Notes: Cooper rewarded for early report
03/06/2006PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- The Indians brought seven of their former draft picks to big-league camp as non-roster invites this spring, and some in the organization felt there could have been an eighth.
Jason Cooper would have been that eighth guy, but instead he was an early arrival to Minor League camp, where he'll get tuned up to begin the season in the Triple-A Buffalo outfield.
Still, Cooper's been given a chance to mingle with the big boys in these early days of Grapefruit League play. He had one at-bat in a game at Chain of Lakes Park over the weekend, and on Monday he made the trip to Tradition Field as a backup in the Tribe's game against the Mets.
"It's a wonderful opportunity for me here to get some game experience early," Cooper said. "It's pretty special. I'll try to take advantage of it, and maybe I'll open some eyes."
When the Indians drafted Cooper out of Stanford in the third round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft, he had to open his eyes to life in the outfield.
Shoulder surgery had limited Cooper to DH duties during his college days. In the pros, he's worked primarily as a left fielder because of a weak arm, but the Indians want to see him put in more time in right this season.
"This year is a big opportunity for me," he said. "Hopefully I'll get more versatility and bring some more to the big-league ballclub."
Until he's able to play two outfield positions, it's doubtful Cooper will get up to the Majors. His bat has certainly impressed down on the farm, though. Last season, he led the club's Minor League system in RBIs (100), was tied for second in runs scored (84) and ranked third in home runs (25), while playing 57 games in Akron and 73 in Buffalo.
He did, however, strike out 143 times to go with just 53 walks.
"I need to be more consistent," he said. "I need to be a better two-strike hitter and work on not fishing for balls out of the strike zone as much as I have in the past."
Hanging around: Julio Franco won't go away. And judging by some of the pokes he strung together in the batting cages Monday morning, he has no reason to.
Franco, the two-time former Indian, is now with the Mets by virtue of a two-year contract. That deal was quite a show of faith in the man who will turn 48 on Aug. 23.
Age does not seem to be an issue for Franco, who not only hopes but expects to play in the big leagues until he reaches 50.
He said God will help him reach that goal.
"It's not going to be easy," he said. "I've got to do my part. But I'm in good hands. I'm in very good hands, and I think that if He's in control of my life, I'll be OK."
Franco does his part with a training program and diet most younger players can only marvel at. He eats upward of 20 egg whites a day to get the protein he needs to sustain his muscular frame.
But Franco scoffs at the suggestion that his routine is what has sustained his career, which began in 1982 with the Phillies and has taken him to the Japanese, Korean and Mexican leagues, in addition to eight big-league clubs.
"I'm playing baseball because it pleases God," he said. "It's not about me. It's about Him. People either don't get that or they don't want to get that."
What Franco wants is to become a manager when his playing days are done. But unlike most former players, he wants to do it the right way by beginning his managerial career in the Minors.
"The Minor Leagues is a school," he said. "If you want to learn, you go to the Minor Leagues. All the great managers start in the Minor Leagues."
First things first: For a guy who hadn't played the infield regularly since his Little League days up until last season, Ryan Garko seems to be handling first base pretty well in Indians camp.
Manager Eric Wedge already said over the weekend that Garko, a converted catcher, is ahead of where he thought he'd be at this time.
For Garko, the biggest adjustment has been reading balls off the bat.
"The game speeds up," he said. "You never have to read a ball when you're behind the plate."
TV talk: The Indians' over-the-air broadcasts will be seen in Youngstown and Lima this season.
With WKYC-TV Channel 3 set to produce and broadcast 20 of the Tribe's regular-season games this season, WYFX in Youngstown and WLIO in Lima have signed on with Fastball Sports Productions to show the games.
The first such game will be the Indians home opener at 3:05 p.m. ET April 7 against the Twins. Each of the broadcasts will be available in high definition and will feature a 30-minute pregame and postgame show.
Tribe tidbits: Third base prospect Andy Marte had a pair of doubles in Monday's game, including one the opposite way to right-center field. "We're just looking for him to stay to the middle of the field and let the contact take care of itself," Wedge said. ... Jason Michaels put down a nice sacrifice bunt to advance Grady Sizemore in the third inning, in accordance with the Indians' hope to make such situational hitting a focal point this spring. ... Lou Merloni was back in action Monday after missing three days because of a bruised right wrist suffered when he was hit in the hand by a pitch Thursday in Kissimmee. ... The Indians have already sold more than 20,000 tickets to eight of their special event and promotional games.
On deck: The Tribe will head west to Lakeland to face the division rival Tigers at 1:05 p.m. Tuesday. Left-hander C.C. Sabathia will make his second start of the spring against left-hander Mike Maroth. Cliff Lee, Steve Karsay, Scott Sauerbeck and Danny Graves are also scheduled to throw for the Indians.
Source: http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/
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