Special_K19
05-12-2003, 10:25 AM
Any field is his home for versatile Gerut
05/12/03
Arlington, Texas
- Jody Gerut is an outfielder without a position. Normally that is not a good thing, but the connotation is different with Gerut.
Manager Eric Wedge isn't sure if center, left or right field is Gerut's best position because he plays them all well.
"I had Jody in the second half of last year in Buffalo," Wedge said. "I got him comfortable in center field. Then I did the same thing in left and right field.
"We feel he has the ability to be an everyday outfielder, but we're not sure where."
Gerut certainly didn't look too bad in right field in Saturday night's 6-4 victory over Texas. He made three nice catches, the best being his sliding catch into foul territory and the grandstand against Herbert Perry to end the fifth inning and save two runs.
"I really didn't get a good look at it from the dugout," Wedge said. "But after the game, it was being replayed on TV and someone said, 'Take a look at this.' It was even more impressive."
Said rookie second baseman Brandon Phillips, who played with Gerut in Class AAA Buffalo last year, "That was beautiful, man. I knew he could play the outfield, but I didn't know he could play right field like that."
When Gerut caught Perry's drive - it was ruled a fair ball - he had one fear.
"I thought the ball had a chance of popping out of my glove when I hit the ground," Gerut said.
But it stayed in.
Wedge said Gerut has helped himself with improved throwing.
"Jody used to have some arm issues," Wedge said. "He's a guy who works on his limitations. Now he has an arm that really plays up."
Menu, please:
Texas pitching coach Orel Hershiser has a small table in the dugout where he puts his stat books during games. It looks like he's sitting at a table in a restaurant.
"The only trouble is you can't order any food," Hershiser said with a laugh. "It's not like the press box. You can't tell somebody, 'Hey, bring me some ice cream.' "
Hershiser gave this scouting report on former Indians Einar Diaz and right-hander Ryan Drese:
Diaz: "I love the guy. He's very good with our pitchers and calls a good game. He's the best ball-blocker I've ever seen. He just doesn't knock the ball down, he catches them. He's like a matador, but the bull never gets by."
Drese: "Rhino has been outstanding in a lot of categories and needs some work in others. I like his makeup, his arm strength and he's got a great slider. He needs to work on the command of his fastball against left-handers. They're hitting .488 against him. We sent him down to Oklahoma City to concentrate on that."
The Indians sent Diaz and Drese to Texas for Travis Hafner and Aaron Myette.
Wait and see:
There's a chance Hafner may have to go on the disabled list after missing his second straight game yesterday with a fracture in the big toe of his left foot.
Hafner didn't take batting practice for the second straight day, but did field some grounders at first. He was hit in the foot by a John Thomson pitch Friday.
"We'll have to wait to see how he's doing on Tuesday," Wedge said. "I don't want to put him on the DL."
The Indians are off today.
Finally:
Omar Vizquel needs one steal to move into second place in franchise history. Kenny Lofton is the franchise leader with 450. Vizquel, tied with Terry Turner, has 254.
05/12/03
Arlington, Texas
- Jody Gerut is an outfielder without a position. Normally that is not a good thing, but the connotation is different with Gerut.
Manager Eric Wedge isn't sure if center, left or right field is Gerut's best position because he plays them all well.
"I had Jody in the second half of last year in Buffalo," Wedge said. "I got him comfortable in center field. Then I did the same thing in left and right field.
"We feel he has the ability to be an everyday outfielder, but we're not sure where."
Gerut certainly didn't look too bad in right field in Saturday night's 6-4 victory over Texas. He made three nice catches, the best being his sliding catch into foul territory and the grandstand against Herbert Perry to end the fifth inning and save two runs.
"I really didn't get a good look at it from the dugout," Wedge said. "But after the game, it was being replayed on TV and someone said, 'Take a look at this.' It was even more impressive."
Said rookie second baseman Brandon Phillips, who played with Gerut in Class AAA Buffalo last year, "That was beautiful, man. I knew he could play the outfield, but I didn't know he could play right field like that."
When Gerut caught Perry's drive - it was ruled a fair ball - he had one fear.
"I thought the ball had a chance of popping out of my glove when I hit the ground," Gerut said.
But it stayed in.
Wedge said Gerut has helped himself with improved throwing.
"Jody used to have some arm issues," Wedge said. "He's a guy who works on his limitations. Now he has an arm that really plays up."
Menu, please:
Texas pitching coach Orel Hershiser has a small table in the dugout where he puts his stat books during games. It looks like he's sitting at a table in a restaurant.
"The only trouble is you can't order any food," Hershiser said with a laugh. "It's not like the press box. You can't tell somebody, 'Hey, bring me some ice cream.' "
Hershiser gave this scouting report on former Indians Einar Diaz and right-hander Ryan Drese:
Diaz: "I love the guy. He's very good with our pitchers and calls a good game. He's the best ball-blocker I've ever seen. He just doesn't knock the ball down, he catches them. He's like a matador, but the bull never gets by."
Drese: "Rhino has been outstanding in a lot of categories and needs some work in others. I like his makeup, his arm strength and he's got a great slider. He needs to work on the command of his fastball against left-handers. They're hitting .488 against him. We sent him down to Oklahoma City to concentrate on that."
The Indians sent Diaz and Drese to Texas for Travis Hafner and Aaron Myette.
Wait and see:
There's a chance Hafner may have to go on the disabled list after missing his second straight game yesterday with a fracture in the big toe of his left foot.
Hafner didn't take batting practice for the second straight day, but did field some grounders at first. He was hit in the foot by a John Thomson pitch Friday.
"We'll have to wait to see how he's doing on Tuesday," Wedge said. "I don't want to put him on the DL."
The Indians are off today.
Finally:
Omar Vizquel needs one steal to move into second place in franchise history. Kenny Lofton is the franchise leader with 450. Vizquel, tied with Terry Turner, has 254.