|
|
LAKELAND, Fla. - New Detroit Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler doesnt mind admitting he had gotten comfortable in Texas. Until his traded to the Tigers in the off-season for slugger Prince Fielder, Kinsler had spent his entire professional career in the Texas Rangers organization. He said he had an inkling after last season that he was on the trade block. He also said he was excited about a change. With the rumours swirling, Kinsler ended up with the Tigers who needed fielding and speed. The Tigers finished last in the American League in 2013 with only 35 stolen bases, 114 behind the Rangers. New Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said he wants to run more this year. Speedy Austin Jackson led the Tigers with eight steals as the Tigers relied on their sluggers, including Fielder, to knock in runs. With the trade of Fielder, the Tigers received Kinsler, who stole 15 bases for the Rangers last year, but has stolen more than 20 bases three times. In addition to Kinsler, the Tigers added Rajai Davis from the Toronto Blue Jays. Davis stole 45 bases for the Blue Jays in 2013. Kinsler was one of several high-profile additions for the Tigers during the off-season. He isnt expected to hit with Fielders power, but his line-drive hitting might be better suited for Comerica Park, which is a haven for line drive hitters, not sluggers. Kinsler lost nearly 20 pounds in the off-season once he was informed of the trade. "I like Comerica Park and wanted to lose weight," Kinsler said after reporting to Tigers camp on Sunday. "I wanted to get faster and get back to hitting line drives. If you hit it in the gap out there, you should get at least three (bases) out of it. I have more chances to run and set up the heart of the order. I never had to lose weight in Texas. As hot as it was, it was easy over there. I had to try to add weight over there. Now I have to lose it. Im ready to go right now." Ausmus said that the additions of Kinsler and Davis change the dynamics of the lineup. Former manager Jim Leyland wasnt big on stealing bases and his recent teams tended to be cautious on the bases. Ausmus said things might be different this season, his first as a major league manager. "Kinsler and Davis bring us the opportunity to get some more stolen bases," Ausmus said. "With Jackson and Torii Hunter to go with them, we have some speed this year. It is a different team with a different personality." Tigers president and general manager Dave Dombrowski said the discussions on the Fielder-for-Kinsler trade went quickly and set the new running philosophy into motion. "We wanted more speed, but if you look at last years team, we had very few places where we could just add speed to the order," Dombrowski said. We had to find a way and the Prince trade set everything into motion. Well be faster this year." Kinsler batted .277 with 13 homers and 72 RBI for the Rangers last season, but said he was prepared for a trade. "I wanted to go to a contender," said Kinsler, who lost two World Series with the Rangers. "It is a place I feel very strongly has a chance to win a World Series. It will be a new experience and I am excited to get out of my comfort zone. I love the park, it suits me, and I can run. We have star power on this team and I worked hard to lose those pounds because I expect to do a lot of running this year." NOTES: Once again, C Victor Martinez is working as a catcher during the daily bullpen sessions. Ausmus said Martinez will see duty behind the plate this season, especially during early interleague play. Ausmus said Martinez will be limited. "Theres no way hell catch 100 games this year," Ausmus said. "Hell work, but not as much as the other catchers.". Ausmus has started a new clubhouse ritual just before opening morning practice. The players and coaches get together and talk about not only baseball, but whatever is on their minds. Some of it, Ausmus said, is just good-natured kidding around. "It gives us a chance to laugh and laugh at each other," he said. "Its all in fun and to loosen things up."... The Tigers will host their first full-squad meeting no Tuesday even though most key position players have already reported. China Jerseys Stitched .Brothers B.J. and Justin Upton each homered and had an outfield assist, and the Braves held on for a 4-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday night. Cheap Jerseys From China . -- Novak Djokovic benefited from an erroneous call and claimed he didnt realize he had broken the rules. https://www.chinajerseyscheap.us/. His recovery time is expected to be six to eight months. Seidenberg was injured in the third period of Fridays 5-0 victory over the Ottawa Senators, when he got his leg tangled with forward Cory Conacher. China Jerseys Wholesale . Curtis Davies and Robert Koren secured the victory with goals inside 35 minutes of the fifth-round replay against the second-tier side. Fake China Jerseys .In the Football Money League compiled by accountancy firm Deloitte, German champion Bayern Munich remained third but Barcelona dropped from second to fourth during its trophyless 2014.In the 2013-2014 financial year, Real generated 549. NEW YORK -- Alex Rodriguez had a day off to think about the "overwhelming" reception he received in his season debut at Yankee Stadium. A-Rod did not play Saturday in the New York Yankees 9-3 loss to Detroit, a game that began about 13 hours after Rodriguez struck out three times in four at-bats during a 10-inning victory over the Tigers. "Just a day, its a quick turnaround and hes coming off an injury," manager Joe Girardi said. "If we dont have that late night maybe I play him today." Rodriguez left the ballpark Friday night without talking to the media, but he was upbeat and smiling throughout a chat in front of his locker before Saturdays game. The one topic he wouldnt discuss: a report that said he was given a letter by the Yankees stating that they are thinking of fining him for violating the collective bargaining agreement in late July. Citing anonymous sources, ESPNNewYork reported the Yankees could fine him for seeking an unapproved second opinion on his strained quadriceps. He can also be penalized for failing to show up for work July 12 after meeting with Major League baseball officials conducting the investigation into Biogenesis, the now-closed Florida anti-aging clinic. "Maybe they sent it to my lawyers, but Im not really going to talk about that," Rodriguez said. A call to general manager Brian Cashman on Saturday was not returned. Coming off January hip surgery, Rodriguez played his first game in New York since a horrendous post-season and since appealing the 211-game doping suspension he was given last week. He received a mix of cheers and boos throughout thee pregame and a good number of fans stood and applauded during his first at-bat against Detroits Rick Porcello.dddddddddddd But any good vibes quickly turned to jeers when he struck out. "I was having a hard time keeping my emotions in check," Rodriguez said of the welcome. "So much better than I even dreamed of. I just felt the love walking around the city. What people are screaming, pretty incredible. This city is the greatest city in the world." Rodriguez was booed throughout his first three games of the season in Chicago. And he expects to hear plenty for the rest of the year. "For the last 14 years theres always been a mix. Do you ever get 100 per cent of anything?" Rodriguez asked. "Even Chicago was a mix. Bostons going to be a mix -- well, maybe not Boston. But I was overwhelmed. Yesterday was a day Ill never forget." After going 0 for 4, A-Rod was lifted for defence in the ninth inning. He had no problem with the move, saying he trusts Girardi. Girardi insisted hes only trying to manage a player returning from a serious injury. And he has experience. Girardi already has seen star shortstop Derek Jeter return to the disabled list twice since coming back in July from off-season ankle surgery. Out with a right calf strain, Jeter played catch on the field and said he might ride a stationary bike. He thinks he could starting running in the next couple of days. A 14-time All-Star with 647 career homers, Rodriguez is 3 for 15 with two walks and a hit by pitch in his first four games. He thinks hell need about a dozen games to know where he is in his recovery. ' ' '
|
Forum Statistiken
Das Forum hat 2899
Themen
und
2901
Beiträge.
|
Einfach ein eigenes Xobor Forum erstellen |