Diamondbacks: Felipe Lope

看板Diamondbacks作者abc12812時間16年前 (2009/06/25 22:57)推噓0(0推 0噓 0→)

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http://js.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/05/diamondbacks_felipe_lopez_span.html 網站裡面有一些還不錯的故事，跟大家分享! PHOENIX - Today is a good day for Felipe Lopez and he wants tomorrow to be a good day, too. The Diamondbacks second baseman has learned to concentrate on the present. He might venture into the future every now and then but more often than not, he'll shy away from talking about the past. Asked about his stint with the Nationals last year and the criticism that came his way during his time in Washington, Lopez starts to share his side of the story but immediately stops. He knows better. The past can't help him hit a fastball today. The past can't help him field a groundball. But focusing on the here and now? Well, that's a different story altogether. "I'm not the type to ...," Lopez said. "Let's just say I'm just glad to be here." The serenity-now approach seems to be working. Lopez is Arizona's top hitter, boasting a .327 batting average with three home runs and six RBIs in 24 games. Lopez is happy and he's letting everybody know about his newfound Arizona joy. Yes, this is the same player that said he let "negativity" affect his effort and focus on the field in Washington. When the Nationals could not trade him last year, they released him. He signed with St. Louis and hit .385 in 43 games. "I'm happy to be here in Arizona and that says it all," Lopez, 28, said. "I had a great time in St. Louis. It's a great organization and I have nothing but great things to say about them. With the Nationals, it didn't work out but they are a young franchise and they are trying to get things going." Lopez has already come a long way. He was born in Bayamon, Puerto Rico but never had a close relationship with his birth mother. He came to the United States as a child because his stepmother was being treated for leukemia, the disease that eventually took her life. Lopez's talent was always on display, even as a kid growing up in Florida. But what everybody couldn't see is what was going on inside of his head as a youth. It became known during his years in Washington that Lopez grew up in an abusive home. In 1998, Lopez was selected eighth overall by Toronto in the First-Year Player Amateur Draft and signed a $2 million contract that August. A few days later, Lopez's father, Felipe Lopez Sr., was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading no contest to two counts of child abuse Lopez said he didn't let his father's problems affect his play. Lopez says the reasons he wears a rosary sent to him by his grandmother under his Diamondbacks jersey every game are simple: "for protection" and because he believes in God. He also says don't make too much of the tattoos all over his upper torso because there is no special meaning to the artwork. No, it's not the story of his life. "I just like tattoos," he said. On the field, Lopez has had an interesting career. He combined to play in 134 games for the Blue Jays in 2001 and 2002 before joining Cincinnati for parts of four seasons starting in 2003. In 2005 as a member of the Reds, Lopez made his only appearance on the All-Star team, hitting a career-high 23 home runs. He also sported a .291 batting average that season. In 2006, he .281 in 71 games after being traded to the Nationals and in 2007, he hit .245, playing second base and shortstop. In 100 games with the Nationals last season, he hit .234 before his release. He signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Diamondbacks last December. "For a guy that's had to move around and play different positions, he's settled into second base very nicely," manager Bob Melvin said. "He's been great. I didn't know him at all until he got here. You watch what he did in Washington and what he did in St. Louis and you are not really sure what motivates him but he's been a terrific teammate and he's very well liked here." It's all part of Lopez's plan. The present never felt so good. "I really love it here. I feel like I'm part of the family," Lopez said. "It's all because the guys here are an awesome group. They welcomed me and I can't think of a better place to be right now." -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 140.112.5.3