Highstreet
Heisman
Romano hones his infield skills
by Marc Lancaster
Post staff reporter
SARASOTA, Fla. -- In the interest of increasing his value to the Reds, outfielder Jason Romano is going back to his roots this spring.
Romano was drafted as an infielder and spent much of his minor league career playing second, short and third before the Dodgers moved him to the outfield nearly full time two years ago. He took to the switch immediately, and his interest in infield play tapered off.
That led to an uncomfortable situation last spring when Los Angeles traded him to his hometown Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The Rays thought they were getting a middle infielder, but Romano saw himself as an outfielder. He played in four games before being waived and picked up by the Reds, who used him exclusively in the outfield.
Now fully recovered from a torn hamstring suffered last season, Romano figured re-discovering some of his infield skills would help his chances to make a very crowded roster.
"I'm really working hard to become a better infielder. Outfield, I feel real comfortable, it's very natural to me. I'm just trying to get that same feeling in the infield."
General manager Dan O'Brien, a longtime Romano proponent from their days with the Rangers' organization, said he believes the 25-year-old can make himself into a "Ryan Freel-type" utility player if he becomes a usable infielder.
"He has been here for about a month working out with Bob Miscik, our minor league field coordinator, specifically in the infield," O'Brien said. "He's putting forth the effort."
For Romano, who hit .154 in 22 games for the Reds last year and .337 in 40 games at Louisville, any way to improve his odds is welcome. He's part of the mix along with players like Jacob Cruz, Luis Lopez, Rob Stratton, Kenny Kelly and A.J. Zapp for the final spot on the Reds' bench.
"It's at a point now where you're just trying to get some playing time and have a better chance to make the squad," Romano said. "The more versatility I can show these guys, the better off I'll be."
TRAVEL TALES -- One day later than the Reds expected and five days later than he had originally planned, Jose Acevedo arrived in camp Thursday morning.
Details of his unexcused absence were murky Wednesday, and not much clearer once Acevedo arrived. But at least he was here.
"What we have heard is there was an identify theft issue that involved him, having to do with customs," O'Brien said. "I don't have any more details than that, but you can bet we're going to get a few more."
Acevedo's explanation was that when he tried to leave the Dominican Republic Saturday, he was stopped by airport officials in his native country. It seems that when his identification information was scanned, another man's picture came up on the computer screen. Despite Acevedo's protests, he said an immigration official told him, "If you think that's you, you need to prove to me that that's you."
That required a trip to his mother's house to produce a birth certificate and other forms of ID, along with the passport he already was carrying. Eventually, he said, he convinced the authorities that he was who he said he was and was able to board a plane.
After all the hassle, though, Acevedo said he's thinking it might be time to permanently move to the U.S., since he spends more time in this country anyway.
"In the Dominican, we take one step forward, then we take one step back," he said, shaking his head.
BIG BOPPERS -- On a day filled mostly with mundane drills, the most entertaining spectacle for the few dozen fans in attendance probably was the morning batting practice session featuring Ken Griffey Jr. and the non-roster invitee Stratton.
His cap on backward, Griffey's familiar smooth swing sent a number of balls arcing over the outfield fence on a back field at the City of Sarasota Sports Complex. Demonstrating considerably more violence, Stratton matched Griffey's home run tally -- at least.
The hulking first baseman/outfielder led Louisville with 12 home runs in only 34 games last year and is known for being an all-or-nothing guy. But when his vicious, compact stroke gets in the way of a pitch, the ball jumps off his bat.
by Marc Lancaster
Post staff reporter
SARASOTA, Fla. -- In the interest of increasing his value to the Reds, outfielder Jason Romano is going back to his roots this spring.
Romano was drafted as an infielder and spent much of his minor league career playing second, short and third before the Dodgers moved him to the outfield nearly full time two years ago. He took to the switch immediately, and his interest in infield play tapered off.
That led to an uncomfortable situation last spring when Los Angeles traded him to his hometown Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The Rays thought they were getting a middle infielder, but Romano saw himself as an outfielder. He played in four games before being waived and picked up by the Reds, who used him exclusively in the outfield.
Now fully recovered from a torn hamstring suffered last season, Romano figured re-discovering some of his infield skills would help his chances to make a very crowded roster.
"I'm really working hard to become a better infielder. Outfield, I feel real comfortable, it's very natural to me. I'm just trying to get that same feeling in the infield."
General manager Dan O'Brien, a longtime Romano proponent from their days with the Rangers' organization, said he believes the 25-year-old can make himself into a "Ryan Freel-type" utility player if he becomes a usable infielder.
"He has been here for about a month working out with Bob Miscik, our minor league field coordinator, specifically in the infield," O'Brien said. "He's putting forth the effort."
For Romano, who hit .154 in 22 games for the Reds last year and .337 in 40 games at Louisville, any way to improve his odds is welcome. He's part of the mix along with players like Jacob Cruz, Luis Lopez, Rob Stratton, Kenny Kelly and A.J. Zapp for the final spot on the Reds' bench.
"It's at a point now where you're just trying to get some playing time and have a better chance to make the squad," Romano said. "The more versatility I can show these guys, the better off I'll be."
TRAVEL TALES -- One day later than the Reds expected and five days later than he had originally planned, Jose Acevedo arrived in camp Thursday morning.
Details of his unexcused absence were murky Wednesday, and not much clearer once Acevedo arrived. But at least he was here.
"What we have heard is there was an identify theft issue that involved him, having to do with customs," O'Brien said. "I don't have any more details than that, but you can bet we're going to get a few more."
Acevedo's explanation was that when he tried to leave the Dominican Republic Saturday, he was stopped by airport officials in his native country. It seems that when his identification information was scanned, another man's picture came up on the computer screen. Despite Acevedo's protests, he said an immigration official told him, "If you think that's you, you need to prove to me that that's you."
That required a trip to his mother's house to produce a birth certificate and other forms of ID, along with the passport he already was carrying. Eventually, he said, he convinced the authorities that he was who he said he was and was able to board a plane.
After all the hassle, though, Acevedo said he's thinking it might be time to permanently move to the U.S., since he spends more time in this country anyway.
"In the Dominican, we take one step forward, then we take one step back," he said, shaking his head.
BIG BOPPERS -- On a day filled mostly with mundane drills, the most entertaining spectacle for the few dozen fans in attendance probably was the morning batting practice session featuring Ken Griffey Jr. and the non-roster invitee Stratton.
His cap on backward, Griffey's familiar smooth swing sent a number of balls arcing over the outfield fence on a back field at the City of Sarasota Sports Complex. Demonstrating considerably more violence, Stratton matched Griffey's home run tally -- at least.
The hulking first baseman/outfielder led Louisville with 12 home runs in only 34 games last year and is known for being an all-or-nothing guy. But when his vicious, compact stroke gets in the way of a pitch, the ball jumps off his bat.