DODGERS NOTEBOOK: WHATEVER IT TAKES, SAYS GRUDZIELANEK.Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer VERO BEACH Vero Beach (vēr`o), city (1990 pop. 17,350), seat of Indian River co., E Fla., on Indian River (a lagoon and part of the Intracoastal Waterway); founded c.1888, inc. 1919. , Fla. - Mark Grudzielanek Mark James Grudzielanek (born June 30, 1970 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is a second baseman in Major League Baseball who currently plays for the Kansas City Royals. Previously, Grudzielanek played with the Montreal Expos (1995-1998), Los Angeles Dodgers (1998-2002), Chicago Cubs prefers not to hit leadoff - just like he would have rather remained at shortstop instead of moving to second base - but if that's what Dodgers manager Davey Johnson Johnson's latest tinkering with the first two spots in the lineup included Grudzielanek in the leadoff and center fielder Todd Hollandsworth Todd Mathew Hollandsworth (born April 20, 1973 in Dayton, Ohio) is an outfielder in Major League Baseball. Previously, Hollandsworth played with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1995-2000), Colorado Rockies (2000-2002), Texas Rangers (2002), Florida Marlins (2003), Chicago Cubs second. It's been the reverse of that much of the spring. ``Obviously, I feel much more comfortable in the No. 2 spot, but we don't have a typical leadoff hitter In baseball, a leadoff hitter is a batter who bats first in the lineup. Strategy Leadoff hitters must possess certain traits to be successful: they must reach base at a proficient rate and be able to steal bases. on this team,'' said Grudzielanek, who had two hits from the leadoff spot Sunday against St. Louis. ``I'm sure I'll get comfortable at it, but who knows? I'm sure we'll have a talk. I like to be comfortable in a spot and leave it alone, like last year when (Johnson) left me in that two-hole the last 2 1/2 months of the season and it was comfortable.'' However, Johnson wants energy at the top of his lineup, and Hollandsworth and Devon White
Though Grudzielanek is a much better hitter in the No. 2 spot, he does have extensive leadoff experience. In 1996 he batted leadoff for the Montreal Expos The Montreal Expos (French: Les Expos de Montréal) were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada from 1969 until 2004. After the 2004 season, the franchise relocated to Washington, D.C. and became the Washington Nationals. and enjoyed one of his most productive offensive seasons. He batted .306 with 34 doubles and 33 stolen bases. However, he walked just 26 times in 692 plate appearances. ``I made some strides last year, I got on base a little more and maybe I can do some things up there that can help us along,'' said Grudzielanek, who batted .326 and had a .376 on-base percentage. ``I told him I'd much rather stay in two-hole, but I'll do what best suits the team. It's not like I'm a stranger to the one-hole. I understand it, I know what I need to do, but also you have to understand me. ``I like to swing the bat, and I'm not going to change that..'' --Comfortable Cora: After a shaky start in which Alex Cora fought jitters jitters 'Butterflies' Psychology An episode of nervousness or anxiety that often precedes a public event; jitters is a type of performance anxiety which may affect actors in a stage production–stage fright or soloist musicians; it may respond to anxiolytics in the field and had poor at-bats, he's settled in the last five or six days and played well at shortstop. Cora, 24, said the change came after talking with his brother, Joey, a former big leaguer and now a minor-league coach in the Chicago Cubs organization. ``At the beginning I wasn't playing relaxed,'' Cora said. ``I thought it was going to be easier. I felt the pressure a little bit. I learned from it. (Joey) called me and we had a little chat, about 45 minutes, and he told me to have fun and play hard. That's all I can control.'' DODGERS vs. BALTIMORE --When/Where: 10:05 a.m., at Fort Lauderdale Stadium Fort Lauderdale Stadium is located next to Lockhart Stadium. It is where the Baltimore Orioles have had their spring training since 1996. The stadium also hosts Semi-Pro Federal League games throughout the year. , Fort Lauderdale, Fla. --Radio: XTRA-AM (1150) (delayed broadcast 5:30 p.m.) Today's game: The Dodgers shifted around their rotation to have right- hander Kevin Brown pitch against the Orioles to get him on the proper days rest for the April 3 opener at Montreal. Brown's allowed one run in seven innings in two spring outings. Sunday's result: Angel Pena hit a three-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to tie it for the Dodgers, but St. Louis scored twice in the 10th to record a 7-5 win at Holman Stadium. The Dodgers are now 1-11 in Grapefruit League action. - Brian Dohn CAPTION(S): box Box: DODGERS vs. BALTIMORE (see text) |
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