From the Grapefruit League
RYAN CHURCH went 0-for-2 Wednesday in the New York Mets' first spring training game against major leaguers. Batting cleanup Ryan put the ball in play against Jeremy Bonderman and Jason Grilli of the Tigers before being excused for the day.
But Tuesday against the University of Michigan a promising event took place which was forecast by General Manager Omar Minaya on the day the Mets traded for Church.
Back then the Bloggers were all over Minaya for giving up "future superstar" Lastings Milledge for Ryan and catcher Brian Schneider.
Minaya said that Church gave the team just as much offense at the plate and better defense and a third element-- stolen bases.
Minaya wants the Mets to run, not just play station-to-station, and he knew Church can motor. He did not know that from counting Ryan's steals with the Nationals; the Nats played station-to-station, but Minaya remembers Church from his arrival in the majors when both were with Montreal.
Sure enough, on Tuesday, Churchie worked a base-on-balls then stole second base. And Lastings Milledge? He stole three times all last season.
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JC baseball
Gregory Rips
Finally given a chance after 11 games to see his name in the starting lineup BRIAN GREGORY ripped a base hit and two RBI Tuesday as Santa Barbara City College dumped Cerro Coso College in Ridgecrest 11-6.
Coach Teddy Warrecker called attention to Gregory's defense noting that he gave up no wild pitches nor passed balls. And on offense he is suddenly, at 1-for-3 (.333), the third top hitter for average on the team.
It was Gregory's first start of the season after red-shirting in 2007. The Vaqueros (9-3) open Western State Conference play Thursday at Cuesta.
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