PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) -At most every camp, the early part of spring training is an endless series of drills. Manager Jerry Manuel is trying something new with the New York Mets – albeit something he learned a long time ago.
Manuel is making players take 80 swings at breaking balls off a pitching machine, hitting them to the opposite field. Generally players hit in groups of three or four, taking anywhere from five to 15 swings before rotating.
“You want to be able to hit and handle the bat when you’re tired,” third baseman David Wright said Saturday. “He wants to mold and shape us into the team he wants us to be and this is a part of that.”
Manuel said he got the drill while in the Detroit Tigers organization.
“In my upbringing with Detroit and Les Moss, I recollect us going out and doing this every morning,” Manuel said. “I saw Kirk Gibson, who was a prospect I think at that time, on that curveball machine everyday.”
ball to the opposite field on 0-2 and 1-2 counts.
“There are a couple benefits,” Manuel said. “One is hand-eye coordination. Two is to get the hands strong, and three is to take the body out of the swing. The majority of hitting instructors will say to be a good hitter you have to hit to the opposite field.”
Manuel actually introduced the drill after taking over last season. Players from rookies to veterans seem pleased with the results.
“That’s a great drill,” first baseman Carlos Delgado said. “Jerry implemented it last year, at least on an individual basis. It’s a great start going back to basics.”
Notes: RHP Tim Redding, competing with rookie Jonathan Niese, Freddy Garcia and Livan Hernandez for the No. 5 spot in the starting rotation, will not throw his first bullpen until late next week at the earliest because of to discomfort in his throwing shoulder. The 31-year-old Redding had surgery in November on a stress fracture on the second toe of his left foot and did not start throwing until just before spring training started, which resulted in the sore shoulder. “I just pushed it too quick,” he said. “I got down here and I tried to force it, and it caused some discomfort in the back of my shoulder.” … RHP John Maine threw 40 pitches in a live batting practice session Saturday, marking the first time he has faced batters since having surgery in September to shave a bone spur in his pitching shoulder. … The Mets will send all relievers to the mound in Wednesday’s opener against the Orioles in Fort Lauderdale. Sean Green, Elmer Dessens, Brian Stokes, Valerio de los Santos, Pedro Feliciano, Duaner Sanchez and Darren O’Day are scheduled to see action against the Orioles.
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