Daily Archives: February 27, 2010
Here is today’s video diary for SNY.TV, featuring mostly footage of Jose Reyes doing fielding and throwing drills, also with clips of Ruben Tejada:
In this afternoon’s press conference at Tradition Field, Jerry Manuel said he doesn’t think Kelvim Escobar would be able to contribute at the beginning of the season, and suggested he could start the year on the disabled list.
Manuel said:
“If he’s healthy, it would have been a tremendous fit for us…We felt like we kind of had that covered. But now with the injury situation we have to have someone else step up and handle that role.”
…Manuel didn’t rule out Escobar being a factor down the line, but he isn’t throwing off a mound, and even if he starts to increase his workload in the next week or so, the team would need to see how his arm reacts before even thinking about a bullpen session…
Here is the updated list of pitchers scheduled for next week’s intrasquad game:
March 1: Intrasquad, Egbert, Everts, Blackley, Niese, Stoner, Dickey, Mejia
March 2 vs ATL: Figueroa, Takahashi, Parnell, Dessens
March 3 at ATL: Misch, Feliciano
March 4 vs St. Louis: Dickey, Stoner
I just did an interview with David Wright for SNY.TV, and talked with him about infield defense, and what he’s working on this spring.
He explained that his focus, and the entire infield’s focus, this spring, is to work on positioning, and being great on the basic, fundamental, ‘routine plays.’
He said in years past, they did a lot of work on situations, footwork, specifics, etc., but this year they’re essentially going back to basics.
By the way, the photo in this post is from Michael Baron, who is with me in camp today, taking photographs, and posting the occasional picture on Twitter, here.
Updated at 10:20 am:
The players are out stretching. I’m going to try and get some photographs and video of players I have to watch this spring, like Wright, Angel Pagan, Luis Castillo and the catchers.
…this is a must-read report from Kevin Kernan of the New York Post, who talks with davis about getting advice from Daniel Murphy and Mike Jacobs, the very people he is competing with…
Here is video of Jose Reyes, Jason Bay, David Wright, Jeff Francoeur and others going circuit to circuit on team photo day:
The Cardinals signed free-agent infielder Felipe Lopez to a one-year, $1.75 million contract, plus incentives, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com.
…that is a bargain… yes, i do wonder why he’s been on five different teams in three seasons… but, it’s hard to believe he will not be a better defensive second baseman this season than Luis Castillo, while being able to also play shortstop… it’s probably more realistic to compare him to Alex Cora, as he’d probably have filled that back-up infielder role… but, we know a good portion of cora’s money is because of his personality and leadership, which, it seems, are two things held against lopez… so, i think this is a tough one to try and rationalize…
The community and experts at FanGraphs project Lopez will hit around .280, with around 9 HR, 50 or so RBI, hit roughly 30 doubles and steal around 10 bases.
Yesterday afternoon, I talked with Frank Catalanatto about growing up in New York, and being a baseball fan on Long Island, and knowing what the market, media and fans are like.
He told me, during the off season, he gets to listen to WFAN, 1050 ESPN Radio, and he has told guys to take the game seriously, “because these fans take it seriously.”
I also talked with him about his reputation for being a second hitting coach, because of his ability to read pitchers and pick up signs, after which I tried to understand how he acquired that skill.
…and yes, before the interview, i was sure to thank him for playing multiple positions, hitting .300 and helping my team win a Fantasy Baseball title a few years ago…
…he said, jokingly, ‘You’re welcome, glad I could help.’…
To see a video of our discussion, click play below:
I’m here at Tradition Field, bright and early, with gloves on, waiting to do an instructional video with Jose Reyes, Johan Santana and Daniel Murphy, which I’m quite excited about.
It’s another chilly morning, but it’s going to warm up.
Players stroll in for picture day, so there are light towers and cameras set up all around the dugouts on the main field.
I’d like to stand out at first base with Reyes, and have him walk me through what he’s thinking and looking for when he’s getting ready to steal second base.
Here is video of LHP prospect Eric Neissen, who is competing to be a left-handed specialist:
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