Word: batted
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...confront this Bradman? His entry onto the ground was an amble, which some interpreted as him basking in the applause. In fact, he was allowing his blue eyes to adjust to the sunlight. From narrow shoulders hung muscular arms; this was the result of nothing except overuse of a bat. More striking was his unmistakable half-smile, reflecting both supreme self-confidence and pleasure. "I couldn't wait to bat," he said. "The bigger the occasion, the tenser the atmosphere, the more I liked the game...
...arrival at the crease, he studied the field; he did not perfunctorily glance about as most batsmen do. Satisfied, he'd utter a shrill "right" and crouch over his uncommonly light bat. That single word sent a powerful message: Bradman was ready. As the bowler moved in, Bradman revealed two more idiosyncrasies. First, he did not tap his bat, a habit observed by virtually every batsman at all levels. He was perfectly still?and still smiling. Second, his grip was unusual, his bottom hand turned more toward the front than the textbooks recommend...
...Garces, three guys who rose to the occasion last season. Starting pitching and offensive production were the team's two big weaknesses in 2000. Manny and a slew of new pitchers have potentially solved those problems. Watch out for Chris Stynes, too--when this guy is swinging a hot bat, he is one of the most dangerous hitters in the major leagues. Sounds ridiculous, but his hitting streaks are legendary in Cincinnati...
...Traffic is also likely to get an acting Oscar: Benicio Del Toro for Best Supporting Actor. Del Toro, who plays a conflicted Mexican cop who trails a case to California, will defeat Willem Dafoe, as a poignantly funny man-bat in Shadow of the Vampire, and Joaquin Phoenix, whose performance as the envious Roman aristocrat in Gladiator will get him bigger roles but not an Oscar, yet. Del Toro has three arguments in his favor. One: he's quite good in the film. Two: he's the hottie du jour, sleepily sensual and muy macho, with a touch...
...past week, the crack of the bat has again been heard in the Cactus and Grapefruit leagues, and spring training, if not spring itself, fills the air. As always, there is the heady talk of the preseason, the look at new signees and new prospects. Look hard this year; you may not see America's pastime for a while. The owners are likely to cause trouble when the bargaining agreement expires at season's end. A long lockout may mean the end of baseball as we know it, while retirement may grab other greats, like my hometown hero, Tony Gwynn...