The offensively challenged Mets hit four home runs and scored nine runs in the seventh inning to defeat the Tigers 9-1. 3B David Wright hit his third this spring, OF Gary Matthews powered his second and OF Jason Bay and 1B Daniel Murphy connected for the first time in 2010.
For another Tigers split squad, OF Johnny Damon hit his first homer in a 6-2 victory over his previous team, the Yankees. Even better news for Detroit was that a fifth-starter candidate, LHP Dontrelle Willis, was the winning pitcher. His pitching line of 341110 indicates he might have to succeed more with finesse than power.
The Yanks’ other split squad won over the Orioles 5-3. RHP David Robertson received a save. Baltimore RHP Jeremy Guthrie gave up three runs in the first inning.
We’ve been telling you that Phillies RHP Danys Baez could be a good sleeper candidate this year, when expectations for him are few and he still has some talent if he’s physically OK. Baez picked up a save in Philadelphia’s 5-4 victory over the Twins.
3B prospect Juan Francisco hammered his first two homers of the spring, but the Reds lost 11-4 to the Cubs.
Marlins OF Brett Carroll hit his third homer of the spring in an 8-5 victory over the Rays. CF B.J. Upton homered for the first time for Tampa Bay.
Also hitting his first homer was Royals 2B Chris Getz, who connected in a 12-3 rout of the Angels. He might not hit many more than that all season.
Two teams won in the bottom of the last inning – including the Athletics, who actually went to 10 innings in a 10-9 victory over the Padres decided when CF Eric Patterson drove in the winning run. 3B Dallas McPherson had tied the game in the bottom of the ninth with a solo homer against San Diego RHP Kevin Correia. The Astros defeated the winless Nationals 8-7 on a single by rookie CF Jack Shuck. No, you won’t hear about him in the major leagues any more this year.
RHP Brandon McCarthy’s good start helped the Rangers to a 5-0 victory over the Indians. He is battling LHPs Matt Harrison and C.J. Wilson and others for a job as Texas’ fifth starter.
In Las Vegas, the Cubs took an early victory in their city series with the White Sox, 8-7.
Sample Scouting Report:
Brett Carroll, OF, Marlins
Ht.: 6-0 Wt.: 190 B: R Age: 27
{2010} Carroll’s stats lines conjure up a vision of a lumbering 6-4, 240-pound type who is a defensive liability. In reality, he’s a pretty good defender with enough arm to play right field. Limiting his playing time have been strikeout/walk ratios pretty consistently in the 3:1 range. In addition to showing power, Carroll hit for good averages in Triple-A until last season. That drop-off most likely resulted from having his routine disrupted by shuttling between Miami and Albuquerque. If he can keep his strikeouts under control, Carroll could stick in the majors as a fourth or fifth outfielder and platoon pinch hitter. His best chance for success would come if he could show enough that another team would take an interest in him once OF Michael Stanton is ready for the Marlins’ outfield. Born: Oct. 3, 1982, Knoxville, Tenn. 2009: 141 AB, .234 BA, 3 HR, 18 RBI, 0 SB, 18 R.
Projection
AB: 182 BA: .249 HR: 5 RBI: 25 SB: 1 R: 25 Value: $1
Showing posts with label Johnny Damon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Johnny Damon. Show all posts
Friday, March 19, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Outfielders in the news
The early days of spring training are a time when every team feels like a contender – well, maybe not the Pirates and Royals.
Also, every injured player is optimistic that he’ll be able to play by Opening Day or, for anyone with an injury less serious than Tommy John surgery or an amputated limb, that he’ll be ready by the All-Star break.
That includes OFs Carlos Beltran, Alfonso Soriano and Torii Hunter, all of whom can be difference-makers for their team. That’s true, except that even Beltran at his best at bat and in center field might not be able to make a difference in the Mets.
Beltran isn’t expected back until early May. He’s five weeks removed from surgery to remove fragments of bone and cartilage from his right knee.
Soriano spent the winter in the Dominican Republic rehabbing from arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. The Cubs’ left fielder said he isn’t yet running at full speed but added that he should be 100 per cent by Opening Day. Naturally.
Hunter could be the biggest difference-maker. He’s coming back from arthroscopic surgery to repair a sports hernia that curtailed his best season – a .299 average, 22 homers and 90 RBI. He’ll also bring nine Gold Gloves to center field for the Angels.
Another outfielder, Johnny Damon, wasn’t hurt but was in limbo until he and the Tigers officially agreed today on a one-year, $8-million contract to be their left fielder or DH.
Injury updates:
Phillies RHP Brad Lidge, coming back from elbow and knee surgeries, threw 20 pitches off a mound. He said he doesn’t feel he can be ready for Opening Day. Philadelphia fans hope that at least before the All-Star break he will no longer be giving up damaging homers. LHP J.C. Romero, who also had elbow surgery, is scheduled to throw off a mound Saturday.
In Scottsdale, Ariz., where it rained for the third consecutive day, new 3B Mark DeRosa arrived a day early for his first batting practice, in a cage, following off-season surgery on his left wrist. 2B Freddy Sanchez, returning from left shoulder and left knee injuries, hasn’t yet hit but he has played catch and done some agility drills and running.
Cardinals SS Brendan Ryan, a big surprise last season, is just two weeks removed from arthroscopic surgery to repair an inflamed tendon in his right wrist. Of course, he said he expected to be rady for Opening Day. Helping his quest could be the fact that St. Louis’ first game isn’t until the season’s second day, April 5 at Cincinnati.
The saddest story is that of Khalil Greene. He was trying to return to the majors this year with the Rangers, but they have announced that he won’t join them at spring training or play for the team this season. Apparently, the anxiety problems that plagued him last season have returned.
For openers:
White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen got on the early bandwagon of naming an Opening Day starter. LHP Mark Buehrle would start his Sox-record eighth opener – breaking a tie with Billy Pierce, an all-but-forgotten ace lefty from the ‘50s and ‘60s. Guillen chose Buehrle over RHP Jake Peavy, who would start the second game.
In another pitching announcement, Orioles manager Dave Trembley said LHP Mike Gonzalez would be Baltimore’s closer.
Gossip:
Getting even as far tonight as “Chelsea Lately,” a show with little sports IQ, is the rumor that Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez hooked up with Cameron Diaz in Miami while they were there for the Super Bowl. There also have been Madonna sightings in A-Rod’s vicinity recently.
Also, every injured player is optimistic that he’ll be able to play by Opening Day or, for anyone with an injury less serious than Tommy John surgery or an amputated limb, that he’ll be ready by the All-Star break.
That includes OFs Carlos Beltran, Alfonso Soriano and Torii Hunter, all of whom can be difference-makers for their team. That’s true, except that even Beltran at his best at bat and in center field might not be able to make a difference in the Mets.
Beltran isn’t expected back until early May. He’s five weeks removed from surgery to remove fragments of bone and cartilage from his right knee.
Soriano spent the winter in the Dominican Republic rehabbing from arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. The Cubs’ left fielder said he isn’t yet running at full speed but added that he should be 100 per cent by Opening Day. Naturally.
Hunter could be the biggest difference-maker. He’s coming back from arthroscopic surgery to repair a sports hernia that curtailed his best season – a .299 average, 22 homers and 90 RBI. He’ll also bring nine Gold Gloves to center field for the Angels.
Another outfielder, Johnny Damon, wasn’t hurt but was in limbo until he and the Tigers officially agreed today on a one-year, $8-million contract to be their left fielder or DH.
Injury updates:
Phillies RHP Brad Lidge, coming back from elbow and knee surgeries, threw 20 pitches off a mound. He said he doesn’t feel he can be ready for Opening Day. Philadelphia fans hope that at least before the All-Star break he will no longer be giving up damaging homers. LHP J.C. Romero, who also had elbow surgery, is scheduled to throw off a mound Saturday.
In Scottsdale, Ariz., where it rained for the third consecutive day, new 3B Mark DeRosa arrived a day early for his first batting practice, in a cage, following off-season surgery on his left wrist. 2B Freddy Sanchez, returning from left shoulder and left knee injuries, hasn’t yet hit but he has played catch and done some agility drills and running.
Cardinals SS Brendan Ryan, a big surprise last season, is just two weeks removed from arthroscopic surgery to repair an inflamed tendon in his right wrist. Of course, he said he expected to be rady for Opening Day. Helping his quest could be the fact that St. Louis’ first game isn’t until the season’s second day, April 5 at Cincinnati.
The saddest story is that of Khalil Greene. He was trying to return to the majors this year with the Rangers, but they have announced that he won’t join them at spring training or play for the team this season. Apparently, the anxiety problems that plagued him last season have returned.
For openers:
White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen got on the early bandwagon of naming an Opening Day starter. LHP Mark Buehrle would start his Sox-record eighth opener – breaking a tie with Billy Pierce, an all-but-forgotten ace lefty from the ‘50s and ‘60s. Guillen chose Buehrle over RHP Jake Peavy, who would start the second game.
In another pitching announcement, Orioles manager Dave Trembley said LHP Mike Gonzalez would be Baltimore’s closer.
Gossip:
Getting even as far tonight as “Chelsea Lately,” a show with little sports IQ, is the rumor that Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez hooked up with Cameron Diaz in Miami while they were there for the Super Bowl. There also have been Madonna sightings in A-Rod’s vicinity recently.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Here's what's going on where it's warm
Moves and lack of same:
Free-agent LF Johnny Damon apparently held out long enough to get $8 million on a one-year contract from the Tigers. ESPN reported today that the deal was done. He and agent Scott Boras had sought a two-year deal, but Detroit reportedly added a million to its offer, and that was enough. Damon is hardly a beggar, but it seemed hard to believe that he would be such a chooser.
The Indians have agreed to terms with 1B Russell Branyan, a lefthanded batter who is expected to be in at least a platoon role with 1B/OF Matt LaPorta. After 1B Ryan Garko went to the Giants last year, Cleveland's most frequent firstbaseman was fraudulent 1B/3B Andy Marte. LaPorta is recovering from surgery on both his left hip and left bit toe, so Branyan could see lots of action with his past and present team.
The last viable free-agent catchers apparently have signed. Jose Molina is going to Toronto, where he'd replace C Rod Barajas, another free agent. Barajas reportedly has signed with the Mets, whose offer of a major league contract was enough to tip the balance in their favor instead of toward the Rangers.
RHP Chien-Ming Wang and the Nationals made his deal with them official. To make room, Washington put oft-injured RHP Jordan Zimmermann on the 60-day disabled list. The Blue Jays made a similar move with RHP Jesse Litsch.
Speaking of injuries:
The MRI exam on Cubs LHP Ted Lilly's right knee showed no structural damage, but it's still not clear that he'll be ready in April while he's recovering from shoulder surgery. Given the Cubs' track record on under-reporting or underestimating injuries (see Exhibits A and B, Mark Prior and Kerry Wood), I'd be skeptical of anything the team says that sounds positive.
Rangers LHP Derek Holland injured his right knee during agility drills in this morning's workout, and will undergo an MRI exam Monday. According to Jamey Newberg's "Newberg Report," the injury is not considered serious.
Speaking of the Cubs:
Their shortstop, Ryan Theriot, is the last player going through salary arbitration this year. A victory for management could clinch a victory in this year's series with the players.
In the first seven hearings, the owners won four times -- against Nationals LHP Sean Burnett, who still got $775,000, and RHP Brian Bruney, who also shouldn't complain about $15. million; Astros LHP Wandy Rodriguez, whose $5-million award was almost twice what he made in 2009, and Rays CF B.J. Upton, $3 million (for what?).
The three winning players were Angels C Jeff Mathis ($1.3 million); Brewers RF Corey Hart ($4.8 million -- Really? Bud Selig will have to jack up the price on those clunkers he sells), and Marlins OF Cody Ross ($4.45 million, because chicks dig the long ball and Florida must have low-balled him).
Working it out:
The teams that worked out today for the first time were the Red Sox, Braves, Marlins, Astros and Mets in Florida, and the Diamondbacks in Arizona. Reporting today, and holding their first workouts Sunday, will be the Nationals in Florida and the White Sox, Athletics and Dodgers in Arizona.
Weight watchers:
Adding ammunition for those who insist that players today don't go to spring training to lose weight are two pitchers. Rangers LHP Matt Harrison, a pudgeball last season, has dropped 30 pounds, to 205, and Rockies RHP Aaron Cook is 20 pounds lighter than in 2009, weighing in at 200.
Free-agent LF Johnny Damon apparently held out long enough to get $8 million on a one-year contract from the Tigers. ESPN reported today that the deal was done. He and agent Scott Boras had sought a two-year deal, but Detroit reportedly added a million to its offer, and that was enough. Damon is hardly a beggar, but it seemed hard to believe that he would be such a chooser.
The Indians have agreed to terms with 1B Russell Branyan, a lefthanded batter who is expected to be in at least a platoon role with 1B/OF Matt LaPorta. After 1B Ryan Garko went to the Giants last year, Cleveland's most frequent firstbaseman was fraudulent 1B/3B Andy Marte. LaPorta is recovering from surgery on both his left hip and left bit toe, so Branyan could see lots of action with his past and present team.
The last viable free-agent catchers apparently have signed. Jose Molina is going to Toronto, where he'd replace C Rod Barajas, another free agent. Barajas reportedly has signed with the Mets, whose offer of a major league contract was enough to tip the balance in their favor instead of toward the Rangers.
RHP Chien-Ming Wang and the Nationals made his deal with them official. To make room, Washington put oft-injured RHP Jordan Zimmermann on the 60-day disabled list. The Blue Jays made a similar move with RHP Jesse Litsch.
Speaking of injuries:
The MRI exam on Cubs LHP Ted Lilly's right knee showed no structural damage, but it's still not clear that he'll be ready in April while he's recovering from shoulder surgery. Given the Cubs' track record on under-reporting or underestimating injuries (see Exhibits A and B, Mark Prior and Kerry Wood), I'd be skeptical of anything the team says that sounds positive.
Rangers LHP Derek Holland injured his right knee during agility drills in this morning's workout, and will undergo an MRI exam Monday. According to Jamey Newberg's "Newberg Report," the injury is not considered serious.
Speaking of the Cubs:
Their shortstop, Ryan Theriot, is the last player going through salary arbitration this year. A victory for management could clinch a victory in this year's series with the players.
In the first seven hearings, the owners won four times -- against Nationals LHP Sean Burnett, who still got $775,000, and RHP Brian Bruney, who also shouldn't complain about $15. million; Astros LHP Wandy Rodriguez, whose $5-million award was almost twice what he made in 2009, and Rays CF B.J. Upton, $3 million (for what?).
The three winning players were Angels C Jeff Mathis ($1.3 million); Brewers RF Corey Hart ($4.8 million -- Really? Bud Selig will have to jack up the price on those clunkers he sells), and Marlins OF Cody Ross ($4.45 million, because chicks dig the long ball and Florida must have low-balled him).
Working it out:
The teams that worked out today for the first time were the Red Sox, Braves, Marlins, Astros and Mets in Florida, and the Diamondbacks in Arizona. Reporting today, and holding their first workouts Sunday, will be the Nationals in Florida and the White Sox, Athletics and Dodgers in Arizona.
Weight watchers:
Adding ammunition for those who insist that players today don't go to spring training to lose weight are two pitchers. Rangers LHP Matt Harrison, a pudgeball last season, has dropped 30 pounds, to 205, and Rockies RHP Aaron Cook is 20 pounds lighter than in 2009, weighing in at 200.
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