Ernesto Frieri was having difficulty locating on both sides of the plate before Jim Hickey made an adjustment. (Photo and caption courtesy of Roger Mooney/Tampa Tribune)
Ernesto Frieri was having difficulty locating on both sides of the plate before Jim Hickey made an adjustment. (Photo and caption courtesy of Roger Mooney/Tampa Tribune)

Day five of Spring Training is in the books. Boog Powell arrived to camp Friday, so only RHP Alex Colome (delayed by visa) is missing ahead of Saturday’s whole team workout. Nothing truly newsworthy made the ranks of Twitter Friday afternoon, and what follows are a couple of loose ends that needed to be tied up.

I made mention previously that Rays pitching coach Jim Hickey is already helping new reliever Ernesto Frieri. Frieri saved 71 games in parts of three seasons with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, before his career spun off the tracks. The right handed reliever lost his job as the Angels’ closer, was traded to Pittsburgh in June of last season then released by the Pirates in August. As Roger Mooney (Tampa Tribune) wrote, the reason he was so eager to sign with the Rays in November was for the opportunity to work with Hickey.

“That’s why I’m here,” Frieri said. “I’ve seen Hickey, he’s the man. He knows what he’s doing. He fixed a couple of guys before, and I hope I’m not the exception. I’m pretty sure he’s going to give me the right information and I’m going to take advantage.”

Much like former closer Fernando Rodney, Frieri moved around the rubber in his first few bullpen sessions this week, in an attempt to regain control of his pitches on both sides of the plate. In the picture above, and video below, you can clearly see Frieri on the extreme first base side of the rubber:

If early indications mean anything, the footwork change has made an initial difference — Frieri was able to locate on both sides of the plate following Thursday’s bullpen session. The great unknown, however, is how this project will turn out over time, especially in comparison to the other pitchers Hickey fixed in the past — namely Joaquin Benoit, Rafael Soriano, and Rodney. The Rays pitching coach acknowledged as much,

“He seems to be extremely eager to hear what we have to say. You never know (how it will turn out), but at least it demonstrated his willingness to be open and try things.”

In other news, the Rays finally released former first round draft choice, and all around dick hole, Josh Sale.

Sale was suspended in three consecutive seasons for the use of amphetamines and all around asshole-like behavior, which came to light after he bragged about throwing change at a south Florida stripper, on Facebook. Deadspin published an article about the incident, titled, On Facebook, Rays Prospect Brags About Throwing Change At A Stripper.

Noteworthiness

  • As if you needed a reminder, the Rays first full-squad (sans Colome) workout will take place Saturday (today), starting at 9:30. The workout is open to the public, and free. The workout will include pop-up drills which, as Marc Topkin writes, “…Can be fun to watch, especially if it’s windy or overcast, but the highlight will be live batting practice.” Alex Cobb, Kevin Jepsen, Brad Boxberger, Matt Andriese, Nathan Karns and Burch Smith are among the pitchers scheduled to throw today.

11025787_10153151798607375_269633927564278684_n

  • Rays non-roster invitee Ronald Belisario was seen in the clubhouse this morning with his left arm in a sling. Belisario reportedly has a fractured left shoulder, and won’t do anything on the field for two weeks. The fracture occurred in an accident prior to the start of camp camp.

Leave a comment