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A20 SPORTS
Thursday 30 March 2017
BASEBALL 2017: With Ortiz gone, fewer primary DHs left in AL

STEPHEN HAWKINS last season. He started 124 16 players in that slot, and
AP Sports Writer of those games as the des- the White Sox 15. No sur-
Big Papi was a big hitter, ignated hitter. prise Boston and Kansas
and that was really his only The 37-year-old Pujols, who City needed only four play-
duty for most of his 20 ma- still has five seasons left on ers in the DH role.
jor league seasons. his contract, would prefer Among the 10 Yankees DHs
So when David Ortiz retired to be in the field when pos- was Alex Rodriguez, who
last year after more than sible. He has played 1,704 got a team-high 57 starts at
2,000 games as a desig- career games at first base, that spot before retiring last
nated hitter, baseball lost and only 339 as a DH. August at age 41.
one of the few remaining “I’d rather play. I don’t like While Ortiz spent most of
players who rarely played (DH) much, but you have his career as a DH, and Ed-
the field. to get used to it,” Pujols gar Martinez played two-
Going into the 45th season said. “The last couple of thirds of his games over 18
since the designated hit- years, I got used to it.” seasons with Seattle (1987-
ter was approved for the Victor Martinez, a 38-year- 2004) in that role, other
American League, more old former catcher, started players weren’t solely hit-
managers now appear 138 games as Detroit’s DH ters until late in their ca-
willing to spread around last season. Nelson Cruz reers.
the DH starts instead of put- was Seattle’s starting DH Hank Aaron returned to Mil-
ting the same player in that for 107 games, and in right waukee and served as the
slot just about every day. In this Sept. 22, 2004, file photo, Boston Red Sox’s David Ortiz field for 48 other games. DH for the then-still AL Brew-
There were 135 players watches the flight of his two run, home run off Baltimore Orioles “You see a lot of teams that ers for his last two MLB sea-
who got DH starts for the 15 starter Sidney Ponson, in the seventh inning at Fenway Park in just kind of use the rotating sons (1975-76) before retir-
Boston.
AL teams last season. That Associated Press DH and use it as a time to ing at age 42. Dave King-
is an average of nine play- get guys a day off,” Mari- man, another slugger, was
ers per team, the same of his career as a DH. Kan- vantage of being able to ners manager Scott Servais Oakland’s DH his last three
number that would fill an sas City more recently had give guys half-days when said. “The way (Cruz) does seasons (1984-86).
entire batting order. Kendrys Morales (2015-16) the opportunity presents it, and goes about it, works “You’re still going to have
“A lot of teams have got- and Billy Butler (2011-14) fill- itself.” great for us.” the David Ortiz, or the one
ten away from just a strict ing that role pretty much Only five players started During the first season of guy who’s just a guy you
DH, and revolve it and give on an everyday basis. more than 100 games at the DH in 1973, when there want his bat in the lineup
guys off days without really Morales’ 139 DH starts last DH last year, with some were only 12 AL teams, and that’s all he’s going to
giving them off days,” Kan- season matched Ortiz with managers using that slot to eight used the same DH do, and he wraps his arms
sas City Royals manager Boston for the most, but he keep key position players for more than 100 games, around it and he’s great,”
Ned Yost said. left for Toronto and a big in the batting lineup while according to baseball-ref- Scioscia said.
And that may even be the free-agent deal. providing them an occa- erence.com. A ninth team “They’re still going to crop
case now for the Royals, “I’ve enjoyed it, having Billy sional day off from the field. had the same DH for just up because I think that
whose lineup for more than Butler and Kendrys Morales The DH spot also allowed more than half of the 162- there’s always that veteran
a decade — including two the last couple of years slugging first baseman game season. player that can acclimate
World Series in the first half just as a DH because they Albert Pujols to play 152 Last year, nine of 15 teams himself to that and still be
of the 1980s — featured were both very productive games for the Los Angeles used the same DH for more productive offensively, but
Hal McRae , among the guys for our team,” Yost Angels even while dealing than half of the time. Tam- maybe in the field not so
first players to spend most said. “But I do see the ad- with a foot issue through pa Bay used a league-high much.”q
Pirates RF Polanco to skip Canada trip with shoulder issue

ALAN SAUNDERS and trainer Todd Tomczyk in doubt. The Pirates begin for the final rotation spot is were optioned to Triple-A
Associated Press said the team is being es- their season April 3 in Bos- down to Tyler Glasnow and Indianapolis.
BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — pecially cautious with his ton. Huntington also an- Trevor Williams after Steven Hutchison, who came over
Pirates outfielder Gregory return as a result. nounced that the battle Brault and Drew Hutchison from the Toronto Blue Jays
Polanco will not travel with General manager Neal at the trade deadline in
the team when it heads Huntington also said the 2016, had a 10.02 ERA in six
north on Thursday for two team has not yet received appearances this spring,
exhibition games in Mon- Polanco’s visa to travel to including a nine-run outing
treal. Canada, which made it an Tuesday night against the
Polanco, projected to be easy decision to keep him Red Sox. He gave up 21
the Pirates’ starting left behind.“We feel that we runs in his last three outings.
fielder, has played in just are better off controlling his Huntington said the move
one spring training game environment,” Huntington was about his entire body
since returning from his run said. “In his case, we were of work.
with the Dominican Repub- leaning towards that, any- “We’ve seen some flashes
lic team in the World Base- way. But the passport glitch of the guy we felt like we
ball Classic, where he hit has certainly made that were getting when we
.579 in five games. more likely.” traded for him, with the
Polanco started experienc- Polanco is expected to hit crispness of the fastball,
ing left shoulder discomfort at the Pirates’ minor league the ability to keep it out
after his spring appear- facility on Wednesday, but of the middle of the plate,
ance on March 23 and has no timetable for him to re- Dominican Republic’s Gregory Polanco watches his solo home sharpness of the breaking
not played since. He expe- turn to throwing has been run in front of Venezuela catcher Robinson Chirinos during the ball, and a very effective
rienced a similar issue on his established, putting his fifth inning of a second-round World Baseball Classic game in change-up,” Huntington
throwing shoulder in 2016, readiness for opening day San Diego, Thursday, March 16, 2017. Associated Press said. q