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Porter expects players to adhere to conduct code

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- When manager Bo Porter addressed the pitchers and catchers on the field prior to Wednesday's workout, he could be overheard raising his voice and telling his team their actions were "disrespectful."

Porter was asked about the incident following the workout, and he said it stemmed from the daily 9 a.m. ET meeting, which he calls a "synergistic chemistry lab" for the players. Roger Clemens, special assistant to the general manager, was visiting camp to speak to the club, and not all the players were ready.

"Obviously, as an organization, we're fortunate to have some people like Roger Clemens and Craig Biggio and different people that will come in here over the course of the year and speak to our ballclub," Porter said. "Even that being said, we have the 9 o'clock meeting when it comes to the synergistic chemistry lab.

"That being said, out of respect to your teammates, out of respect to the people that take time out of their day to come out there and try to do everything they can to help this organization, it's the right thing to do to make sure you're dressed and ready and attentive when that person shows up or when it's time for a team meeting."

Porter appointed a handful of veterans to lead a closed-door players-only team meeting each day at 9 a.m. He's not in the meetings, but he walked Clemens into the clubhouse and didn't like what he saw from some players.

"From a respect standpoint, you should give them that respect," he said.

Pitcher Brett Oberholtzer said Porter brings the passion every day.

"As a manager, you have to be that way I feel like," he said. "With a younger ballclub in the Major Leagues, it works."

Brian McTaggart is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, Tag's Lines. Follow @brianmctaggart on Twitter.
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