TEMPE, Ariz. – When John McDonald was a young player with the Cleveland Indians, he remembers getting tips from Omar Vizquel.
The lessons weren’t just about how to play shortstop, but about how to be a teammate.
“He was going to teach me things, because he was never worried about his job, so I’m going to take the same approach,” McDonald said. “If you worry about your job, how does that help? If you work on your craft and help other people, it’s amazing how much better you make yourself from reinforcing good habits.”
Now, McDonald is the veteran in Angels camp. Although he has 15 major league seasons under his belt, and he’s an off-the-charts defensive player, he is far from ensured a job. He’s a non-roster invitee, fighting with Andrew Romine and Grant Green for a backup infield spot.
Still, McDonald has been offering tips all spring to the other infielders. Green, whose improvement defensively has been noted frequently by Manager Mike Scioscia, said he’s appreciated McDonald’s help.
“It’s awesome,” Green said. “I’m really fortunate to have him here. We talk fielding all the time. … It just shows the type of human being he is. Yes, me and him and Romy are competing for a job, but we all have Angels on our chest. He’s going to help out as much as he can.”
McDonald said he feels an obligation to pass on what he has learned.
“I’ve had so many teammates give me tips to make me better, it comes around full circle,” he said. “The knowledge you give away comes back in another way.”
The Angels are likely keeping only one player of the group including Green, McDonald and Romine. One of the prerequisites for the job is to be able to play shortstop. McDonald and Romine are outstanding defensive shortstops, but Green had not played the position at all after the Angels got him in a trade last July. He’s been solid in four games at the position this spring.
LONG SHOT
Matt Long has had a pretty good week in the past three days.
Long had two more hits in Wednesday’s 12-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers, giving him nine in the past three games. He’s 15 for 28 (.536) this spring, which certainly lands him in the conversation for a spot on the roster.
“I’m just seeing the ball well,” Long said. “It’s hard to put a finger on it, like it always is when you are going well or not going well.”
Long, whose ability to play all three outfield spots might be an advantage over J.B. Shuck, also made a diving catch in center field.
REPLAY FOLLOW
A day after an instant replay review overturned an out at second base when umpires ruled that Romine did not have possession before taking the ball out of his glove, Scioscia was still wondering how replay will affect middle infielders turning double plays.
“The way it was called on Romy yesterday has never been called that tight in 40 years of baseball,” Scioscia said. “The ball was clearly closed by his glove and it was coming out. It used to be you caught the ball and now you’re transferring, so the out is recorded. Evidently, they are calling that much closer now, so there are some things we need to work through.”
Contact the writer: jlfletcher@ocregister.com
