Milwaukee Brewers News ClipsSaturday, February 21, 2015
Brewers head into spring training with many
questions
Tom Haudricourt Journal Sentinel
Feb. 20, 2015
Phoenix — Spring training provides six weeks for major-
league clubs to find answers to questions that will
determine whether they are competitive for the
postseason or destined to struggle.
And, make no mistake about it — every team has
question marks as they open camp. There is no such
thing as a perfect team. Some just have more questions
than others.
The Brewers, who devolved from a seemingly sure-fire
playoff team in 2014 to an 82-80 finish with a
horrendous late-season collapse, have many questions to
be answered over the next six weeks, such as:
■Will Ryan Braun's medically treated thumb hold up
over the long haul and allow him to once again be one of
the top offensive players in the National League?
■Can third baseman Aramis Ramirez, now in his mid-
30s, avoid the leg and knee issues that plagued him in
recent seasons and recover from his late-season fade in
2014?
■Which shortstop will show up this spring — the Jean
Segura who became a first-year all-star in 2013 or the
one who struggled for most of last season?
■With Yovani Gallardo now playing for Texas, how will
a thin starting rotation hold up? Is Mike Fiers ready to
put his up-and down past behind him and prosper over
the long term? Will Jimmy Nelson fulfill his potential as
the organization's top pitching prospect?
■Will anyone emerge as the primary bullpen closer?
Jonathan Broxton once filled that role for the Dodgers
but has been primarily a setup man in recent years. Will
the Brewers finally pull off a trade for Philadelphia's
Jonathan Papelbon or return Francisco Rodriguez to the
fold?
■Are second baseman Scooter Gennett and leftfielder
Khris Davis ready to be everyday, consistent
contributors? They have been productive over stretches
but their inexperience also has come forward at times.
■Can Jonathan Lucroy get ready for opening day while
being limited by a hamstring strain that will prevent him
from playing in games for several weeks? Does he have
time to show he's the best right-handed alternative to
Adam Lind at first base?
If Brewers fans are suitably nervous after contemplating
those questions, no one can blame them. As with most
teams in mid-markets with stretched payroll budgets, the
margin for error is slight. The line between competing
and stumbling is razor-thin.
But if most if not all of those questions result in positive
answers, the outlook for the 2015 Brewers will brighten
considerably. There is a lot of talent on this team, and if
things break right there is no reason it can't be
competitive for a playoff berth.
It's difficult to call a 150-day stay in first place last
season a fluke, no matter how ugly the finish. But major-
league baseball is a six-month gantlet, and no satisfaction
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was derived from the Brewers leading the pack for most
of 2014, only to fall flat on their faces at the end.
"Hopefully, we have a group of guys that are pissed off
about the way things ended last year," veteran starter
Kyle Lohse said Friday as pitchers and catchers reported
to camp. "We had an excellent 4½ months. I'm pissed.
You don't get that many opportunities to get to the
playoffs.
"Only a select few get that invite. We kind of let that one
slip through our hands. There are so many things that can
happen over 162 games. You don't know if you're going
to get in that position again. When you have it that close,
it should help drive you. Let's learn from it and not let
that happen again."
If that collapse keeps a chip on the Brewers' shoulders
throughout this season, the lesson learned could be
beneficial. But manager Ron Roenicke, whose fate relies
on the team shaking off that nightmare and bouncing
back, doesn't intend to challenge his players to use it as
motivation.
"I'll say something about it, but it's in the past," he said.
"We need to learn from it, but we need to move on.
Whether you start well or finish well, you've got to be
consistent in what you do. Hopefully, things change a
little bit this year."
Team principal owner Mark Attanasio and general
manager Doug Melvin rolled the dice in a big way with
their decision to keep the team mostly intact. They
decided the five-month stay in first place was no mirage
and attributed the late collapse solely to a team-wide
offensive slump that won't be repeated.
If that calculated gamble fails, critics will emerge from
all corners and the decision-makers will face the
possibility that it's time to step back and reload. A half-
dozen players on the final years of their contracts will
become trade bait.
If things come together, Attanasio and Melvin will look
like geniuses for not overreacting to the collapse. We
should start getting the answers soon.
Kyle Lohse: Brewers' 2014 collapse should be
motivation
By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel
Feb. 20, 2015
Phoenix - Veteran starting pitcher Kyle Lohse says the
Brewers should use their epic 2014 late-season collapse
as motivation as they prepare for this season.
“Hopefully, we have a group of guys that are (ticked) off
about the way things ended last year,” Lohse said Friday
as pitchers and catchers reported to spring camp at
Maryale Baseball Park. “We had an excellent 4 ½
months. I’m (ticked). You don’t get that many
opportunities to get to the playoffs.
“Only a select few get that invite. We kind of let that one
slip through our hands. There are so many things that can
happen over 162 games. You don’t know if you’re going
to get in that position again. When you have it that close,
it should help drive you. Let’s learn from it and not let
that happen again.”
The Brewers led the NL Central for 150 days last season
before falling apart down the stretch. A 9-22 finish, tied
mostly to a team-wide offensive slump, left them with an
82-80 record and out of the playoffs.
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If that collapse keeps a chip on the Brewers’ shoulders
throughout this season, the lesson learned could be
beneficial. But manager Ron Roenicke, whose fate relies
on the team shaking off that nightmare and bouncing
back, doesn’t intend to challenge his players to use it as
motivation.
“I’ll say something about it but it’s in the past,” he said.
“We need to learn from it but we need to move on.
Whether you start well or finish well, you’ve got to be
consistent in what you do. Hopefully, things change a
little bit this year.”
Brewers react to MLB's pace-of-play rules
changes
By Todd Rosiak of the Journal Sentinel
Feb. 20, 2015
Phoenix – Major League Baseball along with the
MLB Players Association on Friday announced several
rules changes designed to speed up the pace of play.
Beginning in spring training batters must now keep one
foot in the batter's box, except in certain circumstances,
and there will also be timers measuring non-game action,
break time between innings and pitching changes.
MLB began last fall looking at ways to speed up games,
which averaged 3 hours 2 minutes this past season.
There were also a series of changes made to the instant
replay system, most notably managers now being able to
challenge a play from the dugout rather than approaching
the umpire.
“These changes represent a step forward in our efforts to
streamline the pace of play," commissioner Rob Manfred
said. "The most fundamental starting point for improving
the pace of the average game involves getting into and
out of breaks seamlessly.
"In addition, the batter’s box rule will help speed up a
basic action of the game.”
Batters were required to keep one foot in the box
beginning in 2014 in the minor leagues, and the rule was
also utilized in the Arizona Fall League. Swinging at a
pitch, being forced out by a pitch, time out being granted
by the umpire and wild pitches and passed balls are all
acceptable reasons for batters to leave the box.
Jonathan Lucroy, who's no stranger to recent rules
changes as the Milwaukee Brewers' catcher, isn't in favor
of keeping batters in the box.
"It bothers me to see that because as a hitter when you
rush in the game of baseball, it's not going to work out,"
he said. "I like taking my time, relaxing, gathering my
thoughts. This game is tough enough without being up
there rushing."
With regard to breaks, there now will be timers – one on
the outfield scoreboard and the other behind home plate
near the pressbox – that will count down from 2 minutes
25 seconds for locally televised games and 2:45 for
nationally televised games immediately following the
third out of each half-inning.
Pitchers will continue to be given at least eight warm-up
pitches per inning, but now must forfeit any of those not
thrown prior to 30 seconds remaining on the clock.
A clock timing pitchers between throws in games will be
instituted in both Class AA and Class AAA beginning
this season, but that measure has not yet been enacted in
the major leagues.
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"I understand trying to speed up the game," pitcher Kyle
Lohse. "I mean, I don’t like sitting through a 3-, 3½-hour
game on the bench. I get on some of our younger
pitchers when they take too much time in between
because you should already have an idea of what you
want to do.
"There’s certain times in the game where you’ve got to
slow it down, but still it shouldn’t take a minute between
pitches. And there’s going to be situations where you
have to slow the game down, where it’s going a little too
quick and Billy Hamilton’s on base. The best way to
slow him down is to hold the ball."
The changes will be enforced through a warning and fine
system, with discipline resulting for flagrant violators.
No fines will be issued in spring training or April of the
regular season.
"They always tell you when you're struggling you need
to slow the game down," Lucroy said. "This is not a fast-
paced game. When you try to speed the game up, it
makes it 20 times as hard. If a pitcher is rushed, I
guarantee he won't make a good pitch. If a hitter is
rushed, I guarantee you they won't have a good at-bat.
"We'll see how they enforce it."
Managers can now challenge plays from the dugout or
top step of the dugout verbally or with a hand signal,
although they'll have to leave the dugout to challenge an
inning-ending call.
Additionally, a manager will retain his challenge after
every call that is overturned. Last year, a manager
retained his challenge after only the first overturned call.
A manager now must challenge plays at home plate to
determine whether the rule governing collisions was
violated, but now they can also review whether a runner
left base early or properly touched a base while tagging
up.
Also, during postseason games, regular-season tiebreaker
games and the All-Star Game, managers will have two
challenges.
Jonathan Lucroy encouraged by hamstring
progress
By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel
Feb. 20, 2015
Phoenix - The plan is still for Jonathan Lucroy to take it
easy in the early stages of spring camp but the Brewers
catcher said Friday he is encouraged by the early
progress with his strained right hamstring.
"The pain already has gone away," said Lucroy, who
credited a platelet-enriched plasma infusion into the
injury site for accelerating the healing. "Before, just
standing around I would feel it. Now, it's already feeling
a lot better. I think we're definitely making improvement.
It's been a week and a half since I had (the infusion). I
feel good.
"But we're just going to take it slow. There's no rush.
You don't want to go out and test it right away. These
things can be nagging. You've got to knock it out of
there. We have time. I'll have plenty of time (to catch)
bullpens."
When Lucroy's upper right hamstring continued to bother
him during the offseason, he had an MRI performed a
couple of weeks ago that revealed a slight tear in the
hamstring tendon where it attaches to the hip. Officially,
it's being called a mild hamstring strain.
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Lucroy, who reported to camp Sunday to get in some
early rehab work with his hamstring, still plans to
participate regularly in batting practice and fielding
drills, and eventually catch pitchers in bullpen sessions.
He just won't play in games for some time because of the
no-running edict.
"I can do everything except for sprinting, and I couldn't
really sprint to begin with," Lucroy joked. "I played with
it last year. I just have to cut down on my stolen bags.
"People are saying, 'Oh, you can't play.' Actually, I
can. I'll just go over to the minor-league side and
probably get three times as many at-bats as I will here. I
actually like doing that because I can lead off every
inning and just do a 75% jog (to first base)."
Pitchers and catchers reported to camp Friday. They will
undergo physicals Saturday and have their first workout
Sunday morning at Maryvale Baseball Park.
Remade rotation gets to work as Brewers report
With Gallardo gone, Lohse and Garza lead
veterans to open spring
By Adam
McCalvy / MLB.com | @AdamMcCalvy | February 20,
2015
PHOENIX -- It was 8 degrees below zero when a large
contingent of Brewers front-office officials lifted off the
runway in Milwaukee on Thursday morning. A little
more than 24 hours later, many of those same men
stepped onto the freshly cut grass at Maryvale Baseball
Park, where the temperature soared into the 80s.
Winter, your time is almost up. On Friday, Brewers
pitchers and catchers reported for Spring Training.
It will be another six days before manager Ron
Roenicke's full squad takes the field for its first official
workout, but Friday marked a ceremonial start to the
Brewers' 47th season as a franchise. MLB.com will have
it covered from the first warmup toss to the final
exhibition pitch. The Brewers open the season on April 6
against the Rockies at Miller Park.
Among the storylines this spring:
• A post-Yovani Gallardo starting rotation that is part
veteran (Kyle Lohseand Matt Garza) and part up-and-
comer (Wily Peralta, Mike Fiers and Jimmy Nelson).
Keeping that group healthy will be critical, since with the
departure of Gallardo and swingman Marco Estrada, the
Brewers appear to have less depth than in recent years.
"We've got five guys," Lohse said. "That's not something
I really want to get into. We've got what we got here, and
I feel good about what we've got. … We need these guys
-- Fiers, Nelson, Wily -- just to do their part. If we stay
healthy, I like our chances."
• An offense that returns almost entirely intact, but with a
new boss in hitting coach Darnell Coles. He has history
as a Minor League instructor and manager, so most
Brewers hitters have already worked with Coles before.
• Key players coming back from injuries, including
catcher Jonathan Lucroy(hamstring), Ryan
Braun (hand), Jim Henderson (shoulder) and Tyler
Thornburg (elbow).
• The usual position battles on the bench and in the
bullpen, where Henderson and Thornburg are bidding to
return to previously significant roles. Early reports on
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each right-hander have been positive. Thornburg said
Friday that he expects to take the field Sunday for the
team's first official workout under no physical
restrictions, though the final decision belongs to Brewers
medical officials.
• Ongoing chatter about a trade for Phillies
closer Jonathan Papelbon or the signing of free-agent
closer Francisco Rodriguez, both of whom remain
available as camps open in Arizona and Florida. The
Brewers have been linked to both, but so far have balked
at the prices.
• Roenicke and GM Doug Melvin entering the final
seasons of their contracts, working under owner Mark
Attanasio, who expects the team to compete for a spot in
the postseason.
Asked whether he could prognosticate what kind of team
the Brewers would be this season, Lucroy said, "I wish.
It's hard to say. We don't know about injuries. I think our
pitching staff is going to be solid if guys pitch to their
ability. I totally believe that."
Said Lohse: "I think we're going to be good. I think we're
going to compete. We have a lot of guys with an ability
to grind, and hopefully we have a group of guys who are
ticked off about the way things ended last year."
The grind began Friday, when Maryvale Baseball Park
came back to life.
Despite injury, Lucroy expects busy spring
By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com | February 20, 2015
PHOENIX -- Encouraged by his progress since
undergoing treatment for a right hamstring injury 10
days earlier, Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroymade the
case Friday that he might actually get more work than
usual this spring, despite being sidelined for a chunk of
Cactus League games.
The prognosis calls for Lucroy to miss 4-6 weeks of
Spring Training, but he has been working out at
Maryvale Baseball Park since Sunday and participated
all week in baseball drills that did not involve running.
Lucroy expects to catch pitchers' bullpen sessions and
take part in defensive drills as usual. He will refrain from
running until cleared by the athletic training staff.
"There's no rush," Lucroy said. "I can do everything but
sprint, which I couldn't really [do] to begin with."
Lucroy suffered a similar injury last August that flared
up last month when he ramped-up his running. After an
MRI scan and visits with two physicians, he was
diagnosed with what the Brewers called a "mild strain"
(technically, according to Lucroy, a slight tear to one of
his hamstring tendons) and prescribed a platelet-rich
plasma injection on Feb. 10.
As pitchers and catchers reported to camp Friday, Lucroy
reported significant improvement.
"I've seen a lot of people say, 'Oh my God, he can't play.'
Well, actually, I can," Lucroy said. "I'll just go on the
Minor League side and probably get three times as many
at-bats as I could over here. I actually like doing that. It's
fun, because I can lead off or hit second every inning and
to a 70 percent jog."
Even at the long end of his projected rehabilitation,
Lucroy should be back to full health in plenty of time for
the Brewers' April 6 season opener. In the meantime, the
Brewers have two other catchers on the 40-man roster
(Martin Maldonadi and Juan Centeno) plus four non-
roster invitees Nevin Ashley,Parker Berberet, Cameron
Garfield and Adam Weisenburger). Bullpen catcher
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Marcus Hanel also helps handle the workload during the
busy early days of Spring Training.
Brewers give mixed reaction on new pace of game rules
Brewers give mixed reaction on new pace of
game rules
By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com | February 20, 2015
PHOENIX -- Brewers players offered mixed reactions
Friday after Major League Baseball announced a series
of new rules intended to speed the pace of game.
Beginning this spring, league officials will enforce time
limits between innings and pitching changes, and
umpires will mandate that managers remain in the
dugout to challenge a call, and that hitters keep at least
one foot in the batter's box between pitches.
"Those measures are fine. I don't have an issue with
that," said Brewers right-hander Kyle Lohse, a
traditionally fast worked. "I thought they were going to
do something with a pitch clock, which -- the game's not
on a clock."
Lohse added, "I understand trying to speed up the games.
I don't like sitting there through a three and a half hour
game on the bench. I get on some of our younger
pitchers when they take too much time, because you
should already have a good idea of what you want to do.
There are certain times in a game where you have to
slow it down, but it still shouldn't take a minute in
between every pitch."
A handful of hitters surveyed were less enthusiastic
about the batter's box rule, which has been enforced in
the Minor Leagues in 2014.
"My thing is, if people are rushed, [the pitcher] is rushed,
hitters are rushed, I think you're going to see a decline in
the quality of play," catcher Jonathan Lucroy said. "I
like to relax and gather my thoughts. This game is tough
enough already."
Lucroy did not buy the argument that longer game times
were equally a threat to the quality of the game.
"I think there's a lot more strategy in the game nowadays,
and information," Lucroy said. "Back then, they would
drink two beers and eat three hot dogs and they were
ready to go. They'd go up there and hit and hack. Guys
threw two pitches; a fastball and a curveball. That was
it."
According to Fangraphs.com, Lucroy took the longest
between pitches (25.8 seconds) among Brewers regulars,
tied with Atlanta's Justin Upton for the sixth-most time
in the Majors among batting title qualifiers. But it's a
tricky stat, since that leaderboard is dotted with excellent
hitters, including runaway "leader" Hanley
Ramirez (28.1 seconds) and runner-up Victor
Martinez (27.2 seconds) against whom pitchers would be
understandably deliberate. Lucroy was that sort of hitter
in 2014, when he batted .301 and finished fourth in
National League MVP balloting.
Among Brewers, Carlos Gomez took the least time
between pitches, averaging 22.4 seconds.
"No one wants the game to be slower," said second
baseman Scooter Gennett (24.3 seconds). "But at the
same time, there are things that we have to do as players,
and my mind is not going to be on whether I'm taking too
much time. My mind is going to be on the game."
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Thornburg ready to pick up where he left off in
2014 Brewers righty feeling healthy after elbow
issues derailed a promising start last yearBy Adam
McCalvy / MLB.com | @AdamMcCalvy | February 20,
2015
PHOENIX -- Tyler Thornburg, whose sensational start
last season in the Brewers' bullpen was derailed by an
alarming right elbow injury, felt like one of the guys as
pitchers and catchers reported for Spring Training on
Friday.
When the team takes the field Sunday for its first formal
workout, Thornburg does not expect to be under any
physical restrictions.
"As far as I know," the right-hander said. "They haven't
told me any different."
Though the final call still belongs to the Brewers'
medical department. Players will undergo physicals off-
site on Saturday, though Thornburg said he's undergone
most of the necessary tests already, with "no red flags."
Thornburg was shut down last June with elbow pain and
feared he was headed for Tommy John surgery in July,
after the first of what would be two setbacks in his
recovery from what was eventually diagnosed as a
partially torn ulnar collateral ligament.
He had already successfully rehabbed a similar injury
during his freshman year of high school, and again,
doctors advised against surgery and what would have
been a year-long rehabilitation.
By August, it was clear that Thornburg would not be able
to return before the end of the season. He was prescribed
a platelet-rich plasma injection and more rest. In
November, he resumed a comeback that Thornburg
hopes will carry him to Milwaukee's Opening Day roster.
"It wasn't until about 10 weeks after the PRP that I was
able to move it around and started feeling like, 'OK, this
may be OK,'" Thornburg said. "I feel incredibly blessed
to have had that time."
A look at non-roster invitees: NL Central
By David Schoenfield ESPN.com
We continue our scroll through some of the
interesting non-roster names invited to spring
training. In case you missed 'em, here are
the AL East, AL Central, AL West and NL East.
Chicago Cubs
Kris Bryant will be added to the 40-man roster
once he gets called up, probably a few weeks
into April to save a season on his service
time. ... Addison Russellreached Double-A last
year, so don't be surprised if he also surfaces
this season, especially if he plays well and
Javier Baez struggles again. ... Daniel Bard has
ties to Theo Epstein going back to their Red
Sox days, but this is kind of a sad story. Bard
pitched two-thirds of an inning in the minors
last year and walked nine guys and hit seven
(that's not a misprint). ... Reliever Gonzalez
Germen was with the Mets the past two
seasons. ... Pierce Johnson is another good
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prospect, lower on the radar than Bryant and
Russell. The right-hander allowed just 60 hits
in 91.2 innings in Double-A. He needs to
improve his control to get a chance at a call-up.
... Outfielder Mike Baxter looks like Triple-A
insurance.
Cincinnati Reds
Jason Marquis is still pitching? Yes he is. He had
72 strikeouts and 68 walks when he was last in
the majors with the Padres in 2013. That ratio
barely cut it in 1975, let alone 2015. ... Kevin
Gregg is still pitching? Yes he is. He threw nine
innings with the Marlins last year. He somehow
has racked up 177 career saves despite never
having an ERA below 3.40 in a full
season. ... Neftali Soto was once a prospect of
some note after hitting 30 homers at Double-A
in 2011 at age 22, but now he's down to non-
roster status. ... Outfielder Brennan Boesch raked
at Salt Lake last season. ... Felix Perez is a Cuban
outfielder you've never heard of. He
hit .280/.325/.450 at Louisville. ... Hard-
throwing Robert Stephenson is the club's top
prospect and could surface in the rotation later
in the season if he starts throwing more strikes.
Milwaukee Brewers
It has been nine years since Dontrelle Willis was
last an effective major league pitcher but he's
still hanging around, playing the sport he loves.
He was last seen in the majors in 2011. ... Chris
Perez has gone from All-Star closer to non-
roster status in just a couple of years. He had a
4.27 ERA with the Dodgers in 2014 and has
been plagued with home run issues in recent
seasons. The lack of depth in the Milwaukee
pen gives him a chance to make the
team. ... Hunter Morris is a first baseman who hit
28 home runs in Double-A in 2012 and 24 in
Triple-A in 2013, but just 11 last year in 330 at-
bats. He also doesn't walk much or hit for a
high enough average. Where have all the first-
base prospects gone? ... The Dodgers acquired
outfielder/second baseman/third baseman Matt
Long from the Angels and then traded him to the
Brewers. He hit .249/.340/.384 between
Double-A and Triple-A and he's 28, so I'm not
quite sure what the attraction is other than the
positional flexibility.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Remember when the Pirates signed Jose
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Tabata to that long-term extension? They're still
on the hook for $4 million this year and $4.5
million next year. He's theoretically fighting
Corey Hart for a job as a right-handed bat off
the bench, but Hart is on the 40-man roster so
he'll probably win the job out of spring
training. ...Tyler Glasnow is one of the top
pitching prospects in the minors. He's only 21,
hasn't pitched yet above Class A and the Pirates
don't like to rush their pitchers -- but the
rotation depth isn't all that great so don't be
shocked to see him reach the majors if he
dominates Double-A. ... Clayton Richard twice
won 14 games for the Padres. ... Steve
Lombardozzi got a lot of playing time with the
Nationals in 2012-13 but didn't hit much at
Norfolk in 2014.
St. Louis Cardinals
Carlos Villanueva hasn't had an ERA under 4.00
since ... 2007. He's the only major leaguer who
can claim that feat while pitching in each of the
past seven seasons. ... Stephen Piscotty is regarded
as a top-100 prospect, but he looks like a fourth
outfielder to me. He does make good contact
but doesn't do much with it, hitting .288 with
nine home runs at Triple-A. ... Minor league
vet Scott Moore is now 31 and didn't hit much at
Memphis in 2014. I always thought he
deserved a better chance, but he's too old
now. ... Lefty Tim Cooney is a back-end rotation
candidate but could stick in the bullpen as
well.
More bobbleheads to nod at ballparks
By Darren Rovell
ESPN.com
The bobblehead will continue its run as baseball's
greatest promotional item, as Major League Baseball
teams will hand out at least 121 different bobbleheads
this year.
It has been 16 years since the San Francisco
Giants sparked the giveaway craze, handing out a Willie
Mays bobblehead in 1999. But the wobbly creatures
show no sign of slowing down. In 2010, only 80
different bobbleheads were handed out at MLB ballparks
across the country.
"We give away a bobblehead, it automatically becomes a
sellout," said Rick Schlesinger, chief operating officer of
the Milwaukee Brewers, who will give out an MLB-high
12 bobbleheads this year, two of which need to be
purchased with a special ticket.
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"Every year we think we might have exhausted the
bobblehead craze here in Wisconsin, and it doesn't
happen," Schlesinger said.
To weigh the effectiveness of a bobblehead promotion,
the team has taken all the factors that affect game
attendance -- from record to opponent to weather to day
of the week -- and determined that a bobblehead
promotion, on average, puts 7,000 more people in the
seats at Miller Park. They've also been able to prove to
their sponsors who put their names on the statuettes that
it more than pays for itself in exposure.
Bobbleheads have evolved greatly since the days of the
Mays giveaway. Not only do they look more like whom
they're supposed to resemble, but the designs have gotten
more intricate. So, too, has technology.
The bobblehead of Harry Doyle -- Bob Uecker's
character from "Major League" -- has a chip in it that
will feature three phrases from the movie. The Brewers
announced the promotion earlier this week, and the 4,000
special tickets were snapped up so quickly the team put
another 4,000 on sale, Schlesinger said.
There were 6,000 special tickets that enabled fans to pick
up a bobblehead of catcher Jonathan Lucroy with a
green light saber in his hand on "Star Wars" night. That
sold out in its first 30 hours on sale.
"Bobbleheads appeal to a wide range of ages and
demographics," Schlesinger said. "It's loved by kids and
adults."
Other teams in love with the bobblehead are
the Cincinnati Reds, who will give out nine
bobbleheads, including three bobbleheads on one stand
of the "Nasty Boys" -- relievers Norm Charlton, Rob
Dibble and Randy Myers, who helped the team win the
1990 World Series.
The Los Angeles Dodgers will give out eight
bobbleheads. So will the St. Louis Cardinals, including a
talking one of Harry Caray for a home game against
theChicago Cubs and a bobblehead that has Cardinals
catcher Yadier Molina holding seven Gold Gloves and
three platinum gloves.
"Our fans collect them year after year," said Megan
Sommer, the team's manager of promotions and events.
"They expect us to have them."
Other popular promotions, besides the usual cap and T-
shirt, include the garden gnome. Teams will give out 12
gnomes this year, including the Dodgers, whose gnome
promises to look like Tommy Lasorda. Nine replica rings
-- commemorating either World Series titles or league
championships -- will be given to fans who come
through the turnstiles. Seven teams will give out fedoras.
Teams that have new Hall of Famers are not surprisingly
promoting their proud past. No one is doing more than
the Houston Astros, who are having four giveaway
nights to honor Craig Biggio. Fans can get a replica Hall
of Fame plaque, a jersey, a bobblehead and a T-shirt.
Baseball: MLB makes small pace of game
changes, passes on bigger steps3 hours ago • RONALD BLUM AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball is slowly
addressing the lagging pace of games.
MLB and the players' association announced an
agreement Friday to enforce the rule requiring a hitter to
keep at least one foot in the batter's box in many cases.
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MLB also will post stadium clocks timing pitching
changes and between-inning breaks starting in spring
training, and it no longer will require managers to always
come onto the field when they request video reviews by
umpires.
But the sides limited penalties to warnings and fines, and
not automatic balls and strikes. The fines don't start until
May 1 and are capped at $500 per offense.
Many of the more radical ideas experimented with
during the Arizona Fall League were not adopted, such
as a 20-second clock between pitches, a limitation of
pitcher's mound conferences involving catchers and
managers, and no-pitch intentional walks.
Still, even the modest changes are too much for players,
used to their routines and reluctant to alter them.
"If you rush a hamburger, it's not going to be completely
done. There are going to be too many mistakes. You're
going to rush the game. It would just be terrible. I don't
think there needs to be a time limit," Miami Marlins
pitcher Mat Latos said.
Said Chicago White Sox outfielder Adam Eaton: "I'm not
a big fan. There's a lot of thinking involved. When a
pitcher steps on the rubber, there's a lot going on. There's
thinking in the dugout, the coaches, everyone. Why
speed that up?"
Baseball has been contemplating the issue for nearly a
decade. In February 2005, the batter's box rule was
announced as an experiment in the minor leagues.
Still, the average time of nine-inning games as increased
to a record 3 hours, 2 minutes last year, up from 2:33 in
1981.
Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander says the change will
be tougher on batters than pitchers.
"I hope it screws up their whole rhythm and everything,"
he said, jokingly.
MLB cannot make unilateral changes to playing rules
without the consent of the players' union unless it gives
one year prior notice, so an agreement was necessary for
any 2015 alterations. The World Umpires Association
also approved.
"The players believe that enforcing the rules that
currently exist regarding between-inning breaks and
plate appearances is the best way to address the issue of
pace of play," union head Tony Clark said in a statement.
"We're confident that today's announcements will have a
positive impact on the pace of the game without
jeopardizing the integrity of the competition."
The pitch clock will be used in the minor leagues at
Double-A and Triple-A, where union approval isn't
needed.
MLB said it is likely to announce only fines involving
repeat flagrant violators. In the AFL, strikes and balls
were called as penalties, and the average game time was
reduced by 10 minutes.
The rule requiring hitter's keep a foot in the box contains
many exceptions, including swinging at a pitch, getting
forced out by a pitch, calling time, faking a bunt and wild
pitches and passed balls.
"I think it's something that's going to take some time,"
San Diego Padres catcher Derek Norris said. "You've got
guys playing for seven, eight years that have always
stepped out of the box and taken a practice swing."
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Clocks will be installed on or near outfield scoreboards
and on facades behind home plate, near most press
boxes. Inning breaks will be counted down from 2:25 for
locally televised games and 2:45 for nationally televised
games. Pitchers must throw their last warmup pitches
before 30 seconds remaining, with exceptions if the
pitcher or catcher is on base when the previous half-
inning ends.
"These changes represent a step forward in our efforts to
streamline the pace of play," said Rob Manfred, who
took over from Bud Selig as commissioner last month.
"The most fundamental starting point for improving the
pace of the average game involves getting into and out of
breaks seamlessly."
MLB will make a donation to the union's charitable
foundation based on compliance with the new rules.
The sides also announced changes for the second season
of expanded video review by umpires.
Managers no longer will have to leave their dugouts to
call for replays, unless the play in question ends an
inning and the defensive team must be kept on the field.
"I didn't like to run out there and as soon as I turn
around, people are yelling from the dugout to go back,"
Cincinnati Reds manager Bryan Price said. "It's a waste
of time. It's embarrassing. Nobody really wants to do it.
If we can just hold the game and tell the umpires we
want to just take a look at it. We only have 30 seconds to
look at it, who cares if you're on the field or not?"
In addition, plays involving whether a runner left a base
early or touched a base on a tag-up play will be subject
to video review for the first time.
Managers also will retain the challenge for every
overturned call, not just the first, and managers will have
two challenges during tiebreaker and postseason games
and the All-Star Game. A manager will be required to
use a challenge to review violations of the home-plate
collision rule, but the crew chief may call for a review
from the seventh inning on if a manager is out of
challenges.
Milwaukee Brewers add IF Donnie Murphy on
minor-league deal
by Phil Watson 6h ago
The Milwaukee Brewers announced Friday the signing
of two minor-league free agents, infielder Donnie
Murphy and catcher Beau Bishop.
CBSSports.com was reporting Murphy also received an
invitation to spring training, the club’s player
development office clarified that was not the case.
Murphy, who will be 32 next month, played in 45 games
for the Texas Rangers last season, hitting.196/.268/.330
in 128 plate appearances with four home runs and 14
RBI.
He actually spent time in 2014 with four organizations.
The Rangers claimed Murphy off waivers from the
Chicago Cubs near the end of spring training and
released him in early July. He was with the Cincinnati
Reds organization for less than a month before he was
released and signed by the Atlanta Braves organization.
He became a free agent in early November.
In parts of nine major league seasons, dating to 2004,
Murphy is a lifetime .212/.279/.395 hitter with 33 home
runs and 119 RBI in 335 games. At the big league level,
he has played with the Kansas City Royals, Oakland
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Athletics, Florida/Miami Marlins and Cubs as well as
with the Rangers last season.
He is a big strikeout/big swing sort of hitter, with 264
career punchouts against just 178 hits.
Murphy was a fifth-round pick by the Royals in 2002 out
of Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, Calif.
Bishop, a native of New Zealand, spent two seasons in
the Boston Red Sox organization and played last season
in Australia. The 21-year-old hit .172/.213/.190 with six
RBI in 18 games in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League
in 2012-13.
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