Diskussionen » Boston’s bench coach

CLEVELAND (AP) — Josh Donaldson experienced flight issues from Florida on his first official day as a member of the Indians.His on-field arrival may be delayed as well.The 2015 AL MVP did not get to Progressive Field until just before the start of the game Saturday night Miguel Cabrera Jersey , a day after Cleveland acquired the free-swinging third baseman in a trade with Toronto — a deal the AL Central leaders hope propels them to the World Series.“He can hit the ball really hard,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “When he’s in that batter’s box, he’s one of the guys who, you think, ‘Uh oh.’ Now we can be cheering for him. That’s what I told him.”Donaldson, whose sometimes turbulent tenure during four seasons with the Blue Jays ended late Friday night, put on his new No. 27 uniform — he can’t wear No. 20 because Frank Robinson’s jersey is retired in Cleveland — and joined his teammates in the dugout as they played the Tampa Bay Rays.A new home, a fresh start.Donaldson has been limited to just 36 games this season because of an assortment of injuries, most recently a calf strain that has lingered, sidelining him for three months. But the 32-year-old, when healthy, is one of the league’s most dangerous hitters and the Indians are eager to add him to their lineup.“He’s an MVP-type player,” Francona said Alan Trammell Jersey , “a middle-of-the-order bat that, a guy that when he was on the other team, I used to joke with (third-base coach Brad Mills) Millsy, ‘I hope he swings so hard he hurts his back.’ He kinda puts a little fear into you when he gets in the batter’s box.“He plays with an edge. He plays hard. Again, there’s no crystal ball, and we know that. We know there’s some risk there, but it’s got a chance to make us better.”Francona met with the team’s medical staff Saturday and received a positive report on Donaldson. He’s confident there’s time left in the season for him to get ready.Francona did not want to discuss any of the team’s plans over the next few weeks with Donaldson before talking to him personally.In the deal, the Indians also received $2.7 million to cover most of the $3.7 million remaining on Donaldson’s $23 million salary. Because he was traded, he will be a free agent after the season and the Blue Jays will not receive any other compensation.It was a low-risk, high-reward trade by the Indians, who made a similar move last season by getting slugger Jay Bruce from the New York Mets for the postseason.And while Donaldson’s bat could make the Indians’ lineup deeper, he’s also causing an infield shift.When he’s ready, Donaldson will play third with the Indians moving All-Star Jose Ramirez to second and pushing Jason Kipnis into the outfield.Francona met with Ramirez and Kipnis to make sure everyone was on the same page. Francona previously said he was reluctant to move Ramirez http://www.tigersfanproshop.com/authentic-al-kaline-jersey , who came up as a middle infielder.“His concern was going back and forth, so I told him we wouldn’t do that,” Francona said. “I talked to Kip and we knew this would affect Kip more than anybody, and I don’t think he was jumping for joy and I don’t think we expected him to.”Francona said Kipnis will soon begin taking fly balls in the outfield, and it’s possible he could move around while Donaldson gets ready.Francona told Kipnis that Cleveland owner Paul Dolan and the front office extended themselves to get Donaldson and everyone had to do their parts.“I explained to him, ‘You know our owner went and did this and I have to do my job, too, so you gotta be the best option,’ ” Francona said. “I don’t think it’s fun to hear that, but Kip’s a pretty good competitor, so we’ll see how it goes.”It’s an awkward situation, but Francona believes Donaldson will be welcomed by his new teammates.“Guys aren’t new for very long,” he said. “It’s amazing in this game Lance Parrish Jersey , when you put your uniform on and you compete with your teammates, they become your teammates real quick, especially with that group.” PHOENIX (AP) — The young Clay Buchholz used the scouting report merely as a suggestion.He glanced at it, made a couple of mental notes, but basically threw whatever pitch was working or felt right in the situation. His stuff was that good.The veteran Clay Buchholz relies on the scouting report much more. His stuff not quite as electric, the right-hander has to use his mind and his arm to get hitters out.It’s certainly working. Following a series of injury-plagued seasons, Buchholz has used a more targeted approach to revitalize his career and become a key cog in the Arizona Diamondbacks‘ push to a second straight playoff appearance.“I try to pitch to hitters’ weaknesses a lot more than I used to,” Buchholz said. “I’ve gotten a lot better at knowing what part of the scouting report I can (use) and what I can do with it, rather than taking it all in and forgetting some of it and being unsure. I have a lot of other eyes on the whole scenario for me, too.”Buchholz has arguably been Arizona’s best pitcher since signing with the Diamondbacks on May 5, going 7-2 with a 2.25 ERA in 13 starts. He tossed seven scoreless innings to beat the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday, a start after finishing off the San Diego Padres for his 10th career complete game.The right-hander has been at his best as the NL West-leading Diamondbacks hit the stretch run of the season. Buchholz has won six of his past seven starts and has an eight-game streak of pitching at least five innings and allowing three runs or less.“I think Clay has finally gotten to a point in his career where he’s realized the type of pitcher he needs to be,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “I see it happening every single outing. I see him adapting to a game plan and I see him making adjustments to hitters in different ways. For me http://www.tigersfanproshop.com/authenti...-infante-jersey , that’s the definition of mental toughness in a pitcher.”Buchholz has needed it.He burst onto the baseball scene in 2007, tossing a no-hitter for the Boston Red Sox in his second career start. Buchholz made it through two more starts his rookie season before being shut down for shoulder fatigue. That began a string of injuries, including a pulled hamstring after making the All-Star team in 2010, a stress fracture in 2011, a knee injury in 2014.Buchholz then suffered an elbow injury in 2015 that bothered him over the next two years before forearm surgery cost him most of the 2017 season with Philadelphia. He ended up signing a minor-league deal with Kansas City this year, but the Royals wanted to go young and kept him in Triple-A Omaha, so he opted out of the contract.His future uncertain, Buchholz signed with the Diamondbacks, believing he could contribute but not knowing exactly what to expect.“I feel like I have a lot pitches left in me,” the 34-year-old said. “I’ve been hurt a lot and haven’t thrown as many pitches as a normal 10-year major league guy. The way I look at it, I feel good right now so sort of proving to myself I was right then going out there and working.”Early in his career, Buchholz dominated hitters with a fastball that hit 96 mph. The velocity isn’t quite the same — it’s still in the low 90s — but Buchholz has made up for it by learning hitters’ tendencies, mixing his pitches and locations. He also has leaned on pitching strategist Dan Haren http://www.tigersfanproshop.com/authentic-travis-wood-jersey , a former big-league pitcher, and Arizona’s catchers to game plan against opposing hitters.“At times, when I knew him as a younger pitcher, the tempo might not have been as good,” said Lovullo, Boston’s bench coach during Buchholz’s time there. “He’s doing a really good job with three pitches, three-plus pitches, and he’s on a great run right now full of confidence.”Buchholz’s run has the Diamondbacks running toward a playoff berth.