First full squad practice. You would think that there would be more to write about, but I really don’t have much.

After all their preliminary stretching, calisthenics, running, and long toss, the players split into 4 groups – a handful of pitchers went to the “Seven Mounds” (apparently this is their official designation for the mounds between the buildings), outfielders went back to Bright House for batting practice. the infielders and outfielders split into two groups on Schmidt and Ashburn Fields to practice fielding bunts.   Rupp and Marson rotated at catcher.

Schmidt Field included the 6 infielders we expect to be on the 25-man roster – Howard, Utley, Rollins, Galvis, Asche, and Frandesn.  Rollins and Galvis rotated at short, Asche and Frandsen rotated at third.  The pitchers were – Buchanan, Biddle, Diekman, De Fratus, Garcia, Hollands, Lincoln, Jimenez, Martin.  I think Rosenberg, Aumont, Gonzalez, Lee, Kendrick, and Papelbon were also part of this group.

Ashburn Field included Ruf at first, Hernandez at second, Blanco and Cedeno rotating at short, and Franco and Brignac rotating at third.  The pitchers were Hamels, Burnett, Adams, Camp, Hernandez, Bastardo, Horst, Stutes, Munson, O’Sullivan, Pettibone, Giles, and Manship.  Joseph and Valle rotated at catcher.

The pitcher would throw a ball to the catcher and a coach would roll a ball to simulate a bunt.  They did this until each pitcher had about 6 reps.  They would vary the play from pitch to pitch.  The speed of the pitch has no bearing on the drill, but Hamels is throwing with less velocity than the others, as we should expect.

I started on Ashburn to see the young guys.  Ruf and Hernandez got the hardest workout since they had to be in movement every play, Ruf charging and Hernandez covering first.  Pretty basic stuff.

By the time I decided to check out who was on Schmidt, four pitchers were warming up on the mounds.  I could only make out Papelbon and Lee.  I think Kendrick and Gonzalez were also part of this group because they were the first four pitchers out for the next drill.

I stayed at Schmidt because Gonzalez took the mound to pitch to Utley, Asche, and Galvis.  The purpose of this drill is to let the pitcher get comfortable throwing to a live batter.  There is hardly any attempt by the batter to swing at a pitch.  Utley swung at two pitches and hit them both hard – one down the right field line and another off the screen protecting Gonzalez.  Asche and Galvis didn’t swing at all.

It’s hard to determine how well a pitcher is throwing.  The batting cage has a mat connected to the back of the cage obstructing the view of pitch location.  Standing closer than I was the other day, Gonzalez didn’t seem to be throwing as hard.

I wandered over to Carlton Field and caught the end of Martin throwing to Byrd, Brown, and Gwynn.  A little more swinging here. Martin’s velocity seemed good for the end of his turn.  Byrd and Brown made weak contact a couple times – a pop up and a soft ground ball.  Gwynn did manage a solid line drive to right.

Lincoln was next and Franco and Dugan came in to hit.  They swung less and didn’t make any contact while I was there.

That’s it.  I guess the only notable thing Tuesday was that Hernandez worked with the infielders rather than with the outfielders.