Spring Training | The Baseball Zealot

4/3/08: JOHNNY CUETO – WOW!!!

Through five innings of his major league debut Johnny Cueto is making it look much too easy. Cueto has a perfect game with eight K’s and the Reds lead the Diamondbacks 3-0. Johnny is only 5’10” tall, but has the heart of a lion and is shaking off his veteran catcher in his first big league start. He is pitching with a purpose.

I saw this kid in the grapefruit league when I saw the Reds in Dunedin. As I was leaving the ballpark I had to ask a scout with a gun what he had “that Cueto guy” clocked at, between 92-94 was his reply.

Johnny Cueto (win) 7 IP, 1 HR (Upton HR), 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 10 K

Bruce sent down

Jay Bruce, named #1 Prospect by MiLB.com and Baseball America, has been sent down to the minors by the Reds.

This news will no doubt get the Baker-haters fuming. I know a few who say that Dusty doesn’t like new kids and will only play veterans. With the signing of the similarly left-handed CF Corey Patterson, I have to say it looks a lot like that. My guess however, is that it’s a case of a crowded outfield.

Outwardly at least, Bruce seems to have the right idea:

“I knew what they’d tell me when I went in there,” Bruce said at the Reds complex in Sarasota, Fla. “You don’t want to get sent down. It’s disappointing. But I will feed off of it, go to Louisville and play well.”

I’m curious to what Zealot co-blogger Teddy Ballgame thinks. He saw Bruce play down in spring training and even chatted up his father.

THAT’S TWISTED

Cubs outfielder Felix Pie is missing today’s game with the Milwaukee Brewers with a twisted testicle. OUCH! We’ve all heard the term, “Play Ball”, but this gives it all a new meaning.

Pie is having a procedure today to straighten things out down there and should be back with the ballclub later in the week. Felix has been having a pretty good spring so far and looks to have the inside track on the starting centerfield job with Chicago. The fans in the bleachers at Wrigley Field yell out different types of pie when Pie (pronounced pee-AY) is in center.

Baseball Zealot Radio chats with Shawn Roof from Detroit Tigers Spring Training Camp

Anyone who knows me that I’ve followed Shawn Roof since he and I met during his Illinois days. It seems so long ago but it was only a year ago when he entered his senior year as Illinois shortstop.

Since then, he was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 2007 draft and entered their minor league system. Now he’s down in Lakeland, Florida in the Tigers camp.

Shawn took some time for an interview for Baseball Zealot Radio. He talks about life in the minors, his daily routine in spring training and even talked a bit about his alum, the University of Illinois and their chances for 2008.

Time: 16:33

Date Recorded: 3/6/08

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Baseball Zealot Radio gets a Spring Training update from Teddy Ballgame

Tedd Mallasch (aka Teddy Ballgame) is down in Florida and enjoying some Grapefruit League action. He called up to give us an update on what’s happening down there.

If you haven’t already, read some of Teddy’s articles he written from Florida. He’s posted to the blog pretty much daily since he went down there.

As always, it was a pleasure to talk to Teddy. Hopefully, it won’t be the last time as he is headed to Arizona to see some Cactus League games later this month.

Enjoy!

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JAY VISITS JAYS

Today I went to Dunedin to see the Blue Jays host the Cincinnati Reds. I was especially excited about seeing two phenoms, Jay Bruce outfielder for the Reds (Baseball America’s #1 prospect) and outfielder Travis Snider for Toronto. Went to the bathroom before the game and there was a Cincinnati fan a few feet away commenting how the weather today was a whole lot better than the other day in Clearwater, yes 73 is much better than a brisk 53. Turns out this gentleman, Joe Bruce, was from Texas and his son plays for the Reds, none other than Jay. I commented on how his son was the next big thing, he kinda shrugged it off, and said how Jay had passed up a full ride to Tulane, the Reds signing bonus was too much to pass up. Joe then told me his boy was starting today in centerfield. I wished him well and told him to let Jay know I wished him nothing but the best. It’s always good to see good people in the game.

The 2nd time up Bruce rocked an A.J. Burnett pitch into left-centerfield for a two run double. It was good to see the kid patient enough to wait for a pitch he could handle in an RBI situation, and then do something with it. I had to be a little patient myself, waiting for Travis Snider to hit. Snider’s having a little leg issue, so he had to wait till the Big Hurt got his three AB’s before pinch hitting. As luck would have it, Travis stepped to the plate against a veteran lefty reliever, yet he took a couple of strikes before lining a single the other way into left-center, for an RBI base knock.

It’s always good to see the ballplayers interacting with the fans. In Dunedin today they had a BBQ after the game where the Blue Jay players served up the grub to the fans. Then they hung around to sign autographs, chat, and mingle with the crowd. Cito Gaston threw out the first pitch and would be on hand for the BBQ, he’s popular enough to win an election for mayor among Toronto fans.

BIG MAN, BIG BAT

Today I went to Clearwater to see the Yankees play the Phillies. Before the game I observed a big white guy on NY, #17, hitting balls off a tee, into a net, with ARod setting him up. Later in the 1st inning, #17 stepped to the dish with two aboard, and knocked the first pitch over the leftfield wall. It turned out this big guy was none other than Shelley “Slam” Duncan, son of St. Louis Cardinals coach Dave Duncan, and younger brother of outfielder Chris.

Last season when Shelley was called up to the Yanks the end of July, he lined an RBI single in game #1, game #2 saw his first big league homer, he hit three more in his third game, and then hit his 5th in his 4th game in the show. Duncan earned his Slam nickname with his home run swing and his enthusiastic high fives! Joe Torre commented that he didn’t want to be near Duncan when he did something good, because of his powerful high fives.

In September of 2007 Slam signed an autograph for a 10 year old Red Sox fan, in addition to writing his name, he wrote, “Red Sox Suck!”, he later apologized to the youngster.

The 2nd time up in today’s game Shelley ripped a two run double off the leftfield wall, putting the Yankees up 5-0, a fancy slide into 2B got him there safely. ARod launched a long homer over the left-centerfield fence. The Phillies were there too, but I really can’t remember them doing anything.

CHAD STYPMANN IS A BREATH OF FRESH AIR

Stepping into Knology Field in Dunedin, FL, finding my seat behind home plate, I looked up to see the smiling face of a good friend. “IF YOU CAN’T CATCH A BALL, CATCH A BUZZ”, is the booming refrain of beer vendor Chad Stypmann. Everybody seems more inclined to reconnect with big Chad than even seeing the ballplayers on the field. Whether you buy a beer from the outgoing Stypmann seems to be secondary compared with him taking your hand in his, in a warm handshake, as he looks into your eyes, and is genuinely glad to see you again. Big Chad asks, “Who’s thirsty for a beer?”, then picks up a frosty LaBatts-Weiser, and drinks it down in one gulp, to the delight of the crowd. He smiles as he offers up his genuine LaBatts in a Budweiser bottle. Then Chad stands on top of the Blue Jays dugout and leads the fans in the singing of, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”, during the 7th inning stretch. This is like the Hokey Pokey, what it’s all about!

Of course there was a game too. The pitching matchup featured aces Justin Verlander for the Tigers versus Toronto’s Roy Halladay. Halladay was on my Illowa APBA League Chicago Champions team, but I dropped him when he fell on hard times, not one of my brightest hours. Verlander’s fastball was really popping the leather of his catcher’s mitt. I saw Curtis Granderson’s first big league game a couple of years ago in Detroit, still he wasn’t good enough to make the IAL. Curtis took Doc Hallady over the rightfield wall, showing off the power aspect of his well rounded game. Other highlights for me were when Blue Jay reliever Brian Wolfe struck out all three batters he faced in the one inning he threw and 20 year old Travis Snider, a Matt Stairs’ clone at 5’10” 245, pinch hitting for DH Frank Thomas, worked an 0-2 count for a leadoff 8th inning base on balls. But alas the rally and Toronto’s hopes died when Chip Cannon’s line drive to first was turned into an inning ending DP, 3-1 Detroit.

SAVERY SMOKED

I know it’s only spring training, and only the 2nd game at that, but it was disappointing to watch the Buccos tee off on former Rice Ace Joe Savery. The temperature was the same today as yesterday, 53 degrees, but today the sun was shining, and there was no gusting wind. Still my seat behind home plate was empty as I stationed myself down the leftfield line. Florida oranges floating in Blue Moon beer went down too easily. When the young lefty took the hill, I strolled behind the dish to get a better look. I almost had to turn away from what I was seeing. Savery fell behind Bucco hitters, trying to be too fine, then Josh Wilson lined a two run single up the middle, and then Nate McLouth knocked a three run blast over the rightfield wall, turning a 5-1 lead into a 6-5 deficit.

Before this collapse it was all good for the Phils. The Big Guy Ryan Howard almost reached the highway with his monster shot deep to right, still it wasn’t as far as his preseason drive over the hitting back drop in center last year. Pirate Adam LaRoche also went yard in the ballgame. Speaking of homers, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that Michael Jack Schmidt was in the house for the second straight day, coaching firstbase, he’ll be a roving instructor this year for Philadelphia. I went to the souvenir stand to purchase a Schmidty tee shirt, but was told there were none for sale. Am I nuts or am I the only one who knows great player’s jerseys from all franchises would sell like hotcakes? A couple of years ago I was in Pittsburgh at PNC where I could purchase a Pokey Reese tee shirt, but could not buy a Clemente or Stargell, something wrong with this picture.

After watching baseball the last couple of days, while hearing of more snow in Chicago, I booked a last minute trip to watch some Cactus League baseball. I’d originally booked this trip way back when, cancelled, and then rebooked for about $600 more. Still I’m very much looking forward to hooking up with DonS to watch some pre-Easter baseball out west, but still have five more Florida games to see. Life is good.

Reason to celebrate

After last season’s horrific collapse, I’m glad to see the Mets and Jose Reyes decide that it’s time to tone down the silly handshaking and dancing in the dugout and on the field. This has been getting more and more out of control over the last few years, mostly credited to Sportscenter in my estimation. How much time do players spend choreographing and rehearsing these dances? Too much, I’m sure. I’m surprised that Willie Randolph and Omar Minaya would not be quicker to support Jose’s attempt to set a better example for Little Leaguers. Baseball purists rejoice.