Brand new Redskin Davis tosses out first pitch

4/28/2008

Fred Davis, donning a New York Yankees hat, was one of three ceremonial first-pitch tossers at Fifth Third Field yesterday.

Hey Fred, given that it was the Washington Redskins who drafted you in the second round of the NFL draft on Saturday, shouldn't you at least be wearing a Washington Nationals baseball cap?

"I've got some Nats hats," said a grinning Davis, one day after the Redskins made the Rogers graduate the 48th overall pick.

Speaking of attire, Davis said the colors he's worn on past football uniforms foreshadowed his destination on draft day. The Redskins and the University of Southern California - where Davis starred at tight end - wear gold and either burgundy (Redskins) or cardinal (USC), and Davis said he once played for the "Redskins" as an 11-year old in a Toledo youth football league.

"It's like I've been wearing those colors all my life," Davis said.

Davis said he will be in Washington, D.C., today to meet with the media, and said the team's mini-camp begins Friday. He spent yesterday with his mom and aunt at the ballpark for the Mud Hens' 7-1 victory over the Indianapolis Indians.

"I'm just taking it all in," Davis said. "After this, it's straight to business."

DAY OFF: Hens outfielder Brent Clevlen sat out for the first time this season yesterday, and was replaced in left field by Timo Perez.

Toledo manager Larry Parrish said it was simply time for Clevlen to rest his legs.

"We try to do that with everybody," Parrish said. "It helps keep them fresh."

Clevlen has already accumulated three homers and 12 RBIs in 22 games this year. He didn't have any homers and only drove in 10 runs in his first 37 games in 2007.

The only Hens who have played in each of Toledo's 23 contests are Mike Hessman and Jeff Larish, and neither showed signs of slowing down yesterday.

Both players hit moon-shot home runs, with Hessman's bouncing off Monroe Street and SeaGate Centre.

"They're just sort of grinders out there. They can play with the normal aches and pains you get," Parrish said. "With both of their makeups being as such, those two don't need as much time off."

Perez, after two games on the bench, went 2-for-4 with a double to lift his batting average to .188.

VASQUEZ UPDATE: Hens opening day starting pitcher Virgil Vasquez is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday to test his sore right shoulder.

Vasquez, 1-2 with a 6.33 ERA, was placed on the disabled list retroactive to April 21 with shoulder tendinitis. An MRI last week showed no further damage.

Parrish said a decision about when Vasquez might return to the rotation could be made after his workout on Wednesday.

CAT NAP: A bed pillow sits on the couch in Parrish's office.

The Hens manager said he slept on that couch and pillow the night before Toledo's 10:30 a.m. game last week, and thought about doing so following the Hens' 7-6 victory in 11 innings over Indianapolis that lasted four hours on Saturday night.

"I didn't get out of here until 1 a.m.," Parrish said.

TONIGHT: Hens right-hander Chris Lambert (2-1, 2.05 ERA) is scheduled to pitch at 6:30 p.m. tonight against Indians RHP Brian Bullington (0-3, 6.46).