Tribe Has Attitude Big Sticks, Big Talk From Manager May Signal Success
The 1997 Spokane Indians flashed some big sticks Friday.
The biggest may come from manager Jeff Garber, who made it clear that this Northwest League season is no summer vacation.
“The big thing within my personality is I want to teach these kids to work,” Garber said during the opening of Spokane’s four-day minicamp at Seafirst Stadium. “I don’t want to assume they already know.
“There is a way I want them to go about their business. Basically, I want things to be known.”
Garber, last year’s Indians hitting coach, had to have been impressed during batting practice. Several players showed powerful strokes while taking cuts from the cage.
Left-handed first baseman Douglass Blosser, who played 16 games in Spokane last year, had some of the most impressive swings. One of his sizzlers toward pitchers warming up near the right-field fence drew one of the day’s top lines.
“Hey, Blosser,” yelled pitching coach Steve Crawford, a near target, “anybody can pull the ball.”
A smattering of fans turned out for the Indians’ first gathering. All but two of the 33 roster players were present, including returning pitchers Jamie Burton and Donald Quigley.
Burton, a 6-foot-5 left-hander, may not see action until July. He’s into his 10th week of rehabilitating an inflamed rotator cuff.
“I just started throwing today,” said Burton, 0-1 in 11 relief appearances with Spokane last year. “I’m pretty much through with therapy.”
Not finished with therapy is right-hander George Kauffman, one of two camp no-shows. Kauffman was having his sore elbow inspected by the parent club Kansas City Royals’ team doctor, Steve Joyce.
Right-hander Justin Pedersen also hadn’t arrived, but the 15th-rounder from Minnesota was expected for today’s 10 a.m.-2 p.m. workout.
Garber began the 4-hour session with an emphatic sit-down talk. He showed few effects from the previous 24 hours, during which he and his family flew from Georgia to Seattle, arrived in Spokane at 5 a.m. after a 5-hour drive, then worked in 3 hours’ sleep.
“Coming in, I was prepared,” said Garber, whose predecessor, Bob Herold, allowed him to manage one game (a win) last year. “I’ve been talking the last three weeks with the (Royals) front office, and I knew what I wanted to change and what I wanted to stay the same.”
High on Garber’s list is injecting the players with enthusiasm and professionalism.
Justin Lamber, a 17th-rounder from the University of Richmond, arrived with the necessary zeal.
“It’s a wonderful, absolutely wonderful experience,” said the New Jersey native.
“You’re thankful for any opportunity in professional baseball, no matter where you are.”
Spokane’s front office listed Lamber on the roster as an outfielder, his main position in college. But his ability to throw hard from the left side will likely make him a setup man with the pitching staff.
Outfielder Dermal (‘D’) Brown, Kansas City’s top selection in the 1996 draft, appeared eager to set aside last year’s 1-for-20 effort at rookie league Fort Myers (Fla.) “I like to put pressure on myself because I think I play better when I do,” said Brown, whose first season was ended by a hamstring pull.
The minicamp also runs Sunday and Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Spokane opens its season at home Tuesday with the first of five games against Salem-Keizer.
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 Photos