Notes: This year, Young able to relax
03/03/2006
TEMPE, Ariz. -- It wasn't like this last spring in the Texas Rangers training camp. Chris Young threw everything he owned with everything he had in a pre-exhibition intrasquad game, straining to show manager Buck Showalter and the staff he had the right stuff.
What a difference a year -- and one successful rookie season -- can make in a man's attitude and approach.
"This is only my second big-league Spring Training," Young said, having thrown two innings (one run, one hit, one strikeout) in his Cactus League debut for the Padres against the Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium. "Last year, I was obviously not as proven -- not that I am now. Last year there were more question marks about me.
"Instead of coming out of the gate throwing all three pitches at 100 percent effort level, I can work on some things, some variations on pitches."
Young threw no curveballs against the Angels, moving his fastball around with an effective circle changeup he uses to keep hitters off balance.
He walked leadoff man Chone Figgins, who came around to score with a stolen base and two infield outs. Tim Salmon's leadoff single in the second was followed by a double-play grounder by Casey Kotchman and a strikeout of catcher Jeff Mathis.
"It's a start," Young said. "Obviously, I'm not where I want to be. I did some good things, and there are some things I want to work on. It's nice to have the first one under my belt."
Health, he said, is his first and foremost priority. He'll go mostly with fastballs early on to develop arm strength -- unlike last spring when he felt he had to prove something every time he stepped on the mound.
"His command's getting better and better," manager Bruce Bochy said. "He has said he didn't come in throwing as much this year. He's going to use Spring Training as a time to get sharp."
Ashby's mixed emotions: On the one hand, Andy Ashby understood that this was a big step. After almost two seasons away, he was back on a Major League mound in competition against quality hitters, including four -- Adam Kennedy, Darin Erstad, Garret Anderson and Salmon -- who helped power a World Series champion in 2002.
But that didn't make it any easier to handle for Ashby after he'd given up a homer to Anderson and another second-inning run before leaving the bases full by retiring Maicer Izturis.
Four hits allowed and a hit batsman were not what Ashby had in mind for the occasion, but after it was over, he wasn't experiencing residual elbow stress and had the first one in the books.
"I got some pitches up," Ashby said, identifying the ball Anderson lost as a cut fastball that didn't cut right. "I made a couple more mistakes, catching too much of the plate. But I felt pretty good. I don't like to give up runs, but it was nice to get the first one over with."
Ringing the bell: Mark Bellhorn, a veteran free-agent acquisition bidding for the second-base job, made an impressive Padres debut with two doubles Friday -- the club's only extra-base blows in a desultory 10-1 loss to the Angels.
"When they're having a good day," Bochy said, "they like to say they don't want to peak too early. We didn't peak too early today.
"Fundamental things we're emphasizing, we didn't do them early. Nobody in particular bothered me; we just didn't play well in all facets of the game. Bellhorn had a nice game. It was good to see Ash back on the mound; it's been a long road for him."
Bochy also liked Mike Cameron's speed and instincts going from first to third on a Brian Giles single, lefty Alan Embree's stuff and the command of Clay Hensley, who induced two ground balls (one an error on Paul McAnulty at first) and two strikeouts.
Klesko goes deep: It did not take long for Ryan Klesko's first home run of the spring to leave the field. The solo shot came in the top of the fourth inning against Seattle's Eddie Guardado in a six-inning "B" game at Peoria Sports Complex. Klesko's blast to right field was the only offense the Friars would generate in 3-1 loss to the Mariners on Friday morning.
Padres right-hander Jared Wells struck out one and gave up two hits but allowed no runs in the third and fourth innings. Right-hander Tim Stauffer started the game for the Padres, giving up one run in the second. The Mariners added one run in each of the fifth and sixth innings, both against non-roster invitee Kenny Baugh.
Padres catcher George Kottaras, showcasing a quicker new delivery, threw out two Mariners attempting to steal second.
The 22-year-old Kottaras, widely considered the club's catcher of the future, has been working with Bochy and Minor League catching instructor Joe Ferguson, who becomes a Rookie League batting coach in June.
Source: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/
TEMPE, Ariz. -- It wasn't like this last spring in the Texas Rangers training camp. Chris Young threw everything he owned with everything he had in a pre-exhibition intrasquad game, straining to show manager Buck Showalter and the staff he had the right stuff.
What a difference a year -- and one successful rookie season -- can make in a man's attitude and approach.
"This is only my second big-league Spring Training," Young said, having thrown two innings (one run, one hit, one strikeout) in his Cactus League debut for the Padres against the Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium. "Last year, I was obviously not as proven -- not that I am now. Last year there were more question marks about me.
"Instead of coming out of the gate throwing all three pitches at 100 percent effort level, I can work on some things, some variations on pitches."
Young threw no curveballs against the Angels, moving his fastball around with an effective circle changeup he uses to keep hitters off balance.
He walked leadoff man Chone Figgins, who came around to score with a stolen base and two infield outs. Tim Salmon's leadoff single in the second was followed by a double-play grounder by Casey Kotchman and a strikeout of catcher Jeff Mathis.
"It's a start," Young said. "Obviously, I'm not where I want to be. I did some good things, and there are some things I want to work on. It's nice to have the first one under my belt."
Health, he said, is his first and foremost priority. He'll go mostly with fastballs early on to develop arm strength -- unlike last spring when he felt he had to prove something every time he stepped on the mound.
"His command's getting better and better," manager Bruce Bochy said. "He has said he didn't come in throwing as much this year. He's going to use Spring Training as a time to get sharp."
Ashby's mixed emotions: On the one hand, Andy Ashby understood that this was a big step. After almost two seasons away, he was back on a Major League mound in competition against quality hitters, including four -- Adam Kennedy, Darin Erstad, Garret Anderson and Salmon -- who helped power a World Series champion in 2002.
But that didn't make it any easier to handle for Ashby after he'd given up a homer to Anderson and another second-inning run before leaving the bases full by retiring Maicer Izturis.
Four hits allowed and a hit batsman were not what Ashby had in mind for the occasion, but after it was over, he wasn't experiencing residual elbow stress and had the first one in the books.
"I got some pitches up," Ashby said, identifying the ball Anderson lost as a cut fastball that didn't cut right. "I made a couple more mistakes, catching too much of the plate. But I felt pretty good. I don't like to give up runs, but it was nice to get the first one over with."
Ringing the bell: Mark Bellhorn, a veteran free-agent acquisition bidding for the second-base job, made an impressive Padres debut with two doubles Friday -- the club's only extra-base blows in a desultory 10-1 loss to the Angels.
"When they're having a good day," Bochy said, "they like to say they don't want to peak too early. We didn't peak too early today.
"Fundamental things we're emphasizing, we didn't do them early. Nobody in particular bothered me; we just didn't play well in all facets of the game. Bellhorn had a nice game. It was good to see Ash back on the mound; it's been a long road for him."
Bochy also liked Mike Cameron's speed and instincts going from first to third on a Brian Giles single, lefty Alan Embree's stuff and the command of Clay Hensley, who induced two ground balls (one an error on Paul McAnulty at first) and two strikeouts.
Klesko goes deep: It did not take long for Ryan Klesko's first home run of the spring to leave the field. The solo shot came in the top of the fourth inning against Seattle's Eddie Guardado in a six-inning "B" game at Peoria Sports Complex. Klesko's blast to right field was the only offense the Friars would generate in 3-1 loss to the Mariners on Friday morning.
Padres right-hander Jared Wells struck out one and gave up two hits but allowed no runs in the third and fourth innings. Right-hander Tim Stauffer started the game for the Padres, giving up one run in the second. The Mariners added one run in each of the fifth and sixth innings, both against non-roster invitee Kenny Baugh.
Padres catcher George Kottaras, showcasing a quicker new delivery, threw out two Mariners attempting to steal second.
The 22-year-old Kottaras, widely considered the club's catcher of the future, has been working with Bochy and Minor League catching instructor Joe Ferguson, who becomes a Rookie League batting coach in June.
Source: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/
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