azdad1978
Championship!!!!
To be better hitter, fielder
Bob McManaman
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 24, 2005 12:00 AM
TUCSON - When manager Bob Melvin telephoned Mark Grace this winter and asked the former first baseman if he would be interested in helping the coaching staff in spring training, Grace said it only took him about a half-second to say yes.
It took about the same amount of time for Grace to drop the first bombshell of camp.
After the Diamondbacks wrapped up workouts on Wednesday, Grace said without hesitation that Chad Tracy, the club's new first baseman, will be a better player than he was during his 16-year career, when he was a three-time All-Star, won four Gold Glove Awards and owned a .303 career batting average.
"He's going to be good," Grace said. "I think he's going to be a better hitter and a better fielder than I ever was."
Tracy, who hit .285 last season as a rookie, is moving from third base to first with the departures of Richie Sexson and Shea Hillenbrand. Melvin has asked Grace, the team's television analyst, to shadow Tracy in camp and teach him the nuances of the position.
Will Clark, another former slick first baseman and hitter, is also offering his expertise to Tracy and other players as one of Melvin's special advisers in camp.
"Tony Clark is going to help him, too," Grace said of the backup first baseman. "He's in good hands with Tony and us two old guys."
Tracy was almost speechless when told that Grace envisions him being a better player than he was.
"That's an unbelievable compliment," Tracy said. "I don't even know how to comment on that. It means a lot coming from a guy like him."
As for learning the ropes from such veterans, Tracy said, "It's only going to help. I mean, those guys have probably forgotten more than I've ever learned in baseball."
Stepping it up
Pitchers stayed off the mound on Wednesday to keep them fresh for the start of live batting practice today at Kino Sports Complex. Typically, the pitchers are a little bit ahead of the hitters, and Melvin doesn't expect that to change.
"We thought we'd give them two days to get their feet a little wet, and then they're going to start breaking bats," he said. "The veteran guys will probably be bringing somebody else's bat up there (today)."
Field your position
Melvin and his staff are stressing to the pitchers the importance of being able to field and to handle the bat. When they failed to execute covering the bag on grounders to first, pitching coach Mark Davis made them do it over again.
"It's like a pitch," Davis said. "If you don't execute the pitch, well, let's work on it. We approach PFPs (pitchers' fielding practice) the same way. You do it right. That's what the whole camp is about, doing the little things to make us the most consistent we can be."
Asked who were among the best fielding pitchers in camp, Davis singled out Mike Koplove, Greg Aquino, Russ Ortiz, Lance Cormier, Shane Nance, Jason Bulger and Jon Cannon.
Short hops
Pitcher Jose Jimenez's absence stems from child-support issues in his native Dominican Republic. Jimenez, a non-roster invitee, must make a series of payments up front to be granted travel, and thus far he hasn't been able to clear up the situation.
If it drags out several more days, the Diamondbacks likely would release Jimenez, although they feel he can contend for a spot in the bullpen and provide valuable experience.
• The Diamondbacks Fan Fest will take place Saturday at the Bank One Ballpark Plaza from 9 a.m. to noon and will feature appearances by Ortiz, Javier Vazquez, Shawn Green, Troy Glaus and Tony Clark, as well as ballpark tours, carnival games and batting cages. For more information, call (602) 514-8400 or visit diamondbacks.com.
• Former Diamondbacks pitcher Todd Stottlemyre has been a frequent camp visitor and popped in again Wednesday.
• After signing 10 players to new contracts last week, the Diamondbacks have agreed to terms with another batch, but the club will likely wait until Friday to announce it.
• Infielder Matt Kata and pitcher Michael Gosling visited the children's wing of the University Medical Center to sign autographs and take pictures with patients.
• Game 7 of the 2001 World Series between the Diamondbacks and New York Yankees will be shown at 10:30 a.m. Saturday on FSNAZ.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/special3/articles/0224Dbacks0224.html
Bob McManaman
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 24, 2005 12:00 AM
TUCSON - When manager Bob Melvin telephoned Mark Grace this winter and asked the former first baseman if he would be interested in helping the coaching staff in spring training, Grace said it only took him about a half-second to say yes.
It took about the same amount of time for Grace to drop the first bombshell of camp.
After the Diamondbacks wrapped up workouts on Wednesday, Grace said without hesitation that Chad Tracy, the club's new first baseman, will be a better player than he was during his 16-year career, when he was a three-time All-Star, won four Gold Glove Awards and owned a .303 career batting average.
"He's going to be good," Grace said. "I think he's going to be a better hitter and a better fielder than I ever was."
Tracy, who hit .285 last season as a rookie, is moving from third base to first with the departures of Richie Sexson and Shea Hillenbrand. Melvin has asked Grace, the team's television analyst, to shadow Tracy in camp and teach him the nuances of the position.
Will Clark, another former slick first baseman and hitter, is also offering his expertise to Tracy and other players as one of Melvin's special advisers in camp.
"Tony Clark is going to help him, too," Grace said of the backup first baseman. "He's in good hands with Tony and us two old guys."
Tracy was almost speechless when told that Grace envisions him being a better player than he was.
"That's an unbelievable compliment," Tracy said. "I don't even know how to comment on that. It means a lot coming from a guy like him."
As for learning the ropes from such veterans, Tracy said, "It's only going to help. I mean, those guys have probably forgotten more than I've ever learned in baseball."
Stepping it up
Pitchers stayed off the mound on Wednesday to keep them fresh for the start of live batting practice today at Kino Sports Complex. Typically, the pitchers are a little bit ahead of the hitters, and Melvin doesn't expect that to change.
"We thought we'd give them two days to get their feet a little wet, and then they're going to start breaking bats," he said. "The veteran guys will probably be bringing somebody else's bat up there (today)."
Field your position
Melvin and his staff are stressing to the pitchers the importance of being able to field and to handle the bat. When they failed to execute covering the bag on grounders to first, pitching coach Mark Davis made them do it over again.
"It's like a pitch," Davis said. "If you don't execute the pitch, well, let's work on it. We approach PFPs (pitchers' fielding practice) the same way. You do it right. That's what the whole camp is about, doing the little things to make us the most consistent we can be."
Asked who were among the best fielding pitchers in camp, Davis singled out Mike Koplove, Greg Aquino, Russ Ortiz, Lance Cormier, Shane Nance, Jason Bulger and Jon Cannon.
Short hops
Pitcher Jose Jimenez's absence stems from child-support issues in his native Dominican Republic. Jimenez, a non-roster invitee, must make a series of payments up front to be granted travel, and thus far he hasn't been able to clear up the situation.
If it drags out several more days, the Diamondbacks likely would release Jimenez, although they feel he can contend for a spot in the bullpen and provide valuable experience.
• The Diamondbacks Fan Fest will take place Saturday at the Bank One Ballpark Plaza from 9 a.m. to noon and will feature appearances by Ortiz, Javier Vazquez, Shawn Green, Troy Glaus and Tony Clark, as well as ballpark tours, carnival games and batting cages. For more information, call (602) 514-8400 or visit diamondbacks.com.
• Former Diamondbacks pitcher Todd Stottlemyre has been a frequent camp visitor and popped in again Wednesday.
• After signing 10 players to new contracts last week, the Diamondbacks have agreed to terms with another batch, but the club will likely wait until Friday to announce it.
• Infielder Matt Kata and pitcher Michael Gosling visited the children's wing of the University Medical Center to sign autographs and take pictures with patients.
• Game 7 of the 2001 World Series between the Diamondbacks and New York Yankees will be shown at 10:30 a.m. Saturday on FSNAZ.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/special3/articles/0224Dbacks0224.html
