Torre starts early in first day wearing Dodger blue
Joe Torre's first day in a Los Angeles Dodgers uniform began before dawn.
It wasn't by choice.
"I didn't sleep very well last night," Torre said after addressing his new players for the first time and then watching pitchers and catchers complete their initial workout of spring training in Vero Beach, Fla. "That's usually the case with me. That's when I knew the excitement was still there."
Torre said he arrived at Dodgertown around 6 a.m. and had to knock on the clubhouse door because he left his keys in his office the previous day. Obviously there were more important things on his mind -- like his opening remarks.
"It's not a rah-rah thing," he said. "You want to send a message on what to expect from me. I'm not very complicated. Hopefully, the openness that we bring here is going to make them comfortable. The access is a two-way street. I want to be able to talk to them. If they want to talk to me, I want to be there for them."
When asked if he might have intimidated some of his players, Torre replied: "I hope not. My wife accuses me of having that look. If I intimidate people, that's not my intention."
The 67-year-old Torre will begin his 27th season as a big-league manager next month. The first 14 were nondescript -- his teams didn't win a single playoff game. The last 12, with the New York Yankees, were successful to the point where he now holds the big-league record for postseason victories with 76.
"He's a guy that's all business whose main objective is to win, and he knows how to do it," said reliever Scott Proctor, who appeared in 190 games with the Yankees starting in 2004 before being traded to the Dodgers last July. "He's a classy individual who knows how the game should be played. I know Joe's standards. You play the game to win. I enjoy playing for him."
Torre signed a three-year, $13 million contract to manage the Dodgers two weeks after walking away from the Yankees last fall. So instead of wearing Yankee pinstripes, he's in Dodger blue with the familiar No. 6.
"I don't feel weird; the uniform feels good," he said. "The thing that's going to be weird is when I start managing games."
That's because for the first time since the Mets fired him in 1995, Torre will be filling out a lineup card without the designated hitter most of the time.
Three lose in arbitration: Pitchers Chien-Ming Wang, Brian Fuentes and Jose Valverde lost in salary arbitration as baseball teams improved to 4-0 with four cases potentially remaining this year. Three players who had been scheduled for hearings next week reached agreements. Cincinnati gave second baseman Brandon Phillips a four-year, $27 million contract, and Seattle settled on a one-year, $7 million, deal with pitcher Erik Bedard, obtained from Baltimore last week. Shortstop J.J. Hardy and Milwaukee agreed to a one-year, $2.65 million contract.
Howard has no worries: Ryan Howard's smile was genuine and his words were sincere. The slugger really has no worries about his contract situation. Howard and the Philadelphia Phillies are $3 million apart regarding his salary for this season. The 2006 NL MVP asked for $10 million, while the team countered with an offer for $7 million. If the two sides don't reach an agreement by Wednesday, an arbitrator will decide for them. Some players might hold a grudge or possibly express their displeasure by waiting until the last moment to arrive for spring training. Not Howard. He showed up with pitchers and catchers, five days earlier than position players are due.
"I'm just a happy guy I guess," Howard said. "I'm just trying to be the best player I can, trying to get better in every facet."
Pettitte to report Monday: Still back home in suburban Houston, Andy Pettitte will throw a bullpen session today to keep up with his teammates before he arrives at spring training. Pettitte was given permission to report four days late following a congressional ordeal in which he corroborated accusations that Roger Clemens used performance-enhancing drugs. Pettitte will travel to Florida on Monday and address reporters at Legends Field, according to general manager Brian Cashman.
"I think to be a little bit concerned is natural, but my instinct is that he will handle it well," Yankees senior vice president Hank Steinbrenner said.
Schilling runs in drills: Curt Schilling took part in conditioning drills with Boston's pitchers and catchers on Friday in Fort Myers, Fla. He even beat Tim Wakefield in a shuttle run. But he's far behind the rest of the Red Sox in preparing for the season with a long shoulder rehabilitation expected to keep him out at least until the all-star break. His usual boisterousness at spring training workouts was missing.
"I thought he was quiet today," manager Terry Francona said. "It's certainly understandable. Everybody wants to be on the field. This is one of the (most enjoyable) days of the camp for guys getting on the field for the first day. And he's going to have to be in the weight room doing his work."
The first official workout for pitchers and catchers is today. Some pitchers are scheduled to throw during the weekend. Schilling is a long way from doing that.
"When you come to spring training knowing that you're not going to be ready by Opening Day, it's difficult," Wakefield said. "It's difficult to come in here every day and go to rehab and do all that stuff."