Notes: Trimmer Sweeney feels good
02/22/2006
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Camp Royal is officially open. The captain has arrived.
Mike Sweeney cruised into the clubhouse on Wednesday morning, dispensing smiles and hugs all around.
There was less of him to spread around, however, since Sweeney has lost some weight.
"I'm at 220 or 222 [pounds]," he said. "Last spring, I checked in at 238, so I'm down about 15 pounds."
Sweeney employed a personal trainer in California and went on a special diet.
He believes that a lighter weight will lessen the possibility of the back sprains that have dogged him in recent seasons.
Joining the other position players in batting practice, Sweeney cracked a succession of line drives and cleared the fence a few times.
"A triple," he announced as a line drive headed toward right-center field. A triple? Sweeney hasn't hit one of those since 2003.
Well, maybe with that lighter weight, he'll get one this season.
"I'm back to being my own self," he said with a smile.
Back -- get it?
Four to start: Even though the Royals will be picking out five starters for their rotation, the season will begin with just four.
That's because there are three open dates scheduled in the first two weeks of the schedule.
"We don't need the fifth until the 14th of April," manager Buddy Bell said.
That could temporarily alter his plans to open the season with a 12-pitcher staff. The Royals could go with 11 pitchers and an extra bench player for two weeks.
"I don't know how we'll handle that," Bell said. "I don't know if we'll take an extra position player or keep it at 12."
Left-hander Mark Redman is the probable starter for the Cactus League opener on March 2 against the Texas Rangers.
Stairs steps: Even though Matt Stairs played 15 games in the outfield last season (with 12 starts in right field), that's an unlikely scenario this year.
This time, he's really supposed to be the backup player he was signed to be before the 2004 season. In other words, he should be filling in as the designated hitter with a few turns at first base.
"I see him playing the outfield very little, if any," Bell said. "Of course, Matty comes to camp a lot of the time like this, but he ends up playing a lot."
Stairs played 127 games last year and 126 in 2004.
"He's a guy that'll help us win some games," Bell said.
Not sighted: With Sweeney's arrival, the only 40-man roster absentees were outfielder Reggie Sanders and infielder Esteban German. They're not required to be in camp until Friday for the first full-squad workout.
Also missing was third baseman Alex Gordon, a non-roster invitee who was the Royals' first-round draft choice last year.
The reporting date is Thursday.
Elvis is a-building: Catcher John Buck is encouraged by right-hander Runelvys Hernandez.
"I caught his first bullpen [session]," Buck said. "The last time I caught him was his last outing of the season. His ball was heavier in the bullpen than in the season. Whatever was hurting him last season was definitely gone."
Quotable: "Did you ever see a weak gorilla?" -- Sweeney, picking up a banana for a post-workout snack
Source: http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Camp Royal is officially open. The captain has arrived.
Mike Sweeney cruised into the clubhouse on Wednesday morning, dispensing smiles and hugs all around.
There was less of him to spread around, however, since Sweeney has lost some weight.
"I'm at 220 or 222 [pounds]," he said. "Last spring, I checked in at 238, so I'm down about 15 pounds."
Sweeney employed a personal trainer in California and went on a special diet.
He believes that a lighter weight will lessen the possibility of the back sprains that have dogged him in recent seasons.
Joining the other position players in batting practice, Sweeney cracked a succession of line drives and cleared the fence a few times.
"A triple," he announced as a line drive headed toward right-center field. A triple? Sweeney hasn't hit one of those since 2003.
Well, maybe with that lighter weight, he'll get one this season.
"I'm back to being my own self," he said with a smile.
Back -- get it?
Four to start: Even though the Royals will be picking out five starters for their rotation, the season will begin with just four.
That's because there are three open dates scheduled in the first two weeks of the schedule.
"We don't need the fifth until the 14th of April," manager Buddy Bell said.
That could temporarily alter his plans to open the season with a 12-pitcher staff. The Royals could go with 11 pitchers and an extra bench player for two weeks.
"I don't know how we'll handle that," Bell said. "I don't know if we'll take an extra position player or keep it at 12."
Left-hander Mark Redman is the probable starter for the Cactus League opener on March 2 against the Texas Rangers.
Stairs steps: Even though Matt Stairs played 15 games in the outfield last season (with 12 starts in right field), that's an unlikely scenario this year.
This time, he's really supposed to be the backup player he was signed to be before the 2004 season. In other words, he should be filling in as the designated hitter with a few turns at first base.
"I see him playing the outfield very little, if any," Bell said. "Of course, Matty comes to camp a lot of the time like this, but he ends up playing a lot."
Stairs played 127 games last year and 126 in 2004.
"He's a guy that'll help us win some games," Bell said.
Not sighted: With Sweeney's arrival, the only 40-man roster absentees were outfielder Reggie Sanders and infielder Esteban German. They're not required to be in camp until Friday for the first full-squad workout.
Also missing was third baseman Alex Gordon, a non-roster invitee who was the Royals' first-round draft choice last year.
The reporting date is Thursday.
Elvis is a-building: Catcher John Buck is encouraged by right-hander Runelvys Hernandez.
"I caught his first bullpen [session]," Buck said. "The last time I caught him was his last outing of the season. His ball was heavier in the bullpen than in the season. Whatever was hurting him last season was definitely gone."
Quotable: "Did you ever see a weak gorilla?" -- Sweeney, picking up a banana for a post-workout snack
Source: http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/
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