LOCAL WATCH: COMMAND AT CATCHER DISCIPLINED KREUTER SUCCEEDS AT, BEHIND PLATE.Byline: Heather Gripp Gripp talking raven, beloved pet of half-wit Barnaby Rudge. [Br. Lit.: Dickens Barnaby Rudge] See : Birds Staff Writer Chad Kreuter Chadden Michael Kreuter (born August 26 1964 in Greenbrae, California) is a former catcher in Major League Baseball and the current head coach of the USC Trojans baseball team. has $40,000 worth of plates and screws holding together a left shoulder that was shattered shat·ter v. shat·tered, shat·ter·ing, shat·ters v.tr. 1. To cause to break or burst suddenly into pieces, as with a violent blow. 2. a. five years ago. Even before a collision at the plate left him partially filled with metal, the Dodgers catcher had a machine-like consistency in his approach to baseball. No matter how well he's he's 1. Contraction of he is: He's going to school today. 2. Contraction of he has: He's already been to the museum. playing or whether he's in the starting lineup For the line of action figures, see . A starting lineup in sports refers to the set of players actively participating in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or not, Kreuter can be found taking swing after swing off a batting Batting has several meanings:
The discipline that he hones in pregame workouts extends to the field. Kreuter has become one of the most consistent Dodgers to reach base in addition to being a steady force behind the plate. ``I do the same routine every day,'' Kreuter said. ``When I get to the ballpark, I have a timetable in my head of what I'll do. It's not superstition superstition, an irrational belief or practice resulting from ignorance or fear of the unknown. The validity of superstitions is based on belief in the power of magic and witchcraft and in such invisible forces as spirits and demons. or anything, it's just that I believe in being in a routine, that part of my day is regimented reg·i·ment n. 1. A military unit of ground troops consisting of at least two battalions, usually commanded by a colonel. 2. A large group of people. tr.v. , it's structured and the main thing is that it takes discipline to do that. That discipline turns over to what I do on the field.'' Such discipline helped Kreuter enter this weekend's home series against San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. having reached base via a hit or walk in 15 consecutive games. The switch-hitter was batting .375 with a .561 on-base percentage during that period. After making the team as a nonroster invitee An individual who enters another's premises as a result of an express or implied invitation of the owner or occupant for their mutual gain or benefit. For example, a customer in a restaurant or a depositor entering a bank to cash a check are both invitees. to spring training last season, Kreuter reached base in 53 of his 64 starts, including 14 of his final 17. His overall .416 on-base percentage was the second highest on the team. Kreuter exemplified his discipline by drawing 54 walks in 79 games last year, including four in one game. He is the only Dodger this season to walk three times in a game, doing so for the fourth time Wednesday. However, it is what he does behind the plate that makes the lifetime .239 hitter most attractive, and prompted the Dodgers to give him a two-year contract extension after last year. The veteran can control the running game (he threw out 40 percent of runners in 2000) and is good at settling down pitchers. The value of the rapport The former name of device management software from Wyse Technology, San Jose, CA (www.wyse.com) that is designed to centrally control up to 100,000+ devices, including Wyse thin clients (see Winterm), Palm, PocketPC and other mobile devices. he develops with pitchers is evident in the way Chan Ho Park has blossomed since working with Kreuter, who has become Park's designated catcher. Park confirms his trust in Kreuter is a key part of putting himself among the game's elite. ``I'm not going to be a guy that shows up and puts fingers down,'' Kreuter said. ``I genuinely care for him and for all the guys.'' Now in his 14th year in the majors, the 36-year-old Kreuter has appeared in at least 100 games only twice. Yet he prepares as if he is playing each game. Kreuter is usually one of the first on the field. If he's not playing catch or hitting ground balls to his son, he is likely to be doing extra stretching or hitting. While he waits for his turn to bat during batting practice, he is one of the few players hitting off a tee, a practice he said he's done since childhood to reinforce his ideal swing. ``It's something I've always done,'' Kreuter said. ``I think the discipline of doing that has made me better not only in the area of hitting, but made me better in all areas of my game because it's discipline that makes me go out there every day. That discipline gets me into the weight room. That discipline gets me here early doing some early work. It carries over to everything else I do. KREUTER FILE Name: Chad Kreuter Team: Dodgers Position: Catcher Age: 36 Local tie: Pepperdine Career highlights: Walked 54 times in 79 games in 2000, the same year he threw out 19 of 40 runners for the third-best average in the National League. ... Batted a career-high .286 with 15 home runs and played in a career-high 119 games for Detroit in 1993. ... Made his major-league debut Sept. 14, 1988. ... Selected by Texas in the fifth round of the 1985 draft. CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: Pepperdine product Chad Kreuter, left, has become Chan Ho Park's designated catcher. John Hayes/Associated Press Box: KREUTER FILE (see text) |
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