Carlos Lee had a lot of catching up to do when he arrived at the Houston Astros’ training camp Thursday.
He was two days late after all.
“I got confused with the reporting date,” said Lee, who missed the last seven weeks of the season with a broken finger. “There’s nothing I can do about it, just try to catch up.”
Before he started work proving his pinkie was OK, Lee joked that he was trying to make headlines because he “didn’t get any press the last two months of the season.” He also gave thanks to teammates Roy Oswalt and Lance Berkman, who was critical of Lee for missing the report date.
“He talked about me when I wasn’t here but now he’s 100 percent backing me. Thank you, Lance,” Lee said in Kissimmee, Fla., as he hugged his teammate and the two smiled.
Manager Cecil Cooper wouldn’t say what type of punishment Lee would get for being late.
t about all the stuff if I can get 140 (RBIs) out of him.”
Lee was on track for that type of production when he was hit by a pitch from Bronson Arroyo, ending his season: He had 100 RBIs in 115 games.
The nail of Lee’s pinky finger is gnarled and there’s a sizeable lump on it, but other than that Lee said he’s ready to go.
“Right now it feels sore getting going again but it’s going to be OK,” he said. “It shouldn’t be a factor.”
Jason Giambi, meanwhile, had his first full-squad workout with the Oakland Athletics at Papago Park in eight years, looking relaxed and sporting growth on his chin that was forbidden in his seven ringless years with the New York Yankees.
“It’s kind of like coming home,” he said. “I’m like the new guy coming back. I had to acclimate myself back into things. It felt good.”
Giambi, who hit .308 in seven seasons with the A’s, is still following the chaos of spring at the Yankees camp, and he’s impressed with what he’s seen from his former teammate Alex Rodriguez.
Giambi, who was among the first major leaguers to acknowledge his involvement in steroid use with an indirect apology at Yankees’ spring training in 2005, credited Rodriguez for being forthright this week when he discussed his use of performance-enhancing drugs at a news conference with about 200 reporters.
verybody wants to divide Alex out likes there’s some tension but he’s a good teammate,” Giambi said from the Oakland Athletics’ training camp on Thursday. “I don’t know what everybody expected but he did a good job and I applaud him for it. It’s not an easy thing to do. I know, I’ve been through it. He cares and I hope to see him do well.”
In Tampa, Fla., Rodriguez ducked follow-up questions about his drug use, refusing to address a report identifying the cousin the Yankees star claims injected him with a banned substance.
“I’m not talking about it anymore,” Rodriguez said.
The slugger also wouldn’t discuss Major League Baseball’s attempt to interview him about his tainted past.
“I’d rather not get into that,” he said.
The three-time AL MVP met with Yankees owner George Steinbrenner and worked out on the main field at New York’s spring training camp. Fans applauded and shouted encouragement, and critical shouts were at a minimum.
“The relief was just putting the uniform back on and running out there with my teammates,” Rodriguez said. “No matter what happens and what has occurred in my life, the baseball field is where I feel most comfortable.”
Another former Yankees star, Bobby Abreu, is getting a warm welcome from his new team, the Los Angeles Angels.
ter fielder Torii Hunter.
“He’s a .400 on-base percentage guy. The guy has 20-plus stolen bases each of the past 10 years and 100 RBIs and 100 runs in the last five,” Hunter said, rapidly reeling off the stats. “I’ve played against him forever, we’ve known each other for years, hung out and had dinner.
“He’s a great guy, smiles, not afraid to speak to you. So I’m excited to have him around,” Hunter added in Tempe, Ariz.
Colorado Rockies left-hander Jeff Francis will have exploratory surgery on his pitching shoulder next week and expects to miss the 2009 season.
“I’m not counting on coming back,” Francis said in Tuscon, Ariz.
Francis, a vital part of the Rockies’ run to the World Series in 2007, spent a stint on the disabled list last season before being shut down early in September. He pitched with pain in his throwing shoulder that started in May and went 4-10 with a 5.01 ERA.
MRIs haven’t shown a clear-cut problem.
He came to spring training hoping to test his shoulder before making a decision on what to do next and reported feeling less discomfort in camp. But Francis changed his mind after watching video of his pitching form in a Tuesday bullpen session.
uld keep him in Baltimore though the 2013 season.
Roberts, a career .284 hitter who has stolen at least 36 bases the last three seasons, insisted that he would have played hard this season, even if an agreement had not been reach on an extension.
“I guess the only way to put it is you can’t worry too much about your contract. If it hadn’t worked out, I still would have gone out and played and not worried about it, and everything would have taken care of itself at the right time,” he said in Fort Lauderdale.
The Washington Nationals agreed to a one-year, $452,000 contract with Lastings Milledge, who gave his No. 44 to new teammate Adam Dunn. Milledge will wear No. 85, baseball’s version of Ocho Cinco.
Also, outfielder Jeff Francoeur agreed to a one-year contract with the Atlanta Braves worth $3,375,000, avoiding a salary arbitration hearing.
The two sides came to an agreement just hours before they were scheduled to fly to Arizona for a Friday hearing.
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