I revisited the Tampa Rays Spring Training camp now that the team's full roster of players have reported. Once again, it was interesting to watch how a professional team conducts its workouts. Following are a few images which I captured while I was there this morning. You may click on an image to view a larger version of the photo:The professional teams don't lack for resources. It seems that there are baskets of new baseballs at each field for every workout!
Players get loose by tossing the ball at increasing distances in rightfield. This is very similar to how our team generally opens its practices in the Spring.
One thing that I've noticed is how all of the players in all of the camps I've visited field ground balls. Notice the position of the throwing (right) hand. Rather than keep that hand low to the ground with the palm facing the sky, all of the infielders position this hand on top of the glove with the palm facing towards the baseball. Also note the position of the fielder's body as he bends at the knees and collapses low in front of the baseball.
Today was the first day of live pitching, and James Shields (6' 4") was throwing some heat this morning!
Here's another infielder (shortstop) in that familiar position as he fields a grounder.
The Rays ran an infield drill very similar to one that our team runs in the Spring. This segment included playing the infield in for a play at the plate--followed by a rundown between home and third.
Look at the position of the baseball (facinng centerfield) as pitcher Mitch Talbot prepares to delivery this pitch.
Just as our team does every Spring, pitchers worked on covering first base on balls hit to the right side of the infield. We'll be covering this later, but please note how the pitcher runs parallel to the baseline for the last ten feet before first base to avoid colliding with the batter-runner and to face the baseball as it is tossed to him by the first baseman.
Matt Garza was throwing so hard that the chain around his neck practically flew into his face.
The second baseman charged this infield hit and was then forced to make a quick throw to retire the batter. Both of his feet were off the ground during this exposure!
