Spring Training

Jeff Tully With less than a month left until the opening of spring training, Freddy Sanchez is in the best shape of his life. Along with his physical condition, the former Glendale Community College baseball star is also invigorated with renewed self-confidence and is enthusiastic about his future as an infielder for the Boston Red Sox. "I can't wait for spring training to start," said Sanchez, who is ...

Jim Parque, a 1994 Crescenta Valley High graduate, signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday, joining his third team in the past three years. Terms were not disclosed, but Parque -- who was released by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Sept. 12 -- was invited to spring training. Pitchers and catchers must report to Arizona's spring training site in Tucson Electric Park by Feb. 21. Parque, a left-hander, went 1-1 with Tampa Bay last season, making five starts and amassing an 11.94 earned-run average.

Though it’s tough to say just how comfortable he is with his new team, Mark Loretta certainly isn’t complaining. “It’s going to be a lot different back in L.A. than it is here in Arizona,” Loretta said to the Valley Sun at spring training in Arizona. “[But] this was the team I grew up watching. I went to my first major league game at Dodger Stadium, I used to go to 10 or 12 games a year. My memories were of Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Ron Cey and Bill Russell.

GLENDALE — After suffering a shoulder injury that stemmed from a violent home-plate collision last season, Gregg Zaun found himself behind home plate for the first time Sunday during a spring training contest against the Oakland Athletics at the Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Ariz. Zaun caught three innings and had two plate appearances. Shortly after the game ended, Zaun, a Glendale native and 1989 St. Francis High graduate, took off his equipment and tugged off his uniform for the final time before announcing his retirement on Sunday following a 16-year Major League Baseball career.

GLENDALE ? Six current Major League Baseball players with local ties have waited all winter for opening day. For each of them, opening day will come today after spending most of February and all of March going over basic fundamentals in spring training in Florida or Arizona. New goals are eagerly waiting to be met by Freddy Sanchez, Mark Loretta, Gregg Zaun, Jason Hirsh, Doug Slaten and Jason Botts. Sanchez will look to make a third consecutive All-Star Game appearance.

“They” say a lot of things. But one of my favorite things “they” say is this: “If you love something, set it free. If it comes back, it was meant to be yours forever.” With that in mind, I went to Mario’s Deli one recent Saturday, took a number and waited, bathed in the aroma of imported cheeses, cured meats and pasta sauces from scratch. When my number was called, I ordered the Mario’s House Combo sub, the perfect sandwich. I brought my precious cargo home, unwrapped her and rested her gently on a plate, sprinkled Doritos around her — nacho cheese flavor — a sprig of parsley by her side like an innocent kiss.

The following is an update on area athletes competing in minor league baseball. Jason Hirsh (St. Francis High, 2000), pitcher, RoundRock Express ? It may very well have been his last minor league baseball start and it only lasted two innings. That's because on Tuesday night, a day after his scheduled start, Hirsh pitched just two innings before being told during the game by RoundRock Manager Jackie Moore that he was headed up to play for the Houston Astros in the majors.

Jeff Tully It's hard to keep a good man down. And in the case of baseball player Freddy Sanchez, it was hard for the Boston Red Sox to keep the sure-handed player in the minor leagues the entire season. On Friday, the former Burbank High and Glendale Community College standout was called up from triple A Pawtucket to join the Red Sox in Toronto for a three-game series with the Blue Jays. "We are really excited for him, and I know Freddy was really hoping to get a chance to play with the Boston club," said Michelle Sanchez, Freddy's mom. "We knew he was probably going to get called up in September, but to be called up this early is great."

GLENDALE — The following are updates on area Major League Baseball players. Gregg Zaun (St. Francis High, 1989) Milwaukee Brewers catcher: Zaun will undergo season-ending surgery on Tuesday to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. He sustained the injury in April in a plate collision and went on the disabled list May 21, while still hoping treatment and rest might be enough the get him back on the field this year. Now, the 39-year-old veteran is contemplating the possible end of his career.

Snippets of interesting conversation are the special dividends of travel. They result from the surprising openness, almost intimacy, of sojourners confined to the metal bubble of a plane, boat, cab or train. A flight to Miami, stops in Florida to see friends and a train ride up the East Coast to New York, last November, refreshed my sense of the human diversity that so enriches our great country. The focus of the trip was a reunion of the Navy junior officers I served with during the Vietnam War. The following are brief “outtakes” from conversations with those I met along the way. My seatmate on the plane was coincidentally a Vietnam War Army vet headed to a reunion of his old helicopter crew.

GLENDALE — After suffering a shoulder injury that stemmed from a violent home-plate collision last season, Gregg Zaun found himself behind home plate for the first time Sunday during a spring training contest against the Oakland Athletics at the Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Ariz. Zaun caught three innings and had two plate appearances. Shortly after the game ended, Zaun, a Glendale native and 1989 St. Francis High graduate, took off his equipment and tugged off his uniform for the final time before announcing his retirement on Sunday following a 16-year Major League Baseball career.

GLENDALE — The following are updates on area Major League Baseball players. Gregg Zaun (St. Francis High, 1989) Milwaukee Brewers catcher: Zaun will undergo season-ending surgery on Tuesday to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. He sustained the injury in April in a plate collision and went on the disabled list May 21, while still hoping treatment and rest might be enough the get him back on the field this year. Now, the 39-year-old veteran is contemplating the possible end of his career.

“They” say a lot of things. But one of my favorite things “they” say is this: “If you love something, set it free. If it comes back, it was meant to be yours forever.” With that in mind, I went to Mario’s Deli one recent Saturday, took a number and waited, bathed in the aroma of imported cheeses, cured meats and pasta sauces from scratch. When my number was called, I ordered the Mario’s House Combo sub, the perfect sandwich. I brought my precious cargo home, unwrapped her and rested her gently on a plate, sprinkled Doritos around her — nacho cheese flavor — a sprig of parsley by her side like an innocent kiss.

Though it’s tough to say just how comfortable he is with his new team, Mark Loretta certainly isn’t complaining. “It’s going to be a lot different back in L.A. than it is here in Arizona,” Loretta said to the Valley Sun at spring training in Arizona. “[But] this was the team I grew up watching. I went to my first major league game at Dodger Stadium, I used to go to 10 or 12 games a year. My memories were of Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Ron Cey and Bill Russell.

GLENDALE ? Six current Major League Baseball players with local ties have waited all winter for opening day. For each of them, opening day will come today after spending most of February and all of March going over basic fundamentals in spring training in Florida or Arizona. New goals are eagerly waiting to be met by Freddy Sanchez, Mark Loretta, Gregg Zaun, Jason Hirsh, Doug Slaten and Jason Botts. Sanchez will look to make a third consecutive All-Star Game appearance.

The following is an update on area athletes competing in minor league baseball. Jason Hirsh (St. Francis High, 2000), pitcher, RoundRock Express ? It may very well have been his last minor league baseball start and it only lasted two innings. That's because on Tuesday night, a day after his scheduled start, Hirsh pitched just two innings before being told during the game by RoundRock Manager Jackie Moore that he was headed up to play for the Houston Astros in the majors.

Jim Parque, a 1994 Crescenta Valley High graduate, signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday, joining his third team in the past three years. Terms were not disclosed, but Parque -- who was released by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Sept. 12 -- was invited to spring training. Pitchers and catchers must report to Arizona's spring training site in Tucson Electric Park by Feb. 21. Parque, a left-hander, went 1-1 with Tampa Bay last season, making five starts and amassing an 11.94 earned-run average.

Jeff Tully It's hard to keep a good man down. And in the case of baseball player Freddy Sanchez, it was hard for the Boston Red Sox to keep the sure-handed player in the minor leagues the entire season. On Friday, the former Burbank High and Glendale Community College standout was called up from triple A Pawtucket to join the Red Sox in Toronto for a three-game series with the Blue Jays. "We are really excited for him, and I know Freddy was really hoping to get a chance to play with the Boston club," said Michelle Sanchez, Freddy's mom. "We knew he was probably going to get called up in September, but to be called up this early is great."