Friday, February 24, 2006
Notes: Braves pitchers hit the field
02/17/2006
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- A bright sunny sky and temperatures in the 80s gave the Braves almost perfect conditions for the first workout for pitchers and catchers at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex on Friday afternoon.
"It's just enjoyable to watch guys throw," Braves general manager John Schuerholz said. "It was a beautiful day, and everything went smoothly. There was nothing out of the ordinary, so it was a good day."
After a short team meeting, the Braves hit the main field and got a good look at many of their top arms. John Smoltz and Tim Hudson were the first of many of the club's pitchers to throw live batting practice against an array of hitters, including Andruw Jones.
Because they are competing in next month's World Baseball Classic, position players Jones, Chipper Jones, Pete Orr and Jeff Francoeur have been given permission to participate in these early workouts. The first full-squad workout is scheduled for Wednesday.
"I haven't seen anybody who remotely looks to be out of shape," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "Everybody looks good."
Right-handed reliever Blaine Boyer, who experienced tendinitis in his shoulder at the end of last season, hasn't been cleared to throw off the mound yet. He's been long-tossing with pitching coach Roger McDowell on a regular basis.
And Mike Remlinger, whose fatigued shoulder forced the Red Sox to release him in late August, says his arm still feels strong. Cox has been impressed with his early looks at the veteran left-handed reliever, who will celebrate his 40th birthday on March 23.
"His arm feels real good he says," Cox said. "He was really [throwing] free and easy for me."
Remlinger, a non-roster invitee, will be fighting fellow left-handed relievers Macay McBride and John Foster for a spot in the bullpen. Cox carried both McBride and Foster for most of the second half of last season.
Starters appear healthy: While Mike Hampton will miss this season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, the other members of the Braves' rotation seem to have overcome the injuries that plagued them last season.
Smoltz, who began experiencing shoulder fatigue in mid-September, says he hasn't had any problems with his right shoulder since mid-November. As for Hudson and John Thomson, they're confident they won't have to deal with the injuries that placed them on the disabled list last year.
Hudson was on the disabled list from June 15-July 15 with a strained left oblique muscle. It's the same injury that plagued him in 2003 and 2004. But because it was in a different area of the large muscle, there wasn't extreme concern that he will have to deal with this every year.
Heading into last season, Hudson regularly did a number of exercises that added strength to his oblique muscles. This past offseason, he decided it would be better to focus on adding flexibility through stretching exercises.
"I just kind of backed off it a little bit," Hudson said. "They were great workouts for me, but I think there's a point in time where you can overwork something."
Thomson was on the disabled list from May 17-Aug 12 because of a right middle finger injury. Once he gained confidence that the injury had healed, he finished the season strong and then struck out three in two scoreless innings of relief in Game 4 of the National League Division Series.
"I know that it's fine," Thomson said. "There's no doubt in my mind that there is no effect from last year on my finger. I'm just ready to go. I'm ready to show everybody and myself that it's not going to be a factor mentally."
More praise for McDowell: When the Braves hired McDowell, they showed that they weren't concerned by his lack of coaching experience at the big-league level. The immediate praise he's received from the pitchers and Cox makes it look like they made a good decision.
"He's really good," Cox said. "He looks like he's been in the business for 20 years."
McDowell, who spent 12 seasons as a big-league reliever, took time to get to know all of his pitchers by calling them during the offseason. He also got a jump on things with the early throwing program that was held at Turner Field from Feb. 1-11.
"He's got a good grasp already of what they have, what they got and what they're makeup is," Cox said.
Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- A bright sunny sky and temperatures in the 80s gave the Braves almost perfect conditions for the first workout for pitchers and catchers at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex on Friday afternoon.
"It's just enjoyable to watch guys throw," Braves general manager John Schuerholz said. "It was a beautiful day, and everything went smoothly. There was nothing out of the ordinary, so it was a good day."
After a short team meeting, the Braves hit the main field and got a good look at many of their top arms. John Smoltz and Tim Hudson were the first of many of the club's pitchers to throw live batting practice against an array of hitters, including Andruw Jones.
Because they are competing in next month's World Baseball Classic, position players Jones, Chipper Jones, Pete Orr and Jeff Francoeur have been given permission to participate in these early workouts. The first full-squad workout is scheduled for Wednesday.
"I haven't seen anybody who remotely looks to be out of shape," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "Everybody looks good."
Right-handed reliever Blaine Boyer, who experienced tendinitis in his shoulder at the end of last season, hasn't been cleared to throw off the mound yet. He's been long-tossing with pitching coach Roger McDowell on a regular basis.
And Mike Remlinger, whose fatigued shoulder forced the Red Sox to release him in late August, says his arm still feels strong. Cox has been impressed with his early looks at the veteran left-handed reliever, who will celebrate his 40th birthday on March 23.
"His arm feels real good he says," Cox said. "He was really [throwing] free and easy for me."
Remlinger, a non-roster invitee, will be fighting fellow left-handed relievers Macay McBride and John Foster for a spot in the bullpen. Cox carried both McBride and Foster for most of the second half of last season.
Starters appear healthy: While Mike Hampton will miss this season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, the other members of the Braves' rotation seem to have overcome the injuries that plagued them last season.
Smoltz, who began experiencing shoulder fatigue in mid-September, says he hasn't had any problems with his right shoulder since mid-November. As for Hudson and John Thomson, they're confident they won't have to deal with the injuries that placed them on the disabled list last year.
Hudson was on the disabled list from June 15-July 15 with a strained left oblique muscle. It's the same injury that plagued him in 2003 and 2004. But because it was in a different area of the large muscle, there wasn't extreme concern that he will have to deal with this every year.
Heading into last season, Hudson regularly did a number of exercises that added strength to his oblique muscles. This past offseason, he decided it would be better to focus on adding flexibility through stretching exercises.
"I just kind of backed off it a little bit," Hudson said. "They were great workouts for me, but I think there's a point in time where you can overwork something."
Thomson was on the disabled list from May 17-Aug 12 because of a right middle finger injury. Once he gained confidence that the injury had healed, he finished the season strong and then struck out three in two scoreless innings of relief in Game 4 of the National League Division Series.
"I know that it's fine," Thomson said. "There's no doubt in my mind that there is no effect from last year on my finger. I'm just ready to go. I'm ready to show everybody and myself that it's not going to be a factor mentally."
More praise for McDowell: When the Braves hired McDowell, they showed that they weren't concerned by his lack of coaching experience at the big-league level. The immediate praise he's received from the pitchers and Cox makes it look like they made a good decision.
"He's really good," Cox said. "He looks like he's been in the business for 20 years."
McDowell, who spent 12 seasons as a big-league reliever, took time to get to know all of his pitchers by calling them during the offseason. He also got a jump on things with the early throwing program that was held at Turner Field from Feb. 1-11.
"He's got a good grasp already of what they have, what they got and what they're makeup is," Cox said.
Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/
