March 16, 200521 yr FORT MYERS, Fla. ? The Twins' scouting staff accurately reported Mike Redmond's formidable skills as a catcher and impressive hitting ability. But all three scouts responsible for reports on Redmond made the same glaring omission, failing to grade the talent area that proved a major catalyst in the Florida Marlins' World Series championship season two years ago: Naked batting practice. "I didn't see that in there," general manager Terry Ryan said. In fact, to this day, few Twins seem to be aware of the secret weapon they acquired when Redmond signed a two-year contract in November to be Joe Mauer's backup. It started May 25, 2003, in Cincinnati near the end of a long and losing road trip. The Marlins had just fired their manager, had a 21-29 record and appeared headed for another nowhere season. After a team meeting, in a somber, sleepy clubhouse the morning of an early afternoon game, Redmond headed for the indoor batting cages with his bat, wearing nothing but turf shoes, socks and batting gloves. Twins infielder Andy Fox, a Marlins teammate then, looked up in disbelief as Redmond headed for the clubhouse door that opened into the cages. "Are you serious?" Fox asked. "Yeah." And the door shut behind him. Redmond proceeded to hit soft tosses against a screen as teammates took notice, one by one, until laughter could be heard from one end of the clubhouse to the other. "No one could really hit after that," Fox said. Until the game. The Marlins scored early and beat the Reds 6-2, with Redmond collecting two hits. "And the next thing I knew, I was doing it seven or eight straight days," Redmond said. "That's a long time to be hitting naked," Fox said. But the Marlins kept winning, so Redmond kept the clothes off his body and his eye on the ball. They won six in a row. Then during another cold streak in August, he did it again in Pittsburgh, and the Marlins went 20-8 the rest of the season to clinch the National League wild-card playoff spot. And the rest is World Series, New York Yankees-beating history. "It worked," Fox said. "We still talk about it." "Whatever it takes to win," said Redmond, who has trouble explaining the inspiration. "It just came to me. We were really scuffling, and guys were putting pressure on themselves. I just thought I needed to do something that nobody really expected, to make guys laugh and relax." "He doesn't have the most aesthetically pleasing body, either," Fox said. "That's just my opinion." Redmond brings more to the Twins than naked batting practice and a willingness to go to extremes to help a team win. Dontrelle Willis, the young Marlins left-hander who was promoted to the majors that same May ? and, by the way, was the beneficiary of the run support that first day of the nudist drill ? said as much when he refused to pitch inside to his former catcher Monday on a day he was working on pitching inside. "I didn't want to hit him. He's my boy. I'll always have a soft spot for him," said Willis, who won the NL Rookie of the Year award in 2003, after he pitched in the Twins' 4-3 loss to the Marlins on Monday. "Red took care of me. He definitely helped me to know how to play the game and to have respect for the game." The ability to relate to young players and a deep understanding of the game are major intangibles the Twins acquired in Redmond when they shifted to Plan B after abandoning efforts to re-sign Henry Blanco, last year's backup. Not only is Redmond universally regarded as a good teammate, but it also was common knowledge around the Marlins' clubhouse that special 2003 season that he, not all-star starter Pudge Rodriguez, ran the pitchers-and-catchers meetings to prepare for opposing hitters. "That doesn't surprise me," Ryan said. "There's a reason he's been around as long as he has. That's the kind of thing that makes him who he is. We thought he had that type of makeup." And now that they have him, they might even find out what kind of influence he can have on a team just by taking batting practice. At least one new teammate plans to find out the first time the Twins experience a losing streak this year. "It worked with the Marlins; I think it can work for us," Twins center fielder Torii Hunter said. "But I don't think I'm going to go out and watch." http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/sports/11136852.htm I had never heard this story before but got a kick out of it.
March 16, 200521 yr :lol :lol This is the first I ever heard of this. If the public knew we may have all shown up to the WS naked, LOL.
March 16, 200521 yr This and many more goofy Marlins stories in Miracle Over Miami by Dave Schlossberg / ad
March 16, 200521 yr Mike Redmond deserves to be in the Florida Marlin Hall of Fame when it's constructed in the new stadium...
March 16, 200521 yr Mike Redmond deserves to be in the Florida Marlin Hall of Fame when it's constructed in the new stadium... 711520[/snapback] Well, OK... just as long as there's not a statue. :plain
March 16, 200521 yr Mike Redmond deserves to be in the Florida Marlin Hall of Fame when it's constructed in the new stadium... 711520[/snapback] :plain
March 16, 200521 yr Mike Redmond deserves to be in the Florida Marlin Hall of Fame when it's constructed in the new stadium... 711520[/snapback] :plain :plain :plain :plain :plain :plain :plain :plain :plain
March 16, 200521 yr I have heard this story before also and I think Red is going to be missed on the Fish, he always seemed liked he was having a great time out there and fit in great with the team.
March 16, 200521 yr One of my favorite baseball moments. About 3 years ago. Red on 1st. Battter hits deep double. Red chugs around the bases, struggling and almost stumbling as he turns 3rd. Proceeds home exhausted. Slow Motion. Three feet before the plate he PLOPS belly-first on the plate. It wasn't a slide! It was an exhausted PLOP. Scores. The Marlins dugout went nuts! Great baseball moment for me.
March 16, 200521 yr Mike Redmond deserves to be in the Florida Marlin Hall of Fame when it's constructed in the new stadium... 711520[/snapback] :plain :plain :plain :plain :plain :plain :plain :plain :plain 711569[/snapback] For sentimental value, of course.
March 16, 200521 yr ttiwwop 711918[/snapback] He is not a good male specimen. Think white whale, just on land.
March 16, 200521 yr ttiwwop 711918[/snapback] He is not a good male specimen. Think white whale, just on land. 711931[/snapback] i know what he looks like. he's not adonis but that's a bit harsh. quit hatin
March 16, 200521 yr ttiwwop 711918[/snapback] He is not a good male specimen. Think white whale, just on land. 711931[/snapback] i know what he looks like. he's not adonis but that's a bit harsh. quit hatin 711936[/snapback] He's also short. Very short. He comes up to my shoulder, I was shocked to learn he was that small.
March 16, 200521 yr ttiwwop 711918[/snapback] He is not a good male specimen. Think white whale, just on land. 711931[/snapback] i know what he looks like. he's not adonis but that's a bit harsh. quit hatin 711936[/snapback] He's also short. Very short. He comes up to my shoulder, I was shocked to learn he was that small. 711937[/snapback] short guys rule. catchers tend to be shorter i guess. while i don't possess the equipment to really understand, the whole nude BP thing sounds rather painful..
March 16, 200521 yr short guys rule. catchers tend to be shorter i guess. while i don't possess the equipment to really understand, the whole nude BP thing sounds rather painful.. 711938[/snapback] They are shorter to impress the women, like you, who lust for the short stuff. How would it be painful exactly?
March 16, 200521 yr short guys rule. catchers tend to be shorter i guess. while i don't possess the equipment to really understand, the whole nude BP thing sounds rather painful.. 711938[/snapback] They are shorter to impress the women, like you, who lust for the short stuff. How would it be painful exactly? 711940[/snapback] yes, the gentleman do go to such lengths to win my affection. gotta have a few tall ones around though when it's time to change lightbulbs and such though. painful..the swing..parts moving around? hoo boy.
March 16, 200521 yr short guys rule. catchers tend to be shorter i guess. while i don't possess the equipment to really understand, the whole nude BP thing sounds rather painful.. 711938[/snapback] They are shorter to impress the women, like you, who lust for the short stuff. How would it be painful exactly? 711940[/snapback] yes, the gentleman do go to such lengths to win my affection. gotta have a few tall ones around though when it's time to change lightbulbs and such though. painful..the swing..parts moving around? hoo boy. 711944[/snapback] Well if you get one short enough he will be light enough to the point you can hold him up to change light bulbs and such. Or a good step ladder works wonders. And who said he has much in the way of parts to move around. I mean if he was well endowed I think there is a chance for him to wrap around his leg or something, but he is short, and white, perhaps it is not a problem for him.
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