Sandy Koufax gives the kids a lesson of a lifetime
There was a ghost sighting at the Dodgers' camp Monday. The kind the Dodgers would like to see a lot more.
Sandy Koufax, fresh off his benefit night in Los Angeles on Saturday, is in Phoenix for a week and stopped by the team’s complex to speak to the pitching staff and work individually with several pitchers.
He worked with Chad Billingsley, Josh Lindblom, Scott Elbert and Ramon Troncoso in the bullpen area, after having spoken with Eric Stults, Jon Link and Lindblom earlier. Billingsley seemed to get special attention.
"He has that aura or awe about him," Stults said. "He's somebody that is special in the game of baseball.
"But he has a way of communicating that you understand. He's one of those guys that’s like, 'Here’s a suggestion. If you don't like it, go back to the way you throw.' As a pitcher, you want to hear those things."
In a stunning move, the ultra-private Koufax did not stop to talk to the media. After the Saturday night benefit, he’s probably good with the media through the rest of the decade.
After an early-morning meeting with the staff, he spent about an hour on the field, observing pitchers, stopping to make suggestions, and then finally taking in Maury Wills' bunting drills.
"He's very free with his information as far as what he thinks can help pitchers," said manager Joe Torre. "He doesn’t beat anyone of the head with it. We just had a little session in there. There were some questions that we asked mainly, and the players were listening.
"As I’ve told players in the past, 'You guys are crazy if you don’t take advantage of this. It’s an opportunity that doesn’t come your way very often.'"
Lindblom said his curve was tighter after one session with Koufax.
"He said instead of thinking about making it nasty, just think about spinning the ball," Lindblom said. "Thinking there's a wall out in front of you and throwing it over the wall."
Torre said he expected Koufax, who lives in Vero Beach, Fla., back again this week.
After an early-morning meeting with the staff, he spent about an hour on the field, observing pitchers, stopping to make suggestions, and then finally taking in Maury Wills' bunting drills.
"He's very free with his information as far as what he thinks can help pitchers," said manager Joe Torre. "He doesn’t beat anyone of the head with it. We just had a little session in there. There were some questions that we asked mainly, and the players were listening.
"As I’ve told players in the past, 'You guys are crazy if you don’t take advantage of this. It’s an opportunity that doesn’t come your way very often.'"
Lindblom said his curve was tighter after one session with Koufax.
"He said instead of thinking about making it nasty, just think about spinning the ball," Lindblom said. "Thinking there's a wall out in front of you and throwing it over the wall."
Torre said he expected Koufax, who lives in Vero Beach, Fla., back again this week.
-- Steve Dilbeck, in Phoenix
Photo: Sandy Koufax, center, talks to the Dodgers' pitching staff during spring training at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. on Monday. Credit: Nick Oza / Associated Press
Koufax is a treasure.
Posted by: Zen | 03/02/2010 at 06:43 AM
Reason # 129 he Dodgers shouldn't have left Vero. Long after the McCourts are gone the move will be regretted. The Dodger pitchers could have been having coffee at Koufax's house.
Posted by: Hollywood Dodger Mark | 03/02/2010 at 09:02 AM
is it just me, or does anyone else see this whole Koufax-Feel-Good-Parade as camouflage for the lack of any serious story coming out of Glendale AZ?
the dodger press corps needs to learn that smoke and mirrors are not exclusively THEIR own device
Posted by: These Dodgers Suck | 03/02/2010 at 06:15 PM
TDS (which is kind of a dumb name, but whatever...): Spring training is rarely about "serious" stories. That's why it's SPRING TRAINING. Stop being so cynical. Koufax IS a big story, no matter what it involves.
Posted by: FHR | 03/02/2010 at 10:10 PM