Baseball Guru
03-02-2002, 09:39 AM
By MIKE GANTER -- Toronto Sun
DUNEDIN, Fla -- Whether it was intentional or not, Blue Jays manager Buck Martinez put the spotlight on his rookie third baseman on the eve of the spring training opener.
With the Jays set to be home to the New York Yankees today at Grant Field (1 p.m.), Martinez was asked what he was going to be focusing on now that the games are about to begin.
"(Determine) how far along Eric Hinske is as a player," Martinez said.
Barring a defensive collapse or injury during the next month, Martinez expects to be pencilling Hinske into the lineup as his starting third baseman April 1 when the Jays open the season in Boston against the Red Sox.
However, other than some glowing minor-league offensive statistics, Hinske's abilities really are still up in the air.
Since Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi acquired him from the Oakland A's in December in the Billy Koch deal, the Jays have cast him as a solid offensive producer with suspect defensive abilities.
Hinske himself doesn't believe that characterization -- the suspect defence part -- is accurate.
"I like to look at myself as a good defensive player," Hinske said yesterday. "I've improved every year that I have played the position. Last year was big for me because I got to play every day at third base (at triple-A Sacramento). Before that I was bouncing around from right field to left field and first base to third. So I feel very comfortable there and I'm anxious to show everyone I can play third base."
Before the trade to Toronto, the A's were working him out at first during the Arizona Fall League in anticipation of Jason Giambi leaving Oakland.
If Hinske is feeling pressure, he's hiding it well. The 24-year-old Wisconsin native appears comfortable in his new surroundings.
"I think there is some pressure here obviously but I try not to look at it that way," Hinske said.
"I try to look at it like this is my chance to play every day in the big leagues and I'm excited to be here. Hopefully I can show them that I can be a complete player doing the job both offensively and defensively."
ROUGH START
Things got off to a bit of a rough start during yesterday's two-inning intrasquad game. Hinske's throw to first base on a routine ground ball pulled Carlos Delgado off the bag for what would have been ruled an error had anyone been keeping score. A hard ground ball down the third base line also got by him for a double.
Martinez, though, sounds as though he is prepared to live with some early miscues.
"We don't know an awful lot about him," Martinez said. "I like what I see. I like the fact that he has easy power and I think he has been very good at third (in workouts)."
First base coach Garth Iorg and bench coach Cookie Rojas have spent part of the past two weeks working with Hinske defensively.
"Pretty much every other day, we're out there doing early work and then the infield work on top of that," Hinske said.
Hinske said he is thrilled the games are beginning so he can prove he is a good defensive third baseman.
DUNEDIN, Fla -- Whether it was intentional or not, Blue Jays manager Buck Martinez put the spotlight on his rookie third baseman on the eve of the spring training opener.
With the Jays set to be home to the New York Yankees today at Grant Field (1 p.m.), Martinez was asked what he was going to be focusing on now that the games are about to begin.
"(Determine) how far along Eric Hinske is as a player," Martinez said.
Barring a defensive collapse or injury during the next month, Martinez expects to be pencilling Hinske into the lineup as his starting third baseman April 1 when the Jays open the season in Boston against the Red Sox.
However, other than some glowing minor-league offensive statistics, Hinske's abilities really are still up in the air.
Since Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi acquired him from the Oakland A's in December in the Billy Koch deal, the Jays have cast him as a solid offensive producer with suspect defensive abilities.
Hinske himself doesn't believe that characterization -- the suspect defence part -- is accurate.
"I like to look at myself as a good defensive player," Hinske said yesterday. "I've improved every year that I have played the position. Last year was big for me because I got to play every day at third base (at triple-A Sacramento). Before that I was bouncing around from right field to left field and first base to third. So I feel very comfortable there and I'm anxious to show everyone I can play third base."
Before the trade to Toronto, the A's were working him out at first during the Arizona Fall League in anticipation of Jason Giambi leaving Oakland.
If Hinske is feeling pressure, he's hiding it well. The 24-year-old Wisconsin native appears comfortable in his new surroundings.
"I think there is some pressure here obviously but I try not to look at it that way," Hinske said.
"I try to look at it like this is my chance to play every day in the big leagues and I'm excited to be here. Hopefully I can show them that I can be a complete player doing the job both offensively and defensively."
ROUGH START
Things got off to a bit of a rough start during yesterday's two-inning intrasquad game. Hinske's throw to first base on a routine ground ball pulled Carlos Delgado off the bag for what would have been ruled an error had anyone been keeping score. A hard ground ball down the third base line also got by him for a double.
Martinez, though, sounds as though he is prepared to live with some early miscues.
"We don't know an awful lot about him," Martinez said. "I like what I see. I like the fact that he has easy power and I think he has been very good at third (in workouts)."
First base coach Garth Iorg and bench coach Cookie Rojas have spent part of the past two weeks working with Hinske defensively.
"Pretty much every other day, we're out there doing early work and then the infield work on top of that," Hinske said.
Hinske said he is thrilled the games are beginning so he can prove he is a good defensive third baseman.