Odubel Herrera is taking a couple hacks this afternoon. He struck out in his first st bat, but seems in good spirits.
Odubel Herrera back at it today
rehab
Odubel Herrera and Cesar Hernandez Make Rehab Appearances in Minor League Game
Guess I just got lucky, went to the first minor league game of the season and managed to catch both Odubel Herrera and Cesar Hernandez making rehab appearances. I saw Odubel made 3 at bats and Hernandez 2 (they may have batted more, but as I was covering 2 games-They may have batted more.) Neither played the field.
Many times in minor league spring games, rehabbing major leaguers will bat at the top of every inning until they get their work done.
Josh Donaldson Makes Another Rehab Appearance
Today was one of those days where nothing went as planned but turned out great in the end. I had hoped to see former Blue Jay Pat Venditte make his first appearance at Phillies camp since being traded to the Phils from the Mariners. Since he had just returned from the World Baseball Classic, we thought that he would be at the Phillies’ complex. He was not.
So I jumped in my Mini and headed back to Dunedin and to the Mattick Training Complex where the AA and AAA Phillies and Jays teams were playing. I got to the field as the Jays were taking the field in the bottom of the third inning. Just as I got behind home, the crowd rushed to the fence and when I looked up, I could see why, Josh Donaldson was about to bat.
I have to pause here to say that this was one of the coldest days of the winter. Early this morning, it was 39* F (4*C) and by now, it was in the mid 50s (12.8* C) with a very strong wind coming in from the gulf, right into our faces. It was freezing.
Donaldson took a swing……
Even into that strong headwind, there was no doubt that that ball was going to go out. There was a collective, “Ooooh” from the crowd as the ball cleared the fence and bounced out into the grass near the softball fields on the other side. It was one beautiful shot INTO the wind.
It was his last at bat of the day so I don’t know how his earlier at bats went, but let me tell you, he’s hit long homers into the wind the last two days, there is no doubt that his timing is down and he should be good to go, once he is given the green light to run again.
I never did get to see Venditte, rumor is that he was with the Phillies MLB team. Frankly, I forgot about him once I saw Donaldson hit that homer.
Blue Jays’ Josh Donaldson Makes a Rehab Appearance
While I was raised in Pennsylvania, since moving to Dunedin, the spring training home of the Toronto Blue Jays, I’ve grown to have a soft spot for “Canada’s Team”. They are my favorite American League team.
A dear friend who blogs about the Jays messaged me last night saying he had heard that Josh Donaldson was going to play in a minor league game. My interest was piqued.
Here’s the thing, while the Jays were playing the Phillies, there was no way to know what team Donaldson would play for. There were 4 teams to choose from, the low A teams at the Jays’ complex and the AA and AAA teams at the Phillies. While the logical choice would think AAA, since they were playing at the Carpenter Complex, would they have Donaldson play with the A kids so that he would stay at their training facility? I took a chance and went to the AAA game at the Carpenter Complex. The Jays’ bus arrived. No Donaldson. Shucks. I debated driving the 5 miles (back) to Dunedin but since we had come in Baseball Ross’ car, I stayed. I was rewarded when they posted the line up and Donaldson was scheduled to take 3 at-bats.
I was happy, at least I was in the right place. 15 minutes before game time…no Donaldson. 5 minutes before game time…no Donaldson. Gametime? Nope. He got there (as it would seem planned) soon after the game started. He got the trainer and they took off for the Phillies indoor batting cages. He soon returned and was inserted into the line up.
Donaldson was up against the Phillies Alec Asher. He fouled a ball or two and then…I think at this point I need to say that this was one on the absolutely windiest days I’ve ever seen for a baseball game. We had some gusts of wind that made it hard for me to stand and take photos. This would come into play for the next pitch to Donaldson.
  
Donaldson squared up Asher’s pitch, it got caught up in the gusts to left-center, it just kept going. The Phillies outfielder stopped running and watched…it was going, going…..Then the breeze hit the side wall of Spectrum Field and it became a stiff “air-curtain”. Â Donaldson, who had taken one look at the ball and assumed it was gone…looked on in horror. He had already started for the dug out. He was almost through the door when he realized it hit the air-curtain and it was slowing down..this was the same time the outfielder realized it and he started running at a full speed. The ball dropped as if it hit a physical wall and dropped right along the fence! The stunned outfielder missed it and it hit the ground.
It was then that Donaldson laughed and went, “Uh-oh!” and started for first (while still holding his bat) in what could only be called a “penguin-style” waddle. Everyone one laughed.
In the article that includes an interview with Donaldson that I’ll post at the end of the blog, they incorrectly state that the ball was caught.
Donaldson went on to bat three more times but didn’t have a hit. His timing seemed good but many of the balls went foul and the wind was the cause of many of the balls going foul instead of down the line.
After he was done, he packed up immediately to leave but he took time to sign autographs…
And I got one! (I have really slowed down on collecting autographs the last year or two, in fact my goal was 2 this year, Donaldson and Bautista. I’m 50% done!)
He was even so kind to allow people to walk with him to his car and he continued to sign and take pictures with fans before he left.
When Donaldson left, the Jays were up 2-0. They were not running the scoreboards so I do not know what the final was…once Donaldson was gone, I started going back and forth between the three games that were going on at the time and lost track.
Donaldson was interviewed by the plethora of media that was in attendance and he seemed pleased with his performance. You can see coverage of the interview HERE.
I think my favorite moment and the moment that showed what a class act Donaldson is, was when Donaldson was done, he went to the player whose place in the line up he took with his at-bats and thanked him for allowing him to do so. I’ve seen a lot of major leaguers step into a minor league game to get a few plate appearances in but I’ve never seen anyone thank the player he displaced. It was a first class move.
So that was the highlight of my day…and may be of my spring training. *Sigh* I love baseball.
Cody Asche Back in Uniform
I was pleasantly surprised to see my favorite Phillies fielder back in uniform tonight. He dons the grey and red of the Threshers for the game against the Tampa Yankees.
Cody is playing left and batting second.
Asche had been sidelined since spring training with an oblique injury.
JP Crawford Hits 2 Run Homer in 2015 Clearwater Threshers Debut
JP Crawford, 20 from Lakewood California, Â was the DH today in Clearwater as he ended his stint on the DL for an oblique injury.
Crawford, had 3AB, 2 R, 2H, 1HR, 3RBI, 1BB, 1SO and was HBP, giving him a .667 average for the day.
Biddle is Back in the Saddle
I’ve been a fan of Jesse Biddle since 2010. If you’ve been reading my blog, you may have read my story from Jesse’s first appearance in Clearwater… SEE HERE where I recounted first seeing him make his first professional start in Williamsport.
I consider myself lucky that I’ve gotten to know him. After seeing someone pitch over the years you start to recognize their rhythm, their little habits, all the things they do before-and-after each pitch.
When I saw Jesse back in June, it was his second to last start before being deactivated. He seemed tense, all the “little things” seemed off, nothing you’d notice if you’d hadn’t been watching him for years.
Tonight, Jesse was different, he was like that Jesse I’ve known all these years. His confidence was back and all the little habits are just as they were when he was here in Clearwater back in 2012. Jesse was great! At he end of the fifth inning when they pulled him, he had a no-no going: 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K.
He pitched well and made a play at first, SEE HERE
And this may be the best baseball picture I’ve ever taken:
It was good to see my friend doing what he is capable of doing. I really enjoy watching him succeed.
Welcome back, Jesse!
Cole Hamels in Action During Rehab Appearance in Clearwater
I thought you might enjoy some pictures of Cole Hamels in Action tonight in what will likely be his last appearance here in Clearwater.
Freddy Galvis Hits a Triple
Freddy Galvis hit an impressive shot to
center for a triple…and I have the picture:
This spurred a rally by the Threshers who are only trailing by three…
Mike Adams is now in in relief.
Dog-day Sunday Watching Cole Hamels
It was a nearly perfect day here in Clearwater Sunday, Cole Hamels on the mound and hounds in the stands–it was Bark in the Park.
Hamels did well, though he gave up two home runs—to the same guy!
Here he is as the first batter—hitting the first home run.
To me, it was one of my favorite games of the year, Bark in the Park. We have a 7 year old shih tzu named Veronica. She’s one of a kind. She loves baseball almost as much as I do. Every time we ask her if she wants to go to a game she goes nuts.
Here she is in her jersey sitting in my season ticket seat. Also notice her Reading Phillies leash.
We couldn’t stay there in the sun so we moved back into the shade. She also has a little baseball cap.
She loves to see the other dogs and actually will sit and watch the game. She’s usually pretty vigilant until about the seventh and by the bottom of the eighth, she was worn out.
While the Threshers lost, we still had a great time.
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Baseball Betsy 