[ BASEBALL ]
RONEN ZILBERMAN / RZILBERMAN@STARBULLETIN.COM
Duke Sardinha, Kila Kaaihue, Lenn Sakata, Keoni DeRenne and Micah Furtado gathered together at a workout last Monday at the Kahala Recreation Center.
Sakata and Tokunaga
provide offseason
guidance
The baseball season never stops for Lenn Sakata.
It is year-round with the offseason being even more important for the players. No longer can they afford to show up at spring training out of shape, either physically or skill-wise.
This is why Sakata, beginning his fourth year with the San Francisco Giants organization, and Eric Tokunaga, a scout for the Kansas City Royals, make themselves available to Hawaii's active pro players for workouts and instruction two or three times a week during the offseason. The 90-minute workouts are organized but low-key, and the players show up whenever they have time.
"Our organization wants you ready on day one," said infielder Duke Sardinha, who is in the Colorado Rockies system. "We have weightlifting sheets we're supposed to follow and turn in every month. We also have a booklet with a number of points on mental preparation to follow, to improve our mental toughness, and I got mine turned in on time this year."
Sakata and Tokunaga throw batting practice and hit ball after ball to the infielders. They make a suggestion about a swing, a stance and how to field every now and then.
"Move the feet."
"See the ball early."
"Stay down, it's easier to come up than go down."
"Keep your head down."
"Be more aggressive to the ball. Get your glove ready."
"That's the way. Good swing."
The players listen, then try to implement the suggestions, again and again.
Now and then there is a nod or smile of approval from Sakata and Tokunaga.
The workout continues. Ball after ball is driven off wood bats toward the outfield.
The teaching goes on.
"I guess this was what I was supposed to do," said Sakata, who spent 11 years in the major leagues. "Everything else before this was a prelude. There is so much to playing this game, so much that is a part of the fabric of this game.
"People think professionals just have to be good athletes and show up. There is a lot of patience involved, especially when you don't get the results you want. The gratification comes when you develop a bond with players, know they trust you and you see results. Eric and I have an understanding. We just want to help these players improve."
Sakata has managed at the Class A and AAA levels and served as a roving minor league instructor. His assignment this summer is to manage the Class A California League San Jose Giants.
Micah Furtado, an infielder in the Texas Rangers system, said he could work out at home on Kauai, but spending four to six weeks on Oahu after the holidays was more beneficial.
"Just being around Lenny, working one-on-one, you pick up more tips, more little things that help. He works pretty hard and brings high energy to the workouts and you want to keep up with his energy. That's one thing I like about Lenny," Furtado said.
"It is good to get together with all the guys here and getting the reps. Getting the reps is the biggest thing. My legs are pretty good right now and I'm pretty much ready to go."
Sardinha, who is not hampered by right shoulder problems this year, said, "The workouts are huge for us minor leaguers. Lenny played in the majors and he knows the ins and outs. The knowledge and information he gives us every day is so important."
Other players who joined the workouts this spring include first basemen Chad Santos and Kila Ka'aihue and right-hander Jason Kahi Kaanoi (Kansas City), right-hander Brandon League (Toronto), infielder Keoni DeRenne (Arizona), outfielder Shane Victorino (Los Angeles), infielder Bronson Sardinha (New York Yankees), catcher Dane Sardinha (Cincinnati) and right-hander Jerome Williams (San Francisco).
Victorino, League and Bronson and Dane Sardinha went to their respective major league teams' spring training camps as nonroster players.
Former Hawaii Rainbow third baseman Pat Scalabrini has re-signed for a second season with the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the independent Northern League.
An all-star second baseman last year who also played some third base, Scalabrini hit .300 with four home runs, 45 runs batted in and 20 stolen bases for the Northern Division champs.
"I think that is pretty good hitting second because you have to do a lot of things," said Winnipeg manager Hal Lanier in a press release. "I think Pat did a great job on offense and defense and he was a great pickup for us last year."
