Notes: Bagwell compensates off field
03/04/2006
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Jeff Bagwell isn't quite ready to play his position at first base, but he did find a way to practice his between-innings routine while still serving as the Houston Astros' designated hitter on Saturday.
After each of his three at-bats during the Astros' game with the Braves, Bagwell and pitching teammate Russ Springer walked to the field just behind the left-field wall and played catch for several minutes. The purpose was to give Bagwell the feel of being on the field in between innings, when he would normally be throwing the ball around to his infield teammates.
"It's a simulated-game type environment," manager Phil Garner said.
Bagwell is still on a two day on, one off schedule in terms of throwing. He hopes to start throwing every day in the near future, possibly this week.
"I'm on an accelerated program," he said. "I'm usually not throwing at any time until the second week of games."
As for how the strain of Saturday's drill with Springer affected his shoulder, Bagwell said he would know more Sunday.
"It's a little sore," he said. "It's probably the most throwing I've done since I've been down here."
Berkman starts Sunday: Lance Berkman will appear in his first spring game on Sunday, when the Astros play the Dominican club at Osceola County Stadium.
Berkman had arthroscopic surgery to remove scar tissue in his knee in late January and had planned to skip the first few spring games as a precaution. He'll play first base in his spring debut.
"One or two missed games wasn't going to hurt me," he said.
Enemy? The World Baseball Classic is logistically a little easier for Willy Taveras than teammates Brad Lidge and Dan Wheeler, because Taveras' Dominican team is training at the Astros' facility in Kissimmee.
This means that instead of hopping on the plane and flying cross-country, he just had to pack a duffel bag and head about 300 feet to the Minor League clubhouse, where the Dominican team is housed.
"They joked with me, 'All you have to do is jump and you're right there,'" Taveras said.
Taveras will play for the Dominican club Sunday, but will be back with the Astros on Monday when they host the Nationals. Taveras will then rejoin the Dominican team Tuesday for the duration of that club's participation in the Classic.
Props for Bruntlett: The Astros' decision not to re-sign Jose Vizcaino stemmed largely from the fact that they view two players, Chris Burke and Eric Bruntlett, as Vizcaino-type players.
While Burke is a projected future starter, it appears Bruntlett will be a utility role player for however long his Astros tenure lasts. That may be why Burke receives more attention than Bruntlett, but Garner warned not to forget about Bruntlett, whom he labeled last year as the club's "secret weapon."
After all, it was Bruntlett who started the 4-6-3 double play to end Game 4 of the National League Championship Series last year.
"You look at two guys on the field, and your eyes are drawn toward Burke for some reason," Garner said. "He's feisty. When you're around the club, he's the one chirping all the time, and Bruntlett's in the background. But when [Bruntlett] plays, he's very smooth. He doesn't draw your attention to it, and the next thing you know, he's made a great play. He's made a very difficult play look very easy."
Inching closer: Springer threw off a mound and used all of his pitches Friday, and he should be ready to appear in a game soon.
"I took the fastball up another notch," he said. "I'm pretty close. As long as my mechanics don't bother me. When my mechanics are off, it bothers me. I'll be out there before long."
Springer long tossed on Saturday and will throw off a mound again on Sunday.
Well wishes: Garner sent his best wishes to Reds pitching coach Vern Ruhle, who was recently diagnosed with cancer.
"From what we've heard, he sounds like he can make a full recovery," Garner said. "He's a good man. You just know it's going to be a tough process, what he's going to go through."
Garner and Ruhle were teammates in Houston from 1981-84. Ruhle, who played for the Astros from 1978-84, was also the club's pitching coach from 1997-2000.
Gallo: Left-hander Mike Gallo pitched for Team Italy on Saturday in its 6-5 loss to the Tigers. Gallo worked a scoreless eighth inning, striking out one. He didn't allow a baserunner.
Source: http://houston.astros.mlb.com/
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Jeff Bagwell isn't quite ready to play his position at first base, but he did find a way to practice his between-innings routine while still serving as the Houston Astros' designated hitter on Saturday.
After each of his three at-bats during the Astros' game with the Braves, Bagwell and pitching teammate Russ Springer walked to the field just behind the left-field wall and played catch for several minutes. The purpose was to give Bagwell the feel of being on the field in between innings, when he would normally be throwing the ball around to his infield teammates.
"It's a simulated-game type environment," manager Phil Garner said.
Bagwell is still on a two day on, one off schedule in terms of throwing. He hopes to start throwing every day in the near future, possibly this week.
"I'm on an accelerated program," he said. "I'm usually not throwing at any time until the second week of games."
As for how the strain of Saturday's drill with Springer affected his shoulder, Bagwell said he would know more Sunday.
"It's a little sore," he said. "It's probably the most throwing I've done since I've been down here."
Berkman starts Sunday: Lance Berkman will appear in his first spring game on Sunday, when the Astros play the Dominican club at Osceola County Stadium.
Berkman had arthroscopic surgery to remove scar tissue in his knee in late January and had planned to skip the first few spring games as a precaution. He'll play first base in his spring debut.
"One or two missed games wasn't going to hurt me," he said.
Enemy? The World Baseball Classic is logistically a little easier for Willy Taveras than teammates Brad Lidge and Dan Wheeler, because Taveras' Dominican team is training at the Astros' facility in Kissimmee.
This means that instead of hopping on the plane and flying cross-country, he just had to pack a duffel bag and head about 300 feet to the Minor League clubhouse, where the Dominican team is housed.
"They joked with me, 'All you have to do is jump and you're right there,'" Taveras said.
Taveras will play for the Dominican club Sunday, but will be back with the Astros on Monday when they host the Nationals. Taveras will then rejoin the Dominican team Tuesday for the duration of that club's participation in the Classic.
Props for Bruntlett: The Astros' decision not to re-sign Jose Vizcaino stemmed largely from the fact that they view two players, Chris Burke and Eric Bruntlett, as Vizcaino-type players.
While Burke is a projected future starter, it appears Bruntlett will be a utility role player for however long his Astros tenure lasts. That may be why Burke receives more attention than Bruntlett, but Garner warned not to forget about Bruntlett, whom he labeled last year as the club's "secret weapon."
After all, it was Bruntlett who started the 4-6-3 double play to end Game 4 of the National League Championship Series last year.
"You look at two guys on the field, and your eyes are drawn toward Burke for some reason," Garner said. "He's feisty. When you're around the club, he's the one chirping all the time, and Bruntlett's in the background. But when [Bruntlett] plays, he's very smooth. He doesn't draw your attention to it, and the next thing you know, he's made a great play. He's made a very difficult play look very easy."
Inching closer: Springer threw off a mound and used all of his pitches Friday, and he should be ready to appear in a game soon.
"I took the fastball up another notch," he said. "I'm pretty close. As long as my mechanics don't bother me. When my mechanics are off, it bothers me. I'll be out there before long."
Springer long tossed on Saturday and will throw off a mound again on Sunday.
Well wishes: Garner sent his best wishes to Reds pitching coach Vern Ruhle, who was recently diagnosed with cancer.
"From what we've heard, he sounds like he can make a full recovery," Garner said. "He's a good man. You just know it's going to be a tough process, what he's going to go through."
Garner and Ruhle were teammates in Houston from 1981-84. Ruhle, who played for the Astros from 1978-84, was also the club's pitching coach from 1997-2000.
Gallo: Left-hander Mike Gallo pitched for Team Italy on Saturday in its 6-5 loss to the Tigers. Gallo worked a scoreless eighth inning, striking out one. He didn't allow a baserunner.
Source: http://houston.astros.mlb.com/
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