MLB Capsules - NL: Mattingly wastes no time, picks Kershaw for opener
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — A casually dressed Don Mattingly leaned back in his clubhouse office chair admittedly much more relaxed the second time around as Dodgers manager.
Nobody will question that his first move of spring training is spot on: Mattingly wasted no time Tuesday choosing reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw as the opening day starter for Los Angeles come April 5 at San Diego — even if it's a no-brainer to slot the 21-game winner at No. 1 in the rotation. Mattingly spoke with his left-handed ace Monday at Camelback Ranch, where the team's pitchers and catchers formally reported Tuesday ahead of Wednesday's first workout.
The way the Dodgers' schedule shapes up with an off day before the home opener, Kershaw also could wind up taking the ball for the first game at Dodger Stadium.
"Whatever happens is great," said Kershaw, fresh off a whirlwind winter of awards dinners. "It's nice to have something to look forward to, just have a goal in mind that you're getting ready for. Whatever day that is, first day, second day, fifth day, it doesn't matter. It'll be fun."
Mattingly and the Dodgers are bracing for another chaotic season considering the sale of the team is expected to go through by April 30 and nobody knows exactly what will happen with new leadership at the top. The 23-year-old Kershaw, for one, is rooting for former skipper Joe Torre's group because he's a familiar face.
"Once again that's out of our control," Kershaw said. "Obviously excited to get it over with, but at the same time the way I figure it we're going to have to talk about it now, talk about it April 1 and talk about it April 30, and from there on hopefully we don't have to talk about it."
The Dodgers have much bigger business on their minds, like rebounding from back-to-back disappointing seasons since Los Angeles won the NL West in 2009 before losing in the NL championship series. The team went 82-79 in Mattingly's first season in 2011 for a third-place division finish.
He is counting on the familiar stars to help the Dodgers emerge as a contender again in the improved NL West: Kershaw and center fielder Matt Kemp, who lost out on the NL MVP to Milwaukee's Ryan Braun — who is awaiting word on whether his 50-game suspension for a violation of baseball's drug policy will be upheld.
Mattingly makes it clear he will need big seasons from more than those two for the Dodgers to stay in the race with the defending division champion Diamondbacks and 2010 World Series winner San Francisco.
And he hardly can expect more than what Kershaw and Kemp gave him last year.
Kershaw was 21-5 with a 2.28 ERA and 248 strikeouts, winning the NL pitching triple crown. Earlier this month, he received a $19 million, two-year contract. He knows his stats mean nothing now, saying: "Just win, no goal, just win. New year, all that's over with."
Mattingly appreciates that mantra.
"We had the best pitcher and the best player in the game last year and we ended up third," Mattingly said. "Clayton could go out and really pitch better and not have as many wins. Sometimes that's the way it goes. Matt falls into that, too. He could go out, train the same way all winter long, same attitude, work as hard and the ball doesn't drop. So things may not fall his way."
Despite all the off-the-field turmoil for the financially troubled franchise and its ownership upheaval, Mattingly has tried to keep a forward-looking focus as he enters his second season as skipper. The 50-year-old became a first-time grandfather earlier this month, even attending the birth of grandson Cash Michael Mattingly — he was a 7-pounder while arriving five weeks premature — in his hometown of Evansville, Ind. Cash is the son of Mattingly's eldest son, Taylor.
Moments like that help Mattingly put the pressure-packed baseball life in perspective. He seems at ease. He sported stylish sneakers with dark jeans and a plaid button-down that he left untucked.
"The years playing in a New York atmosphere, it really gets down to the bottom line," Mattingly said. "I know we're having problems and all this stuff is going on, but at the end of the day when we get right down to it, it was still back to us to get pitches to hit, to make pitches, to execute, play baseball."
Kemp, too, is handling what's in his control. He was rewarded with a $160 million, eight-year contract last fall that matches the seventh-highest deal in baseball history and richest in franchise history. He led the league in home runs (39) and RBIs (126), while finishing third in batting average at .324. He also stole 40 bases.
He said he knows Braun, they're friends and that the Milwaukee slugger is one of his favorite players and he hopes the positive drug test is "not true."
"I would want to win by them voting me," Kemp said. "I wouldn't want them to just, 'Oh, this person did that so how about we just give the award to this person?' I don't think it should work that way. If it is that way, then it should be a vacant award for 2011, no one should win the MVP award in the National League."
Mattingly named Javy Guerra his closer and Kenley Jansen set-up man. Jansen is hopeful he will have no further health problems this year. He went on the 15-day disabled list in late July after being admitted to a hospital for an irregular heartbeat. He was placed on blood thinners and sidelined for a month — and he learned from the scary ordeal.
"I will go to doctors at times to check me out," he said. "I've got to watch what I'm eating if I really want to have a long career."
Notes: 3B Juan Uribe, who had surgery in early September for a sports hernia and missed the rest of the season, is expected to show up at camp ready to go. GM Ned Colletti and athletic trainer Stan Conte traveled to the Dominican Republic and presented the infielder with an offseason regimen. "We assume he's healthy," Mattingly said. "The injury, we feel like that's passed." ... RHP reliever Blake Hawksworth is two to three weeks behind schedule this spring and won't be ready for opening day after he required a second surgery on his throwing elbow to clean up an infection. Mattingly said the infection occurred after an initial procedure. ... RHP Ronald Belisario, the Venezuelan reliever who missed all of last season because he couldn't obtain a visa, is with the team but still faces a 25-game suspension for violating baseball's drug policy. He arrived a month late to spring training in 2010, so everybody seems happy he's here at all — let alone on time. "The fact that he's here is a good sign," Mattingly said.
Phillies P Halladay a hero even in the offseason
CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Roy Halladay tossed a perfect game and a postseason no-hitter, all in the same year. He also won a Cy Young Award in each league, has been to eight All-Star games, and is one of the best pitchers in baseball history.
Yet for all his accomplishments on the mound, Halladay finds himself talking more about snakes these days. Who knew?
Despite being outpitched by his good buddy, Chris Carpenter, in Game 5 of the NLDS in which St. Louis upset Philadelphia 1-0, Halladay's legend grew a bit this offseason for a heroic effort far from the ordinary.
Halladay, Carpenter and some friends were on a fishing trip in the Amazon when they rescued a fisherman who had been bitten by an Anaconda.
As word of the story leaked, various accounts exaggerated Halladay's role in the rescue. The Phillies' right-hander set the record straight on Tuesday.
"I was not wrestling snakes. I was nowhere near snakes," Halladay said. "We were just driving back. We had been fishing all day and we were on the boat driving back and we happened to see a guy sitting on the shore line without clothes. We couldn't talk to him. The guides had to talk to him. They were speaking Portuguese. He had been attacked by a snake and escaped, but it had ripped the engine off the boat and left all his stuff out in the middle of the river. So we picked up his stuff and drove him back to his tribe, I guess you would call it."
So much for Halladay diving underwater to fight off a killer snake and save a man's life.
"By far, I've told that story more than any other story I've ever had," Halladay said. "And I've got the guys I went fishing with to thank for leaking it. It was quite an experience."
Now that spring training has opened, Halladay can get back to doing what he does best. Since arriving in a blockbuster trade with Toronto in Dec. 2009, Halladay has lived up to enormous expectations. He's 40-16 with a 2.40 ERA, 17 completes game and five shutouts in his two seasons with the Phillies.
All those numbers are quite impressive. But he's still looking for that elusive World Series ring.
"I realize that I'm not getting younger," Halladay said. "I'm probably going to play less going forward than I've played already, so I understand that. But you know, the greatest thing that's ever happened to me was coming here. I've given myself two chances to be in the playoffs and try to be in the World Series that I wouldn't have had in a lot of other places, let alone where I already was."
Halladay broke in with the Blue Jays on Sept. 20, 1998, and stayed with the organization through 2009.In his last season there, he went 17-10.
"So to this point, I have no regrets. If I go the rest of my career and never get another shot, I'll have no regrets. That being said, that doesn't mean it means less to me to try to do that. But I wanted that chance and I enjoyed that chance and I'm looking forward to that chance again," he said. "But the window is getting closer, and it would be nice when you do go away, to go away as a world champion. I think any player would want that.
"And I definitely do."
With Halladay anchoring a staff that features two other aces — Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels — the Phillies are strong favorites to win their sixth straight NL East title. Winning another World Series is all that matters to this group, however.
The Phillies have finished with the best record in the majors two consecutive years and set a franchise-record with 102 wins last season. But they lost to the eventual World Series winner in the postseason both times. San Francisco eliminated Philadelphia in six games in the 2010 NLCS, and Carpenter and the Cardinals knocked the Phillies out in the first round in 2011.
"It hasn't gone the way we wanted to go," Halladay said. "The drive is always going to be there. As long as I play, I want to win as much as I can. I still feel like this is the best place to do it. We've hit teams that were peaking at the right time and playing better than they were at any point in the season. We realize we like to hit our peak a little better. But we have talent on this team to overcome playing teams like that. It's also important for us to play because we want to be there not because we have to do something."
Halladay, who turns 35 in May, has shown no signs of slowing down as he gets older. In fact, he's improved each year. Halladay was 21-10 with a 2.44 ERA two years ago. He followed that up by going 19-6 with a career-best 2.35 ERA last season.
Known for his work ethic, Halladay had already thrown six bullpen sessions before even coming to camp. He's usually the first player to show up at the ballpark, waking up early to finish his workout before others begin their day.
"I feel like I can go out and pitch all the time as long as I take care of the stuff I need to inside," Halladay said. "Whether it's less bullpen, more arm work, less arm work, I can adjust it in there and hopefully continue to maintain the same level on the field. And that's more important than a pitch count or anything like that. If I can monitor my in-between work, I feel like I can maintain a certain level on those game days."
Just as long as he avoids those deadly snakes.
Hudson looks for fresh start after back surgery
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) — Tim Hudson remembers when he was the young gun in the clubhouse. Now, he's the old dude, looking a bit out of place on one of baseball's most promising pitching staffs.
But don't count him out just yet. At 36, Hudson isn't quite ready to pass the torch to all those hot young prospects on the Atlanta Braves. Quite the contrary. After undergoing back surgery over the winter — yep, the sort of operation usually reserved for an aging athlete — the right-hander feels better than ever.
"I'm in my prime," Hudson said, breaking into a mischievous grin.
He won't be ready to go at the start of the season. After two vertebrae in his lower back were fused during an operation in late November, Hudson is about a month behind schedule. For him, opening day is May 1.
But Hudson has no regrets about undergoing the procedure, having endured steadily increasing pain over the last three or four seasons. Finally, after being unable to get started on his latest offseason program because it was just too excruciating, he realized something had to be done.
"It's just one of those things that happens as you get a little older," he said. "You don't really think much about it until it gets to the point where you can't deal with it. Then, when you get it fixed, you realize how bad it was."
Looking around, Hudson is reminded of that up-and-coming Oakland staff at the start of the 2000s, the one that included himself and left-handers Barry Zito and Mike Mulder. The Braves have Jair Jurrjens, Tommy Hanson and Brandon Beachy in their rotation, while Mike Minor, Julio Teheran and Randall Delgado are poised to break through. The oldest one in the bunch is Jurrjens, who just turned 26.
"In Oakland when I came up, we had three top-of-the-line starters that were young," Hudson said. "There's a whole rotation full here that could be pretty special at some point."
The Braves are counting on Hudson to serve as a mentor to all those youngsters.
"Leadership is big," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "If you were a young pitcher in this camp, Huddy is the guy you would follow. Not only his work habits, but the way he carries himself on and off the field."
Hudson looks forward to working with all the kids, passing on the lessons learned over his 13 years in the majors. He understands what it takes to be successful, winning at least 11 games every season except 2009, when he was coming back from major elbow surgery.
He's not an imposing pitcher by any means, packing all of 175 pounds on his wiry frame, and he certainly doesn't have a dominating repertoire. But Hudson knows how to keep the ball down, usually ranking among the league's best in producing ground balls. Plus, he's one of the most popular guys on the team, keeping everyone in stitches with Southern-accented humor that would work just as well in a frat house as it does a clubhouse.
There's certainly a youthful energy that allows Hudson to get along just fine with all the kids.
"I just want to watch 'em grow, man. They're really ... good right now, but they're only going to get better. It's going to be fun to watch," Hudson said. "Even though I'm considerably older than a lot of these guys, I don't feel like I am. I don't know if that's just because I'm kind of dumb or they just make me feel like I'm young."
Hudson knows there are plenty of Braves fans who wonder why he didn't have the surgery right after the season ended in September. But he'd always been able to mask the pain by taking anti-inflammatory medication. It was only when he stopped taking the pills and started back up with his workout program that he realized he wouldn't be able to deal with it this time. The vertebrae were rubbing against each other, essentially bone on bone.
"If you can't work out to be ready for spring training, then you're not gonna be worth a crap," Hudson said. "Obviously, a lot of people ask, 'Why didn't you do it a month earlier and you'd be right on time?' Well, it took me that long to realize that I wouldn't be able to stick it out like I normally had."
He only hopes this operation works out as well as the last one.
Hudson sustained the first serious injury of his career in 2008, a torn ligament in his elbow. He underwent Tommy John surgery and missed most of the next year, though seven starts late in the season persuaded the Braves to sign him to a new contract.
That was money well spent. Hudson has led the Braves in wins each of the last two years, combining to go 33-19 with a 3.02 ERA.
"I responded so well after my Tommy John, it was like a breath of fresh air," Hudson said. "Hopefully this gives me another boost, another shot of confidence. Honestly, the way I felt, I could see the end of my career coming. It was like, 'That's just how I'm gonna go out, I guess — the guy with the bad back.' But now, man, honestly, I'm pretty confident that whenever I retire, it's not gonna be because of my back."
Still, it's a little odd to be one of the oldest players in the room.
"Yeah, I used to be the young gun," he reminisced, "sitting at my locker, looking at some ol' 34-year-old going, 'Damn, look at that old" guy.
With that, Hudson jumps up from his locker and begins spouting jokes. Everyone laughs.
Yep, he still fits right in.
-- Paul Newberry
Nationals' Ramos moving on after kidnapping ordeal
VIERA, Fla. (AP) — Three months have passed since Wilson Ramos' budding baseball career was interrupted by a gunpoint kidnapping in his native Venezuela.
Yet there the 24-year-old catcher was Tuesday, smiling and laughing alongside his Washington Nationals teammates during their first full workout for pitchers and catchers.
Immediately following his ordeal, Ramos was emotional and candid in talking about the harrowing two days he was held in the Venezuelan mountains before being freed by an equally daring, bullet-filled rescue.
Now as he prepares for his second full season in Washington, Ramos said he has put the ordeal behind him and wants to only talk about baseball going forward.
"I feel like I'm living again," Ramos said. "I've got a new life. Everybody in my family is happy with me. My family before was a little separated, and now everybody's together. So that's good for me and my family. I'm happy for that and I will play hard for my family and my team."
Last season Ramos became the primary catcher for the Nationals, appearing in 113 games.
In line to be the opening day starter in 2012, he decided to go home to Venezuela to play winter ball to prepare.
Before he could play his first game, however, Ramos was seized outside his parents' home one night and driven away by his abductors. It was the first known kidnapping of a Major League Baseball player in Venezuela, and the abduction set off an outpouring of candlelight vigils and public prayers at stadiums as well as outside the family home.
After his rescue he spent only about a week recuperating before rejoining the Aragua Tigers. Just 13 days after his rescue he was on the field and in uniform for their opening day.
He initially struggled during the Tigers' 25-game regular season, hitting just .217 with one home run and 21 strikeouts. But following the car accident death of teammate Rosman Garcia, who pitched for the Texas Rangers in 2003 and 2004, something clicked for Ramos and his winter league teammates.
They reached the Venezuelan Winter League playoffs and eventually won the championship series, with Ramos going 9 for 20.
"I was more relaxed and not thinking too much at the end of the season," Ramos said. "That thing helped me a lot to finish strong. When we lost one of our teammates, it was very hard for us. And we concentrated on winning the finals...That thing helped the team to play harder. We dedicated that final to him."
Ramos said there was never any hesitation about continuing his winter league season after his kidnapping.
"I played there because I wanted to get my mind on baseball," he said. "If I stayed in my house I was thinking too much. I played baseball there because I was trying to clear my mind."
He said the reception he got from the fans there was equally helpful for him.
"They give me a lot of support," Ramos said. "They believe in me, so they helped me a lot with everything. During the games everybody clapped their hands and said a lot of good words for me. "
Nationals manager Davey Johnson watched Tuesday as Ramos caught for Stephen Strasburg during bullpen work and said he has no doubt that Ramos can live up the expectations they have for him this season.
With a productive Ramos, he said he thinks the Nationals' catchers are among the best in baseball.
"He was catching Strasburg and I asked him how much baseball he got in after that ordeal and he said 'A month and a half.' And so to me...as far as I'm concerned that thing's over. It's history," Johnson said. "And it tells me that he was eager to get on the field and eager to put it behind him by playing a month and a half of winter ball after something like that."
Likewise, since reporting to the Nationals, Ramos said his teammates have honored his wishes and not discussed what happened to him.
Mechanically, Johnson said Ramos looks "awfully good" and has made improvements in areas he suggested for him heading into the offseason.
While Ramos is clearly moving on from his kidnapping, he did get a living memorial to it tattooed on his arm recently.
First there is the date —11/11/11— for the day he was rescued. There are also words written in Spanish, which Ramos happily translates.
"I put everything in Jesus because he's got my back," he says.
Ramos said he anticipates opening day in Washington to be extra special after everything he's been through.
"Yeah, because I want to catch the first game," he said. "If the team gives me that opportunity, I will be very excited...Hopefully fans will stand up, wave their hands and say a couple of good words for me. I want to hear that."
-- Kyle Hightower
Giants prospect Villalona delayed by visa problem
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — San Francisco Giants prospect Angel Villalona has had his visa delayed back home in the Dominican Republic for what the team was told are weight and health issues.
Bobby Evans, Giants vice president of baseball operations, says the club is hopeful the concerns of the U.S. Consulate in the Dominican Republic are "short-lived."
"We're hoping we'll be able to get past the delay at some point," Evans said Tuesday. "They cited health reasons and he's on a visa that's really set aside for elite athletes, which is an expectation that he's in a certain level of conditioning that would afford him that opportunity. And they didn't deem him where he should be, and yet we've been working with him the last couple of months and feel like he's awful close, so we're a little disappointed."
Villalona was charged in the September 2009 death of a 25-year-old man at a bar in his Caribbean homeland. He was freed on bond that November after the family of the deceased asked a judge to drop the case. But Villalona was also stripped of his U.S. visa at the time.
Last October, Villalona said he had dropped a lawsuit against the Giants seeking $5 million in damages after the team decided to reinstate him to its farm system. He alleged the Giants kept him on the inactive list even though he had been cleared of homicide charges. Villalona had sought back wages and punitive damages.
Now, he has a locker at Scottsdale Stadium waiting for his spring arrival — if it happens, that is. Villalona was added to the Giants' 40-man roster in November.
He received a $2.1 million bonus when San Francisco signed him at age 16 in August 2006. It was the biggest bonus the franchise had ever given to an amateur player.
He was considered among the club's top prospects before the 2008 season and was selected for the Futures Game during All-Star festivities that year. San Francisco reportedly outbid the New York Yankees, Mets, Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners for Villalona.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound slugging first baseman had drawn comparisons to Alex Rodriguez, Adrian Beltre and Wily Mo Pena. He played in 74 games for Class-A San Jose in '09, batting .267 with nine home runs and 42 RBIs.
Also Tuesday, ace Tim Lincecum did not throw as planned because he is nursing stiffness in his back. Manager Bruce Bochy doesn't consider it serious.
The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner and projected opening day starter played catch on flat ground on a back field before going inside for treatment. He joins fellow starter and 2011 All-Star Ryan Vogelsong as pitchers with back injuries already early in camp. Vogelsong strained his back lifting weights at home in Pennsylvania on Feb. 7 and isn't likely to throw for up to two weeks. He also spent Sunday night and Monday fighting the stomach flu.
Lincecum should be back on the mound soon.
"General stiffness. It's a pretty normal thing in spring training," Bochy said. "That's how we're looking at it right now. He played a little catch on a back field earlier and we'll see how he's feeling tomorrow. I don't see this being an issue at all. He was pretty stiff. We weren't going to push it."
Position players getting their work in Tuesday — three days ahead of the first full-squad session — included slugger Pablo Sandoval and second baseman Freddy Sanchez, who is returning from labrum surgery on his right shoulder and is not expected to be ready until the second week of Cactus League action next month. He also might be used as a designated hitter in some games if the opposing team agrees to that arrangement.
The Giants greatly missed having Sanchez's sure-handed glove helping turn double plays and also his reliable presence high in the batting order.
Sanchez was a key part of the 2010 World Series championship run for San Francisco, which failed to reach the playoffs last fall after finishing second in the NL West to surprising Arizona.
"He's a big part of it — the No. 2 hitter, also a good defender out there with experience," Bochy said. "He could have softened the blow of losing a guy like Buster (Posey) because he can hit two or three hole or you can put him down in the order a little bit. We missed the bat, there's no getting around it. It caught up with us."
-- Janie McCauley
Collins: We'll be better than people expect
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — New York Mets manager Terry Collins anticipates Johan Santana will be ready for opening day. And despite drastic payroll cuts, he says the team will be a lot better than people think.
As pitchers and catchers reported Tuesday, Collins said the Mets might find their own Jeremy Lin. Collins said every team has a player like Lin, the Knicks' out-of-nowhere star, and that it's all about providing opportunities. He planned on telling players that, too.
"We don't know who it's going to be yet," Collins said. "But every good team, there's a surprise."
During the winter when other NL East teams were loading up and the Mets were shedding talent, Collins said there was no sense of despair. He's confident in a largely no-name roster.
"It's human nature to say, 'Wow, we've got a challenge on our hands,'" Collins said. "The thing I want to get these guys to understand is it's not acceptable to say, 'Well, we're not supposed to be very good.' I will not stand for that."
In a nod to the perceived talent gap he added, "It's not always the best team that wins, it's the team that plays the best that wins. We've got to be that club."
Collins was optimistic about the Mets' chances despite the loss of shortstop Jose Reyes in free agency. The Mets could have a payroll of about $90 million to $95 million this year after starting last season at $120 million, not including $18 million owed released players Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo.
"I think everybody in this clubhouse is really excited for a fresh start," outfielder-first baseman Mike Baxter said. "Pessimism kind of ends at the clubhouse door."
Most position players had reported, too, well ahead of schedule.
A strong return from Santana, who threw off a mound Tuesday for the second time this year, would be a huge help. Collins said the team would be happy if it got 25-28 starts from the two-time Cy Young winner, who hasn't pitched in the majors since September 2010.
"In my mind right now, in my heart, he'll be ready," Collins said. "I don't think there's any question. This guy has worked so hard in the last 18 months to get ready, I think he's going to be ready, I really do."
After throwing 30 pitches off a bullpen mound, Santana said to reporters: "Suave, amigos. Everything is under control."
A little later, the left-hander was confident he'd make it back, saying he was happy with his mechanics. He was more circumspect, though, about his chances of pitching on opening day, having learned from enduring setbacks last season.
Santana expected to have a better idea later in spring training after seeing how his shoulder responded after facing major league competition.
"Opening day's always good," he said. "But again, I'm approaching everything one day at a time. Going through everything last year, one day you feel good and another you don't feel good, it's like a roller coaster."
The 62-year-old Collins is rolling up his sleeves to face the challenge. He arrived at the training site at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday to get in a workout and some private time, hoping to set an example for players who'd check in later and see their manager on the job. A manager who'll always accentuate the positive, too.
"Last year, with all the things that happened, was the most fun I've had in managing," Collins said. "Even though we had tough times with the injuries and we didn't win as much as we wanted, I had a great time. Players bought into what we wanted to do, they bought into the system."
Daniel Murphy will be his second baseman because "his bat plays and it plays real well." Center fielder Andres Torres will be the leadoff man. Collins sees plenty of promise in 22-year-old rookie Ruben Tejada, who replaces Reyes at shortstop.
He anticipates bounce back years from third baseman David Wright and outfielder Jason Bay.
Santana's message to fans: "Be positive. We're here, we're getting better, and a lot of these guys are excited about being back. We're going to have fun and win some games."
-- R.B. Fallstrom
Marlins' Ramirez takes grounders at 3B
JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Hanley Ramirez trotted onto a practice field near first base, walked past second base, slowed as he reached his familiar shortstop position — and kept going. He might not be thrilled about his new role, but Ramirez is now a third baseman.
The former All-Star shortstop assumed the position for the Miami Marlins for the first time Tuesday, fielding practice grounders and sending the strongest signal yet that he's willing to make the change.
When Ramirez came off the field, he was asked if he's OK with the switch.
"I never said I'm not going to do it," he responded. "I'm positive mentally. I feel great."
The Marlins wanted to move Ramirez to third to make room for All-Star shortstop Jose Reyes, who signed a $106 million, six-year deal in December. Last week, new manager Ozzie Guillen said he didn't think Ramirez had embraced the move.
As pitchers and catchers reported for the start of spring training, Ramirez's workout with a couple of other players was so informal team officials missed it, including Guillen and president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest.
"How'd he do? Did he catch any?" Beinfest said with a smile.
Several grounders scooted past Ramirez, and his long lobs to first base included at least one wild toss. But no one's keeping score yet, and his mere presence at third eased concerns he might balk at the move.
Marlins officials had repeatedly expressed confidence Ramirez would warm to the switch.
"You just don't go sign Jose Reyes unless you're completely comfortable Hanley's going to play third base and play it well," Beinfest said. "So I don't think there's any concern there."
Ramirez said his only previous experience at third was for a handful of games in the 2006 winter league. He began the transition by taking grounders during the offseason in his native Dominican Republic, working with Baltimore Orioles third baseman Wilson Betemit, and said the new position doesn't feel strange.
"I feel like it's more easy for me right now because you don't have to be moving a lot," Ramirez said. "You're close to the foul line."
Ramirez said his mood was cheery because his surgically repaired left shoulder feels strong. He was cleared for full activity last week by Dr. James Andrews, although as a precaution, the Marlins will discourage Ramirez from diving or sliding headfirst during spring training.
Shoulder trouble forced Ramirez to miss the final two months of last season, and he said he played in pain much of the season, which explained his curtailed productivity. The 2009 NL batting champion hit only .243 with 10 homers and 45 RBIs in 92 games — a career low in every category.
Ramirez anticipates a big comeback.
"I know what kind of player I am," he said. "And I know what kind of player I'm going to be this year."
An offseason spending spree transformed the Marlins into potential contenders for the NL East title. Guillen said the team was built around Ramirez, who eagerly anticipates batting third behind Reyes and speedy Emilio Bonifacio.
"If we stay healthy the whole year it's going to be a monster year, with Jose leading off, Bonifacio and me," Ramirez said. "What a combination."
Does that mean Ramirez can become an All-Star third baseman?
"Why not?" he said.
Beinfest said there's every reason to anticipate that Ramirez will thrive at third — and even hold his own defensively. Why?
"Because he's Hanley Ramirez, and he's super talented," Beinfest said. "I think he can just about play anywhere on the field. There are only so many talents like him. He'll be fine. He'll be able to do it whether it's a slow roller or going to his backhand. He's got the arm, he's got all the things he needs to do to be successful over there."
-- Steven Wine
Kennedy in the spotlight as spring training begins
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Ian Kennedy and the Arizona Diamondbacks won't be sneaking up on anyone this season.
The Diamondbacks were the surprise NL West champions last season, outpacing the defending world-champion San Francisco Giants, and Kennedy was one of the main reasons. Entering spring training, he's being looked upon to again help lead the way.
Kennedy knows he set the bar high for himself last season and is aware it won't be easy duplicating his successes, which included a 21-4 record.
"It would be hard," Kennedy said. "You have to have a good team behind you. As long as I can do my part, and that is to go out there and give my team a chance to win, that is the only thing I can control."
The 27-year-old Kennedy finished fourth in the voting for the NL Cy Young Award. He finished the season with a 2.88 ERA and his 21 wins tied the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw for the most victories in the National League. The .840 winning percentage was the best ever for a Diamondbacks starter. Prior to the 2011 season, Kennedy was 10-14 in the major leagues with a 4.33 ERA.
"When you have that comfort factor and that confidence in your team and things you learned, you get a little bit better," Kennedy said. "I felt like I was the same pitcher. I did learn some things the year before which I did apply, like my throwing program. I actually backed off more than added. It helped me go into August and September feeling fresh."
Arizona acquired Kennedy from the New York Yankees in a December 2009 three-way trade with the Detroit Tigers and New York. Detroit received Austin Jackson and Phil Coke from the Yankees and Max Scherzer and Daniel Schlereth from the Diamondbacks. The Yankees received Curtis Granderson from the Tigers, and the Diamondbacks also received Edwin Jackson from the Tigers.
The trade boosted all three clubs. Detroit got a leadoff hitter in Jackson, a quality starter in Scherzer and bolstered their bullpen. The Yankees got one of the top hitters in the American League in Granderson, who batted .304, hit 41 home runs and led the league in runs scored (136) and RBIs (119). The Diamondbacks got a top-notch starter in Kennedy.
For Kennedy, it was an opportunity to pitch regularly and excel.
"They were going to give me a chance to learn, fail and succeed at this level," Kennedy said. "I felt like the experience and being out there the whole time helped."
With Kennedy anchoring an improved pitching staff, the Diamondbacks should again be one of the favorites in the NL West.
Daniel Hudson also had a strong 2011 season, going 16-12 with a 3.49 ERA. He will be slotted in the number two spot in the rotation.
Trevor Cahill, picked up in an offseason trade with the Oakland Athletics, veteran left-hander Joe Saunders (12-13, 3.69 ERA) and Josh Collmenter (10-10, 3.38 ERA) will provide more depth and reduce some of the pressure on Kennedy to replicate last season's success.
"It is unfair to say Ian has to win 21 games. If he wins 16 and Hudson wins 20 and we make the playoffs, who cares?" Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said. "I think Ian expects to go out and give us a chance to win every game, which I expect he will do. To sit here and say he should win another 20 games is not fair to him."
Ten blown saves won't cut it for Marmol
MESA, Ariz. (AP) — If the Chicago Cubs' new coaching staff is right, one easy change could be all it takes to fix what went wrong with closer Carlos Marmol last season, when he led the majors in blown saves with 10.
In one of new pitching coach Chris Bosio's first conversations with Marmol this spring, he suggested the right-hander drop the cut fastball he began throwing last year — a pitch some Cubs personnel weren't even aware Marmol was trying to throw.
But new manager Dale Sveum, as a Milwaukee Brewers hitting coach, and Bosio, as a Brewers advance scout part of last season, both were aware of something strange — and less effective — being thrown by Marmol.
"We were thinking, 'What's he doing? Is that a bad slider?'" Sveum said.
"I threw it a little bit, and it didn't work for me," Marmol acknowledged this week as pitchers and catchers reported for spring training. "Yeah, I got a little lost. My slider got a little lost because I worked on that."
After signing a three-year, $20-million contract last spring, Marmol had his worst season as a late-inning reliever, converting just 34 of 44 save opportunities as his ERA jumped nearly a point and a half to 4.01.
His 10 blown saves were tied with the Angels' Jordan Walden (42 chances) for most in the majors.
One of many things that went wrong with that 2011 fifth-place Cubs team, Marmol's woes increased as the season wore on — he was 0-4, with a 5.91 ERA after the All-Star break.
"To be honest with you, I lost a lot of confidence in the last month," he said. "But, you know, it's a new year. I try to forget about last year, and now here we are."
Marmol, who insisted his new contract was not a factor in his struggles, makes $7 million this season and $9.8 million next year as the top-dollar years kick in on the deal.
At the very least, the Cubs expect to find out quickly how well that money was spent. In a best-case scenario, he becomes an important part of the plans if an overhauled starting rotation produces well enough to keep the Cubs in contention into late summer.
"He is what he is. He's an impressive closer," Sveum said, "but he's a slider guy with one of the best, unhittable sliders we've seen in a long time."
Notes: INF Blake DeWitt, who was designated for assignment earlier this month to make room for infielder Adrian Cardenas and subsequently cleared waivers, accepted the club's non-roster offer and is expected in camp on time this week. By accepting the offer, he retains his guaranteed $1.1 million salary negotiated last month. . LHP John Gaub (back spasms) missed the first two days of spring workouts but is expected to return to work this week.
Reds P Chapman prepares for starting rotation
GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Aroldis Chapman will be tested as a starter this spring by the Cincinnati Reds.
The 24-year old lefthander whose pitches have been clocked at 105 mph has a 6-3 record with a 3.27 ERA in 69 relief appearances over the last two seasons with Cincinnati.
But the small-market Reds want to see if they can maximize their uncharacteristic $30 million investment.
"We are going to stretch him out," manager Dusty Baker said. "We are going to see if there is enough time and he can do it. If there isn't enough time or quality, we can send him back to the bullpen."
Chapman was supposed to pitch in the Arizona Fall League as a starter, and then in one of the Puerto Rican winter leagues. But shoulder soreness canceled the plan.
"We would have the answers by now," Baker said, "if things went according to plan."
Now, it's up to the spring training results.
"I worked hard all winter to get myself mentally and physically prepared to be a starter," Chapman said through an interpreter. "I have been here for 2 1-2 weeks to be prepared."
Along the way, Chapman's shoulder received the rest it needed.
"I feel," he said, "that I'm in good shape."
If he is unable to prove himself as a starter, Baker and the Reds have a backup plan.
"A lot depends on how he does, but it also depends on our needs," the manager said. "If he doesn't make the rotation, we could send him to (Triple-A) Louisville. But I wouldn't be opposed to having three lefthanders in our bullpen."
Chapman had 71 strikeouts last season, and has 90 for his career.
"If they make the decision to put me in the bullpen," he said, "I will continue to work hard to prove that I can be a starter and work all the innings they want me to."
Chapman is the lone lefthanded candidate for the starting rotation, but that is no guarantee that it will sway his manager.
"You prefer a lefty in your rotation, but you want to go with your five best starters," Baker said. "A good righty is better than a bad lefty."
Still, the Reds — as well as Chapman — are hoping for a successful transformation.
"One of the reasons we want him to start," Baker said, "is last year, we scuffled for a starter when Johnny (Cueto) and Homer (Bailey) were hurt."
The Reds, a year after making the postseason, went a disappointing 79-83 last season, finishing in third place of the National League Central division.
Suppan throws first bullpen session with Padres
PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Jeff Suppan unofficially began his 20th professional baseball season after he threw his first bullpen session on Tuesday.
Earlier this month, Suppan, a second-round pick in the 1993 draft by the Boston Red Sox, accepted an invitation to big league camp with the San Diego Padres when they signed him to a minor-league contract. He will compete with Dustin Moseley, Micah Owings and Anthony Bass for the fifth spot in the Padres' starting rotation.
Suppan, 37, was 11-8 with a 4.78 ERA in 28 games (27 starts) for the Kansas City Royals' Triple-A Omaha affiliate last season. But 2011 also marked the first season he hadn't appeared on a major league roster since 1994. Even though he has a World Series ring and a post-baseball career as a restaurateur planned, Suppan said he's having too much fun to retire.
Suppan is 138-143 in his career with a 4.69 ERA. He has pitched for six teams and won a World Series title with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2006.
"I'm not going to overanalyze it, I'm a baseball player and I like to play," Suppan said. "That's why I'm here. All these things, retirement, continuing to play, they're all a reality. It could go either way. There's an opportunity here. I'm here and we'll see what happens."
Pitching coach Darren Balsley said Suppan isn't just in camp to give the Padres depth. Nor is he with the team to mentor a talented crop of minor-league pitchers.
"He's a great veteran presence, and by the way he can still pitch," Balsley said.
Suppan can opt out of the contract on June 15 if he isn't in the majors. But for now, Suppan said he's enjoying bullpen sessions and being around his teammates.
"They said there was an opportunity," Suppan said. "How great, they really couldn't say. But they did say there was an opportunity to come to camp and show what I can do. We'll see what happens and I'm OK with that."
Marlins bring No. 5 out of retirement for Morrison
JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Miami Marlins left fielder Logan Morrison says the team is taking uniform No. 5 out of retirement so he can wear it as a tribute to his late father. Tom Morrison died in 2010 of lung cancer. He idolized Hall of Famer George Brett, who wore No. 5.
"I always wanted to wear 5," Logan Morrison said Tuesday. "I'm honored to wear it. Hopefully somebody will want to wear 5 because of me one day."
No Marlin has worn the number. It was retired in 1993 before the franchise's first game in honor of Carl Barger, who was team president when he died in 1992. Barger's favorite player, Joe DiMaggio, wore No. 5.
The Marlins offered to bring the number out of retirement for Morrison, who said he hasn't worn it since his senior year of high school. It was unavailable on his minor league teams.
Morrison, who hit .247 with 23 home runs last year, said his father encouraged him to emulate Brett.
"The way he played, how hard he played, he was always dirty, he was old school," Morrison said. "He had great talent and put up great numbers, but he is going to be remembered for the way he played the game more than anything. Anybody striving to be a great player has to start there — how you play the game and how you respect the game. He did all of those things really well, and that's what I want to do."
Braves P Hanson has mild concussion after wreck
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) — Atlanta Braves pitcher Tommy Hanson has been diagnosed with a mild concussion after wrecking on his way to spring training.
Manager Fredi Gonzalez said Tuesday that Hanson will miss the first two days of spring training, then gradually work his way back into a normal routine. If there are no setbacks, he should be back at full strength within a week.
Hanson blew out a tire Monday near the Braves' Disney World complex and may have bumped his head on either the windshield or the steering wheel. The right-hander was diagnosed with a grade one concussion but apparently has no other injuries.
Hanson is expected to be one of the team's top starters, going 11-7 with a 3.60 ERA last season despite a shoulder injury.
-- Paul Newberry
Reliever Oviedo unable to report to Marlins camp
JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Reliever Juan Carlos Oviedo remains in the Dominican Republic, his travel restricted after he played under a fake name for seven major league seasons, and the Miami Marlins are uncertain whether he'll join them for any part of spring training.
Formerly known as Leo Nunez, Oviedo is working with the U.S. and Dominican governments to obtain a visa, Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest said. The team's other pitchers reported for camp Tuesday.
Oviedo has a $6 million, one-year contract with the Marlins, who might trade him if his immigration status is cleared up. They signed All-Star Heath Bell to replace Oviedo as their closer in December. Oviedo has said he used a fake name and age when he was young to play professionally.
Wilson stays with Mets in dual roles
NEW YORK (AP) — Mookie Wilson is staying with the New York Mets as an instructor and a team ambassador at sponsor and charity gatherings.
After firing him last fall for the second time, the Mets said Tuesday that Wilson will work for the organization as it celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. He will work in spring training with both major and minor leaguers, and he will visit farm teams during the season.
A member of the team's 1986 World Series champions, he was first base coach from 1997-02. He was rehired as first base coach last year, with additional duties to oversee the outfielders and baserunning, and let go after the season.
