Category: Spring Training

MVP JROLL SPRINGS INTO ACTION

Jimmy Rollins Even though there’s still snow on the ground throughout much of the USA, Spring officially sprung into action for me watching MVP JRoll & his Phillies take on the Cincinnati Reds in Clearwater, FL today. Although it was only 53 degrees, with wind screaming across the field from left to right, it was time to play some baseball. I grabbed a Yuengling, some cheese pizza, and settled into my primo seats behind home plate. But then the 30 MPH wind reminded me it wasn’t quite spring yet. So I gave up my seats and moved by the thirdbase line. There was enough shelter there to be able to enjoy the National Pastime.

I’m always amazed when I see little Jimmy Rollins playing shortstop, somehow my brain can’t quite grasp the reality that he is the 2007 NL MVP. I can still remember when I first saw Rollins a few years back when the players were working out, before the games began, I was behind the chainlink fence by home plate, and Jimmy was standing next to me, almost eye-to-eye. I stand at 5’2″ and the Phils “short”-stop is listed at 5’8″. It seems like almost yesterday when Tony Gwynn was brought in to get Rollins to shorten his stroke, and take advantage of his speed. Now he is MVP, hitting 30 home runs, Little Big Man, indeed.

Back to the day, Jamie Moyer toed the rubber for Philadelphia, and made leadoff man Ryan Freel look sick swinging at a slow breaking ball for strike three. Then Moyer showed it was no fluke, as he got Ryan in his 2nd AB with the exact same Uncle Charlie. The first hit by the Reds belonged to super-hype prospect rightfielder Jay Bruce. It was impressive to see the big lefthanded hitter go the other way against Jamie with a duck snort single to left.

Ryan Howard fought the wind and the wind won. Still Howard pulled up at second with a two base hit, he hit the ball on the screws. Pedro Feliz looked really good manning the hot corner for the Phils. It’s gotta be nice for this kid coming over from SF to Philadelphia, and a contender. Greg Dobbs mashed a threw run bomb off some meat nameless lefty to put the game on ice for the home team. It was good to see Chris Coste flash some digits, certainly no quitter there, long time minor leaguer, playing in the show.

Dallas Green was sitting ten rows behind home, watching the action. He is very personable, it’s amazing to see the interaction between the fans and the big guy. Green chatted with fans and signed a few autographs.

Shawn Roof in Spring Training

Former Illini and current member of the Detroit organization Shawn Roof shot me an email update tonight.  I always enjoy hearing from Shawn but now that he’s in his first spring training, I was anxious to see how things were shaking.  Not surprisingly, Roof was one of the first ones down there:

“I’m down here in Florida right now.  I’ve been down for about a week working out with some of the other guys that have gotten down here early.  I am having a blast.  The weather is beautiful and its nice to take ground balls on a real field again.  Anyways its almost like the circus came to town down here with all the excitement from the trades the Tigers made.  We pretty much have an All Star at every position.”

Baseball runs in Shawn’s family.  Brothers Eric and Jonathon both play for Michigan State.  Jonathon was drafted by Boston out of high school last year.  There’s seems to be a rivalry among the three that can only exist between brothers.

Illini SS Shawn Roof dogging baserunner Eric Roof from MSU during a 2007 Illinois-MSU game

Fortunately, Shawn was able to catch Eric and Jonathon in action when MSU played a tournament in Deland, Florida last weekend.

“I had a great opportunity to go and watch Michigan State play down here this past weekend.  I got a chance to see my little brothers play, and its hard to believe that they are all grown up and not the little turds I remember in the back yard.  Eric is strong as an ox now, and hit the ball very well this weekend, and he’s going to catch quite a bit as well.  He has really turned himself into a good player.  I also got a chance to see the little brother Jonathan, hit his first career home run, so now they have both one upped my career home run total of 0, but he looks like he has a chance to have a very good year, and a chance to be an unbelievable player down the road.  He made one fine catch up the middle that made me pretty jealous.  I know I’m bragging on them, but I’m pretty proud of how they have come along, not to mention the Spartans look like a decent team as well.”

“Little turds”… how affectionate. 

Roof said he expects good things from the Illini this year.  He and last year’s Big Ten Player of Year Lars Davis were both in town working out with the team before the season started.

Moskos: Future of the Bucs pitching?

During our last podcast, Todd and I talked a bit about Daniel Moskos, the Pirates’ 2007 first round draft pick.  Today, mlb.com has a feature story about Moskos, a reliever turned starter.

Interestingly, Moskos is the only member of the 2007 Draft who part of the Major League portion of Spring Training. 

“I’m just trying to fit in,” said Moskos, the Pirates’ top pick in last season’s First-Year Player Draft. “I don’t want to be that young guy that’s just nagging people. I don’t necessarily have to ask them about pitching or anything. It’s just being one of them.”

Phillies Phool Kendrick in Pre-season hoax

kendrick Second season pitcher Kyle Kendrick was the victim of an elaborate practical joke by his Phillie teammates.  The crux of the joke was that he was being traded to Japan for a “Kobayashi Iwamura”. 

Kobayashi is a reference to Takeru Kobayashi who long held the record for hot dog eating.

Teammate Brett Myers was the mastermind behind the whole thing but he help from other Phillies teammates, manager Charlie Manuel, and even Kendrick’s agent and sports reporters.  

Not only was the whole thing carefully planned, it was even videotaped unbeknownst to Kendrick. 

The You Tube video is a must see for a good laugh.  Some of the media who were obviously in on it weren’t doing a good job keeping it a secret as they had their notepads up to their mouths to conceal their laughing.

Legends Field renamed for the Boss

legendsfield Commercial naming rights, begone.  Nope, the New York Yankees have announced that they are renaming Legends Field, which has been the the Yanks’ spring training home for 30 years, George M. Steinbrenner Field. 

As much as he could be, the billionaire and principal owner of the New York Yankees was humbled by the action:

“I am humbled and flattered to have this outstanding and totally unexpected honor conferred on me,” George Steinbrenner said in a statement. “I extend my thanks to the Tampa City Council and to the Hillsborough County Commissioners for passing resolutions suggesting and recommending the change.”

The newly renamed facility is located in Tampa, Florida.

(photo: Baseball Parks of the Minor Leagues)

Last spring in Tucson for the White Sox?

According to this Tucson Citizen report, the Chicago White Sox are attempting to move their spring training grounds.  They have have completed a deal with the Dodgers to share a sports complex in Glendale, Arizona.  The Sox hope they can move into the stadium,  in 2009.

There’s one problem.  They need to get out of their current contract with Pima County which has them at Tucson Electric Park till 2012.  To do that, they’ll need to find a replacement team to play there. 

So for the time being, it’s business as usual and the company line is that they are happy residents of Tucson.  So says White Sox vice president of communications Scott Reifert:

“Nothing has changed.  We have every intention to honor our commitment in Tucson until 2012 unless we find an acceptable team or a solution.”

For the time being, ground has been broken on the new 12,000 seat facility in Glendale.  The Dodgers will be there for sure in 2009 (after 60 springs at Vero Beach). 

Time will tell when the Sox will join them. 

Cubs’ Spring Training Schedule out

The Chicago Cubs’ (tentative) Spring Training schedule is out.  Tickets go on sale January 8.  Details and Carrie Muskat’s summary are on mlb.com.   

The Chicago Cubs’ (tentative) Spring Training schedule is out.  Tickets go on sale January 8. 

Details and Carrie Muskat’s summary are on mlb.com. 

 

I ALREADY CANO’D IT

When I was in Clearwater this spring watching the Yankees play the Phillies I knew something was up. Robinson Cano had switched his number from 22 to 24. There was this buzz in the air, Roger Clemens was returning to the Yankees. So I had to laugh when it was finally made official yesterday. Do … Continue reading “I ALREADY CANO’D IT”

canojersey

When I was in Clearwater this spring watching the Yankees play the Phillies I knew something was up. Robinson Cano had switched his number from 22 to 24. There was this buzz in the air, Roger Clemens was returning to the Yankees. So I had to laugh when it was finally made official yesterday.

Do you have any new news to report?