Detroit Tigers training hard ahead of 2012 Spring Training – MLB News
Many of us believe that Spring Training is a garden celebration for the teams and players. However, that is not the case as the players and coaches/managers put in a great amount of work to achieve their goals. The Spring training is essentially designed
for the managers and players to get into shape before the start of regular season. It also gives them a chance to practice pitching, throwing, catching and hitting.
Detroit Tigers’ General Manager Dave Dombrowski was one of the most proactive GM’s of this offseason. Having signed a nine year $214 million contract with Prince Fielder, he has eyes set on the World Series title this season. The Tigers did a great job to
win the American League Central title last season. However, with stronger batting and pitching lineup, the owner Mike Ilitch will be expecting his team to achieve better results in 2012.
"Bare-hand that ball!" Tom Brookens, the Tigers' outfield coach and a one-time third baseman, yelled during Monday's first pitchers-and-catchers workout at the Tigertown complex. "It's one less move, not having to transfer the ball from your glove."
Tigers’ star players Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder has already started to work out for the upcoming Spring Training sessions. Fielder, who met his new team mates yesterday, practiced with Cabrera at Tigers’ training facility and he seems to share a great
chemistry with him. Phil Coke and rookie Jose Ortega also had the chance to practice at third base, trying to grab some difficult balls.
"This is not exercise," Leyland said. "Sometimes, that's the difference (a play made vs. a play botched) between a pitcher winning 17 or 20 games, or 14 or 15. We had a good camp last year and I want to have a better camp this year," Leyland said. "But let's
not get tricky."
In some ways, the practice session will be of great importance for Tigers Manager Jim Leyland as it will let him decide what batting combinations he should use during the regular season. No doubt, the Tigers are packed with MVP calibre players but the real
test will be to apply all the force in right direction.
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