Fukudome = God
03-11-2006, 12:25 AM
Juan perfect fit: Pierre has leadoff mentality
Cubs' new leadoff hitter devotes himself to craft of getting on base
COMMENTARY
By Sean Deveney
Updated: 6:24 p.m. ET March 8, 2006
Go on, flip around. Start when Juan Pierre was a 7-year-old, playing T-ball in Alexandria, La. Watch him eschew the high and mighty blasts that so tempt other kids and instead whack the ball into the ground and sprint. Inglorious? Sure, but Pierre, young and speedy, almost always winds up on first base.
Skip ahead to his freshman year at Alexandria High. He stands 5-9, weighs about as much as a box of Wheat Thins and draws chuckles from teammates when he declares his intention is to play in the big leagues. But get up at dawn and check out Pierre on the baseball field, before school, working on his throwing, his running and his swing.
Head down to the University of South Alabama in 1998 and arrive to work early with baseball coach Steve Kittrell. Hear that steady thumping? That's the batting cage near Kittrell's office. Pierre, now a Jaguars center fielder, has a class at 8 a.m. Care to guess who's in the batting cage at 7 making that thumping noise?
Rest of Story: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11729812/
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Very good read. I too am very excited about Juan Pierre in Chicago. It's been a real long time since we had a real leadoff hitter. I think he will have one of the best seasons in his career.
Cubs' new leadoff hitter devotes himself to craft of getting on base
COMMENTARY
By Sean Deveney
Updated: 6:24 p.m. ET March 8, 2006
Go on, flip around. Start when Juan Pierre was a 7-year-old, playing T-ball in Alexandria, La. Watch him eschew the high and mighty blasts that so tempt other kids and instead whack the ball into the ground and sprint. Inglorious? Sure, but Pierre, young and speedy, almost always winds up on first base.
Skip ahead to his freshman year at Alexandria High. He stands 5-9, weighs about as much as a box of Wheat Thins and draws chuckles from teammates when he declares his intention is to play in the big leagues. But get up at dawn and check out Pierre on the baseball field, before school, working on his throwing, his running and his swing.
Head down to the University of South Alabama in 1998 and arrive to work early with baseball coach Steve Kittrell. Hear that steady thumping? That's the batting cage near Kittrell's office. Pierre, now a Jaguars center fielder, has a class at 8 a.m. Care to guess who's in the batting cage at 7 making that thumping noise?
Rest of Story: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11729812/
.........
Very good read. I too am very excited about Juan Pierre in Chicago. It's been a real long time since we had a real leadoff hitter. I think he will have one of the best seasons in his career.