A ‘Large’ adjustment.

The 2009 season almost got off to a flying stop for reliever T.J. Large.

Large, who was scheduled to open the season at Portland, was called on to pitch for Boston in a spring training game against the Detroit Tigers.

In one-third of an inning Large almost walked everybody except the hot dog sellers. He walked five Tigers and the one he retired – Gary Sheffield – was on a sacrifice fly.
Ouch.
“Once you get embarrassed, it opens your eyes a little bit,” Large said in a massive understatement. “Since then, I’ve approached the game a little bit differently. I throw it more down the middle instead of off the plate.

Anderson, Bates power Sea Dogs to win

In retrospect, Portland’s 6-4 victory over the Connecticut Defenders was a microcosm of the season for Aaron Bates and to an extent for Lars Anderson.

Bates cracked three singles in five at-bats and drove in two runs while Anderson was 2-for-5 (single, double) with an RBI.

And manager Arnie Beyeler continued his “mix-and-match” routine Sunday with T.J. Large and Bryce Cox who combined to make a winner out of starter Jarod Plummer (4-1).

SOX ON DECK: Sea Dogs let one slip away

This one hurt big time.
Connecticut
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