Monday, February 28, 2000
Each player has different priority in spring training
Graves works on arm strength, Larkin timing
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SARASOTA, Fla. — “Getting your work in,” the universal goal early in spring training, means different things to different players.
A pitcher progresses at one rate, an infielder at another. An established player can take liberties that a rookie wouldn't dare fathom.
By now, with the exhibition season scheduled to open Friday, the Reds have left behind the novelty of returning to the field and have sharpened their focus on preparing for actual competition.
Here's how a cross-section of Reds — from superstars to journeymen, from veterans to relative youngsters — addressed their personal spring-training priorities Sunday:
Danny Graves, right-handed reliever:
“Just getting my arm strength up. For example, today was really the first day I let anything go when I was throwing batting practice. Usually the first three or four times you're just getting your mechanics down.
“Every time from here on out, I'm just going to try to improve my arm strength — let a few more go. I've thrown some breaking balls that have been pretty decent, but right now I'm just worried about getting velocity back on the fastball, because everything you throw is going to be off the fastball anyway.”
Ken Griffey Jr., center fielder:
“Just try to get in shape and get your work in, those are the two biggest things. You're going to get some at-bats. Right now, since you're not playing, you can't work on specific things. When the games start, if you need a little extra, you go to the coaches. If you need to take some fly balls, you're going to do it. But right now, you take fly balls, ground balls, a little bit of everything.”
Barry Larkin, shortstop:
“The timing's the biggest thing — the timing of catching a ground ball, making the transfer and throwing to first base; your timing in running the bases, getting your steps to where you can round the base without taking a wide turn.”
Jason LaRue, catcher:
“Get comfortable behind the plate. I don't just want to catch the balls; I want to receive them.
“The other thing is, you have to get used to getting hit with balls again — from foul tips to balls in the dirt. You want to get that over as quickly as possible so you're not gun-shy, I guess you could say, where you're getting out of the way. You want it to be routine to where if the ball's in the dirt, you want to go down and block it.”
Mark Lewis, infielder:
“You don't want to peak too high or too early. The only thing you really worry about it getting your body in baseball shape. It doesn't matter how hard you work out; you can never get your body in baseball shape.
“You just let spring training get you back in shape. You don't want to hit too much too early, because then you get blisters. You don't want to throw too much. You just kind of pace yourself. Everybody keeps themselves in such good shape, it doesn't take very much.”
Steve Parris, right-handed starter:
“Mostly mechanics. We're throwing so much now that arm strength is kind of being depleted. They break you down, and when you get some rest, you're that much stronger. I've been throwing since mid-December, so it's not bad for me at all. I just try to keep my arm on top, make sure my breaking ball's OK and keep everything down.”
Pokey Reese, second baseman:
“Timing. At the plate and in the field, moving side to side. We ran the bases today, so we had to get our steps down. I'd rather take balls off the bat in live batting practice so I can get the true hop, the true spin.”
Scott Williamson, right-handed reliever:
“Arm strength is the first key. Then you go to mechanics. Then you really get the fastball going, hitting your spots and trying to get it down in the zone. Then you keep building on that. You start at about 60 percent, then every time you go out you add about 5 percent, a little bit harder. The last couple of times before you start playing games you want to go at about 80 percent almost the whole 10 minutes you're out there.”
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