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PERSONAL:
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- Tony's last name is pronounced: Graf-a-NEE-no.
- In 1993, Tony went through the process of legally dropping the second "G" from his name (Graffanigno) so that it would match the pronunciation: Graffanino. His father actually started the idea the winter before. Tony said, "This way it fits better on my jersey."
- Graffanino grew up on Long Island and lived a few doors from former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason.
- Out of high school, he was set on going to Clemson instead of signing a pro contract. But he finally was persuaded into signing with the Braves. He says it was tough to pass up college. "Yeah, because you hear everybody talk about how much fun it was and all the other stuff. But baseball was more important tome and I thought signing would be the best thing to do."
LIFE IN THE MINORS
- Born and raised on Long Island, New York, Tony says of being sent to Pulaski, Virginia: "It was big-time culture shock. The guy picked me up at the airport, a small, little airport, and took me to the field where I thought I was going to die." The ballpark was also a shock.
"I thought it was going to be a nice stadium and I was heartbroken. I was totally disappointed when I got to Pulaski. I thought I made the wrong decision."
- While at Pulaski, Tony explains his accomodations: "A room opened up in a house loaded with five or six people already and that's where I had to move into. There was really no place else that I could go. It was pretty awkward. I didn't know anybody, I was by myself and I didn't have a car. It was tough.
"The first two days I was calling my parents, saying that I had made the wrong decision, I should have gone to college, I don't know what I'm doing here. They were upset, too. But there was nothing I could do now. I had to stick it out. I wasn't just going to quit. So I stuck it out. I learned a lot that year. I grew up a lot."
- In 1991, Graffanino was the MVP of the Pioneer Rookie League.
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Tony is a very fierce competitor. He likes to work hard and compete. He hates to lose and always has a good attitude.
Graffanino is a vocal team leader. He provides loads of intangibles to a team.
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Tony was tense and rather nervous in his first two pro seasons. But beginning in 1993, "I try to take a more relaxed attitude toward everything," Graffanino says, "because in the past I've been really tense. And I noticed I wasn't playing very well under those circumstances." Now, he plays with confidence and trusts his ability.
- Tony started playing shortstop when he was about five years old and grew up on the ballfields of Long Island. His father, Doug, was a narcotics officer for 21 years in Suffolk County. He made sure his son always made it to practice. Tony says, "I figured that the amount of time he was working, that to do all he did for me with baseball -- practicing with me every day, get me on the traveling teams, take me places where I could be seen -- I don't think he could have done any more than he did."
- He stays in touch with his parents, calling them at their new dream house in Seneca, South Carolina, three times a week. His family liked the area so much when he was recruited by Clemson, they decided to move there, even though Tony didn't go to school there.
"I don't think I'll ever stop calling home," Tony says. "You always need advice, especially from people who have experienced more than you have. I'm really close with both my parents." Tony's family lives close to most all of the Braves' minor league locations, making it convenient for them to attend a lot of his games.
- Because of the ruptured disk in his back (detailed in CAREER INJURY), Tony now does an early-morning daily ritual of sit-ups, trunk rotations, and assorted stretches.
- Tony's first job was working as a stock boy at Marshall's. He says his worst job was when he "covered for a friend doing a morning paper route -- got up at 5:30 a.m.," he says.
- His best friend in baseball, while coming up through the minors, was David Toth, a former Braves minor league catcher.
- Tony's all-time favorite movie is "Grease."
- He was a Yankees fan growing up. His favorite food is pizza.
- For hobbies, Graffanino lists going to movies and playing Sega.
- He uses a Louisville Slugger bat, Zett glove, Nike spikes and batting gloves.
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Graffanino listens to contemporary Christian music, like Caedmon's Call.
- Tony was asked about why he doesn't wear a crucifix. "I worship the man Jesus Christ. I don't need a good-luck charm to do that."
- Graffanino is a gritty, blue-collar type of player. He is a positive clubhouse presence.
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Tony and wife Nicole have two children, A.J. and Nicolas.
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August 4, 2005: Tony's 5-year-old son, Nicholas, underwent surgery at Children's Hospital in Boston. A growth in his neck was removed. The youngster had the lump on the side of his throat for about five weeks, but it had worsened.
"It was through God's grace that we were in Boston when it got bad and we had the best people in the world working on it," said Graffanino.
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Tony picked up yoga as part of his workouts during the off-season before 2005 spring training.
“I'd heard great things about it,” he said. “People have been telling me about it for the last couple of years. I figured I'd give it a shot.” What did he think?
“Loved it,” he said. “Did it in a 100-degree room for an hour and 15 minutes a day for four days a week.”
Loved what? Humming and chanting, eyes closed, in the lotus position in meditative quest of his inner fielder? No.
“The type of yoga I did is called Bikram,” Graffanino said. “It's very intense. The postures are hard. They require flexibility and core strength.As you're stretching one thing, you're strengthening five or six other things. You're in these lunge positions, these turn/twist positions. You're on your stomach a lot, doing a lot of back-strengthening work.”
Bikram Yoga is named for its founder, Bikram Choudhury, and consists of 26 poses performed in a room heated to 90-105 degrees to create safety for deeper poses. A typical session begins with standing postures before shifting to back bends, forward bends and twists. The approach is designed to warm and stretch muscles, ligaments and tendons in the proper order. Each pose seeks to strengthen muscles, joints and ligaments while also releasing toxins and increasing flexibility. (Bob Dutton-K.C. Star-2/21/05)
TRANSACTION REPORT
- June 1990: The Braves picked Tony in the 10th round of the draft out of high school.
- March 31, 1999: The Braves released Tony.
- April 1999: Signed as a free agent by the Devil Rays.
- May 31, 2000: The Devil Rays sent Graffanino to the White Sox for P Tanyon Sturtze.
- December 7, 2003: The White Sox didn't offer Graffanino arbitration, making him a free agent.
- December 14, 2003: Tony signed a two-year, $2.2 million contract with the Royals. The Red Sox had offered more money.
Asked why he wanted to be with the Royals, Graffanino explained: “One of the reasons was the team itself,” he said. “Watching them play last year, they were a team. It was a unified group. You could see that everyone was playing hard, wanting to win. There was real passion. Tony looked real passionate. It was an attractive picture.”
There was another factor, too. “I'm a Christian, and there are a ton of Christians on this team,” Graffanino said. “That definitely helps me feel a lot more comfortable. That gives me an instant connection with Mike Sweeney and a lot of other guys. It felt easy to come over to this clubhouse and fit in,” he said, “because people here are like I feel I am — a guy who cares about winning, about playing the game the right way, playing hard regardless of the score. Just do it right. Do it hard. And play to win.”
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July 19, 2005: The Red Sox sent OF Chip Ambres and P Juan Cedeno to the Royals, acquiring Graffanino.
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March 28, 2006: The Royals got Tony back, claiming him off waivers from the Red Sox.
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July 25, 2006: The Brewers sent P Jorge De La Rosa to the Royals, acquiring Graffanino.
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January 19, 2007: Tony signed a a one-year deal with the Brewers for $3.25 million, avoiding salary arbitration.
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June 24, 2008: Graffanino signed with the Indians organization.
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BATTING:
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- Tony has a quick bat. He has developed into a good hitter who is capable of hitting 12 to 15 home runs a year if he could play every day. But he probably won't ever be a Major League regular. He is able to hit in a reserve role, however -- something not many utilitymen can do.
- Graffanino will do anything to win. He will bunt, hit-and-run, beat you with his glove, and beat you with his instincts. He has the leadership qualities to be a champion.
- Graffanino needs to learn to hit the breaking ball. He is a fine fastball hitter, though. He can drive a mistake pitch.
- Tony shows more discipline at the late every year. He always tries to hit the ball the other way an manufacture runs. He has surprisingly quick hands, however, so he can hit for power.
- Tony can be a leadoff hitter if necessary. “He takes a lot of pitches and sees a lot of pitches,” said White Sox manager Jerry Manuel of Graffanino’s importance at the top of the order. “Tony gives you a good quality at-bat right away. You also want a guy with a lot of intensity and energy, like Graf, in that spot. You want that right away. It says, ‘Here were are, ready to fight.’”
- In 2005, Tony hit .297 off lefthanded pitchers and .317 against righthanders.
In 2006, Graffanino hit .275 with 4 homers in 142 at-bats vs. lefthanders, and .274 with 3 home runs in 314 at-bats off righthanded pitchers.
In 2007, Tony hit .231 with 3 home runs in 91 at-bat vs. lefthanded pitchers, and .243 with 6 homers in 140 at-bats vs. righthanders.
- Entering the 2010 season, Graffanino had a .265 career batting average with 58 home runs and 302 RBI in 2,810 at-bats during 974 games.
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