RELEASE & CATCH; HUNDLEY: OUT WITH OLD, IN WITH NEW.Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer Last year, Todd Hundley's throws routinely bounced into center field, or sailed into left. Singles became doubles, doubles were triples. Running on Hundley was a must. He took the blame, the criticism and the constant rips that came his way despite being forced into a situation paved for failure. Hundley and his surgically repaired elbow weren't ready for the 1999 season, nor was his body ready to be the Dodgers' catcher. How the season unfolded proved that. But as the Dodgers, particularly their minor leaguers, begin their winter workouts today at USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. , a different Hundley should be there. He's already in better physical condition than at any point of last season. ``He's in the best shape since I've known him,'' Dodgers strength and conditioning coordinator Todd Clausen said. ``His arm strength is the best I've seen it.'' Rather than return to his offseason retreat in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , Hundley's been working out near his West coast home in Pasadena. His motivation should be plenty - including being in the final year of the guaranteed portion of his contract - but pride is foremost. He threw out only 29 of 123 would-be base stealers, made 16 errors and was benched for an eight-game stretch to work out with bullpen coach Rick Dempsey In reality, not only did he replace Gold Glover Charles Johnson Charles Johnson may refer to:
``I've taken last year and put it in a case and buried it,'' Hundley said. ``It happens I've taken what I learned last year and worked this year. I have more to prove to myself and my teammates than anything else.'' Six days a week Hundley and Clausen meet for three hours. Three days a week Hundley does distance running. Twice a week he runs the Pasadena hills. ``I hate running, but I've been doing a lot of running,'' Hundley said. ``Man, there's a lot of hills.'' Ninety minutes of the day are spent weight training. There's also a throwing program in which Hundley long-tosses and throws at different intervals, from 90 to 150 feet. Sunday is a day for rest. ``It feels good, feels like I've been in spring training,'' Hundley said. ``Last year at this time my arm wouldn't allow me to do what I'm doing now. I had a lot of scar tissue scar tissue n. Dense, fibrous connective tissue that forms over a healed wound or cut. and it was real tight. The nerve was still dead and didn't allow me to do any of this. ``My dad taught me there's nothing better than good old-fashioned hard work, and I've seen in already with my throwing.'' Despite only a handful of innings behind the plate last spring training, Hundley was forced into the starting catcher's spot opening day. It was theorized because anything else would have been a public relations public relations, activities and policies used to create public interest in a person, idea, product, institution, or business establishment. By its nature, public relations is devoted to serving particular interests by presenting them to the public in the most nightmare. Already taking enormous hits because of Chase Carey's ego-induced trade of Piazza, Dodgers general manager Kevin Malone
Kevin Malone is a fictional character from the US television series, The Office. He is played by Brian Baumgartner. , on the job for mere months, moved Johnson, defensive specialist, for a guy coming off major elbow reconstruction. Didn't Hundley have to be ready? ``I wasn't ready,'' Hundley said. ``Bottom line, coming out of spring training, my thing was getting my legs into playing shape. Right now, I'm way ahead of that.'' Most of Hundley's workout regimen is geared toward improving his defense: making his legs stronger, improving his cardiovascular and strengthening his arm. Soon, work will begin on his offense. Hundley's 24 homers was the third-highest total of his career, albeit a far cry from the 71 he hit in his two seasons prior to the surgery. His defensive perils only masked his struggles at the plate. He batted a career-low .207, struck out 113 times and had four hits from the right side. Shortly, Hundley will spend a few days in Las Vegas Las Vegas (läs vā`gəs), city (1990 pop. 258,295), seat of Clark co., S Nev.; inc. 1911. It is the largest city in Nevada and the center of one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the United States. with Dodgers hitting coach Rick Down to work on improving consistency in his left-handed stroke and to begin work on hitting from the right side again. ``He's so committed. Anything I tell him he's got to do, he does it,'' Clausen said. ``Todd took it as a challenge. He's going to be bigger, stronger and faster. Cardiovascular, he's made tremendous strides.'' WINTER WORKOUTS --Where: USC's Dedeaux Field Dedeaux Field is a college baseball stadium in Los Angeles, California, and the home field of the University of Southern California Trojans baseball team. The stadium holds 2,500 people and was built in 1974, the year USC won its record fifth consecutive College World Series title. --When: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 11 a.m. until spring training --Who: The workouts are predominantly for the Dodgers' minor-leaguers, but the first day usually attracts many of the big-leaguers. Those expected to be there for today's opener are Shawn Green Shawn David Green (born November 10, 1972, in Des Plaines, Illinois) is a 6' 4" left-handed Major League Baseball player. Green is the starting right fielder for the New York Mets.[1] Green was a 1st round draft pick, and has been a two-time major league All-Star. , Gary Sheffield
Gary Antonian Sheffield (born November 18, 1968 in Tampa, Florida) is a Major League Baseball designated hitter and outfielder for the Detroit Tigers. , Dave Hansen
CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: Last season was disappointment personified for Dodgers catcher Todd Hundley. After a winter of hard work and six-day-a-week training, he hopes this year is a whole new ballgame. Mark Lennihan/Associated Press Box: WINTER WORKOUTS (see text) |
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