|
|
|
|
 |
| ||
|
Scores Schedules Standings Statistics Transactions Injuries: AL | NL Players Offseason moves Message Board Minor Leagues MLB Stat Search MLB en espaņol Clubhouses | ||
|
SportsMall
| ||
| Sport Sections | ||
|
| ||
| Friday, March 9 | |||||
| Cardinals say Ankiel making progress | |||||
| JUPITER, Fla. – After watching Rick Ankiel's latest
early morning throwing session Thursday, the St. Louis Cardinals
think he's almost ready for game action.
"We'll talk about it," general manager Walt Jocketty said. "I
would think so."
Ankiel, who threw nine wild pitches in the playoffs last fall,
didn't have much to say.
"I was OK. My changeup still needs work," the 21-year-old
left-hander said.
Jocketty was much more effusive.
"He looked really, really good," Jocketty said. "I think what
we saw today was about the best we've seen. He threw 30 pitches
before anybody made contact."
Jocketty agreed with Ankiel's assessment about the changeup.
"But as far as the fastball and velocity, that was good,"
Jocketty said. "And his breaking ball was real good, a
knee-buckler."
Ankiel was one of the top rookie pitchers in the major leagues
last season, leading the team with a 3.50 ERA and going 11-7 with
194 strikeouts in 175 innings. He has been throwing in the early
morning since a wild workout earlier this spring.
Reversal of fortune in Cone's second outing BRADENTON, Fla. – David Cone watched three television monitors the morning after his own horror show. One showed Greg Maddux, another Bret Saberhagen in his prime and the third Cone himself as he struggled the previous day. Boston pitching coach Joe Kerrigan pointed out what Cone did wrong and the others did right. It opened Cone's eyes. "I told Joe it was an epiphany," he said. "He got all over me for using that word. He said something about `do it in the game.' " That's what Cone did Thursday. In three innings, he allowed one run and three hits and struck out Jason Kendall on a hard slider in Boston's 9-8 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He even lined a single to right field in his only at bat. "It was a bullet," Cone said with a laugh. On the mound, he looked like a different pitcher than the one who allowed two homers and five runs in the first inning of his spring training debut last Saturday, a 7-1 loss to Texas. That's because, at Kerrigan's suggestion, he changed his delivery and threw more over the top. He did plenty of tinkering last season but still finished 4-14 with a 6.91 ERA for the Yankees. But the video session the day after his disaster showed what he didn't see all last year with New York. "Nothing seemed to work," Cone said. "I came here with an open mind, and now I'm glad I did." Jeter remains on target to play Saturday LAKELAND, Fla. – New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, slowed by an inflamed joint in his right shoulder, took part in his second straight full workout Thursday and remains on target to make his spring debut Saturday. As the Yankees prepared to play the Detroit Tigers on Thursday night, manager Joe Torre said Jeter would probably play against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday. "He's got some aches and pains today, but those are the normal things, not in the area where his problem is," Torre said. "It's just throwing stuff. We'll make a decision tomorrow on what we decide to do." Jeter took batting practice and threw in Tampa with players who did not make the road trip. "I haven't thrown off balance or anything like that, but other than that I've done everything," Jeter said. "Now it's just a matter of getting your arm in shape." Hampton recovers after shaky start TUCSON, Ariz. – Todd Walker went 2-for-2 and drove in the go-ahead run Thursday as the Colorado Rockies overcame Mike Hampton's rough first inning to defeat an Anaheim Angels' split squad 6-3. In the first, Hampton gave up three hits and three runs, two on Larry Barnes' second homer of the spring, but retired nine of the 10 batters he faced over the next three innings. Hampton, who signed a $121 million, eight-year contract with Colorado, pitched three perfect innings in his first start. The Rockies scored in the first on an RBI single by Todd Helton and cut the Angels' lead to 3-2 on a sacrifice fly by Larry Walker in the sixth. Colorado took the lead with three runs in the seventh. Mark Little and Todd Hollandsworth hit back-to-back doubles to tie the game. Todd Walker singled to drive in Hollandsworth, and Darren Cox, who was hit by a pitch, scored on a ground out by Juan Uribe. The Rockies added a run in the eighth when Brooks Kieschnick scored on a double play after his leadoff double. Ron Villone relieved Hampton in the fifth, throwing three perfect innings to pick up his first decision of the spring. Klesko goes deep twice PHOENIX – Ryan Klesko hit a pair of long home runs off Jeff D'Amico Thursday as the San Diego Padres beat the Milwaukee Brewers 10-5. Klesko, who has three homers in 13 spring at-bats, hit a 445-foot drive to right field in the first inning. After a one-out double by Tony Gwynn in the third, Klesko hit a 470-foot shot to right. "I've still got a long way to go," Klesko said. "I'm still jumping at offspeed pitches. I'm still getting fooled. But both of those felt good. I don't care how I do in spring training as long as I'm locked in during the last week." Eric Owens homered to open the second inning and D'Amico left with two on and two outs in the third. His replacement, Kyle Peterson, gave up a three-run homer on a 2-0 pitch to Wiki Gonzalez. Jose Hernandez and Angel Echevarria hit solo homers for the Brewers. Winner Adam Eaton gave up two runs – one earned – and three hits in three innings. Cardinals not concerned about Vina's injury JUPITER, Fla. – Fernando Vina missed his fifth straight game Thursday due to an injured left foot, but the St. Louis Cardinals don't think the injury is serious. The Cardinals at first throught the second baseman was slowed by tendinitis in his Achilles' tendon, which might have sidelined him for several weeks. An MRI Wednesday showed that the tendon was normal, team physician Dr. George Paletta said. The problems appears to be an inflamed bursa sac, a cavity between the tendon and the bone. "I don't think this is going to be a big deal for him at all," Paletta said. Vina, 31, played just 123 games last year due to a hamstring injury and broken rib sustained in a fall over first base. In 1998, he played in only 37 games because of a knee injury. "Sometimes you think, why me?" Vina said. "The way I play doesn't help because I'm all-out all the time. Sometimes, it's better to let the ball fall into foul territory than you ripping into the fence and knocking yourself out for a week or two weeks or a month." Vina won't rush back to the lineup, not for spring games. "I've got time now, so I'm not panicking," he said. "Definitely, I want to play, but I've been around long enough that this doesn't mean much. "For one thing, I already feel good at the plate. I just want to be healthy leaving here and knock this out so it doesn't dog me." Pudge appears fully recovered from broken thumb PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – These are definite signs that Ivan Rodriguez is completely recovered from a broken thumb and eager to be back behind the plate for the Texas Rangers. The All-Star catcher springs out of his crouch and throws the ball to first base trying to catch a runner gradually stretching his lead, then moments later tries to pick off another runner at second. When he becomes a baserunner himself, Rodriguez takes off and slides headfirst into second with a stolen base. And all of that was in an exhibition game nearly a month before the regular season. "I'm feeling good, I'm feeling great," Rodriguez said. "I came to camp to get ready and just look forward to staying healthy and playing all year. "It's feeling alright, it's feeling OK." After winning the AL MVP award in 1999, Rodriguez was putting up more MVP-worthy numbers last season (.347, 27 home runs and 83 RBIs) before breaking his right thumb July 24. Until exhibition games started this spring, Rodriguez had gone six months without playing. That's an eternity for a 29-year-catcher who loves to play the game everyday. "He's anxious to play, he's healthy and he likes being part of this ballclub," Texas manager Johnny Oates said. "He's an important part of our club. Hopefully, we can keep him healthy. "He's mentioned to me more than once he can't wait for the season to start. He's excited about playing again." While Rodriguez is signed through 2002, the Rangers have talked to his agent about a long-term contract extension. Texas general manager Doug Melvin has said the goal is to keep Rodriguez with the team for the rest of his career. Rodriguez has two years left on the five-year deal he signed in 1997. He will make $8 million in base salary this season – $13 million less than A-Rod, his new teammate and offseason neighbor in Miami. Grace homers against former team TUCSON, Ariz. – Mark Grace, playing against his former team for the first time, homered Thursday night and drove in two runs as an Arizona Diamondbacks split squad beat the Chicago Cubs 5-2. Grace, who spent 13 seasons with the Cubs before leaving as a free agent, hit a fly ball to deep center field in the first inning, scoring Tony Womack from second base. Grace also hit a long home run to right field off Todd Van Poppel to lead off the sixth inning. Reggie Sanders, the Diamondbacks' other key free-agent acquisition, doubled high off the batter's-eye wall in center field to start a two-run second inning against Jon Lieber. Mike Morgan, slated for Arizona's bullpen, started and allowed one hit in four shutout innings. He also had an RBI single. Lieber gave up three runs on five hits in four innings. Roosevelt Brown had a pinch-hit, two-run double for the Cubs. Sammy Sosa went 0-for-3 and is 1-for-10 since homering on the first pitch he saw this spring. Reds' Young sidelined with sprained shoulder SARASOTA, Fla. – Cincinnati left fielder Dmitri Young is temporarily sidelined with a sprained right shoulder. Young left Wednesday night's game against Pittsburgh after injuring his right shoulder trying to make a diving catch. The initial diagnosis was a sprain, and Young underwent an MRI. Young was to miss Thursday's game against Philadelphia. Also Thursday, the Reds reassigned catcher Victor Valencia to their minor league camp.  Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories | ALSO SEE Spring report: Nagy has encouraging outing for Indians | ||||