Player Movement:
None
Around the Web:
Kevin Goldstein’s Top 100 Prospects.
D-Rays using Yoga to win?
Stottlemyre trades pin stripes for snake skin.
Spring Update
Prospect of the Day:
Chris Pettit, OF, Angels
Source and Scouting Report: Top Prospect Alert
Rumors:
Source: BenMaller.com
Jermaine Dye vowed Wednesday he won’t break the White Sox’s bank in a bid to stay in Chicago past 2007. “I just want to be fair, whatever market value is,” Dye said, adding he accepts general manager Ken Williams’ decision to refrain from contract talks until after the season. “Of course, to be here I probably have to take less money. I’ve done it before. For me, it’s not about the money. It’s about winning and having fun and, hopefully, finishing my career here.” … Two possible destinations for Dye if he doesn’t stay with the Sox are the Rangers (he’s friendly with new manager Ron Washington) and the Angels, who have struck out in bids to land right-handed power hitters Paul Konerko, Aramis Ramirez and Manny Ramirez over the last two winters. The Angels’ spring training facility in Tempe is a 15-minute drive from Dye’s Scottsdale home.
It’s likely Nats closer Chad Cordero will continue to be targeted by clubs who enter spring training without a closer, namely Boston. But one Nationals official said Wednesday he didn’t expect Cordero to be traded, adding that the club hasn’t wavered on its asking price — young, high-end starting pitching.
The Rangers have made more progress on a potential long-term deal with Michael Young and agent Dan Lozano than they have with Mark Teixeira and agent Scott Boras, but Young said Wednesday that there was “really nothing to report” on the situation and that he’s not focusing his attention on contract talks. “My optimism is geared toward getting ready for the season,” Young said. “Everything that I have, I’m pouring into this season. That’s what I owe to the guys on the team. They don’t want to hear about my contract situation or what my status is for ’08 or ’09 or past that.” Teixeira, too, is worried only about 2007 for the time being. “This game’s way too hard to play if you’re thinking about the future,” Teixeira said. “Who knows what’s going to happen next month?”
Manny Ramirez has cited his mother’s medical condition as the reason why he can’t report to spring training until March 1, but it appears the Red Sox slugger never had any intention of being with the team for today’s first full-squad workout. Ramirez, a collector of classic cars, was scheduled to attend an auto auction in Atlantic City on Saturday, according to organizers. The Web site for the Atlantic City Classic Cars Auction lists one of Ramirez’ cars, a 1967 four-door Lincoln Continental Sedan convertible, in Saturday’s auction. A Sox executive said last night that Ramirez’ agent, Greg Genske, vowed to the team that his client would not be appearing at the event due to his mother’s condition.
Padres GM Kevin Towers said if Todd Walker is among the team’s best 25 players he will open the season on the active roster. Towers also has shown a talent for dealing bloated contracts and has signed two other utility candidates in Geoff Blum, who is guaranteed $900,000, and Oscar Robles, who reported yesterday after getting a minor league contract. A third option, which Towers has downplayed, would be to release Walker by March 15, when he would be owed about $658,000. Walker said he wants to stay with the Padres, citing their World Series potential. He also reiterated that he sought a higher salary largely because it would make it harder for the Padres to trade him.
Dodgers 2B Kent signed an extension a year ago that included a $2-million signing bonus and a $9-million salary for 2007. He can earn another $1 million or so in performance bonuses. And if he reaches 550 plate appearances, the contract vests in 2008 for $9 million. Which would give him additional motivation to continue playing.
So there was Scott Linebrink yesterday morning, still wearing the blue-and-sand colors of the Padres at the Peoria Sports Complex. He went through his drills with the rest of the San Diego pitchers, but he did it knowing in the back of his mind that there was at least a chance that at some point he could be told to pack his bags and catch a flight to join the Phillies. “I don’t think about it,” he said, sitting in front of his locker before the workout. “I don’t let it bother me. I’ve heard my name mentioned in trade rumors before. There’s nothing I can do about that. I still have to go out, get my work in and prepare myself for the season.” He wasn’t exactly doing cartwheels over the idea of a trade, though, which is understandable.
Ichiro likely will be less of a distraction if the Mariners are competitive in the American League West. If that’s not the case, speculation on Ichiro’s departure and/or a trade will be a story all season, or at least until the July 31 trading deadline.
Twins CF Torii Hunter is so close to free agency, he can taste it. After another offseason salary explosion, he’d be hard-pressed not to test the market. He’s about eight healthy months from getting offers in the $90 million range. Hunter, 31, said the team hasn’t approached him about a long-term deal. He said any talks would have to come during spring training. “Once the season starts it’s over,” he said. “I’m 100 percent focused. I won’t be a distraction. That’s why I really don’t want to talk contract [publicly]. It sounds selfish when you’re trying to win a division or things like that.” Hunter always has said he wants to stay with the Twins.
Lou Piniella blasted an erroneous Daily News report from last October that he was going to replace Joe Torre as manager of the Yankees. “I was embarrassed,” said Piniella, now manager of the Cubs. “I’ve got too much respect for that situation and for Joe to have my name tossed around.” Piniella was broadcasting the playoffs at the time of the speculation, and said he already was fairly certain he would be joining the Cubs. After the report, he had to assure Cubs general manager Jim Hendry that there was no truth to it and he wanted to manage in Chicago. Piniella, asked if there was any scenario that would have ended with him as the manager of the Yankees, flatly said, “No.”
Sammy Sosa will arrive in Surprise today but will not meet with the media until Friday. The Rangers are expecting up to 80 members of the media to attend Sosa’s first news conference. That will include reporters from several national publications and Web sites and newspapers in New York, Washington, Chicago and Arizona. Reporters from Sosa’s native Dominican Republic also will be at the news conference.
Joe Torre and Brian Cashman can’t get Bernie Williams on the phone, but Derek Jeter can. “I have talked to him, he called me back,” Jeter said. “I don’t want to talk about what we talked about. It appears he is not coming [to camp].”
Even though the Twins signed Sidney Ponson to a minor league contract, they expect him to win a job in the starting rotation, manager Ron Gardenhire said Wednesday. “I view [Ponson] being one of our starters,” Gardenhire said. “I expect him to step up and take one of those jobs. Whether it happens or not is totally up to him.” Spring training will create a wide-open competition behind ace Johan Santana, of course. But in a perfect world, the Twins would like to break camp with veterans Carlos Silva, Ramon Ortiz and Ponson behind Santana. That would leave youngsters Boof Bonser, Scott Baker, Matt Garza, Glen Perkins and Kevin Slowey to compete for a fifth spot.
Phils OF Karim Garcia, 31, is contending for one of the final two bench jobs. Chris Coste and Greg Dobbs figure to be his top competition. But because Garcia has plenty of big-league experience, hits lefthanded, and can play all three outfield positions, he seems to have a better-than-average chance. Of course, he will need to show he can still play. “It’s a good situation,” assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. “We’re creating competition, and any time you create competition, we’re going to end up with the best players.”
Astros catcher Brad Ausmus is nursing a tender right shoulder and won’t throw for the next couple of days. Considering Ausmus won’t play much early in the spring, manager Phil Garner isn’t concerned.
Jimmy Rollins might need John Rocker-type protection when the Phillies visit Shea for the April 9 home opener if he keeps running his mouth like this. The Phillies shortstop continues to boast that his team is the one to beat in the NL East – a pronouncement met yesterday mostly by ho-hums and chuckles from the division’s defending champs. “If that does motivate us, well, good. That’s just a bonus,” ex-Phillie closer Billy Wagner said. “But we’re a veteran team that doesn’t need that motivation. Our motivation ain’t to beat the Phillies. Our motivation is to win the World Series.”
Kris Benson will begin his rehabilitation program Thursday. In four weeks, he and team doctors will decide on the next course of action. Benson could continue to feel pain and opt for surgery. Or he could decide he can pitch despite the pain and begin a throwing program. Also at issue is Benson’s $7.5 million option for next season, which the Orioles can buy out for $500,000.
Who Knew? Since winning the 2005 Home Run Derby at Comerica Park, Bobby Abreu has hit 21 homers in 813 at-bats (one every 38.7 at-bats) for the Phillies and Yankees. Before the Derby, he averaged one every 24.2 at-bats.
3B Ryan Zimmerman is the only unsigned National, though he is under club control. Both Zimmerman and GM Jim Bowden said there is no concern, and a deal should be forthcoming.
With Los Angeles Dodgers manager Grady Little focusing on matchups as he sets his rotation, it should come as no surprise Brad Penny is penciled in to start against the Rockies on April 9 in Los Angeles’ home opener. Penny went 5-0 with 2.67 ERA against Colorado last year and 11-9 against everyone else.
Right-hander Josh Johnson threw Wednesday as he tries to get ready for the season. Johnson (12-7, 3.10 ERA last season) had irritation in his right biceps/triceps area three weeks ago and was shut down. He reported to spring training Saturday, saying his arm felt fine, but the Marlins remain cautious.
The Yankees probably would like to retire Bernie Williams’ No. 51 some day, but if he’s still bitter enough to duck the ceremony, it might never happen. It would be the highest of 16 uniform numbers retired by the Yankees (honoring 17 players and managers), topping Ron Guidry’s No. 49.
A little more than a year after the Red Sox allowed Johnny Damon to bolt Boston for New York for a paltry – by baseball standards, anyway – $12 million, the question remains: Why did Boston allow the heart of its team to leave for its biggest rival? Damon, now in his second spring with the Yankees, believes the Red Sox had the money to sign him, they just decided he wasn’t worth it. “I knew they had the money back when they were negotiating with me; they just took their stance,” Damon said. “I was probably the only guy who never begged them to sign me.”
Pirates OF Jody Gerut, still held out of all drills, said he has no timetable for participation. “One thing I’m not going to do is look at the calendar,” he said. Gerut had surgery on his right knee May 31, and he has not been able to run at any point since. Given his current pace, it is highly unlikely he will play games in spring training, though that has not been formally ruled out.
The Dodgers still don’t expect Yhency Brazoban to appear in a Spring Training game or to be ready to help them before midseason. They do expect him to lose some weight and he has adjusted his diet. “He feels good right now but he could go too fast and have a setback and that’s something we don’t want to have,” said Little. “It would surprise me to see him in a game this spring.”
Jimmy Rollins, the Phillies’ shortstop, already claimed during the team’s winter caravan that it was the Phillies who were the team to beat in the National League East. And Tuesday, he reiterated and accentuated that belief for a group of reporters, claiming, “We’re the team to beat. I can’t put it any other way. Look at our team and what we’re bringing. Look at the improvements we’ve made. You look at the rest of the division.” When the Mets had digested the words — and their breakfast — they answered back. “Good for him,” Carlos Beltran said of Rollins’ boast. “What’d they win? What’d they win last year?”
Although Barry Bonds is likely to occupy his customary fourth spot in the Giants’ batting order, manager Bruce Bochy didn’t completely rule out moving the slugger to the No. 3 position. Batting Bonds third, which would guarantee him a first-inning plate appearance, was something that perpetually intrigued Felipe Alou, the previous Giants manager. It’s a potential issue now because the Giants lack a true No. 3 hitter — although if Bonds were to vacate the cleanup spot, they’d have to fill a hole there.
Veteran outfielder Reggie Sanders checked into camp Wednesday morning, which made the Royals all present and accounted for in advance of today’s first full-squad workout. Sanders was the last member of the camp’s 59-player roster to arrive.
The Indians are hoping to complete their roster with only one utility infielder rather than two, which would enable Ryan Garko to make the team. Finding a player who is a solid defensive shortstop is the top priority of manager Eric Wedge, but that player also must be a reliable third baseman and second baseman. Then again, maybe not. Andy Marte will open the season as the everyday third baseman, but as an unproven novice, he will not be overworked. There’s also the possibility he will stumble and have to be sent back to Triple-A.
What some see as uncertainty does not alter Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt’s outlook. “I’ve felt good about our team since 2000. We’ve had great chances to win each year. We’ve been extremely successful — six out of seven playoff appearances. I feel as good about this team as those teams,” he said. The Cardinals have won at least 98 games three of the past five years, but DeWitt declined to label the team as potentially dominant. “I don’t know if any dominant teams exist right now,” he said. “My belief is that you try to give yourself every chance to be competitive. I look at this team as very competitive.” DeWitt said he believes this team will more closely resemble the one that stormed through October to win its first World Series since 1982 than one that struggled to 83 wins after last season’s 31-16 start.
Scott Podsednik’s supporters within the White Sox organization say he can bounce back from an off year. But they would like to see him alter his mental approach. They say he needs to forget unsuccessful at-bats rather than dwell on them and let them affect his fielding. “No question I’ve learned a lot in my last four big-league seasons,” Podsednik said. “There were good times and bad times, ups and downs. I’m going to learn from that and put it all together into a solid year.” Much of Podsednik’s frustration was displayed out of camera range. “I’ve had some issues as far as being too critical at times,” he acknowledged. “Let’s see if I can make some adjustments.”
After getting bashed by the Marlins Jon Lieber of the Phils got a phone call. From that point, Lieber looked like a different pitcher. He made 11 more starts before the season ended, going 5-3 with a 3.38. Now it can be told. On the line from the visitor’s clubhouse was Marlins manager Joe Girardi, who once upon a time was Lieber’s catcher when both played for the Cubs. And he had noticed a couple of things the veteran might want to work on. “He just mentioned that the hitters said everything that was coming in was just very flat,” Lieber said recently after completing his workout at the Carpenter Complex. “Basically, I was underneath the ball. I wasn’t on top of the ball like I should have been. And that’s why the ball doesn’t have that crispness when it gets to the strike zone or that sharp break on my breaking ball. It just kind of stays right there for the hitters to lick their lips at.”
Mariners manager Mike Hargrove confirmed Wednesday that right fielder Jose Guillen reported to camp heavier than the team expected and is doing extra conditioning work on the side to slim down. “He’s a little heavier than he would like and we would like,” Hargrove said of Guillen, who is listed at 195 pounds. “We’ve got plenty of time. We’re not worried about it. He’s in great baseball shape. We’re trying to take a few pounds off.”
B.J. Upton will be playing third base, shortstop, second base and center field this spring in the Rays’ attempt to create a super utility man, perhaps along the lines of the Angels’ Chone Figgins.
The Marlins are paying Boone $925,000 to fill that leadership role, and Aaron Boone wants to make it a perfect fit. ”Anytime you sign with a team, you hope it’s your last stop because that means it’s going good for you personally and going good for them,” Boone said. “I’m not looking past this at all. I’m looking forward to being the best player and person I can be.”
In one season with the Baltimore Orioles, outfielder Corey Patterson reestablished himself as a quality major leaguer. Just how much he will play this season likely will depend on how well he hits left-handed pitching. Patterson, a career .229 hitter against lefties, hit just .207 last season. In case those numbers don’t improve, the Orioles have signed Jay Payton, who can play center field and who hit .296 against lefties last season.
Frank Thomas said that the Rogers Centre’s growing reputation of being a hitter-friendly stadium played a role in his decision to sign with the Blue Jays. “I’ve always hit well in the Rogers Centre,” Thomas said. “[Toronto] always had such great pitching over the years, but I did find myself getting some hits sometimes that I wouldn’t get at other ballparks.” In 67 career games in Toronto, Thomas has hit .288 with 12 homers and 67 RBIs. He hit two home runs in six games at the Rogers Centre last season.
Astros 2B Craig Biggio, who begins this season 70 hits shy of becoming the 27th player to reach 3,000 career hits, flew to Orlando, Fla., on Wednesday afternoon and arrived at the clubhouse after most of the staff and all of his teammates had gone.
Astros manager Phil Garner revealed Tuesday that Woody Williams will start the team’s exhibition opener March 1 against the Cleveland Indians in Winter Haven, Fla. Roy Oswalt will make his 2007 Grapefruit League debut March 2 in the opener at Osceola County Stadium against defending American League champion Detroit, and newcomer Jason Jennings will start March 3 against Atlanta at Disney World.
The Astros outfield has been pegged by many observers as one of the worst in baseball, defensively speaking, but Phil Garner disagrees, especially about the criticism surrounding Lee. “A few of the comments I’ve read about Carlos Lee I think are way overstated,” Garner said. “I think he could be a solid left fielder. He played good against us. I did not see any of the things that I read about him show up when he played against us.”
Tigers manager Jim Leyland explained his doctrine of free speech in the clubhouse. “I want my players to always speak their minds,” he said. “I have absolutely no problem with that. But I think sometimes players say, ‘The manager isn’t going to say anything back in the newspaper.’ “Well, I’m going to. If I believe it’s unfair, I’m going to respond.”
Cubs OF Felix Pie not only is very talented, but he has acquired a long list of nicknames in his young career. He’s been called “Super Baby,” “El Nino,” and “El Gato,” which means cat in Spanish. Now, he’s calling himself “Benjamin” after the reggaeton group, Los Benjamins.
“(Ambiorix) Burgos looks like he has electric stuff,” Mets manager Willie Randolph said of the pitcher, whose fastball was clocked at better than 100 mph several times last season. “But when hitters’ hearts are not into live (batting practice), anybody can look good. “I try to always temper my enthusiasm a little. After being away for three or four months everything is magnified. Everyone looks so big and strong. … I do feel we have a talent upgrade overall. Maybe that’s why everyone looks so much better because we have better arms here.”
It was jarring not so much that Jose Castillo, the Pirates’ second baseman the past three years, was taking grounders yesterday at third base. But, rather, that he was doing the drill on a field surrounded by minor-leaguers, this while major-league infielders Jack Wilson, Freddy Sanchez and Adam LaRoche did the same drill at the same time on an adjacent field. Was a message being sent? If Wilson’s recent public criticisms of Castillo’s work ethic were one way to get Castillo’s attention, then this conspicuous arrangement of events yesterday, early in the team’s first full-squad workout at Pirate City, might well have been management’s way of doing likewise. … The Pirates had discussed the possibility of Castillo playing third during last season, largely because they were dismayed by the extra weight he was carrying and how that affected his range at second. But Castillo has reported to this camp 20 pounds lighter than at the end of last season.
Outfielder Xavier Nady was hospitalized Tuesday night with a stomach ailment, causing him to miss the Pirates’ first full-squad workout yesterday. The illness is not considered to be serious, and Nady is expected to return soon.
Veteran utilityman Jolbert Cabrera provides Cards manager Tony La Russa with an intriguing option, given his experience at seven positions. Cabrera, 34, has appeared in big league games at every position but pitcher and catcher. He spent the past two years in Japan, but in 2003 and 2004 he played extensively for the Dodgers and Mariners, respectively. The problem for Cabrera is one of simple numbers. The Redbirds have a slew of bench options, with Aaron Miles and Scott Spiezio in the infield and Preston Wilson, So Taguchi and John Rodriguez in the outfield. So while Cabrera may have a similar value to what Abraham Nunez brought two years ago, he doesn’t have the same chance of making the team that Nunez had.
Jeff Samardzija is busy wondering if the Cubs will give him an opportunity to pitch in a Cactus League game before shipping him to the minor-league camp to prepare for Class A ball. “I hope I do [get a Cactus League appearance],” Samardzija said. “I feel really good. It’s not where I want to be fastball-wise, not 100 percent right now. But I went out [Tuesday] and threw really, really good. “I was coming off a 45-pitch bullpen [session] the day before, so I was really excited to get out there and see how I’d bounce back. That’s always an easy way to tell, and it felt good. I know I was getting out farther [in his delivery], and it still had the pump on it. I feel ready to go. “We’ll figure it out. Right now we’re just getting in shape, getting the arm ready to go.”
Phils RHP Kyle Drabek, the hard-throwing first-round pick from last year, was a little wild throwing off the mound to Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley, no doubt fueled by the desire to impress the big club. “That’s part of it,” Manuel said. Drabek, a non-roster invitee, will start the season at Class A as a starter.
A move that made sense on paper became a reality Wednesday when the Angels slid Brandon Wood over to third base. It’s neither a shift that the club insists is permanent nor one that will send seismic waves through baseball. But it fits from an organizational standpoint and ultimately could speed up the shortstop prospect’s advancement to the Major Leagues. … The Angels have Chone Figgins starting at third base at the big-league level while heir apparent Dallas McPherson is out for most of the season recovering from back surgery. Other third basemen include Maicer Izturis, Robb Quinlan and Shea Hillenbrand, none of whom project as an every-day solution, while Matt Brown is the leading prospect at the position.
White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said embattled White Sox shortstop Juan Uribe will miss Thursday’s first full-squad workout. “Missing the first workout, it’s not a big deal, but I expect him to be here as soon as he can,” Guillen said Wednesday. Uribe, 27, was scheduled to arrive in Tucson late Thursday after a hearing for his alleged involvement in the shooting of two men in October. Guillen has stressed that Uribe must report in shape and with his legal issues behind him. Uribe is expected to participate in Friday’s workout after Major League Baseball’s security department conducts a mandatory meeting.
Marlins backup catcher Matt Treanor spent the past six weeks of the offseason at Cris Carter’s Fast Program in Coral Springs. Carter, a former NFL receiver, has helped several athletes improve their speed. Former Marlins center fielder Juan Pierre spent time there, as well as pitcher Dontrelle Willis. Treanor’s wife — Olympic volleyball gold medalist Misty May — was at the camp and talked her husband into going. ”She did it last year and we went together this year,” Treanor said. ‘She said, `You’ll have a good time doing this and it will make your body feel better.’ ”
Bob Nutting, the Pirates’ new principal owner, and Kevin McClatchy, chief executive officer, will address the players in a private gathering Monday at Pirate City. It will be nothing new for McClatchy, a regular attendee this time of year, but it will be the first time Nutting is face-to-face with the players since taking over the franchise Jan. 12. He did make contact that morning, in the form of an express-mailed letter to each player explaining the ownership transfer before the news became public.
Jeff Bagwell, who has a locker in the Astros coaches’ locker room, will arrive to Spring Training on Sunday. He’ll spend two weeks in Kissimmee and will return again toward the end of the spring season.
Bill O’Reilly, appearing as a guest on FSN’s “Best Damn Sports Show Period,” on Barry Bonds: “I think he’s a fraud. I think you should do it like Willie Mays did it. Like Hank Aaron did it. Those are the guys I admire….I’m talking as a fan, not a moral arbiter.â€
The roll call of Dodgers with transplanted ligaments, in addition to Yhency Brazoban: Luis Gonzalez, Hong-Chih Kuo (twice), Joe Mays, Mike Megrew, Rudy Seanez, Travis Smith, Eric Stults, Chin-Hui Tsao, Dario Veras, Matt White and Randy Wolf.
Dodgers utility player Marlon Anderson sees himself in the kind of super-sub role that extended the careers of versatile players like Tony Phillips and Mark McLemore. Anderson’s 50 pinch-hits from 2004-06 lead the Major Leagues. He said he is completely recovered from surgery Oct. 10 to remove bone chips from his throwing elbow.
When Japanese television analysts tried to deconstruct the mystifying slider thrown by Daisuke Matsuzaka, they called it a gyroball, partly because the pitch seemed to come from another world. Matsuzaka says he does not throw any such pitch in games — but when he signed with the Boston Red Sox this off-season for $52 million, American baseball fans were forced to confront the mystery. Is the gyroball a myth, or is it real? And if it is real, what exactly is it? Kazushi Tezuka says he has the answer, and he flew from Japan to the United States this week to reveal it. Tezuka, a Japanese trainer who is credited with creating the gyroball 12 years ago, walked to the mound at Scottsdale Stadium on Wednesday to show off his invention. Tezuka used a standard fastball grip. He went into a basic motion. Only at the end of his delivery did he deviate. He turned the inside of his throwing arm away from his body and released the ball as if it were a football, making it spiral toward home plate. The pitch started on the same course as a changeup, but it barely dipped. It looked like a slider, but it did not break. The gyroball, despite its zany name, is supposed to stay perfectly straight. “That’s it!†Tezuka said, laughing hysterically on the mound. “That’s the gyro!â€
Former Braves CF Marquis Grissom has come full circle, for Wilkerson Mill will serve as home base for his newly minted Marquis Grissom Baseball Association, which begins league play in March. The final day for registration is this Saturday, at Wilkerson Mill, for both boys baseball and girls fast-pitch softball. Registration is 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., the age range from 9 to 18. Grissom sat in a folding chair, adjusted the heater, and explained the origins of his league. “I went to spring training with the Cubs last year,” he said. “I didn’t play well, and I was sore all the time. Fact is, I just didn’t want to put in the work like I was used to putting in. I was going through the motions. … “So I came back home — I’ve lived in Fayetteville for a lot of years,” said Grissom, who turns 40 in April. “A few months later I got a call from Gary Staab, one of my first coaches ever. He said, ‘Son, I’ve been waiting for you to retire.’ I said, ‘What do you mean?’ He said, ‘I’ve been waiting so me and you can go out and get some kids, and give them the same opportunity that you got.'”
Hall of Famer George Brett arrived Wednesday morning and should be in a Royals uniform for today’s workout. Asked how long he planned to stay, Brett glanced at the practice fields, bathed in 70 degree sunshine, and said: “Forever. I may move down here.â€
Dan Roche and Co. rigged unofficial Red Sox camp mascot Brewzer (an English bulldog belonging to minor league equipment manager Mike Stelmach) with a camera to get a unique perspective of things for this weekend’s episode of “Red Sox] This Week.†Brewzer, who normally avoids large crowds, instinctively walked the length of the fence holding back autograph-seeking fans to get everyone on camera.
