News
Izturis taking some cues from Alomar
Infielder benefits by breaking down video of former player
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com
06/30/09 8:40 PM ET
ARLINGTON -- Alfredo Griffin, a quality Major League shortstop for 18 years who now oversees the Angels' infielders when he isn't coaching first base, recently told Maicer Izturis that he sees some similarities to the great Roberto Alomar in the versatile Venezuelan's game.This, it turns out, was no coincidence. Diego Lopez, the Angels' video coordinator, has been splicing video of Alomar for Izturis to study.
"I've been watching video of Robbie Alomar on every road trip," said Izturis, who has excelled at second base and offensively with Howard Kendrick finding his hitting stroke at Triple-A Salt Lake. "On planes, I'm watching everything Robbie does -- hitting, defense, running. I'll find some things I can take and use.
"When I was in the Minor Leagues [signing with the Indians in 1998], he was with Cleveland [from '99 through 2001] and I watched him closely in Spring Training. He was so smooth, so smart. Now I've got video of Robbie that Diego [Lopez] made of him when he was with the Blue Jays and Baltimore.
"Griffin was talking about him and told me I'm a little like Robbie. He said the ball jumped off my bat like it did for him. That was nice to hear."
A switch-hitter like Izturis, Alomar unleashed surprising power from both sides of the plate, uncoiling his 185 pounds. A 10-time Gold Glover and .300 career hitter, he had 210 homers and 1,134 RBIs, scoring 1,508 runs.
Izturis, who carries 170 pounds on a 5-foot-8 frame, is hitting .286. His homer to right-center in Arizona on Sunday was his second of the season.
"I was trying to hit a line drive in the gap," Izturis said, "and the ball carried. Griffin told me to find a [hitting] style I'm comfortable with, natural. That's how players like Alomar and [Omar] Vizquel are -- natural.
"In the field, whether I'm playing shortstop or second base or third base, I always try to anticipate. I know how fast the runners and hitter are -- see how hard the ball is hit -- so I know what kind of pivot to make on a double play. You have to stay in the game the whole time."
Izturis might be the quietest of the Angels. He has a locker next to Chone Figgins at Angel Stadium.
"The guys who don't talk much, like Izzy, they're usually really into the game," Figgins said. "I know how he studies and prepares. He takes the game very seriously and is a real student of the game.
"He can play. We all know how good he is. To be able to come in after sitting for a while and play at the level he does, that's not easy. But it doesn't surprise me. Izzy is always ready, always prepared."
Batting .328 for the month entering the final day of June against the Rangers, Izturis has scored 14 runs and driven in 13 in his past 12 starts, reaching base safely in 19 of 22 games.
Alomar was known for his ability to rise to the challenge in the postseason, when the pressure was on. Izturis is a .326 career hitter with runners in scoring position.
Lyle Spencer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
