|
|
|
|
 |
| ||
|
Scores Schedules Standings Statistics Transactions Injuries: AL | NL Players Offseason moves Free Agents Message Board Minor Leagues MLB Stat Search MLB en espaņol Clubhouses | ||
|
SportsMall
| ||
| Sport Sections | ||
|
| ||
| Sunday, March 4 | ||||||
| Hitchcock has fun facing hitters again | ||||||
| PEORIA, Ariz. – San Diego Padres left-hander Sterling
Hitchcock faced batters Sunday for the first time since he had
reconstructive elbow surgery June 6.
Hitchcock, MVP of the 1998 NL Championship Series win over
Atlanta, threw 25 pitches during batting practice, showing only
fastballs and changeups.
"It was fun to be out there seeing some hitters again," he
said. "It was good to see some reactions to what I'm throwing."
Hitchcock, 29, was 1-6 with a 4.93 ERA in 11 starts last season
before his injury May 26, forcing him from a game against Montreal.
After the "Tommy John" ligament transplant surgery, he had a
second operation to repair a chronic problem in his left ankle.
He has been far ahead of schedule this spring and hopes to
return by late April, less than 11 months after surgery. The club
has yet to set a timetable for Hitchcock to pitch in a game.
"I have to get my pitch counts up first," said Hitchcock, who
has thrown as many as 50 pitches in bullpen sessions.
Jeter resumes throwing after shoulder exam TAMPA, Fla. – New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter was cleared Sunday to resume working out after his ailing right shoulder was examined by a team doctor. It was first thought Jeter would not resume throwing Sunday. But after meeting with Dr. Allen Miller, Jeter played catch and hit off a tee for the first time since Tuesday. "What I understand is, it's no big deal," Jeter said of his inflamed joint. "It's nothing that affects your throwing. It's not going to hurt anything. We're trying to get it (the discomfort) out of there." Jeter threw for 10 minutes and took approximately 40 swings off the hitting tee. "There was no pain," Jeter said. "Today, it was good. Now I'll just have to wait until tomorrow." Jeter said he first experienced discomfort in his shoulder during an offseason workout. The problem continued when started throwing in spring training drills. "I guess it never got a chance to settle down," Jeter said. Both general manager Brian Cashman and manager Joe Torre said Jeter would be playing if it was the regular season. "We have the opportunity to be extra cautious," Cashman said. "It's better to take an extra day than come back to soon. It's resolving itself to the point where no cortisone shot is necessary right now." There is no timetable for when Jeter might make his spring debut. He is expected to throw and take soft toss hitting on Monday. Torre said position players need just 10-14 days of playing time during spring training to be ready for Opening Day. Indians eager to see Wright pitch in game conditions WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Cleveland's Jaret Wright, whose 2000 season was cut short in August because of shoulder surgery, is scheduled to pitch in the Indians' "B" game Monday at the Florida Marlins' training camp. Wright has only thrown batting practice to this point this spring and the Indians are anxious to see him face hitters in game conditions. "We just want to see him healthy and throwing," Indians manager Charlie Manuel said. "We'll see how it goes and then we'll have a little better idea of where he's at." The Indians have been cautious about bringing Wright along too fast because this is the first time he has been hurt. Wright's career has plummeted for the past three years. As a rookie in 1997, he beat the New York Yankees twice in the postseason and started Game 7 of the World Series against the Marlins. Indians general manager John Hart said he won't evaluate Wright or Charles Nagy until the right-handers appear in a few games. Nagy is coming back from elbow surgery and looked pretty good in his first outing of the spring Friday against the Braves. Sosa doesn't need BP to HR MESA, Ariz. – Sammy Sosa didn't waste any time getting into the groove. Playing in his first exhibition game only five days after he reported, without ever taking live batting practice, Sosa homered on the first pitch he saw Saturday and the Chicago Cubs beat the Seattle Mariners 9-3 in a split-squad game. "Not bad," Sosa said. "It felt great, first at-bat, first pitch. Wow!" He just missed another homer, too, popping out to center in the fourth inning. He finished 1-for-2 with a walk before leaving in the top of the fifth. "You knew he was going to do something special," Cubs manager Don Baylor said. Actually, he was just keeping a promise he'd made before the game. Sosa arrived at spring training Monday, his usual fashionably late entrance, and never took any live batting practice. But he did something special anyway. He sent the first pitch he got from Greg Wooten rocketing over the left-field fence, drawing huge cheers from the fans. He got a standing ovation as he crossed the plate. "Live BP is somewhat overrated, I guess," Baylor said, smiling. Sosa had said all week that it wouldn't take him long to get in playing shape. A few sessions in the batting cage, some BP, and he was good to go. "I work all year long in the Dominican," he said. "So I come here in shape and ready to go." Dodgers' Green out another week; Beltre improving VERO BEACH, Fla. – Shawn Green, who sprained his right thumb sliding into second base in the first inning of the Los Angeles Dodgers' exhibition opener, probably will be sidelined at least another week.
MELBOURNE, Fla. – Josh Beckett, the Florida Marlins' top pitching prospect, rejoined workouts Sunday after spending a night in the hospital with a viral infection. A CT scan determined Beckett didn't have an inflamed appendix, as doctors first feared. He was released from the hospital Saturday. "It couldn't have turned out any better," manager John Boles said. "I didn't want to see Josh have another setback after last year." Beckett's 2000 season at Class A Kane County was limited to 13 games because of shoulder tendinitis. He is expected to start this season at Class A Brevard. Florida also signed reliever Braden Looper to a $2.6 million, three-year contract, a deal that could be worth more than $4 million, including performance bonuses. Looper went 5-1 last season with a 4.41 ERA in 73 games.  Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories | ALSO SEE Spring report: Deion hitless in return to hometown | |||||
