Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Friday 31 January 2020
3B Pablo Sandoval returning to Giants on minor league deal

By JANIE McCAULEY Kapler said. "That mentality
AP Baseball Writer from a veteran player re-
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — ally helps set the tone for a
The Kung Fu Panda is back clubhouse. I'm excited for
with the San Francisco Gi- the impact he'll have. On
ants. the field, he's a dangerous
Popular third baseman bat, and he was always
Pablo Sandoval agreed to one we planned carefully
a minor league contact around when I was with
with the Giants and would Philly."
get a $2 million, one-year Sandoval made a come-
deal if added to the 40- back with the Giants in
man roster. 2017 after his release by the
The 2012 World Series MVP, Red Sox, and he was used
who pondered the idea in various roles by now-
last summer that his time retired manager Bruce Bo-
with San Francisco could chy. Sandoval batted .268
be over, would have the with 14 homers and 41 RBIs
chance to earn $750,000 in in 108 games.
performance bonuses. Sandoval considers Bochy
The 33-year-old Venezu- a father figure and was
elan is working back from emotional when the two
season-ending Tommy spent their final stretch to-
John reconstructive surgery In this July 22, 2019, file photo, San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval get set during gether late last season.
on his right elbow in early a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in San Francisco. Associated Press "Great to have Pablo back
September. Dr. Neal ElAt- on board," Bochy said in a
trache in Los Angeles de- determined to come back spring training next month. Kapler is counting on San- text message.
termined Sandoval need- even stronger in 2020. Pitchers and catchers re- doval's veteran presence. "Know he's been work-
ed the procedure on his The progress and health port to Scottsdale Stadium "Pablo brings a wealth of ing hard on his rehab and
ulnar collateral ligament, status of the switch-hitter in Arizona on Feb. 11. experience, a lot of energy wanted to come back to
and Sandoval has said he is will be more clear come New manager Gabe and consistent positivity," the Giants."q

Baker

Continued from Page 18 San Francisco Giants. until the start of spring train-
A three-time NL Manager ing, Baker said he would
Baker longed for another of the Year, Baker was let keep Hinch's staff intact in-
shot at an elusive title after go by the Washington Na- stead of bringing in his own
falling short in his previous tionals after a 97-65 season people.
stops. But at 70 years old in 2017. "We're going to go with
he wasn't sure if it would "Hiring Dusty Baker is one what we have because it's
come. big step for us to move for- pretty good," he said.
"I was happy but I wasn't ward," Crane said. "And MLB Commissioner Rob
satisfied, where I was and I believe Dusty is the right Manfred disciplined the
what I was doing because person at the right time." Astros after he found the
something's missing," he Baker has served since team broke rules by using
said. "And I think the Lord 2018 as a special adviser electronics to steal signs New Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker, left, speaks
gave me the best chance to Giants CEO Larry Baer, during its run to the 2017 alongside team owner Jim Crane, right, during a baseball
to accomplish what I need working in both the base- World Series championship press conference at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020,
as a person, as a father, ball and business opera- and again in the 2018 sea- in Houston.
and as a man." tions of the club. He regu- son. Associated Press
Baker is the oldest man- larly attended son Dar- The Astros were fined $5 front office, has been to strive to get to where I
ager in the big leagues. ren's college games at the million, the maximum al- friends with Baker for years am," Baker said. "And also
Hinch was fired Jan. 13 University of California in lowed under the Major and was thrilled about the hopefully this will incite
just an hour after he was Berkeley. League Constitution, and hire. other owners to say, 'Hey
suspended for the season He was so excited about forfeited their next two first- "I'm thankful for Jim making man, these guys are pret-
by Major League Baseball coming to Houston on and second-round ama- the right decision because ty good at what they do,
for his role in Houston's illicit Thursday that he woke up teur draft picks. our team needs him," Ca- these guys are the best.'"
scheme. an hour before the alarm The investigation found bell said. "We need some- Baker said he'll spend the
"Dusty's a person of high in- that was set at 2 a.m. was that the Astros used the body who is stable and next few days getting
tegrity and he's a respect- to go off. video feed from a center who the players will play things in order at his home
ed leader," team owner "This is my last hurrah," he field camera to view and for." in California to prepare to
Jim Crane said. "He has said. "And I thought my last decode opposing catch- Baker and Dodgers man- be at spring training and
great baseball experience hurrah was in Washington, er's signs. Players banged ager Dave Roberts are the then in Houston for the
and he will earn the play- actually, because I gave on a trash can to signal to only two African-American season. He mentioned
ers' trust." all my stuff away. I went to batters what was coming, managers in the majors, a spending time with his first
An All-Star outfielder while find my shoes, went up to believing it would improve fact that disappoints Bak- grandchild, a boy who
playing 19 years in the ma- the attic and I found the chances of getting a hit. er. was born about two weeks
jors, Baker has 22 years of empty bag ... so this is a Former Astros star Enos Ca- "But I'm hoping that what ago, pruning his grapes
managerial experience, new beginning for me." bell, who works as a spe- we do will motivate other and taking his dogs to the
starting in 1993 with the With just about two weeks cial adviser in the team's coaches and players to try veterinarian.q