Show up, work hard
By Fred Owens
Fredi started his first full workout by having the team meeting in centerfield, something his predecessor never did. Chipper said perhaps Gonzales was a signaling to everyone that things had changed. Reports are Skip told them to show up and play hard every day and get back to the post season. I suspect we’ll see him slowly stamp his personality on the team over the next few weeks so that by pitch in everyone is singing the same song. One thing that’s been the same since 1995 is the sight of Chipper taking ground balls at third.
Chipper told Mark Bowman "It was a bad day today, I didn’t feel good doing anything…" You can read all of that interview and other news at Bowman’s Blog. Having the knee barking at him a bit after his first hard workout is to be expected at 38 even if you haven’t had surgery. BMac says Chipper’s swing is still a thing of beauty and to show everyone he can still do it at the highest level. Can I get an Amen from the fans on that please?
Joe Mather who has only played 4 major league innings at third
and hasn’t played there regularly since he was in A ball in 2003, took a groundballs there as well. With Hinske sharing an early workout with Freeman at firs,t it’s clear the new skipper wants a good idea what his options are. Moon shots were on today’s menu as well.
Team physicals started this morning and Peter Moylan tweeted that he was not looking forward to giving the medics his moonshot. That wasn’t a picture I wanted wandering around my mind today. Fortunately Dan Uggla soon erased it when he launched a BP fastball onto an adjacent practice field. I’d love to see him do that 40 or so times at the Ted this year.
For now it’s all laughs, sweat, groans, aches, pains, BP homers and autographs. Soon enough it will get more serious as the competition between Shafer, McLouth, Mather, Conrad, Young and others for the remaining roster spots heats up. The test begins on the 26th against the Mets.