Samardzija hopes to catch on with Cubs
February 27, 2010
MESA, Ariz. (AP)—When most sports fans talk about Jeff Samardzija(notes), theymention the agile receiver who used to catch Brady Quinn’s touchdown passes atNotre Dame. Then, as an afterthought: “Oh, and isn’t he trying to pitch for theChicago Cubs?”
As much as he loves a good football conversation, Samardzija wants this tobe the year people are talking baseball when he is the subject.
He spent a month in the Mexican League last fall working on the breakingpitch he needs to be an effective big leaguer, and the tall right-hander snappedoff several sharp “slurves” Saturday during batting practice.
“He used to look like a football player who was trying to pitch,” pitchingcoach Larry Rothschild said. “Now he looks like a pitcher who just so happenedto play football in college. He’s come a long way.”
The Cubs have two openings in their rotation, and they’d like to get areturn on the $10 million investment they made when they signed Samardzija threeyears ago.
He teased the team with his potential when he was called up during the 2008pennant race, working 13 scoreless appearances that August before hitters begansitting on his fastball. Samardzija was smacked around in September, failed tomake the club last spring and had a 7.53 ERA during three short big leaguestints in 2009.
“The stubborn side of me … expected it to happen overnight,” Samardzijasaid. “The realistic side of me kind of knew it was going to take a little bit.I needed to be able to command another pitch. The curve has come along well.”
Rothschild said Samardzija’s new pitch is more of a slider-curvecombination.
“It’s a tight, hard breaking ball—a real quality pitch,” the coach said.“Jeff should be able to repeat his delivery and have success, because he hasthe agility and balance that goes with being a great athlete.”
Samardzija caught 155 passes for 2,266 yards and 27 touchdowns in his lasttwo seasons at Notre Dame. Rated a top-20 baseball prospect, he wasn’t drafteduntil the fifth round because many teams thought he would play in the NFL.
The football factor gave him bargaining power with the Cubs. His five-yearcontract—which includes a no-trade clause and two option years that couldbring him another $6.5 million—was unprecedented for such a low draft choice.
Like most Notre Dame followers, Samardzija isn’t thrilled about whathappened to the Fighting Irish since he, Quinn and other standouts departed.Records of 3-9, 7-6 and 6-6 followed, coach Charlie Weis was fired and theprogram again is in rebuilding mode.
“I was a Weis fan but … college football is becoming more of aprofessional sport every year. You’ve got to win or else,” Samardzija said.
“I heard (new coach Brian Kelly) is a charismatic guy and a greatrecruiter, which is the most important aspect of college football,” he said.“It’s not so much X’s and O’s. If you’ve got a guy that can run down the fieldand catch it over the other guy, that’s really all you need.”
These days, Samardzija is hoping to make a different kind of grab in acompletely different game.
“There are only a handful of starting rotation spots open in the majors,”he said. “When you get the opportunity to snag one, you’d better not miss.”
NOTES: Manager Lou Piniella said Saturday that LHP Ted Lilly(notes) will miss“probably the first month of the season” after a nearly weeklong virus delayedhis comeback from shoulder and knee injuries. The team had been talking about amid-April return. … RHP Angel Guzman(notes), shut down for a few days afterexperiencing shoulder soreness, is expected to resume throwing Sunday.
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Inge expects to be healthy for opener
February 27, 2010
LAKELAND, Fla. (AP)—Detroit Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge(notes) says he’s aheadof schedule in his return from offseason knee surgery and expects to becompletely healthy by the time the regular season begins.
After revamping his swing a year ago, Inge earned a spot in the All-Stargame with a terrific first half, but he was hampered down the stretch bytendinitis in both knees and forced to have them repaired in November.
Inge spent several weeks wearing braces on both legs that stretched from hisankles to his thighs.
The 32-year-old has gone through conditioning and workouts with the team,but wont begin playing until the latter part of spring training. Tigers managerJim Leyland so far is pleased with Inge’s progress.
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Baez, Contreras together again in Philly
February 27, 2010
CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP)—When word first started spreading that veteran pitcherJose Contreras(notes) was joining the Philadelphia Phillies last month, no one washappier than Danys Baez(notes).
This was no ordinary new teammate for Baez. Hardly.
Contreras’ signing with the Phillies completed a remarkable reunion of twomen who escaped Cuba and found success in the major leagues.
“I called (Contreras) right after he signed,” said Baez, who signed withPhiladelphia in January. “From the real Cuba to the Philadelphia Phillies,that’s the dream.”
Said Contreras: “The first day we went through the door after training, mywife passed and said, ‘I’m really happy to see Danys.’ I said, ‘You’re happy?No, I’m happy It’s a lot easier.”
During the first 11 days they’ve spent at the Phillies’ spring training sitein Clearwater, Fla., Baez and Contreras have been linked at the spikes. Whereone goes, the other follows.
Of course, the two right-handers, who are both expected to pitch out of thebullpen for the Phillies this season, were linked once before: Baez andContreras were both members of the Cuban National team 10 years ago.
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel is banking on the Cuban reunion to adddurability and dependability to his bullpen in 2010.
“Contreras has got a big arm,” Manuel said recently. “And Baez will neverturn down the ball these are mentally tough guys.”
The similar makeup Manuel sees in the two relievers has no doubt beenestablished through the trials the two pitchers had to go through to flee fromCuba. Baez, a 22-year-old rookie in 1999, defected while with the Cuban team andsigned with the Cleveland Indians. Contreras dealt with the repercussions.
Before Baez defected, he gave Contreras some personal effects, intended forthe family he was leaving. But when Contreras arrived at Baez’s home, it wasn’tBaez’s mom who welcomed him into the house.
“All the police officers in town were waiting for me,” Contreras said.
Contreras was released when it became apparent that he didn’t have anydetails about Baez’s defection.
The ramifications of defecting from Cuba don’t end with uncomfortableinterviews with the police. Less than two years after he left Cuba in 2003 tosign with the New York Yankees, Contreras received word that his father haddied.
Contreras wasn’t able to attend the funeral. He had to listen to over thephone.
“Think about it. Why? Why? We haven’t done anything,” Baez said, afterretelling the story and translating for Contreras. “We haven’t killed anybody.We want to play the best baseball in the world, that’s it.”
Baez and Contreras would like to see a time when the political climatechanges in Cuba.
They’d like nothing more than to take their new family—their wives andchildren—back to see their old families and friends they haven’t seen inyears.
The comforts of living in the United States helps bury memories of thestruggle of leaving Cuba as far back as they can.
With each passing day in the major leagues, they are another day removedfrom having to live in fear.
“I was in the room taking orders: Now we go here, now we’re doing this, nowwe’re signing these papers, now you have to go through the airport,” Baez saidof the fear that encompassed him during the defection. “I spent three hours inthe airport bathroom, waiting the government of Canada was looking for me, andCuba and Canada have relations. They were going to take me and send me back toCuba. And what happens in Cuba, I don’t know but I didn’t want to find out.”
The two relievers are grateful they’ve found each other again, too.
“The bottom line,” Baez said. “is you know you’re making the rightdecision. You have the chance to play major league baseball, with the very bestin the world I haven’t seen my brother in 10 years. But now I have a friend in(Contreras) on my team, in my clubhouse. It’s a gift, it really is.”
NOTES: Philadelphia RHP Roy Halladay(notes) will start against CC Sabathia(notes) and theNew York Yankees in the Phillies Grapefruit League opener Thursday at BrightHouse Field. Philadelphia LHP Cole Hamels(notes) is on tap to pitch Friday against theBlue Jays while fellow left-hander J.A. Happ(notes) will start an exhibition gameWednesday vs. Florida State University. Philadelphia left-handed reliever J.C.Romero(notes) was supposed to throw off the mound for the first time Saturday, but rainpushed it back a day. Romero had elbow surgery in October.
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Rays’ Burrell eyes big turnaround
February 27, 2010
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (AP)—When Pat Burrell(notes) finally had an opportunity to sitdown and reflect on one the least productive years of his career, the Tampa BayRays slugger concluded he had no one to blame but himself.
Sure, a “slight herniation” of two discs in his neck contributed to a slowstart in 2009, but the 33-year-old designated hitter also said he let theproblem linger too long before getting the injury checked out.
A less-than-smooth transition from everyday player to DH was a factor, too,in his first American League season. Burrell again claimed responsibility fornot making adjustments necessary to be successful.
“You can’t spend a whole lot of time thinking about the past,” saidBurrell, who batted .221 with 14 home runs and 64 RBIs in 122 games afteraveraging .262 with 31 homers and 99 RBIs over the previous four seasons withthe Philadelphia Phillies.
“You want to put it behind you, but you also want to be able to build fromit,” he added. “I’ve had bad seasons before, and it is extra motivation foryou to come in and give it that much more focus and determination to turn thingsaround.”
The Rays signed Burrell to a $16 million, two-year deal in January 2009 withexpectations of adding a potent right-handed bat to the middle of a lineup thatlost to Burrell’s Phillies in the 2008 World Series.
He missed 29 games from May 11 to June 11 with what was described at thetime as a neck strain and continued to struggle after returning to the lineup.
Despite hitting .299 with six homers and 18 RBI’s during a 27-game stretchfrom July 31-Sept. 2, he never really provided the Rays the punch they desired.He fizzled down the stretch, homering twice in his last 38 games.
“I’m sure his pride was injured a bit,” manager Joe Maddon said, citing alack of familiarity with the DH role and AL pitching as factors in Burrell’sworst numbers since 2003, when he batted .209 with 21 homers and 64 RBIs in 146games with Philadelphia.
“I talk to him often, and this guy expects to play at a much higher level.He expects to be part of a winning team and he expects his team to be a winningteam,” Maddon added. “He’s pretty much always been that.”
After winning 97 games and winning the AL East 2008, the Rays won 84 andfinished third in the division last season.
Burrell reported to spring training, looking fit and eager to rebound.
“I had a lot more time this offseason to get in shape, think about the yearand make some adjustments,” said Burrell, who also worked with new Rays battingcoach Derek Shelton this winter.
“That’s no excuse or anything like that, it’s just the way it was,” headded. “I’m a lot more prepared this year as far as physically, and definitelymentally. It’s not a new team any more. There’s not all the adjustments thatcome along with it. I know what I need to do and how to go about it.”
Burrell discounted how much being a primary DH for the first time in hiscareer impacted his performance.
“It was an adjustment, but when you get in that batter’s box you have a jobto do. … Some of the down time in between (at bats) is an adjustment, but Idon’t think that was as big of an issue,” he said.
Nor does he believe a lack of familiarity with AL pitching caused hisstruggles.
“It was 100 percent me more than anything else,” Burrell said. “There aresome tendencies you can learn about pitchers throughout the season, but I’veplayed long enough to know that it’s still got to go across the plate.”
Maddon is encouraged by what he’s seen in camp and likes the chances ofBurrell, a .254 career hitter with 265 homers and 891 RBIs, improving on lastyear’s performance.
“He’s a young man, and normally the track record of success sustains itselfor maintains itself at that particular age,” the manager said.
“I think there were a lot of reasons last year wasn’t that good, but Ibelieve he’s going to bounce back well this year.”
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INF Lopez returns to Cards for 1 year
February 27, 2010
JUPITER, Fla. (AP)—Felipe Lopez(notes) bounded into the St. Louis Cardinals clubhousefollowing his early morning physical Saturday prepared to work in the battingcage before the rest of the squad took to the fields.
He’s just that happy to be back with the Cardinals.
Lopez signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Cardinals, returninghim to the team he played for briefly in 2008. Lopez could earn $1.2 million inperformance bonuses this season.
“This has been my first choice since I played here in ’08,” Lopez said.“It’s a great organization. I’m proud to be here. They treated me, like always,with open arms.”
Lopez hit .385 with four home runs in 43 games after coming to St. Louisfrom Washington in 2008. Splitting time between Arizona and Milwaukee last year,he hit .310 with nine home runs.
St. Louis General Manager John Mozeliak wanted to give manager Tony La Russamore options in the lineup and infield.
“The idea of why we went down this path was to just give Tony moreflexibility in his lineup,” Mozeliak said. “When you look at what Felipe iscapable of doing, he really has the ability to play every position on the fieldother than pitcher and catcher, and he’s a switch hitter.”
Depending on the development of David Freese(notes) and Joe Mather(notes), Lopez could seesignificant time early at third base. He could also be part of the solution atshortstop if Brendan Ryan(notes) doesn’t recover as quickly as expected from offseasonwrist surgery.
“We all thought we were a little thin,” St. Louis manager Tony La Russasaid. “We just got a little heftier as far as depth. If he (signed) with us heknew he could play multiple positions and he’s fine with that.”
Following a solid 2009, Lopez expected to be in some team’s camp muchearlier than this. Upset by his status, Lopez changed his representation twoweeks ago from Scott Boras to Beverly Hills Sports Council.
A first-round selection by Toronto in 1998, Lopez reached the majors withthe Blue Jays in 2001 and was an All-Star for Cincinnati in 2005.
“I don’t know that he would have been (available) if we had waited throughthe weekend,” Mozeliak said. “We either had to do it now or relegate ourselvesto, if we thought we needed that left-handed bat somewhere else, we would havehad to pursue it in a trade.”
Mozeliak added that Lopez’s attitude during his two-month stretch with theclub in 2008 factored in the decision to bring him back.
“I’m excited,” Lopez said. “It’s been tough just waiting around. I hateit. What matters is that I’m here. I’m in a good place with people I can learn alot from.”
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Nationals’ Dunn looking to improve at 1B
February 27, 2010
VIERA, Fla. (AP)—Washington Nationals first baseman Adam Dunn(notes) has lost trackof how many groundballs have been hit his way this spring.
Quick reaction shots, backhanders in the hole, line-huggers that draw himtoward the base and the runner. No matter the situation, he’s worked on it.
And for good reason: Dunn is focused on proving he can provide adequatedefense at a position where he’s clearly a work in progress.
“I didn’t have an expectation of myself last year,” Dunn said Saturday.“I wanted to go over and play and I didn’t think it would be that hard. It wasa lot harder than what I anticipated. Now I know what to expect and now I knowwhat to expect out of myself.”
When Nick Johnson(notes) was traded to the Florida Marlins on July 31, Dunn movedfrom left field to first base, a position he had played only sporadically ineight previous seasons. The switch kept his bat in the middle of the lineup, butDunn had trouble with his lateral movement and committed eight errors in 67games at first.
Dunn is embracing the opportunity to learn what he considers a new position.
“I didn’t even know what foot to take the first step with, to lead with,because I’m so used to being on the left side of the field. It’s opposite, youknow? … I’d worked over there, but you can’t teach something (in pregamedrills). You can work on it, but we had, what, 30 minutes to work on it a day?And then you’re in the game,” said Dunn, who has 23 errors in 194 career gamesat first.
Over the winter, Dunn used jiujitsu sessions to boost his flexibility andstamina. He’s spent hours during spring training fielding grounders and gettingpointers from third base coach Pat Listach, special instructor Tim Foli andspecial adviser to the general manager Davey Johnson, the triumvirate chargedwith making him into a credible first sacker.
Dunn is getting better moving side to side, something he was uncomfortabledoing last season, when he hit a team-leading 38 home runs and drove in 105runs. He’s perfecting the ability to dig throws, something general manager MikeRizzo said he did well in 2009. His 6-foot-6, 285-pound frame, however, is aneasy-to-hit target for fielders.
The 30-year-old Dunn still has trouble with balls hit directly at him, andis spending a lot of time learning new responsibilities like his part inrundowns, pickoffs and cutoffs.
“A lot of times, people think that somebody who doesn’t have a position,you can put them at first base. Well, there’s a lot going on over there than tothink that just anybody can do it,” Nationals manager Jim Riggleman said. “Wethink he’s going to be a good first baseman. We’re confident of that.”
Riggleman wants Dunn to be able to field his position—which allows JoshWillingham(notes) regular playing time in left field—but has no illusions aboutDunn’s primary contributions to his team.
“You want somebody to clean it up and knock in those runs. He’s our guy.… He has that history, he’s a presence in our lineup that demands respect,”Riggleman said.
With 316 career homers, Dunn has plenty of productive years in his future,said general manager Mike Rizzo. The notion of Dunn joining the 500-home runclub isn’t far-fetched, he said.
“Several years down the road if he continues at the pace he’s at, we’regoing to be talking about Hall of Famer Adam Dunn,” Rizzo said.
Improving his defense would just add to Dunn’s all-around game.
“I think he’s found his home at first base, I really believe that,” Rizzosaid. “I think that’s his best position. We’re not asking him to be a GoldGlove-caliber defensive player. We want him to be an average defender and he’sgoing to work really hard at being it.”
Or, as Dunn puts it: “I’m not going to sit there and say I’m going to bethe best ever, but I’m not going to be the worst.”
NOTES: RHP Stephen Strasburg(notes) has progressed to throwing to hitters, thoughthey still aren’t swinging at his pitches. Strasburg threw a 12-minute sessionof batting practice from behind a protective screen Saturday, with the fourhitters he faced—INF Eric Bruntlett(notes), C Derek Norris and OFs Roger Bernadina(notes)and Willy Taveras(notes), only assuming their stances and not swinging because it wascold and damp. “Just working on pitches, working on location, working onspots,” said Strasburg, who displayed some impressive movement on his pitches.… C Jesus Flores(notes), who is recovering from right shoulder surgery, will not beready to play when Grapefruit League games begin March 4, Riggleman said.
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Chipper says he could retire after 2010
February 27, 2010
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP)—Chipper Jones(notes) knows some observers scoffed at his talklast year of possible retirement after this season.
Count Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox among those who don’t believe Joneswill walk away from two years and $28 million on his contract, which runsthrough 2012.
Jones’ frustration and talk of retirement came after seeing his battingaverage drop 100 points last year. He led the National League with his .364average in 2008 but fell to .264 last season with 31 fewer hits in almost 50more at-bats.
He said last year he won’t keep playing if he doesn’t return to form thisseason. He’s sticking with that stance this spring.
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Henderson to show A’s how to steal bases
February 27, 2010
PHOENIX (AP)—Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson arrived at the Oakland Athletics’spring training facilities Saturday and many of the A’s are looking forward toworking with him on stealing bases.
A’s manager Bob Geren said Henderson’s primary focus will be on stealingbases, but he won’t be limited. That’s fine with A’s outfielder Rajai Davis(notes), wholed the team with 41 steals last year. Davis wants to talk about batting leadoffand playing the outfield as well.
The A’s were fourth in the majors in stolen bases last year and addingplayers such as Coco Crisp(notes) to the mix could increase those totals.
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Rookie Jackson set to become Tigers’ CF
February 27, 2010
LAKELAND, Fla. (AP)—Austin Jackson(notes) knows the Detroit Tigers expect a lot fromhim.
Jackson is set to become the Tigers’ new center fielder, and will start theexhibition season as their leadoff hitter.
Jackson has never played in a major league game. The Tigers got him lastDecember from the Yankees in a three-team trade that sent All-Star centerfielder Curtis Granderson(notes) to New York.
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Padres’ Blanks reports 15 pounds lighter
February 26, 2010
PEORIA, Ariz. (AP)—The San Diego Padres presented Kyle Blanks(notes) with anopportunity and he wanted to take advantage.
So he went out and dropped 15 pounds this offseason through a combination ofdieting and working out.
“It’s something I wanted to do regardless,” Blanks said. “Could it havean effect? I hope so. I hope being in better shape overall just helps withinjury. I feel like I put myself in the best possible position for success.”
Blanks hit .250 with 10 homers and 22 RBIs in 148 at-bats last season. He isexpected to be the Padres’ everyday left fielder this year now that ChaseHeadley(notes) has moved to his natural position following the trade of third basemanKevin Kouzmanoff(notes) to Oakland.
After finishing the 2009 season weighing 288 pounds, Blanks—who missed thefinal five weeks with a strained arch in his right foot—weighed in at 273pounds when he came to camp.
Strength and conditioning coach Jim Malone was excited when Blanks waspromoted from Triple-A Portland on June 19. Having had the opportunity to workwith Blanks during spring training the three previous years, Malone was eager toget the 6-foot-6 athlete into better shape.
Once Blanks was in the big leagues, Malone went to work trying to convincethe big man on how to better prepare himself during the offseason.
“We talked a lot about his diet and eating and he bought into that,”Malone said. “Just in the last few years he’s not come to accept that workingout is a necessity but to enjoy it. As a younger guy it wasn’t something he wasinto. Gradually we found some middle ground.”
Beginning with packaged meals in October, Blanks and Tampa Bay Rays prospectMatt Moore began dieting and working out on a daily basis. Blanks said he andMoore provided a system of checks and balances as they pushed one another tocontinually go to the gym and stay on track.
“You don’t want a younger player to shift dramatically,” manager Bud Blacksaid. “He is still finding his way but he looks to be in a good spot.”
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