TAMPA, Fla. – The Knoblauch Experiment began early Tuesday
morning with about 50 fans watching on a practice diamond at
Legends Field.
Chuck Knoblauch stood there with Lee Mazzilli, listening as the
New York Yankees coach gave him tips on his new job and video
coordinator Charlie Wonsowicz hit fungoes.
|  | | Chuck Knoblauch's intro to left field went well Tuesday. "We'll try to fashion a course in Left Field 101 as fast as we can," Yankees coach Lee Mazzilli said. |
"We'll try to fashion a course in Left Field 101 as fast as we
can," Mazzilli said. "If it doesn't work out, I'm going to take
all the blame. If it works out, he's going to take the credit."
Knoblauch, his career as a second baseman cut short because he
can no longer accurately throw to first, then went to left field
for a lengthy portion of batting practice in the main stadium,
spending part of the time talking with center fielder Bernie
Williams.
He judged fly balls well. But catching in practice isn't the
same as doing it in Yankee Stadium, with the noise and pressure of
50,000 fans and one demanding owner. Yankees manager Joe Torre has
bet that the former All-Star infielder can make the transition.
"I said to Joe when I came in, he's better than what you would
think for the first time," Mazzilli said.
Knoblauch was not in the lineup Tuesday as New York lost to a
Houston split squad 3-0, dropping the Yankees' spring training
record to a major league-worst 6-14. He probably won't play in an
exhibition game until the end of the week.
The other half of the experiment, moving backup shortstop
Alfonso Soriano to second base, got off to a shaky start.
He made one wide throw that first baseman Tino Martinez hauled
in, allowed two difficult grounders to get by him for singles and
chased after a runner for a tag that he missed before he threw to
first to start a reverse-force double play. He also went 1-for-4 at
the plate.
"He's just got to get used to certain situations," said
Martinez, who thought Soriano did a good job Tuesday. "I've just
got to learn where he plays at, how far he gets to his left."
Coach Willie Randolph, a six-time All-Star at second base, is
working with Soriano, who played second base for 40 games last
season at Triple-A Columbus.
"He's a had a nice spring," Randolph said before the game. "I
told him just keep doing what you're doing."
Knoblauch declined to discuss his day with print reporters, but
did give a pair of radio interviews.
"If you see me running around crazy in batting practice, I'm
probably trying to catch every ball," he told WFAN.
Torre has yet to discuss the move with Shane Spencer and Henry
Rodriguez, who figure to lose the most playing time if the
Knoblauch Experiment succeeds.
Spencer was the Yankees' left fielder last year before a
season-ending right knee injury on July 9 and has had only two
plate appearances this spring, not playing since the exhibition
opener on March 1 because the knee is still sore.
"If I'm healthy, I'll find a place to play somewhere, whether
it's here or Columbus," Spencer said.
Torre wants to keep Knoblauch, 32, at the top of his batting
order, and he prefers to keep David Justice at designated hitter
rather than left field. He thinks Knoblauch will make the switch
rather easily.
"He's probably going to be more relaxed now," Torre said. "I
talked to him about that. `You drop a fly ball, it's a new
position. You're allowed to do that.' Just to talking that needing
to be perfect out of his mind."
Knoblauch arrived at spring training more than a month early, on
Jan. 15, to solve his throwing problem. But he made six errors – five on throws – in 14 spring games.
"I'm very confident he'll make the transition real well,"
Mazzilli said.
"Right now, I'd say the angle the ball takes off the bat is
going to be the toughest thing for him."
Knoblauch's preference, according to the coach, is to play left
in games right way. Mazzilli wants to wait until at least Friday,
not wanting to start Knoblauch off in nights games the next two
days, where losing balls in the lights could be a factor.
"That's going to be my concern, trying to slow him down,"
Mazzilli said. "Catch the ball – that's the only objective right
now. How to cheat in the outfield, tricks of the trade, all that
stuff will come in time."
But until he starts playing in games, there will be doubts.
"Once he catches the first fly ball," Mazzilli said, "he'll
be able to relax a little." Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories | |
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AUDIO/VIDEO
 Manager Joe Torre says Chuck Knoblauch is looking forward to the move to left field.
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