Baseball Guru
03-02-2002, 09:41 AM
JUPITER, Fla. (CP) -- Frank Robinson has only been around the Expos for a little more than a week, but he's already putting his own stamp on the team.
Robinson named first baseman Lee Stevens and quiet right-fielder Vladimir Guerrero co-captains on Saturday, the first time the Expos have had a captain since Tim Wallach in 1989.
"It's going to help me and help the players," said Robinson. "I believe that. It's good for the players to talk amongst themselves."
In his first day filling the role of team leader, Stevens took some good-natured ribbing Saturday.
When the rains came and Robinson called it a day, many players turned to Stevens to ask his permission to return to the locker-room.
"It's an honour to be named co-captain," said Stevens. "Frank believes I can fill that role, but I don't think I'll do anything different from the last two years."
Expos fans would probably hope his being named a captain would change at least one thing: Stevens' inconsistent hitting over his two seasons in Montreal.
Though Stevens set career highs in home runs (25) and RBI (95) last season, he hit a meagre .245 for the season -- including a .218 mark after the seventh inning -- and committed 19 errors. In two seasons with the Expos, Stevens has 47 home runs, 170 RBI, 252 hits and 262 strikeouts.
"This year, I want to play better defensively and be more consistent on offence," said Stevens. "There will be a new artificial surface (at Olympic Stadium). I hope that will help us mentally on defence. The turf wasn't in good shape. We thought about it when were out in the field."
As for Guerrero, the quiet superstar will most probably lead by example as it is rare to see him say much of anything.
"I'll probably be the only one to talk," said Stevens. "I'll probably say some things the guys won't like, but it'll be for the good of the team."
NOTES: The arrival of Lance Johnson at spring training puts the heat on the Expos' under-achieving lead-off man Peter Bergeron to have a strong spring. Bergeron hit .211 last year with a minuscule .275 on base percentage and 52 runs scored in 102 games with the Expos last year. Johnson, 38, hit .341 in 35 games for triple-A Colorado Springs. "I definitely have to do more than I did last year," Bergeron said.
Robinson named first baseman Lee Stevens and quiet right-fielder Vladimir Guerrero co-captains on Saturday, the first time the Expos have had a captain since Tim Wallach in 1989.
"It's going to help me and help the players," said Robinson. "I believe that. It's good for the players to talk amongst themselves."
In his first day filling the role of team leader, Stevens took some good-natured ribbing Saturday.
When the rains came and Robinson called it a day, many players turned to Stevens to ask his permission to return to the locker-room.
"It's an honour to be named co-captain," said Stevens. "Frank believes I can fill that role, but I don't think I'll do anything different from the last two years."
Expos fans would probably hope his being named a captain would change at least one thing: Stevens' inconsistent hitting over his two seasons in Montreal.
Though Stevens set career highs in home runs (25) and RBI (95) last season, he hit a meagre .245 for the season -- including a .218 mark after the seventh inning -- and committed 19 errors. In two seasons with the Expos, Stevens has 47 home runs, 170 RBI, 252 hits and 262 strikeouts.
"This year, I want to play better defensively and be more consistent on offence," said Stevens. "There will be a new artificial surface (at Olympic Stadium). I hope that will help us mentally on defence. The turf wasn't in good shape. We thought about it when were out in the field."
As for Guerrero, the quiet superstar will most probably lead by example as it is rare to see him say much of anything.
"I'll probably be the only one to talk," said Stevens. "I'll probably say some things the guys won't like, but it'll be for the good of the team."
NOTES: The arrival of Lance Johnson at spring training puts the heat on the Expos' under-achieving lead-off man Peter Bergeron to have a strong spring. Bergeron hit .211 last year with a minuscule .275 on base percentage and 52 runs scored in 102 games with the Expos last year. Johnson, 38, hit .341 in 35 games for triple-A Colorado Springs. "I definitely have to do more than I did last year," Bergeron said.