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Pirates fall 20 short of 20-20
The Red Sox will bring RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka back from his injury-rehab assignment. He will replace RHP Tim Wakefield in their rotation. That might be a greater indictment of Boston’s catchers, who are having great difficulty throwing out base stealers, than of Wakefield. The Sox might not be able to afford having his slow pitching motion and slow pitches giving opposing runners even greater chances to steal.
OOO The Brewers became the first team in major league history to win a game 20-0 to complete a three-game sweep in Pittsburgh during which they outscored the Pirates 36-1. LF Ryan Braun hit his fifth homer, and 1B Prince Fielder finally hit his first. OF Jim Edmonds and C George Kottaras also connected for the first time this season.
OOO Filling in for injured SS Jimmy Rollins, Phillies SS/2B Juan Castro went 3-for-5 with two runs and an RBI in an 8-3 victory over the Braves.
OOO Mets rookie 1B Ike Davis had three hits and scored two runs.
OOO On the flip side, Angels 3B Brandon Wood’s average slipped to .087.
OOO White Sox RHP Jake Peavy allowed seven earned runs in 4 1/3 innings, causing his ERA to expand to 7.66.
OOO The Rays and OF/2B Ben Zobrist agreed on a contract extension through 2013, with team options for ’14 and ’15.
OOO In an episode reminiscent of how the Rays established themselves as a presence two years ago against the Yankees, Athletics LHP Dallas Braden engaged in a war of words with New York 3B Alex Rodriguez. Braden took offense when A-Rod ran across the mound after a foul ball. Rodriguez said, “He just told me to get off his mound. I’d never heard of that, especially from a guy that has a handful of wins in his career.” Braden said he hopes the Yankees realize “We’re not the doormat anymore.” A collision at home plate in a 2008 exhibition game that injured Yankees C Francisco Cervelli was Tampa Bay’s way of letting New York know the Rays had arrived.
Minor matters
3B Mike Moustakas, the Royals’ first-round draft pick in 2007, made his first Double-A appearance at Northwest Arkansas, and hit two home runs. Another prospect for the Naturals, OF Tim Smith, went on the disabled list because of a quadriceps injury.
The pitching-prospect twins, Reds LHP prospect Aroldis Chapman and Nationals RHP prospect Stephen Strasburg, again pitched on the same day. Chapman had control problems, with half a dozen walks and a pitching line of 5 1/3 31068 for Triple-A Louisville. Strasburg has a 2-0 record and 0.73 ERA for Double-A Harrisburg following a line of 510017, and should be ready to move up to Triple-A Syracuse.
Indians C prospect Carlos Santana left Wednesday’s game after fouling a pitch off his right knee, and is considered day to day.
When 1BJustin Smoak left Triple-A Oklahoma City’s game, speculation was that he had hurt himself by fouling a ball off his foot. After the game, though, the Rangers said they would recall Smoak and option struggling 1B Chris Davis to the Redhawks.
Injuries
Tigers OF/3B Carlos Guillen could go on the disabled list because of a hamstring injury.
OOO LF Manny Ramirez left the Dodgers’ game at Cincinnati in the sixth inning because of a strained right calf muscle. He expected to miss at least two games. RHP Jeff Weaver (back injury) has gone on the disabled list.
OOO The Red Sox learned that LF Jacoby Ellsbury’s injury is four fractured left ribs. He’s eligible to come off the DL Tuesday, and Ellsbury still is optimistic that that could happen.
OOO Nationals 3B Ryan Zimmerman is doubtful for this weekend’d games because of a hamstring injury.
OOO Rangers C Salty, rehabbing a left shoulder injury at Oklahoma City, made a throwing error on a stolen base. That could indicate that his throwing still isn’t good enough to have him playing in the majors.
OOO The Athletics fear that OF Travis Buck could be out until mid-May because of an oblique injury.
In closing
This is a regular feature of our Emails and blog posts. It lets you know who’s getting saves. Equally important is telling you who’s blowing saves or putting his job in jeopardy by getting shaky saves. There’s also a FREE Article on the old fantasybaseballscout.com web site letting you know which pitcher or pitchers each team is using to close games. It will be updated whenever there’s a change or speculation about a change in a team’s closer.
Rockies LHP Franklin Morales’ third save came in a 2-0 victory at Washington, where bigger news was that RHP Ubaldo Jimenez improved to 4-0 with an 0.95 ERA by pitching another 7 1/3 scoreless innings on the heels of his no-hitter.
LHP Darren Oliver picked up his first save – since 1994! – as the Rangers won in Boston 3-0. Texas’ closer, Neftali Feliz, wasn’t able to pitch, and RHPs Frank Francisco and Dustin Nippert had lost games the previous two nights, so Oliver apparently was the best option.
Mets RHP Francisco Rodriguez finally received his first save, an easy one in a 5-2 win over the Cubs.
Other saves went to Reds RHP Francisco Corderon, sixth, 8-5 over the Dodgers; Tigers RHP Jose Valverde, fifth, 5-4 at LA/Anaheim, and Athletics RHP Andrew Bailey, second, 4-2 against the Yankees.
Promotion
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Showing posts with label Daisuke Matsuzaka. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Daisuke Matsuzaka. Show all posts
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
More aches and pains
It can’t be good news for the Red Sox that RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka’s first scheduled throwing session has been pushed back a week. He’s sidelined by a back injury.
The Reds put RHP Edinson Volquez on the 60-day disabled list while he recovers from reconstructive elbow surgery. Meanwhile, 1B Joey Votto said he is making progress in overcoming anxiety and depression that put him on the disabled list last season.
Rangers LHP Derek Holland’s knee injury has been diagnosed as a mild sprain.
Orioles 2B Brian Roberts’ back injury has been diagnosed as a herniated disk.
Twins RHP Joe Nathan said he would be following his normal spring workout schedule even though he underwent off-season surgery to remove bone spurs from his elbow.
Position battles:
The Yankees haven’t handed their left field job to Randy Winn. Brett Gardner and non-roster invitee Marcus Thames also are in the mix. Currently, the fifth starter’s job would come down to RHPs Philip Hughes and Joba Chamberlain. As well as Hughes pitched in relief last season, our money would have him in the rotation and the big guy in the bullpen.
The Phillies are good enough that their fifth starter could have some value. Going into the exhibition games, the competition is between LHP Jamie Moyer, who’s too old for you to count on him for your fantasy team, and RHP Kyle Kendrick, who hasn’t proved he could be successful in the majors. If Philadelphia makes a deal for even a journeyman veteran, expect that he could bring more value than a number three starter on a weak team.
The Athletics are hardly strong, but their pitchers have two benefits: 1. Working in a good pitchers’ park and 2. Being young enough to have an upside. That doesn’t mean their fifth starter could have great value, but there are many pitchers in the majors without the talent and potential of Oakland’s candidates: RHPs Trevor Cahill and Vin Mazzaro and LHP Gio Gonzalez. It’s quite possible that two or even all three of them could end up in the rotation, because RHPs Justin Duchscherer and Ben Sheets would have to show they could come back successfully from an injury-imposed year off.
Duchscherer underwent a manipulative procedure to relieve discomfort in his lower back. The A’s said Sheets is scheduled to make his exhibition debut March 5 against the Brewers.
It shouldn’t matter who will be the Pirates’ fifth starter between RHPs Kevin Hart and my homeboy Daniel McCutchen. Pittsburgh will need just four starters for much of April, and even after that the team is hardly good enough to win games behind its top-of-rotation starters. Hart seems likely to get the first shot at the job because the Pirates would like to prove that he is better than the 1-8 record he posted for the Bucs. That would reduce the embarrassment of the bad trade that brought Hart from the Cubs.
RHP Chan Ho Park isn’t likely to be a starter in the majors this year. However, he told Korean media that he would sign a free-agent contract with the Yankees, but the team said a deal hadn’t been reached.
The crack of the bat:
Today, the last team (Cleveland) opened workouts for its pitchers and catchers. Some of those pitchers threw to real batters, because 12 teams brought their position players on to the field for their first workouts. Those teams were the Orioles, Tigers, Braves, Phillies, Pirates and Cardinals in Florida, and the Royals, Angels, Mariners, Cubs, Reds and Giants in Arizona.
One of the greatest:
Willie Mays has been showing up on various TV interview shows, because there’s a new Mays biography out. Two of the interviews were with Charlie Rose and Jon Stewart. Both very interesting, in part because Willie seemed more eloquent and thoughtful, and probably patient, than he was as a player. Made me want to get the book. I couldn’t find the Stewart interview at YouTube or the Comedy Central web site.
The Reds put RHP Edinson Volquez on the 60-day disabled list while he recovers from reconstructive elbow surgery. Meanwhile, 1B Joey Votto said he is making progress in overcoming anxiety and depression that put him on the disabled list last season.
Rangers LHP Derek Holland’s knee injury has been diagnosed as a mild sprain.
Orioles 2B Brian Roberts’ back injury has been diagnosed as a herniated disk.
Twins RHP Joe Nathan said he would be following his normal spring workout schedule even though he underwent off-season surgery to remove bone spurs from his elbow.
Position battles:
The Yankees haven’t handed their left field job to Randy Winn. Brett Gardner and non-roster invitee Marcus Thames also are in the mix. Currently, the fifth starter’s job would come down to RHPs Philip Hughes and Joba Chamberlain. As well as Hughes pitched in relief last season, our money would have him in the rotation and the big guy in the bullpen.
The Phillies are good enough that their fifth starter could have some value. Going into the exhibition games, the competition is between LHP Jamie Moyer, who’s too old for you to count on him for your fantasy team, and RHP Kyle Kendrick, who hasn’t proved he could be successful in the majors. If Philadelphia makes a deal for even a journeyman veteran, expect that he could bring more value than a number three starter on a weak team.
The Athletics are hardly strong, but their pitchers have two benefits: 1. Working in a good pitchers’ park and 2. Being young enough to have an upside. That doesn’t mean their fifth starter could have great value, but there are many pitchers in the majors without the talent and potential of Oakland’s candidates: RHPs Trevor Cahill and Vin Mazzaro and LHP Gio Gonzalez. It’s quite possible that two or even all three of them could end up in the rotation, because RHPs Justin Duchscherer and Ben Sheets would have to show they could come back successfully from an injury-imposed year off.
Duchscherer underwent a manipulative procedure to relieve discomfort in his lower back. The A’s said Sheets is scheduled to make his exhibition debut March 5 against the Brewers.
It shouldn’t matter who will be the Pirates’ fifth starter between RHPs Kevin Hart and my homeboy Daniel McCutchen. Pittsburgh will need just four starters for much of April, and even after that the team is hardly good enough to win games behind its top-of-rotation starters. Hart seems likely to get the first shot at the job because the Pirates would like to prove that he is better than the 1-8 record he posted for the Bucs. That would reduce the embarrassment of the bad trade that brought Hart from the Cubs.
RHP Chan Ho Park isn’t likely to be a starter in the majors this year. However, he told Korean media that he would sign a free-agent contract with the Yankees, but the team said a deal hadn’t been reached.
The crack of the bat:
Today, the last team (Cleveland) opened workouts for its pitchers and catchers. Some of those pitchers threw to real batters, because 12 teams brought their position players on to the field for their first workouts. Those teams were the Orioles, Tigers, Braves, Phillies, Pirates and Cardinals in Florida, and the Royals, Angels, Mariners, Cubs, Reds and Giants in Arizona.
One of the greatest:
Willie Mays has been showing up on various TV interview shows, because there’s a new Mays biography out. Two of the interviews were with Charlie Rose and Jon Stewart. Both very interesting, in part because Willie seemed more eloquent and thoughtful, and probably patient, than he was as a player. Made me want to get the book. I couldn’t find the Stewart interview at YouTube or the Comedy Central web site.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Pitchers and catchers reporting
Today arrived what some baseball fans consider the real first day of spring.
The first pitchers and catchers reported to spring training.
Twelve teams required their batteries to be in camp: the Cubs, Reds, Rockies, Royals, Angels, Giants and Mariners in Arizona; the Orioles, Yankees, Phillies, Pirates and Cardinals in Florida.
No official workouts were held. Almost every team has its players report the day before the first workout -- to undergo physicals, get equipment in order, check in to team hotels or dorms, kind of first-day-of-school stuff. For some reason, the Mets report two days before their first workout.
Pitchers and catchers will continue to report to other teams every day until Monday, Feb. 22. That's when the Indians will be the last to require players to report before pitching and catching in cages.
Monday also will be the first day for 12 teams' other position players to report to spring training. For the most part, those are the same teams that had pitchers and catchers show up today.
Most teams (18) have the two groups report five days apart, but the time difference is as few as three days or as many as eight. The biggest difference is with the Rockies, who always seem to need pitching help but always have plenty of hitters.
Some pitchers may report on time, but not be ready to pitch. For example, Red Sox RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka's throwing will be delayed because he has a sore upper back. Royals RHP Zack Greinke will miss some time after having two teeth pulled. Orioles RHP Brad Bergesen expects to be out 10 days because of a shoulder injury suffered in December. However, Bergesen's teammate, RHP Koji Uehara, recovering from a torn flexor tendon in his elbow, arrived early. He threw off a mound Tuesday and said he felt no pain.
The Braves don't expect RHP Jair Jurrjens to pitch for a while. He underwent an MRI exam on his shoulder, and was encouraged by the results.
In the equivalent of last-minute Christmas shopping, teams have been adding free agents and waiver claims to their roster.
The Nnationals, who had some success with cattle-call spring trainings while they were in Montreal (RHP Dennis Martinez was their best reclamation project, have been one of the most active teams in picking up inexpensive free agents. They're likely to reach a final agreement soon with ex-Yankees RHP Chien Ming-Wang to go with such players as LHP Ron Villone, 2B Adam Kennedy and CF Willy Taveras.
Other signings to watch for are Cs Rod Barajas (Yankees?) and Jose Molina (Rangers?), 1B/3B Russell Branyan (Indians?) and OF Johnny Damon (White Sox or Tigers?).
The first pitchers and catchers reported to spring training.
Twelve teams required their batteries to be in camp: the Cubs, Reds, Rockies, Royals, Angels, Giants and Mariners in Arizona; the Orioles, Yankees, Phillies, Pirates and Cardinals in Florida.
No official workouts were held. Almost every team has its players report the day before the first workout -- to undergo physicals, get equipment in order, check in to team hotels or dorms, kind of first-day-of-school stuff. For some reason, the Mets report two days before their first workout.
Pitchers and catchers will continue to report to other teams every day until Monday, Feb. 22. That's when the Indians will be the last to require players to report before pitching and catching in cages.
Monday also will be the first day for 12 teams' other position players to report to spring training. For the most part, those are the same teams that had pitchers and catchers show up today.
Most teams (18) have the two groups report five days apart, but the time difference is as few as three days or as many as eight. The biggest difference is with the Rockies, who always seem to need pitching help but always have plenty of hitters.
Some pitchers may report on time, but not be ready to pitch. For example, Red Sox RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka's throwing will be delayed because he has a sore upper back. Royals RHP Zack Greinke will miss some time after having two teeth pulled. Orioles RHP Brad Bergesen expects to be out 10 days because of a shoulder injury suffered in December. However, Bergesen's teammate, RHP Koji Uehara, recovering from a torn flexor tendon in his elbow, arrived early. He threw off a mound Tuesday and said he felt no pain.
The Braves don't expect RHP Jair Jurrjens to pitch for a while. He underwent an MRI exam on his shoulder, and was encouraged by the results.
In the equivalent of last-minute Christmas shopping, teams have been adding free agents and waiver claims to their roster.
The Nnationals, who had some success with cattle-call spring trainings while they were in Montreal (RHP Dennis Martinez was their best reclamation project, have been one of the most active teams in picking up inexpensive free agents. They're likely to reach a final agreement soon with ex-Yankees RHP Chien Ming-Wang to go with such players as LHP Ron Villone, 2B Adam Kennedy and CF Willy Taveras.
Other signings to watch for are Cs Rod Barajas (Yankees?) and Jose Molina (Rangers?), 1B/3B Russell Branyan (Indians?) and OF Johnny Damon (White Sox or Tigers?).
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