did you throw?
Ross: "On my first pitch, I felt like it was 95 and I looked up, it said 79. I think I got it up to 84."
Gload: "When I was warming up, I thought I might be in the 80s. I got out there and had to peek. It said 78. I knew my pitching career was over."
Miles: "I saw 73. The guys in the bullpen told me to try to throw slower than what hitters are used to, and that wasn’t very hard for me. I tried to throw a couple max effort. I got one to 79, and I might have had a little more in the tank. I didn’t want to throw it so hard to where I might hit somebody."
Janish: "I was 88-92. At Rice, I was about 94."
Loretta: "They turned it off (inside the stadium), but someone who saw it on TV said 78 or something like that. I was over the speed limit."
How did you feel the next day?
‘I got one to 79, and I might have had a little more in the tank,’ Aaron Miles says.
Ross: "My whole left side of my back, my legs and my buttocks were sore. I felt it for the next couple of days."
Janish: "Sore for a week."
Gload: "My body hurt for four days."
How do you assess your performance?
Loretta: "The first pitch I threw hit Matt Holliday in the foot. I’m thinking, here we go. But it was all right after that. You get adrenaline. It’s exciting, kind of a fun thing but the circumstances aren’t too good when you get the chance."
Ross: "My claim to fame is I went through the heart of the lineup of the (then) defending World Champions and I mowed right through them. I had as much fun as you can have when you’re losing by 12 runs. When I ran out to the mound, everything was like I was making my major league debut. My heart was racing. Everything was going a million miles an hour. Then all of a sudden, I hear, "Now batting Ryan Howard." I think no way is he my first batter. Please don’t hit it right back at me. I got ahead 0-2 when he fouled a couple of pitches off. I threw him a curveball and he fouled it. That was the only curveball I threw. One of my closest friends is Jayson Werth and I wanted to strike him out so bad. He got the only hit off me. He rolled over to the shortstop and beat it out. A cheap hit."
Swisher: "Zero point zero zero, baby."
What do you remember about the experience?
Ross: "I was 3 for 3 when I went in to pitch. After the inning, we had another at-bat. I was the second guy hitting and when I got up to the plate, I still was nervous from pitching. I took three straight pitches for strikes, came into the dugout and someone said, ‘Hey, you hit like a pitcher.’"
Janish: "I focus on the (two) strikeouts, not the (nine) hits."
Miles:: "I’ve got three innings. I know what it’s like to give up a homer. I know what it’s like to go 1-2-3. If the situation comes up again, I will be the guy to say yes, I’ll do it."
How they fared
Gload: One outing. One inning, no runs. Two walks, no hits, no strikeouts.
Janish: Two outings. Two innings, 11 earned runs allowed. Nine hits, two walks, three strikeouts.
Loretta: Two outings. One and ome-third innings, no runs. One hit, one walk, one hit batter, two strikeouts.
Miles: Three outings. Three innings, two runs allowed, one home run allowed. No strikeouts, no walks, one hit batter.
Ross: One outing. One inning, no runs. One hit, no walks, no strikeouts.
Swisher: One outing. One inning, no runs. One hit, one walk, one strikeout.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
Spring training often resembles a working vacation for most veterans. You know, put in a couple innings of work and then call for your tee time. However, the list of proven veteran players who slumped in 2009 is a long one. For those players, regaining their confidence/swing/swagger starts when they report to their Grapefruit League or Cactus League camp. Which disappointing player from last season is in most desperate need of a strong spring?
Chris Bahr says Cubs left fielder Alfonso Soriano must return to form in order for the Cubs to compete, but Stan McNeal says all eyes should be on Dodgers left fielder Manny Ramirez:
Talk about a fast fall. In less than a year, Manny Ramirez has gone from superstar slugger to drug user to mediocre major leaguer to, well, who knows?
Questions abound as to whether Manny Ramirez can regain his old form.
This we know: At 37 and in the last year of his contract, no player is in greater need of a strong spring to set himself up for a big season. Consider what is riding on Manny’s bat: his team’s playoff chances, his future and his already-tarnished legacy.
Not long ago, Ramirez was the hero that L.A. couldn’t afford to lose. He was coming off a two-month stretch when he carried the Dodgers to the NLCS by hitting .396/.489/.783 with 17 homers and 53 RBIs in 187 at-bats.
Manny was rounding into familiar form in 2009 until his world as he knew it ended in early May. He was suspended for 50 games for a positive drug test, and he hasn’t been the same since. He hit .269/.389/.492 with 13 homers and 43 RBIs in 260 at-bats after his return, and the Dodgers carried him to the playoffs this time.
In the NLCS, the Phillies did what few pitchers previously dared. They challenged Manny with fastballs, and the strategy worked. He hit a two-run homer in Game 1 but ended up drawing more attention in the series for an early shower than for his hitting.
Joe Torre recently admitted to the Los Angeles Times that Manny "wasn’t himself" after his return. Torre believes Ramirez’s struggles had more to do with an unbalanced approach at the plate than declining ability. But not even Torre knows if Ramirez will return to elite status.
Ramirez is at an age when most hitters are in decline — those without chemical assistance, anyway. Manny senses this. According to mlb.com, he told his teammates last year that he’d be better off as a DH. Of course, he is in the wrong league for that.
Manny will make $20 million this season but is as likely as you or me to get that much next season. A strong season, however, could land him a nice enough deal to be a DH. On the other hand, an entire season like the latter part of ’09 and Manny could find himself in the same spot as former teammate Nomar Garciaparra — on the verge of forced retirement.
Manny already killed a certain case for the Hall of Fame with his positive drug test. If he doesn’t show his old form, his reputation will be hurt even more because many will believe his entire career was built on performance-enhancing drugs.
His best chance to remove some of the doubts is with a productive year. A strong spring is the best way to begin.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
Spring training often resembles a working vacation for most veterans. You know, put in a couple innings of work and then call for your tee time. However, the list of proven veteran players who slumped in 2009 is a long one. For those players, regaining their confidence/swing/swagger starts when they report to their Grapefruit League or Cactus League camp. Which disappointing player from last season is in most desperate need of a strong spring?
Chris Bahr says Cubs left fielder Alfonso Soriano must return to form in order for the Cubs to compete, but Stan McNeal says all eyes should be on Dodgers left fielder Manny Ramirez:
Talk about a fast fall. In less than a year, Manny Ramirez has gone from superstar slugger to drug user to mediocre major leaguer to, well, who knows?
Questions abound as to whether Manny Ramirez can regain his old form.
This we know: At 37 and in the last year of his contract, no player is in greater need of a strong spring to set himself up for a big season. Consider what is riding on Manny’s bat: his team’s playoff chances, his future and his already-tarnished legacy.
Not long ago, Ramirez was the hero that L.A. couldn’t afford to lose. He was coming off a two-month stretch when he carried the Dodgers to the NLCS by hitting .396/.489/.783 with 17 homers and 53 RBIs in 187 at-bats.
Manny was rounding into familiar form in 2009 until his world as he knew it ended in early May. He was suspended for 50 games for a positive drug test, and he hasn’t been the same since. He hit .269/.389/.492 with 13 homers and 43 RBIs in 260 at-bats after his return, and the Dodgers carried him to the playoffs this time.
In the NLCS, the Phillies did what few pitchers previously dared. They challenged Manny with fastballs, and the strategy worked. He hit a two-run homer in Game 1 but ended up drawing more attention in the series for an early shower than for his hitting.
Joe Torre recently admitted to the Los Angeles Times that Manny "wasn’t himself" after his return. Torre believes Ramirez’s struggles had more to do with an unbalanced approach at the plate than declining ability. But not even Torre knows if Ramirez will return to elite status.
Ramirez is at an age when most hitters are in decline — those without chemical assistance, anyway. Manny senses this. According to mlb.com, he told his teammates last year that he’d be better off as a DH. Of course, he is in the wrong league for that.
Manny will make $20 million this season but is as likely as you or me to get that much next season. A strong season, however, could land him a nice enough deal to be a DH. On the other hand, an entire season like the latter part of ’09 and Manny could find himself in the same spot as former teammate Nomar Garciaparra — on the verge of forced retirement.
Manny already killed a certain case for the Hall of Fame with his positive drug test. If he doesn’t show his old form, his reputation will be hurt even more because many will believe his entire career was built on performance-enhancing drugs.
His best chance to remove some of the doubts is with a productive year. A strong spring is the best way to begin.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
Placido Polanco’s arrival is setting off a chain reaction that could affect Jayson Werth (foreground).
The Rays will play Ben Zobrist every day — somewhere in the field.
