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Luis Tiant leaves them laughing

Print | Comments () Posted by Peter Abraham, Globe Staff March 19, 2012 11:41 AM

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By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

FORT MYERS, Fla. — One of the best parts of spring training is getting to see players like Luis Tiant around camp.

Tiant was in a golf cart this morning, being driven from the parking lot to the clubhouse. Tommy Harper was walking alongside.

"Look at this," Harper joked. "I'm walking and he's getting a ride."

"I'm going on the treadmill later," Tiant said. "I'm conserving my energy."

Tiant who is 71, loves hanging around the clubhouse with the players. He was busting Jon Lester's chops this morning, asking what were the most innings he ever threw in a season. Tiant was quick to mention that he threw 311 innings in 1974.

"You didn't have to face the Yankees five times," Lester said while throwing an arm around Tiant's shoulders. "And you had lineups with hitters all Pedroia's size. I have to face all these monsters."

By the time Tiant was done, Mike Aviles, Adrian Gonzalez, Darnell McDonald and David Ortiz had gathered around him. Everybody was laughing.

"He's a lot of fun to be around," Aviles said. "His stories are great. He did things that no pitcher would even think about today. It was a different game."