Grud, Mientkiewicz spell defense in KC
02/24/2006
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Buddy Bell's memory was transported back to St. Ignatius School in Cincinnati.
"Sister Mary Ann, she'd be happy with me. She's the teacher I had in the third grade," Bell said.
"She'd be proud of me because I can spell."
Bell, who grew up to be manager of the Kansas City Royals, never expected this kind of spelling test, though.
Grudzielanek. Mientkiewicz.
You don't even have to be spelling-challenged to stumble over those 12-letter names that will appear on the Royals lineup card this season. Mark Grudzielanek is the second baseman, Doug Mientkiewicz is the first baseman.
What nationality is reflected in this alphabetic soup?
"Polish," Mientkiewicz said. "And I'm a little upset that this World Baseball Classic doesn't have a Polish team."
By any name, these new Royals are counted upon to seal up the right side of the infield.
"For at least six months," Mientkiewicz said.
Grudzielanek, 35, and Mientkiewicz, 31, are well aware they are stand-ins until younger players at second (Andres Blanco, Ruben Gotay or Donnie Murphy) and first (Justin Huber) are ready.
Mientkiewicz allows slugger Mike Sweeney to be stashed in the designated hitter role and Matt Stairs to be a backup first baseman and designated hitter. Grudzielanek replaces the six-pack used last year at second base.
The new guys can hit, but it's defense that attracted the Royals.
Mientkiewicz was a Gold Glove winner for the Minnesota Twins.
"I have to do things to separate me from the big boppers of the world," he said. "I've hit .300 twice in this league and I've always been known for my glove. It's something you can't shake, but it's also a compliment because I take pride in catching the ball."
Grudzielanek, in his only season with the St. Louis Cardinals, last year led Major League second basemen with 108 double plays.
"There's nothing better than a double play. It's a rally-killer, an inning-ending play that can really catapult, give you a positive motivation to go into that next inning," he said.
A strong arm -- he played shortstop for the Montreal Expos and Los Angeles Dodgers -- enables him to get the ball to first base quickly and to go deep for outfield relays. He's also known for hanging tough on the pivot, willing to take a hit to complete the double play.
"There's not enough guys like him in the big leagues anymore," Mientkiewicz said. "The guys that play the game the right way, that grind it out day-in and day-out. They don't make excuses, they just want to win."
For his part, Grudzielanek anticipates Mientkiewicz digging out throws for him and the younger flingers, third baseman Mark Teahen and shortstop Angel Berroa.
"That's huge because you don't think about it. I know that through the years I've had somebody who could catch the ball like Derrek Lee and there were other guys who had a little trouble," Grudzielanek said.
Despite his raw talent, he needed some expert help early in his career.
"A few years into Montreal I hooked up with Bucky Dent. He taught me an awful lot and locked me in defensively with your footwork, my angles on the field that you never even hear about," Grudzielanek said.
"I worked with him in the offseason and he cut my errors 70 percent."
Mientkiewicz is known for his side-to-side footwork and his ability to dive and jump back up. Get it over to first base and he'll usually catch it.
For the New York Mets last season, Mientkiewicz was limited to just 87 games because of somewhat odd injuries.
"I popped my hamstring in the on-deck circle of all places. I just bent over in my little stretch routine and felt something snap. ... Then breaking up a double play, I got a knee in my back that cost me a lot of time," he said.
As workouts begin, the prospects are for Grudzielanek, who's right-handed, to bat in the order's second slot behind David DeJesus. Mientkiewicz, who throws right but bats left, figures to be in the lower half.
"I'm a good gap-to-gap hitter," Grudzielanek said. "They play me to the right side because the majority of my balls go over there. I don't get aggressive. I try to wait on the ball a little bit to recognize the pitch a little better. I can hit my hole pretty well."
However, Mientkiewicz also could fit in the No. 2 hole. He's a good contact hitter who also draws a lot of walks.
"I enjoyed hitting in the 2-hole ... I'm not scared to bunt guys over. I love hittin'-and-runnin'. With a guy on first base, I use the hole," he said. "When I get in the middle of the lineup, I get too power conscious."
Wherever Mientkiewicz and Grudzielanek bat, they'll be on that lineup card somewhere.
Now Bell must spell the 12-letter names.
"He can go short, too," Grudzielanek said. "He can just go Grud. Or just G with a straight line all the way across."
That's sort of the approach that Mientkiewicz's wife Jodi takes when she writes a check. Like M---squiggle---squiggle.
"I don't fault her for it. It's not a very fun name to spell all the time," Mientkiewicz said.
Source: http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Buddy Bell's memory was transported back to St. Ignatius School in Cincinnati.
"Sister Mary Ann, she'd be happy with me. She's the teacher I had in the third grade," Bell said.
"She'd be proud of me because I can spell."
Bell, who grew up to be manager of the Kansas City Royals, never expected this kind of spelling test, though.
Grudzielanek. Mientkiewicz.
You don't even have to be spelling-challenged to stumble over those 12-letter names that will appear on the Royals lineup card this season. Mark Grudzielanek is the second baseman, Doug Mientkiewicz is the first baseman.
What nationality is reflected in this alphabetic soup?
"Polish," Mientkiewicz said. "And I'm a little upset that this World Baseball Classic doesn't have a Polish team."
By any name, these new Royals are counted upon to seal up the right side of the infield.
"For at least six months," Mientkiewicz said.
Grudzielanek, 35, and Mientkiewicz, 31, are well aware they are stand-ins until younger players at second (Andres Blanco, Ruben Gotay or Donnie Murphy) and first (Justin Huber) are ready.
Mientkiewicz allows slugger Mike Sweeney to be stashed in the designated hitter role and Matt Stairs to be a backup first baseman and designated hitter. Grudzielanek replaces the six-pack used last year at second base.
The new guys can hit, but it's defense that attracted the Royals.
Mientkiewicz was a Gold Glove winner for the Minnesota Twins.
"I have to do things to separate me from the big boppers of the world," he said. "I've hit .300 twice in this league and I've always been known for my glove. It's something you can't shake, but it's also a compliment because I take pride in catching the ball."
Grudzielanek, in his only season with the St. Louis Cardinals, last year led Major League second basemen with 108 double plays.
"There's nothing better than a double play. It's a rally-killer, an inning-ending play that can really catapult, give you a positive motivation to go into that next inning," he said.
A strong arm -- he played shortstop for the Montreal Expos and Los Angeles Dodgers -- enables him to get the ball to first base quickly and to go deep for outfield relays. He's also known for hanging tough on the pivot, willing to take a hit to complete the double play.
"There's not enough guys like him in the big leagues anymore," Mientkiewicz said. "The guys that play the game the right way, that grind it out day-in and day-out. They don't make excuses, they just want to win."
For his part, Grudzielanek anticipates Mientkiewicz digging out throws for him and the younger flingers, third baseman Mark Teahen and shortstop Angel Berroa.
"That's huge because you don't think about it. I know that through the years I've had somebody who could catch the ball like Derrek Lee and there were other guys who had a little trouble," Grudzielanek said.
Despite his raw talent, he needed some expert help early in his career.
"A few years into Montreal I hooked up with Bucky Dent. He taught me an awful lot and locked me in defensively with your footwork, my angles on the field that you never even hear about," Grudzielanek said.
"I worked with him in the offseason and he cut my errors 70 percent."
Mientkiewicz is known for his side-to-side footwork and his ability to dive and jump back up. Get it over to first base and he'll usually catch it.
For the New York Mets last season, Mientkiewicz was limited to just 87 games because of somewhat odd injuries.
"I popped my hamstring in the on-deck circle of all places. I just bent over in my little stretch routine and felt something snap. ... Then breaking up a double play, I got a knee in my back that cost me a lot of time," he said.
As workouts begin, the prospects are for Grudzielanek, who's right-handed, to bat in the order's second slot behind David DeJesus. Mientkiewicz, who throws right but bats left, figures to be in the lower half.
"I'm a good gap-to-gap hitter," Grudzielanek said. "They play me to the right side because the majority of my balls go over there. I don't get aggressive. I try to wait on the ball a little bit to recognize the pitch a little better. I can hit my hole pretty well."
However, Mientkiewicz also could fit in the No. 2 hole. He's a good contact hitter who also draws a lot of walks.
"I enjoyed hitting in the 2-hole ... I'm not scared to bunt guys over. I love hittin'-and-runnin'. With a guy on first base, I use the hole," he said. "When I get in the middle of the lineup, I get too power conscious."
Wherever Mientkiewicz and Grudzielanek bat, they'll be on that lineup card somewhere.
Now Bell must spell the 12-letter names.
"He can go short, too," Grudzielanek said. "He can just go Grud. Or just G with a straight line all the way across."
That's sort of the approach that Mientkiewicz's wife Jodi takes when she writes a check. Like M---squiggle---squiggle.
"I don't fault her for it. It's not a very fun name to spell all the time," Mientkiewicz said.
Source: http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home