[Previous entry: "Japanese Baseball News: Japan's Mr. Baseball, Shigeo Nagashima, Suffers Stroke"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "MLB news: Say hey to the record book, Bonds"]
03/08/2004 Archived Entry: "Who's On First?"
Who's On First? By Joe Connor
From Port Saint Lucie to Vero Beach in the Sunshine State, to Phoenix and Tucson in the Arizona desert, first base is all the rage this spring training season. Forget about Alex Rodriguez learning third base; it’s almost as if a Major League team that doesn’t have a new first baseman this March is grooming someone new at the position. At least a dozen notable faces find themselves in different, first base places this spring.
No division may be as tight all season long as the National League East. Yet the Atlanta Braves are gambling they will overcome the loss of free agents Gary Sheffield, Vinny Castilla and Greg Maddux because of their knee-deep farm system that includes the likes of Adam LaRoche. The 24-year-old first baseman, who is the son of former Major League pitcher Dave LaRoche, is expected to platoon at first base with ageless wonder Julio Franco. LaRoche batted .333 in the Puerto Rican Winter League this off-season, following a .295 average at Triple-A Richmond.
About an hour by car from the Braves mammoth spring training complex near Orlando, the “please find us a home by this All-Star Break” Expos – training in Melbourne on the Space Coast – have welcomed on-base percentage king Nick Johnson. And while the loss of Vladimir Guerrero to free agency certainly didn’t help the Nomads, if Johnson manages to stay healthy for a 162-game season, they could be the sleeper in the division.
A short drive down Interstate 95, in Port Saint Lucie, future Hall-of-Fame catcher Mike Piazza is one of several veterans this spring that is learning to play first base. Meanwhile, outside West Palm Beach, in Jupiter, the Hee Seop Choi era has begun. Up until now, the Korean Choi has never been given the opportunity to play every day in the Majors, and he has some big shoes to fill with the defending World Champion Marlins in the form of the departed Derrek Lee. Choi and Lee were essentially traded for one another last November, with Lee shipped to the Cubs in the hopes he will be one of Chicago’s saviors, along with Maddux, in finally sticking it to the Billy Goat Curse.
While Lee trains with the Cubs in Phoenix’s eastern suburb of Mesa, the “please give the baseball fans of Milwaukee some hope for once” Brewers, training in the West Valley community of Maryvale, envision their new first baseman, Lyle Overbay, as a key nucleus in the future of the franchise. The Centralia, Washington native never really got the chance to show his potential in Arizona, the team which traded him to Ale Central for Richie Sexson.
Some 10 minutes drive from Maryvale is the city of Peoria, where the new-look Padres have decided that slugger Phil Nevin will be their every day first baseman, moving Ryan Klesko to left field and forcing Brian Giles to cover the quirky dimensions and large expanses that is right field at the club’s new regular season home, PETCO Park. Nevin, who has been hampered by injuries the past two seasons, has previously played third base, the outfield and even catcher.
But Nevin isn’t the only impact player in the always contentious National League West learning a new position. Back in Florida, the “we’ll do anything for some runs, man,” Dodgers are having the cornerstone of their franchise – Shawn Green – performing homework every day at first base. Heck, the boys in blue will apparently try anything, even allowing former slugger turned book publicist/real-life delinquent Jose Canseco play first base – well, at least for one day.
The initial plan out of Vero Beach is a gamble, with the boys in blue banking that Juan Encarnacion can be productive every day from Green’s former position, right field, and that center fielder Dave Roberts and left fielder Bubba Trammell will rebound from health-related ailments that have hampered both the past couple of seasons. Roberts’ problems have been more physical while Trammell’s more mental, with the former Yankee admitting it was a bout with depression that caused him to abruptly leave the Bronx Bombers last season. Sexson, a former third baseman, gives Diamondbacks fans a dimension the young franchise has never known: a slugging first baseman. Forget about Curt Schilling; Sexson hit 45 homers in 2003 for the anemic Brewers. Is there any telling what Sexson – training with the Snakes in Tucson – can do at hitter-friendly Bank One Ballpark, and with a much more talented team like Arizona?
The American League is also not without change at first base this spring training season. For starters, two veteran sluggers make returns to their former homes. Tampa resident Tino Martinez is back on the Suncoast, and will man first base for fellow Tampa native and Devil Rays skipper, Lou Piniella. While Martinez preps at Al Lang Field where Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig once roamed, former Oriole, turned return Oriole, Rafael Palmeiro, is back in the birds nest at Fort Lauderdale Stadium where Yogi Berra and Reggie Jackson once held court. But perhaps the biggest “Who’s on First?” surprise is back in the Grand Canyon State where Mr. Intensity, Darin Erstad, is patrolling one of the infield corner positions at Angels headquarters in Tempe.
Erstad, a gold-glover for the love of Pete, has been moved to first base as a result of the off-season, free-agent signings of outfielders Guerrero and Jose Guillen. Garret Anderson completes the Halos outfield core, with Tim Salmon moving from right field into a full-time designated hitter role. Also in the American League West race, the Athletics have added first baseman Eric Karros, who played a significant role in helping the Cubs advance last season.
First base may not have the flash of shortstop, center field or pitcher, but the fact is there’s no disputing Mark Grace, Scott Spiezio and Lee played a significant role in helping their respective clubs win the World Series each of the past three seasons.
Joe Connor is a Major League Baseball Freelance Writer and author of the annually updated, easy-to-use electronic guide, “A Fan’s Guide To The Ultimate Spring Training Experience,” which is available exclusively at http://www.modernerabaseball.com. Contact him at joe@modernerabaseball.com.
