U.S. baseball takes shape
Toolbox
By Janie McCauley Associated Press - Published: July 30, 2008
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Brandon Knight did all of six sprints from pole to pole in the outfield during the U.S. baseball team's first practice before he grew seriously tired.
"I think that was the roughest six poles I've run in my life," the 32-year-old pitcher said Tuesday.
Nobody could blame him for feeling a bit fatigued.
On Saturday, Knight made an emergency start for the New York Mets while Pedro Martinez was gone for his father's funeral in the Dominican Republic. New York designated Knight for assignment the next day, allowing him to stay on the Olympic team for next month's Beijing Games because he was off the Mets' major league roster.
The Americans traveled West to the Bay Area on Monday night for their first practice together Tuesday along with Olympic registration and orientation, then were headed out of town again Wednesday morning for North Carolina to play four exhibition games against Canada before departing for Beijing on Aug. 5. Team USA's first game in China is Aug. 13 against Korea.
"I think it's just finally caught up with me, all the travel. It's been interesting that's for sure," Knight said. "I wouldn't miss it. It's all worth it. It's special, absolutely surreal."
Team USA was greeted by a few hundred fans and blaring music at Santa Clara University's sparkling 3-year-old Stephen Schott Stadium, where the school's players and athletic staff were on hand to help and serve as a welcoming committee.
"Here we are. It's good to get on the field and get moving. This is the next step and we've kind of got that Christmas giddiness going on," USA Baseball executive director Paul Seiler said. "We're excited, we're nervous, we're anxious — all those things."
Nate Schierholtz, in Triple-A for the San Francisco Giants organization, and Matt LaPorta, acquired by Cleveland in the trade that sent CC Sabathia to Milwaukee earlier this month, both crushed several home runs that had the crowd cheering. One Schierholtz shot hit high up on a condo building beyond the right-field fence.
Even with only a quick first impression of his team, manager Davey Johnson came out of the session with a good feeling about his club's chances and balance. He's been scouting and studying some of these players for more than a year, finalizing the team just last week.
During their Olympic orientation, they even were paid a visit by former soccer star Brandi Chastain, who showed off her own gold medal from the 1996 Atlanta Games.
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