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Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Smoltz faces Tiger again — this time on ballfield
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Coming to you from old-school Chain of Lakes park, where I just watched big Tyler Flowers of Marietta put on another power display during batting practice.
Wait, THIS JUST IN: I’ve just been informed by our crackberry-wielding Braves PR man that Tiger Woods, yes, Tiger Woods, grabbed a bat and hit today during John Smoltz’s three-innings of simulated game conditions back at Disney. Yes, it would have been a good day to stay back at Dark Star.
(Now that I think about it, I’m wondering about the use of “simulated game conditions” in this case. I mean, Tiger Woods, simulated game?)
In a second missive from Dark Star to the PR man here, we’ve learned that Tiger went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts and a bleeder up the middle that was generously ruled a hit, that in his fourth plate appearance when his pal Smoltz threw him a few batting-practice quality mid-70s fastballs. Before that, he threw his real stuff at the megastar golfer.
After striking out his first two times up, Tiger either drew a walk or struck out looking, depending who was telling the story (hey, these are very informal sessions that Smoltz is doing on the backfield, with a coach or someone else calling the balls and strikes).
Braves didn’t provide a pitching “line” on Smoltz’s session, but Chipper Jones had a double off him, Jeff Francoeur had a single, and Tim Hudson was bragging about getting a couple of hits. Don’t know if anyone else hit other than Chipper, Huddy, Francoeur and that golfer dude.
By the way, I’m told Tiger wore shorts with a Braves jersey tucked in, and a batting helmet, of course.
There was no line on Smoltz’s performance, but Chipper had a double and Huddy bragged that he had two hits
Roger McDowell stayed back there this morning to watch Smoltz, and I should be able to get a quote from the pitching coach after today’s game.
(Postscript: Just talked to Roger after today’s game — after the real game — and he said Smoltz did indeed walk Tiger. But he also said Tiger’s hit wasn’t a hit, that a second baseman would’ve snagged it).
If I can reach Smoltz, I’ll add a quote from him here or below. His voicemail says he doesn’t generally answer his phone or check messages between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. down here.)
Anyway, back to Flowers: Before we were so rudely interrupted (OK, not really rudely), I was telling you about the latest potental Braves slugger from the Atlanta ‘burbs. I talked to him this morning, going to do a story on him tomorrow for Friday’s paper.
Good kid, great personality. And he wants everyone to know he’s 6-4 and 250, not 220 as listed in the media guide (that was years ago he weighed that), and that he’s from Marietta, not Roswell.
There weren’t any long balls today that were comparable to the now-legendary wind-blown bomb he hit during BP at Port St. Lucie on Monday, the one that longtime observers estimated at 480-500 feet, longer than any they’d ever seen hit there.
But he did hit a couple onto a grass berm beyond left-center field here today, and more importantly, he did it with an easy, smooth swing that has quickly caught the attention of Bobby Cox and Terry Pendleton, among others.
Did I mention the 250-pound non-roster catcher/first baseman has been perhaps the biggest surprise in the first week of spring training? Well, he has. He’s 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs heading into today’s game against the Indians, and he’s in the lineup as the DH batting eighth.
Cox’s excitement about the kid came through in an unrestrained moment during a conversation in the dugout this morning. “His swing is so [freaking] good,” he said. “He’s got a great, nice swing. No moving parts, so simple.”
When I mentioned being a future first-base option, Cox said, “Yeah … I don’t know. Maybe I’m out of my mind. But I like what I see.”
Flowers is not going to make the team out of camp, barring some rash of injuries or other unforeseen circumstances. But Flowers is definitely planting the seeds in the minds of decision-makers, giving the Braves something to think about for the not-too-distant future.
I’m not saying they’re gonna pencil him in as the man to replace Mark Teixeira if Tex leaves as a free agent after the season. Just saying he’s giving the Braves reason to believe he could be ready to fill such a role sooner than later.
“We’re a long way from the barn … but he’s been a pleasant surprise of camp,” said GM Frank Wren, employing an expression from the cow-milking days growing up on a farm. “We knew he could hit, but he’s kind of maturing before our eyes.”
In other words, let’s not get carried away and pencil Flowers in as the heir apparent to Tex, or as a catcher that could make Brian McCann expendable someday. Let’s just enjoy watching the strappin’ young lad in his first big league camp, and see how he does this year at high-A Myrtle Beach, I’m assuming. Or maybe he’ll get some time at Double-A Mississippi.
Last season at low-A Rome, he hit .298 with 34 doubles, 12 homers and 70 RBIs in 106 games, playing mostly first base (69 games) and DH until late in the season, when he split time between first base and catching.
He caught and played first base the year before at rookie-ball Danville, but a knee injury prevented him from catching for much of the 2007 season. The knee’s fine now, and Flowers is said to be a good defensive catcher, according to Cox.
“The pitchers love throwing to him,” Cox said. “He’s a big target back there.”
He said Flowers was just “OK” at first base, but just needs more work there to improve his defense. Anyway, he’s one to keep an eye on, now and in the future. Maybe the near future.
Soriano update: Closer Rafael Soriano could pitch in a “couple” of days, Cox said, and GM Frank Wren said Soriano’s sore elbow is not a concern at this point.
Wren characterized it as the typical type of soreness that so many pitchers around baseball get early in camp, and said Soriano’s stomach problem (flu or whatever he had) magnified the situation because he’s not pitched in a game yet due to the two ailments.
Cox also said that Soriano’s elbow was sore from the beginning of camp. However, Cox, Wren watched Soriano throw very well in early sessions, so it wouldn’t appear that he came to camp with an injury.
Braves flew him to Atlanta for a physical before he signed his two-year, $9 million contract in January. They say they’re sure he wasn’t hurt before he got the contract.
In a week this could blow over — if Soriano starts throwing in games. If he’s sidelined by this elbow for for another week or more, yes, there will be undeniable concern.
But for now, Wren says there’s more than enough time for Soriano to get ready for the season.
“He’s throwing in a couple of days,” Cox said. “He’ll be fine.”
Is there any reason for concern? “I don’t think so,” he said.
But I have to add, Cox didn’t sound entirely convincing when he said that.
”JERSEY GIRL” by Tom Waits (covered by Bruce Springsteen)
Got no time for the corner boys,
down in the street makin’ all that noise,
don’t want no whores on Eighth Avenue,
cause tonight i’m gonna be with you.
‘cause tonight i’m gonna take that ride,
across the river to the Jersey side,
take my baby to the carnival,
and i’ll take you all on the rides.
Down the shore everything’s alright,
you’re with your baby on a Saturday night,
don’t you know that all my dreams come true,
when i’m walkin’ down the street with you,
sing sha la la la la la sha la la la.
You know she thrills me with all her charms,
when i’m wrapped up in my baby’s arms,
my little angel gives me everything,
I know someday that she’ll wear my ring.
So don’t bother me cause i got no time,
I’m on my way to see that girl of mine,
nothin’ else matters in this whole wide world,
when you’re in love with a Jersey girl,
sing sha la la la la la la.
and i call your name, i can’t sleep at night,
sha la la la la la la.
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