Jose Bautista #19 of the Toronto Blue Jays is interviewed prior to the home opener for the Toronto Blue Jays as they face the Minnesota Twins during their MLB game at the Rogers Centre April 1, 2011 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.(Photo By Dave Sandford/Getty Images)Dave Sandford/Getty Images
Jose Bautista, above, is a good teammate because he isn't looking for credit even when others give it to him.
Case in point: Toronto Blue Jays left fielder Travis Snider lauded Bautista's defensive tutoring during spring training, the product of which was put on display Sunday when Snider threw out the Minnesota Twins' Danny Valencia at home in the fifth inning on a run-scoring single by Matt Tolbert. Snider's throw was a no-hopper to the glove of catcher J.P. Arencibia. Drew Butera was so impressed, he stopped at second, and even though he'd score as part of a three-run Twins inning, Snider's play will show up on scouting reports.
Bautista has talked up Snider's defence all spring while Snider credits his right-field teammate as well as coaches Dwayne Murphy and Torey Lovullo with making him more comfortable in the field. The key is footwork and body speed.
"I told him what I do, and I think he's working on slowing himself down out there, but it's not like I'm his mentor or his coach," a chuckling Bautista said. "I just wanted to make that clear.
"The thing is, when you move too fast, it's hard for your arm to catch up," Bautista continued. "The speed we generate with our legs is much faster than what we generate with our arms. So if your momentum is driving you too much forward, it's virtually impossible for your arm to catch up with that speed and make throws that are accurate. He knows that. He's working on it. He's already great on balls in the gap and down the line because he busts his butt on each and every play." Jeff Blair