Excuse me, but could you get the heck out of my way while I’m sliding?
PORT CHARLOTTE — At the start of workouts Wednesday morning, a pitching machine fired throw after throw to Rays infielders covering second and third base. The drills seemed pretty basic by Major League Baseball standards, but were actually among the most important lessons of the spring.
The league is cracking down on fielders who obstruct the path of baserunners by dropping their legs down in front of the base. The rule has always been on the books, but rarely has been enforced.
“It’s a transition. It’s going to take a little bit of time,” said Rays bench coach Rodney Linares. “We’ve all done it a certain way all our lives, and so instincts are going to tell you to do what you normally do. That’s why we’re having the drills, that’s why we’re trying to get it out of the way early in spring.”
Michael Hill, a former Rays executive who is now MLB’s senior vice president of baseball operations, visited with the Rays on Tuesday to go over the specifics of the new rule. Essentially, infielders will have to give baserunners a path to the bag if they do not have the ball in their glove.
Umpires have been instructed to call obstruction if they determine a fielder impeded or hindered a baserunner before the ball is caught.
“These rules came about (because) the fans said, ‘We want to see stolen bases,’ ” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “If we’re not blocking the bases, (they) think that’s going to prevent injury and allow guys a little bit more freedom to take some chances.”
The Rays have reviewed a bunch of video and photos to get a sense of what’s allowed, and what’s the best way to approach the latest interpretation. For now, they are teaching fielders to catch the ball in front of the base and swing their arm back for the tag.
“We talked about it and came up with a drill package for the guys to get them acclimated,” Linares said. “Get them in front of the bag and not straddle it. Because when you’re straddling the bag, your first reaction is to drop the knee. So we’re trying to eliminate that by getting guys in front. We know there’s going to be bad throws but we’re telling them to just catch the ball and then let your athleticism play out.”
Early bullpen audition
Acquired late last summer from the Cubs in a deal for Josh Roberson, right-handed reliever Manuel Rodriguez was impressive in a short stint at Triple-A Durham with 24 strikeouts and only 15 hits in 17.2 innings. He caught Cash’s eye during batting practice Wednesday morning.
“Lighter, shorter frame but the ball jumps out of his hand,” Cash said. “Good slider, threw strikes.”
Rodriguez, 27, was added to the 40-man roster in December. He was 5-3 with five saves and a 4.88 ERA in parts of two seasons with the Cubs.
No sneezing around here
Illness kept Brandon Lowe away from workouts for a third consecutive day. New first base coach Michael Johns was also under the weather. “It’s kind of running around,” Cash said. “We’ll (prefer) guys not coming in, rather than spreading.”
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