Repetitions, injuries, blisters part of spring training rituals
Tuesday, March 4, 2008 | 05:23 PM ET
As spring training begins, you may notice that the pitchers seem to dominate in the first few games.
That's because the hitters are still working on their timing and rhythm.
A hitter’s hands are so tender with all the extra batting practice that they hurt, but that all changes once they get that first blister.
Once you get that first blister, it turns into a callous and your hands are ready for the season. Oh, I can remember how I got to stop washing dishes in January so I could start getting my hands tough. It was great. Well, after I retired, I tried to bring up that topic again but it didn't fly, my wife mentioned I was a coach, not a player, so get the dishes washed. Hey, it was good while it lasted.
Take care of injuries early
To me, the off-season is the time to get any nagging injuries looked after and either get therapy or go ahead and have surgery.
Now explain to me why do guys wait until the season to get things looked at that were bothering them the season before? I just doesn't make sense to me. Again this spring there are a few guys that are limping into the season that could have an impact on the entire team.
Look, no one wants to go under the knife. But there comes a time when you have to have it done so do it when it least affects your team. You can recover with no pressure in the off-season, and give yourself enough time to heal in case they need to go in and adjust something. We all know that the body does its own thing.
Battling yourself and your body
Sometimes it's tough to get back on the field after an injury, and for some players, like B.J. Ryan, coming off of Tommy John surgery, it's like starting all over again. You can't anticipate how your body may respond in game situations, not just physical therapy or practice.
I know how I was a bit hesitant after a surgery, the questions that would pop up in my head out of the blue: "Will I be the same? Can I still do this or that?" It's all part of the mental therapy a player has to go through to reach his goal of being a dominant player again. You battle yourself first, then your body, then go out and help your team win.
B.J.'s arm is feeling good, he will find his release point, it comes with time and then he'll get the kinks out. Once that happens, watch out!!
Mattick a teacher extraordinaire
Speaking about getting kinks out. Bobby Mattick was an awesome teacher of fundaments for the Blue Jays organization. He scouted me my junior and senior year in high school and was instrumental in the Blue Jays drafting me. But it didn't stop there.
Bobby took the time to work on developing me, both physically and mentally. Bobby would sit us young folks down and talk to us about different aspects of the game - he was passing on his wisdom and love for the game to us. But it wasn't all fun and games with him. He would work your tail off!
OK, let me tell on myself, here. One time during an instructional league game, I loafed for a ball in the outfield and it hit off of my glove. Bobby pulled me from the game after we came in to hit and took me to the backfield with a LARGE bag of balls and his fungo bat (a bat specifically designed for practice purposes). He hit me fly balls, ground balls, pop ups, and every other kind of ball you can think of to me for about 45 minutes. I was about to drop, but I didn't dare let him know that, so I just kept going because it looked like he wasn't going to stop. After a while, I called time out and walked up to him and said,"Bobby, I will NEVER loaf after a ball again." And I didn't. I learned my lesson that day. So when I received my second consecutive Gold Glove, I told him I owed it all to him.
Guest coaches have a lot to offer
And isn't it great that the Blue Jays are bring back some of their former stars to be guest coaches? There is so much that these players can learn from a Cito Gaston, Dave Stieb, and Pat Hentgen. Those men played hard, with heart and can also pass on what it means to be a winner inside and out.
I just hope these players realize what these men have to offer them and take full advantage of their experiences. Hey, don't be afraid to ask questions, that's how you learn and grow.
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Inside Baseball with Jesse Barfield »
About the Author
Jesse Barfield returns to the booth with the Rogers Blue Jays Baseball
on CBC broadcast team for the 2008 season as an analyst, after making
his debut with the program in 2007.
Barfield, a favourite with Canadian baseball fans, was selected by the
Blue Jays in the ninth round of the 1977 amateur draft, debuted with the
club in 1981 and helped the franchise reach the playoffs for the first
time in 1985.
A two-time Gold Glove winner with a cannon for an arm, Barfield led American
League outfielders in assists for three straight seasons (1985
– 87). Barfield was selected to the American League All-Star Team in
1986, a season in which he blasted 40 home runs to lead the majors while
driving in 108 runs. He was traded to the New York Yankees in 1989,
where he completed his playing career.
In 1,428 career games, Barfield was a .256 hitter with 241 home runs and 716 RBIs.
Recent Posts
- Spoiler tag suiting Jays down the stretch
- Wednesday, September 3, 2008
- My memories of Yankee Stadium run deep
- Friday, August 29, 2008
- Blue Jays will be in a battle to the finish
- Saturday, August 23, 2008
- Blue Jays could be a different team down the stretch
- Friday, August 15, 2008
- A day to remember in The House That Ruth Built
- Saturday, August 9, 2008
- Subscribe to Inside Baseball with Jesse Barfield
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Comments
Dan O
Westwood
JP has pulled off some magic with some of his deals. They didn't all work out but I feel he's doing a great job, for a guy with a salary capped team. There just isn't a level playing field right now. I know no player wants to hear it but even a cap at 150'000'000.00 would help teams like the j's
Posted March 11, 2008 01:47 PM
Michael Gaillard
Toronto
Jesse is a truly classy character and one of the greatest ever to wear a Jays uniform!
I remember attending a few Jays games back at the old Ex stadium when I was a kid, and it seemed as if he always had time to sign autographs and joke around with the fans in the outfield bleachers during warm-up. And a great and successful player too--I'll never forget some of those towering home runs he hit. Gold Gloves and 40-home run/100 RBI seasons: he was one of the most under-rated players to play in that era.
Definitely one of my favourite Jays players.
I'm happy to see him working in the media and know he'll be a good analyst--it just might get me back into actually watching pro baseball on TV again!
Posted March 10, 2008 08:41 PM
Ben
ottawa
J.P. Ricciardi has done a so-so job....definetly short of great job....he hires too many china dolls, so many of his aquisitions end up on the IR it's ridiculous. Players with long lists of infirmary trouble should not be hired... Not to mention he often comes off as pompous and arrogant in the media. He also misses the point and lacks the balance of power and guys who can just get on base...team speed seems of little concern...but guys who can hit .260 and hit 20+ seem like huge deals to him..... I'd rather have a 4-5 .285+ hitters who can run the pads...def makes it a little more exciting but thgen again gibbons doesnt allow people to steal bases....
Posted March 7, 2008 07:09 PM
Johnny D
Toronto
I used to work at the baseball hall of fame at Ontario Place in 1986 when Jesse Barfield, Kelly Gruber and Mark Eichhorn stopped by for a visit.
Kelly was a bit shy and quiet but Mark & Jesse were 2 of the nicest guys you ever wanna meet!
Always had time for pictures and autographs and never acted like jerks
I hope Jesse does well in his future career working for the media
Posted March 7, 2008 05:49 PM
Mike
Peterborough
I disagree, I think J.P. Ricciardi is doing a great job, and he always gives time to take questions from the public every Wednesday night on the radio.
Posted March 7, 2008 06:43 AM
ben
ottawa
I think Gooch's comments are way off base....if you look at last yeatrs pitching numbers as a team, the Jays were in top 5 in almost every catergory, mean while there batting stats were not....
The jays coaching has been terrible for a while, GM isnt the greatest, time to clean house in that regards
Posted March 6, 2008 06:04 PM
gooch
winnipeg
In all honesty, at least for the next 5 years, it won't matter how many experienced coaches the Jays have. The best they can finish is third in the American League East. Boston and New York dominate games with their pitching and the Jays will continue to be a .500 team if they continue to loap up on sluggers - with mediocre pitching. Doesn't matter who's coaching.
Posted March 5, 2008 01:50 PM
Barber
Edmonton
Barfield talks, Jays country listens.
Posted March 5, 2008 08:42 AM
andrew grabin
well well this is great going to the ballpark to see jessie a.k.a.junebug play was the best and then going back to the hotel and hanging out with him and talkking baseball was lots of fun. i remeber when jessie would have a bat in his room working on his swing. so he practiced what he is preaching and that was the year he hit 40 to win the homerun crown.going to see agame has never been the same since he retired and is no longer coaching but it is great to see him back as a part of the game
Posted March 5, 2008 06:57 AM