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Suzuki.I think hes just trying to make me feel better after he bla
CLEVELAND -- If Francisco Lindor werent so grounded and mature at age 22, he might be tempted to develop a crush on himself. Lindor already has an All-Star Game appearance on his resume. Hes a finalist for a 2016 Gold Glove award. And when Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon was recently asked for his opinion on the Cleveland Indians?shortstop, he sounded as if he were auditioning to be the kids agent.Amid the industry praise and recognition of his skills, Lindor is well aware that the growth process entails taking some risks, stretching boundaries to the limit and finding a way to move on from failure. While posting an impressive .360/.396/.540 slash line in October, he has had multiple opportunities to demonstrate his bounce-back power during Clevelands 13-game jaunt through the postseason.In Game 3 of the World Series at Wrigley Field, Lindor got picked off first base by Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks and grounded into a rally-killing double play only to be bailed out by Clevelands pitchers in a 1-0 Indians victory.He wasnt so fortunate in a 3-2 loss in Game 5 on Sunday night. Lindor was thrown out by Cubs catcher David Ross on an attempted steal of second base and struck out looking against Chicago closer Aroldis Chapman with the potential tying run on third base in the eighth inning. In the immediate aftermath, it was easy to reflect on those two missteps as potential difference-makers.Shortly after Javier Baez tagged Lindor out on the attempted steal, Indians outfielder Rajai Davis pulled Lindor aside to share a teachable moment. Davis led the American League with 43 stolen bases this season, and his inner thief spotted a missed opportunity; Chicagos Jon Lester has a well-known mental block that prevents him from throwing to first base to hold runners, and Davis thought Lindor was a bit too tentative to exploit that advantage.I was just letting him know I thought he could have gotten out a little further, Davis said. If he got out two more steps [with his lead], he would have been safe at second. Instead of bang-bang out, it would have been bang-bang safe. Those are the things you learn.Hes very good at taking instruction. He doesnt have too big of an ego where he cant listen to somebody that knows. He is so mature and beyond his age. Hes definitely had some good coaching to this point. Hes the most consistent 22-year-old Ive ever seen.The Indians were well aware of Lindors all-around package before they selected him with the No. 8 pick in the 2011 draft and signed him to a $2.9 million bonus. Lindor grew up quickly after moving from his native Puerto Rico to the U.S. with his family at age 12, and he made a name for himself against top competition as a prep player at Montverde Academy, a private boarding school in Florida. So it was no surprise when he zipped through the Cleveland system and finished his minor league apprenticeship with Clevelands Triple-A Columbus affiliate at age 20.While MLB talent evaluators express admiration for the Indians team-oriented approach and rave about the Cubs collection of young talent, Lindor is the one player who would fit right in with the Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, Kyle Schwarber array of Baseball America darlings on the Chicago roster. He has the elite package of skills that an organization can build around combined with the natural fan appeal that marketing departments love.Lindors sense of style was apparent when he showed up at a news conference during the AL playoffs lugging a white leather backpack and wearing a fedora, a la Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa. And his perpetually sunny approach to the game ensures that baseball never seems like drudgery. Lindor hugged Toronto Blue Jays infielder Ryan Goins during batting practice at the American League Championship Series, gave an unsuspecting Indians fan game tickets and a hug during the division series at Progressive Field, and even stopped to show some love to Cubs reliever Hector Rondon after a futile pursuit of a foul pop earlier in the World Series.Hes got a lot of positive energy about him, Maddon said. I love the way he interacts. Thats the kind of guy you need to attract young baseball fans. Not necessarily players, but fans. I think hes wonderful.Lindors dedication to the finer points of the game and willingness to put in the requisite time reflect his alternate, more workmanlike side. During spring training, manager Terry Francona told a story about how Lindor was on the list of players who were excused from the Cactus League opener against Cincinnati. But Lindor showed up to watch, regardless. The next day, Francona passed by a back field at 7:30 a.m. and saw Lindor working on jumps and lunges with Clevelands strength and conditioning coach.Lindors internal makeup precludes him from coasting. His attention to detail is evident when hes asking injured outfielder Michael Brantley how to approach a pivotal at-bat during a game, or when he takes ground balls from his knees in a drill the Indians use to improve hand-eye coordination.Lindor sent a message to the Cleveland veterans at the outset of his big league career by consistently deferring to their experience and tapping into their knowledge. Early in the World Series, a reporter asked Lindor the standard Who was your favorite player growing up? question. The depth of Lindors response showed he had given the matter considerable thought.I liked Robbie Alomar because he seemed like he was going to impact the game in different ways, Lindor said. I liked the swag he had, and how calm he was, and how he impacted the game. And Omar Vizquel. He always seemed like he knew what was going to happen.Derek Jeter was focused and always helping teammates. Barry Larkin was calm at the plate in big situations, and Jim Rollins was little but at the same time he was a big guy on the field. My dad and my cousin and brother always told me try to get something from everyone. Dont get stuck in one player. Just learn something from everyone.Some attributes -- like the ability to move past mistakes and maintain a sense of calm during pressure situations -- can be refined only with experience and time. Lindor has endured a few rough patches this month, but theyve been mere blips in an impressive debut on the October stage. Its all part of laying the groundwork for what promises to be a long and prosperous major league career.Hes so good at putting stuff behind him and staying in the moment, Cleveland closer Cody Allen?said. He continues to grind and grind, and he never settles on how well hes playing or mopes about how bad hes playing. He just continues to move forward.Lindor and his fellow Indians will move forward Tuesday night in World Series Game 6 against Chicago at Progressive Field. If they can close out the Cubs and bring Cleveland its first MLB title since 1948, the new face of Indians baseball will make sure there are plenty of hugs to go around. Cheap MLB Custom Jerseys . Both players have lower body injuries that will keep them out of the lineup until at least January 31, which is the first game they can be activated from IR. Discount MLB Custom Jerseys . Thousands of fans at Mosaic Stadium will be cozying up to each other in an effort to stay warm in chilly temperatures and block the Prairie wind that locals say can knock your socks off. http://www.mlbcustomjerseys.com/custom-chicago-white-sox-jerseys-70p.html . The International Olympic Committee released the official list of bid cities on Friday after the deadline for applications had passed. The candidates -- all previously announced in their own countries -- are: Almaty, Kazakhstan; Beijing; Krakow, Poland; Lviv, Ukraine; Oslo, Norway; and Stockholm. Authentic MLB Custom Jerseys . Having already announced that the race will start May 9 with three stages in Northern Ireland and Ireland and finish in Trieste on June 1, the rest of the route was unveiled Monday. Baseball Custom Jerseys China . Houston won 3-0 to advance to face New York in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Last in the game, Di Vaio and Romero got into a shoving match with several Houston players. Romero appeared to elbow and kick Houston defender Kofi Sarkodie. MIAMI -- The president of the Baseball Hall of Fame was the grateful recipient Monday as Ichiro Suzuki handed over his gear -- a jersey, a pair of cleats, his arm guard and batting gloves, all items he wore while becoming the 30th player to reach 3,000 hits.When the exchange concluded, the two men bowed to each other, a fitting gesture to celebrate the bridge from Japan to Cooperstown.Suzuki began building that bridge when he came to the major leagues as a 27-year-old rookie in 2001. Three-thousand hits later, hes a memorabilia-making machine.The Suzuki collection at the Hall of Fame numbered more than two dozen items even before his triple Sunday at Colorado, which made him the first Japanese player to reach 3,000 hits. When he and his teammates returned to Marlins Park to begin a homestand, Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson was there to collect additional Suzuki souvenirs.Jeff asked me about the stuff, Suzuki said through an interpreter. I was happy to give it to him. I have an agreement with Jeff that when I die, all of my stuff is going to go to Jeff and the Hall of Fame.Suzuki, a baseball history buff, has visited Cooperstown six times.There is no current player Ive encountered who has as deep an appreciation of baseball history as Ichiro, Idelson said. This is a guy who understands his place in history. Because of that, as a sport and as a country, were all the richer.While Major League Baseball celebrated Suzukis achievement, it was even bigger news back home. Several dozen reporters and photographers from Japan had been logging lots of air miles following their nations most famous athlete as he approached the milestone and then went into a slump.With the triple in Denver -- only his second hit in 17 at-bats since July 29 -- he said his overriding emotion was relief that so many of his countrymen would be reunited with their fammilies.dddddddddddd.For the last couple of weeks there have been a lot of members of the media following me, Suzuki said. Im just so happy they can go back to their homes now.Suzukis characteristically humble attitude regarding his achievement transcended the language barrier. When asked to name the most famous person to congratulate him on 3,000 hits, he responded in English.Justin Bour, he said, drawing laughter.Bour, the Marlins rotund first baseman, is famous mostly in his own family but expressed gratitude for the recognition from Suzuki.I think hes just trying to make me feel better after he blasted me yesterday for being fat, Bour said.Suzuki, Bour and the Marlins are in playoff contention for a change. Miami hasnt been to the postseason since 2003, and Suzuki has made it only twice in his 16-year career.Small things turn into big things, he said. I hope our team can continue to do the small things and theyll turn into big things.Meticulous preparation is a Suzuki hallmark, and he spoke at a news conference more than four hours before Mondays game already in uniform. That included sunglasses atop the bill of his cap, even though he was going to be playing indoors at night.While ready for action, he was in need of a new bat. Suzuki put aside the one that produced the historic triple, one of the few mementoes he has kept.I really dont have much, he said. Most of it is in my home in Seattle. Its something I think Ill enjoy once I become a grandpa.At 42, hes old enough to be thinking about grandchildren -- and retirement. He has often said he wants to play until at least 50 but sidestepped that subject Monday, saying hes taking it one at-bat at time.With Suzukis help, even baseball cliches have gone global. ' ' '