"Everything starts with your base," Howard says. "Hitting is about your base being in the right position. Fielding is the same. Your feet have to take you to the ball, get in the right position to get your upper body to work."

Then there is throwing to second base. Starting a double play after holding the runner. Starting one after playing behind the runner. Coming off the bag to grab a pickoff attempt on an attempted steal, throwing after fielding balls to the left and to the right.

Manuel says Howard had a strong arm in the minors. Yet, just from playing catch, Perlozzo noticed that Howard was throwing across his body. Perlozzo told Howard to point his toe at his target for greater accuracy. Once Howard achieved the proper position, he could work on finding a consistent arm slot.

"If he takes what he's doing into games and keeps it going, he will be more than adequate," Perlozzo says. "I told him, you don't take a backseat to any defender on this team unless you do it yourself. The physical tools are there. You've shown yourself and you've shown me that you can do it."

He was not obligated. He was just determined to improve.

"People look at me as a power hitter," Howard says. "I don't want to be looked at in just that light. I want to diversify my portfolio, get my defense out there.

"Next," he says, smiling, "we'll be working on my speed."