Post by Pamela Shriver on Feb 8, 2006 16:57:55 GMT -5
One year later Giambi is celebrated, not scrutinized
By RONALD BLUM, AP Baseball Writer
February 7, 2006
NEW YORK (AP) -- Jason Giambi didn't have to apologize for this.
Nearly a year to the day after he fidgeted through a news conference in which he all-but-admitted using steroids, the New York Yankees first baseman was celebrated for his charity.
No longer a pariah, he beamed with pride as he spoke Tuesday in a hospital auditorium along with former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman and country singer Garth Brooks about a new playroom facility they helped fund for sick children.
"It's been a lot of hard work and a lot of grinding it out," said Giambi, who overcame injury and illness to become the 2005 AL Comeback Player of the Year.
Last Feb. 10, he fended off questions as his agent sat by his side. This time, his mother, father and wife were in the audience at Mount Sinai Medical Center, listening to praise for his good deeds.
"Every New Yorker, they love to see somebody face adversity and still stand tall and not fall by the wayside," Giambi said afterward. "They like to see you man up and you take your beating, but you just keep going and ticking and keep working hard. And they love those stories. It's a tough town here, it really is, and a lot of players fall by the wayside out here."
One year after winning the AL MVP award with Oakland in 2000, he was given a $120 million, seven-year contract by the Yankees. He overcame a slow start in 2002 to post big numbers, but then a knee injury caused him to slump in the second half of 2003, and a parasite and a benign tumor felled him in 2004, when he hit just .208 with 12 homers and 40 RBIs.
After spending much of the offseason regaining strength, he worked for many months with hitting coach Don Mattingly to find his lost swing and was booed by Yankee Stadium fans -- unhappy he hit just five home runs during the first three months and left many runners on base. His stroke finally returned in July, and he wound up batting .271 with 32 homers and 87 RBIs.
He says he spent much of this offseason preparing for 2006. Spring training starts next week, with Yankees position players due to begin workouts on Feb. 22.
"I feel great. I'm ready to go," Giambi said. "Last year, before the season started, I missed a couple of months just trying to get healthy, so it's been exciting to start from Day 1 like I've normally done, training and working out."
He said his weight is about 235-240 pounds, and he looked a lot meatier Tuesday than he did a year earlier. Giambi says he hasn't felt this good since 2002.
"He's telling me all the work he's doing. Hopefully, that's the case," Yankees manager Joe Torre said at another function later in the day.
When Giambi reported to Tampa, Fla., last year, he immediately went out to sign autographs for fans, trying to repair his relationship with them. In the end, he made peace with them by becoming productive again at the plate.
"I think it will be a lot easier," Torre said. "At this time last year, we were having a press conference at Yankee Stadium that was certainly uncomfortable to sit in, and I know it had to be 10 times more uncomfortable for him. With that stuff all behind him and just baseball ahead, and the second half of the year last year, I think it will be a more enjoyable spring for him."
Giambi was happy to talk about baseball matters: how he helped successfully recruit Johnny Damon to join the Yankees, and his unsuccessful talks with Nomar Garciaparra. Giambi thinks Damon will help loosen up a clubhouse that often seems stiff, at least during the time outsiders are allowed in.
He revealed that Torre allowed him to pump up the tunes last season -- loud music had largely been absent in the Yankees' clubhouse in recent years.
"That was a big step in the right direction," Giambi said. "Joe was like, finally, `Oh, fine, go ahead, play the music. I don't care.' Donnie would tell me to turn it on every day, and Jete."
The Yankees' clubhouse often is empty in the hours before games, with captain Derek Jeter often the only regular player in front of his locker during times reporters are given access. Damon was known for helping to create a fun atmosphere in the Red Sox clubhouse, especially as Boston won the 2004 World Series for its first title since 1918.
Giambi predicts Damon, his former Oakland teammate, will fit in smoothly.
"He's witty and quick, and Johnny has a lot of fun. He'll be a good mix with the guys," Giambi said.
For a long time, fun and Giambi weren't two words that appeared together too often. Now that he's healthy, he could even joke about his offensive drop when playing as a designated hitter rather than a first baseman, where his defensive skills are subpar.
"My numbers are so staggered. When I play first, they're huge. When I DH, I stink," he said. "I definitely can win more games with my bat than I can lose with my glove."
Still, he doesn't want to create big expectations, especially at the start of the season.
"I'm not a great cold-weather player," he said.
He said he's pulled aside all the time by people on the street.
"We appreciate the way you handled it," is the message he received, "the way you went about, especially for the kids, and talking about it."
Good luck in 2006.
By RONALD BLUM, AP Baseball Writer
February 7, 2006
NEW YORK (AP) -- Jason Giambi didn't have to apologize for this.
Nearly a year to the day after he fidgeted through a news conference in which he all-but-admitted using steroids, the New York Yankees first baseman was celebrated for his charity.
No longer a pariah, he beamed with pride as he spoke Tuesday in a hospital auditorium along with former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman and country singer Garth Brooks about a new playroom facility they helped fund for sick children.
"It's been a lot of hard work and a lot of grinding it out," said Giambi, who overcame injury and illness to become the 2005 AL Comeback Player of the Year.
Last Feb. 10, he fended off questions as his agent sat by his side. This time, his mother, father and wife were in the audience at Mount Sinai Medical Center, listening to praise for his good deeds.
"Every New Yorker, they love to see somebody face adversity and still stand tall and not fall by the wayside," Giambi said afterward. "They like to see you man up and you take your beating, but you just keep going and ticking and keep working hard. And they love those stories. It's a tough town here, it really is, and a lot of players fall by the wayside out here."
One year after winning the AL MVP award with Oakland in 2000, he was given a $120 million, seven-year contract by the Yankees. He overcame a slow start in 2002 to post big numbers, but then a knee injury caused him to slump in the second half of 2003, and a parasite and a benign tumor felled him in 2004, when he hit just .208 with 12 homers and 40 RBIs.
After spending much of the offseason regaining strength, he worked for many months with hitting coach Don Mattingly to find his lost swing and was booed by Yankee Stadium fans -- unhappy he hit just five home runs during the first three months and left many runners on base. His stroke finally returned in July, and he wound up batting .271 with 32 homers and 87 RBIs.
He says he spent much of this offseason preparing for 2006. Spring training starts next week, with Yankees position players due to begin workouts on Feb. 22.
"I feel great. I'm ready to go," Giambi said. "Last year, before the season started, I missed a couple of months just trying to get healthy, so it's been exciting to start from Day 1 like I've normally done, training and working out."
He said his weight is about 235-240 pounds, and he looked a lot meatier Tuesday than he did a year earlier. Giambi says he hasn't felt this good since 2002.
"He's telling me all the work he's doing. Hopefully, that's the case," Yankees manager Joe Torre said at another function later in the day.
When Giambi reported to Tampa, Fla., last year, he immediately went out to sign autographs for fans, trying to repair his relationship with them. In the end, he made peace with them by becoming productive again at the plate.
"I think it will be a lot easier," Torre said. "At this time last year, we were having a press conference at Yankee Stadium that was certainly uncomfortable to sit in, and I know it had to be 10 times more uncomfortable for him. With that stuff all behind him and just baseball ahead, and the second half of the year last year, I think it will be a more enjoyable spring for him."
Giambi was happy to talk about baseball matters: how he helped successfully recruit Johnny Damon to join the Yankees, and his unsuccessful talks with Nomar Garciaparra. Giambi thinks Damon will help loosen up a clubhouse that often seems stiff, at least during the time outsiders are allowed in.
He revealed that Torre allowed him to pump up the tunes last season -- loud music had largely been absent in the Yankees' clubhouse in recent years.
"That was a big step in the right direction," Giambi said. "Joe was like, finally, `Oh, fine, go ahead, play the music. I don't care.' Donnie would tell me to turn it on every day, and Jete."
The Yankees' clubhouse often is empty in the hours before games, with captain Derek Jeter often the only regular player in front of his locker during times reporters are given access. Damon was known for helping to create a fun atmosphere in the Red Sox clubhouse, especially as Boston won the 2004 World Series for its first title since 1918.
Giambi predicts Damon, his former Oakland teammate, will fit in smoothly.
"He's witty and quick, and Johnny has a lot of fun. He'll be a good mix with the guys," Giambi said.
For a long time, fun and Giambi weren't two words that appeared together too often. Now that he's healthy, he could even joke about his offensive drop when playing as a designated hitter rather than a first baseman, where his defensive skills are subpar.
"My numbers are so staggered. When I play first, they're huge. When I DH, I stink," he said. "I definitely can win more games with my bat than I can lose with my glove."
Still, he doesn't want to create big expectations, especially at the start of the season.
"I'm not a great cold-weather player," he said.
He said he's pulled aside all the time by people on the street.
"We appreciate the way you handled it," is the message he received, "the way you went about, especially for the kids, and talking about it."
Good luck in 2006.
