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Category: Quick hits: 2009 spring training

Quieter Sheffield, smaller crowds at spring training

News and notes after the Tigers' workout Tuesday:

1. Gary Sheffield said last year that when his case against his former agent Scott Boras was over, "no fine would be big enough, no suspension long enough." No matter what, he would speak his mind. Tuesday, he decided the less said about it, the better. "No comment," Sheffield replied.

2. Manager Jim Leyland about the first full workout: "Everything went like clockwork." The only player not on hand was outfielder Timo Perez (visa problems), who's expected in Wednesday. About Sheffield, Leyland said, "It looks like he's in great playing shape. You can see it in his face that he feels better."

3. Don't know if this is the difference a year makes or the difference the economy makes. Probably the economy. But on the first day of full spring training, only one Detroit TV reporter was on hand.

4. I had a good conversation with agent Alan Hendricks on Tuesday. He represents several Tigers, including Joel Zumaya. Arbitration became part of the discussion and how it's changed over the years - from a lot of hearings to just a few. Hendricks and his brother Randy beat the Tigers in one of the all-time classic cases. They represented pitcher Mark Thurmond who went winless for the Tigers in 1987, yet won his arbitration case. Soon after that, the Tigers traded him to Baltimore for Ray Knight.

5. Always a Tiger? Apparently so, when you see Lou Whitaker and Tom Brookens next to each other, hitting grounders to infielders. Brookens is headed into his second year of managing at Double A Erie and Whitaker, a bit slimmer, is back as a spring-training instructor.

6. Crowd count: A lot of fans turned out for the first full day - a cool, sunny day - but actually this year's turnout was "less than half" of last year's, according to one who's been in the crowd both years.

7. That's enough: Sheffield won't push to play the outfield this year. "I'm a DH," he said.

8. One other thing about Sheffield: He weighs 225, but expects to be at 218 when the season begins, almost as if he can account for every ounce he gains and loses. "My goal every year is to fit in my pants," he said. His one culinary weakness: lasagna. "But only on weekends," he said.

9. Brent Clevlen made a good first-impression in batting practice. "His bat was making loud sounds," Leyland said.

10. Scott Williamson talked about the one hit he has in his career (1-for-23). "It was a lucky single to right off Florida's Chuck Smith," he said. "The problem is I gave up a single to him (that led to two runs) in his next at-bat."