| |
It's early, but Mariners savor win
Cactus victory over Angels gives McLaren's troops a boost
By Jim Street / MLB.com
March 5, 2008
PEORIA, Ariz. -- A win over the Angels in March might not have the same feeling as almost any month during the regular season, but Mariners manager John McLaren was a little more giddy than usual on Wednesday.
"That was like a Mariners-Angels regular-season game," McLaren said after Seattle held off its American League West rivals, 6-5, in a Cactus League game at Peoria Stadium. "It was good to win a game against them."
The Angels were AL West champs last season, largely because they were 13-6 against the Mariners -- including a three-game sweep at Safeco Field in late August that basically knocked Seattle out of the race.
The first of two Spring Training meetings between the teams expected to again battle it out for the AL West championship ended with right-hander Brandon Morrow striking out Hank Conger with one run in and the tying run on base.
"We need to find out what it's like to beat the Angels," McLaren said. "We wanted to shake hands after the game.
Not even the fact the Mariners gave the Angels two additional outs in the ninth inning -- one on a missed double play and the other on a foul popup that dropped untouched -- could put a damper on the outcome for the Mariners.
"It was a Spring Training game with a little regular season flavor to it," McLaren said. "They ran their 'A' team out there, too."
The Angels' starting lineup had a probable starter at every position except the starting pitcher, Nick Adenhart. The Mariners started seven players who will be on the field when the regular season begins on March 31 at Safeco Field, missing only third baseman Adrian Beltre (family matters) and designated hitter Jose Vidro (sore elbow).
Angels manager Mike Scioscia didn't get as caught up in the hoopla as his counterpart.
"It's all about getting our work in and getting where we need to get to, not anything else," he said.
McLaren had a different perspective.
"I'll sleep good tonight," he said
Sports Ticket Depot -
MLB News Archive Index
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Woods can hit baseballs, too
Golf great connects off Smoltz for hit during simulated game
By Mark Bowman / MLB.com
March 5, 2008
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Some say it was definitely a base hit. Others claim Braves second baseman Kelly Johnson or shortstop Yunel Escobar would have clearly fielded the Tiger Woods grounder.
But none of those present at Orlando's Disney Wide World of Sports Complex were disputing the fact it was fun watching Woods stand in the batters' box while good friend John Smoltz completed another of the simulated games he's using as part of his personally designed Spring Training preparations.
"He's probably one of the best athletes of all time," Braves catcher Brian McCann said of Woods. "It was just fun to see him with a bat in his hands against Smoltz."
Wearing a Braves jersey, shorts and some cleats, Woods joined Chipper Jones, Jeff Francoeur and Tim Hudson as Smoltz's opposition for the day. As the catcher, McCann was the only position player on the field during the exhibition game.
Nobody was surprised when Smoltz recorded strikeouts during Woods' first two at-bats. During the golfer's next plate appearance, a 3-2 pitch was ruled a ball, resulting in a walk.
Then, during the fourth and final confrontation between these two, Smoltz provided a 75 mph fastball that Woods directed back up the middle.
Smoltz tipped his cap, conceding that he'd just yielded a single to Woods. But Braves pitching coach Roger McDowell said he thought Johnson might have been able to get to the grounder and record the out.
"I've got our second baseman making that play," McDowell said.
Earlier this week, Woods, who isn't participating in this week's PGA Tour event, played a round of golf with Smoltz, Francoeur and Tom Glavine. With his round of 66, Woods had no trouble making sure the baseball players remembered they were on his turf.
When asked who made who look worse while playing their respective sports, McCann provided a somewhat political response.
"Smoltzie is going to make anybody look bad if they aren't a baseball player," McCann said.
As for Francoeur, he had no trouble determining, "Tiger made Smoltzie look way worse on the golf course."
Woods' participation in this simulated game provided more indication that Smoltz truly is trying to prepare himself physically without the mental stress he might feel during Grapefruit League games.
Smoltz's first simulated game came last Friday, and he may throw another one or pitch in a Minor League game on Saturday. He definitely won't make his Grapefruit League debut until March 15 and could even delay that for an additional five days.
McDowell was encouraged by the performance provided by Smoltz, who is using these behind-the-scenes preparations to improve some of his offspeed pitches, namely his two-seam fastball and changeup.
While Woods' single might remain in dispute, Hudson felt he had two legitimate singles against Smoltz.
"I had one blooper and one line drive over second base," Hudson said. "I had a .667 batting average and three RBIs."
Jones, who has been out since tweaking his right hamstring during Sunday's batting practice, hit one of the 40-year-old right-hander's pitches off the left-center-field fence for what would have likely been a double.
After the simulated game, McCann and Francoeur went to share a round together on the golf course. It was believed Smoltz and Woods were going to do the same.
But it's unknown if Woods was going to reciprocate with his own generosity.
Mark Bowman (mark.bowman@mlb.com) is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Sports Ticket Depot -
MLB News Archive Index
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dodgers Pitching Staff Leaves Park Little Room
By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
Veteran right-hander Park Chan-ho will proudly represent the Los Angeles Dodgers when they play the San Diego Padres later this month in Major League Baseball (MLB)'s first ever exhibition games in China.
But taking a close look at the Dodgers' traveling roster, the situation is going against the 34-year-old South Korean hurler, who is eyeing to rejuvenate his career in the U.S. Major Leagues.
New Dodgers manager Joe Torre excluded most of his key players such as his top four starting pitchers — Brad Penny, Derek Lowe, Chad Billingsley and Hiroki Kuroda — from the exhibition roster as they prepare for the upcoming season, which will start on April 1.
In addition, Jason Schmidt and Esteban Loaiza, who are battling for the fifth spot in the rotation, will also stay at the team's training facility in Vero Beach, Fla.
However, the roster does include outfielder Andruw Jones, who struck a $36.2 million deal in December, third baseman Nomar Garciaparra, who was once one of the top shortstops in baseball, and prospect Matt Kemp.
Although joining the preseason games is significant, the aftermath is likely to hurt Park's last-ditch efforts to earn a spot on the team.
The long flights could influence his physical conditioning as he competes for a slot, and the exhibition's stadium, where the lawn has not fully grown, could lead to injuries.
What's worse, the Dodgers seem to be resolute on selecting either Schmidt or Loaiza as their fifth starter. Schmidt, who had double-digit wins for six consecutive years before a shoulder injury limited him to one victory in 2007, has been rehabilitating but his timetable for a comeback is not set, so Loaiza is likely to fill the spot.
Even injury-prone pitcher Hong-Chih Kuo from Taiwan is being given an edge over Park by local media.
But Park, who has registered 113 wins in the big leagues, still has a slim chance to make the club.
If he outshines Kuo in China, Torre may turn to him. The 67-year-old boss fueled the expectations, saying, ``Schmidt's not going to be ready for the start of the season, at least that's what our anticipation is. You have to take a look at Jason Johnson and Chan Ho Park.''
Park will throw against the New York Mets Thursday (in Korea Standard Time) after Penny starts. In his first outing against the Mets Friday, he pitched two scoreless innings, allowing one hit.
Meanwhile, travel plans for the two-game series in China, supposed to be held on March 15-16 at Beijing's Wukesong Stadium, the site of this summer's Olympic baseball competition, have been delayed by one day because the original charter company contracted by Major League Baseball didn't receive approval to land in China before its deadline.
Now, the Dodgers will bus to Orlando, Fla., on Monday and spend the night before departing on another charter.
ksw@koreatimes.co.kr
Sports Ticket Depot -
MLB News Archive Index
|
