Sosa Has Arrived in Rangers Camp

[Elrhino]

I was never a huge Sammy fan, but I hope the list of 104 gets released so the heat can be spread around a little.

 

In 20 years, we're not even going to care about steroids anymore.

[hardcorecubfan]

he just doesn't get it does he? Wouldn't most people that are only signed to a minor league contract show up with pitchers and catchers? Just to get the feel of a new team and surrounding, alos to prove he was committed to playing hardas a team player?

[KenCub]

he just doesn't get it does he? Wouldn't most people that are only signed to a minor league contract show up with pitchers and catchers? Just to get the feel of a new team and surrounding, also to prove he was committed to playing hardas a team player?

 

To be fair, this is probably the earliest he arrived at camp in a decade or more.

I don't doubt his desire to get those 12 homers and then some. I think the whole key to his return is whether or not he's lost any bat speed, and whether or not he can ever lay off the pitch down and away.

I don't know if someone can be gone for a year after a very down season and regain former abilities. It'll be interesting.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Sosa at his press conference.

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070223/capt.azth10802232219.rangers_sosa_arrives_baseball_azth108.jpg

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070223/capt.azth11002232244.rangers_sosa_baseball_azth110.jpg

 

Sosa still looks like he can play. Go Sammy!

[BigbadB]

he just doesn't get it does he? Wouldn't most people that are only signed to a minor league contract show up with pitchers and catchers? Just to get the feel of a new team and surrounding, also to prove he was committed to playing hardas a team player?

 

To be fair, this is probably the earliest he arrived at camp in a decade or more.

I don't doubt his desire to get those 12 homers and then some. I think the whole key to his return is whether or not he's lost any bat speed, and whether or not he can ever lay off the pitch down and away.

I don't know if someone can be gone for a year after a very down season and regain former abilities. It'll be interesting.

 

Hasn't Ruben Sierra done it? Juan Gonzalez keeps trying, but not having much luck. Richard Hidalgo missed last year and was pretty crappy in 2005. Julio Franco?

[Chris]

Go SAMMY!

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070223/capt.azth10302232038.rangers_sosa_arrives_baseball_azth103.jpg

Another Sammy pic.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Sammy and Lofton catch up on old times.

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070223/capt.azth10602232040.rangers_sosa_arrives_baseball_azth106.jpg

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070223/capt.azth10702232039.rangers_sosa_arrives_baseball_azth107.jpg

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070223/capt.azth10502232039.rangers_sosa_arrives_baseball_azth105.jpg

[BDWeav71]

I have the same reaction everytime i see Sammy in another uniform. :(

 

 

 

On a sidenote, i completely forgot Lofton signed with the Rangers.

[BigbadB]

Lofton is now with his 11th different major league team. What's the record for position players?

[David]

I really hope he does well.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Notes on his press conference.

 

"I don't have to convince nobody," Sosa said Friday. "I know who I am. I have been good to this game, I will continue to be great to this game, I will continue to perform. ... I don't want to talk about whatever happened in Congress. This is not my problem. I've got to make the team."

 

"I just got here. Let me do my deal first and then I'll worry about the rest," he said. "I've got to take care of business. ... I'm going to go out there and do what (the Rangers) want me to do, show them what I've been doing. I'm in shape. Look, I don't have no belly."

 

"I want to compete. Financially, I'm OK. I wanted to be here, wanted to play baseball. This is my life," he said. "I'm not coming back for 12 home runs. I'm coming back for more than that."

 

"He'll be fine," Jaramillo said. "The bat speed is there. It's just a matter of getting the lower half of his body in a better position. His timing was off."

[imb]

Sammy still looks pretty big

[BigbadB]

"I don't have to convince nobody," Sosa said Friday. "I know who I am.

 

Actually, I think he does have to convince the Rangers.

[baseball7897]

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070223/capt.azth10702232039.rangers_sosa_arrives_baseball_azth107.jpg

 

Is Sammy actually trying to hit the ball to the right side of the field for once? His swing must be pretty slow right now, because Sammy is a dead pull hitter.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070223/capt.azth10702232039.rangers_sosa_arrives_baseball_azth107.jpg

 

Is Sammy actually trying to hit the ball to the right side of the field for once? His swing must be pretty slow right now, because Sammy is a dead pull hitter.

 

Actually in Sammy's good years, he did an excellent job hitting to the opposite field. His decline returned as he tried to pull everything.

[Mizzou]

It's awesome to see Sammy out there and in great shape. He's going to have a great year.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070223/capt.azth10702232039.rangers_sosa_arrives_baseball_azth107.jpg

 

Is Sammy actually trying to hit the ball to the right side of the field for once? His swing must be pretty slow right now, because Sammy is a dead pull hitter.

 

For once? It's a shame you missed 1998-2002.

[Derwood]

the man can fill a uniform out, that cannot be denied

[David]

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070223/capt.azth10702232039.rangers_sosa_arrives_baseball_azth107.jpg

 

Is Sammy actually trying to hit the ball to the right side of the field for once? His swing must be pretty slow right now, because Sammy is a dead pull hitter.

 

For once? It's a shame you missed 1998-2002.

 

You and vance beat me to it. From 1998 right up until the head beaning in 2003, Sammy was great at using the opposite field.

[KenCub]

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070223/capt.azth10702232039.rangers_sosa_arrives_baseball_azth107.jpg

 

Is Sammy actually trying to hit the ball to the right side of the field for once? His swing must be pretty slow right now, because Sammy is a dead pull hitter.

 

For once? It's a shame you missed 1998-2002.

 

You and vance beat me to it. From 1998 right up until the head beaning in 2003, Sammy was great at using the opposite field.

 

The beaning went a LONG way towards Sammy's decline. He backed off the plate after that and the pitches he'd have dropped the bat head on for a single to right became unhittable for him.

Will that still be the case? Time will tell - you know pitchers are going to bust him inside and then go low and away. He has to realize that, too. What he does with that knowledge, we'll wait and see.

[Wheelimus]

Don't worry, he saw the Haitian guy from Heroes. He no longer remembers that beaning. :D