Early standings could reveal some weaknesses

We’re getting back toward our five-Emails-per-week regular-season schedule, which would send you News and Notes each Thursday.
NOTE: We have extended the free period for these Emails through Sunday, April 18. After that date, the Emails would go only to those who subscribe.
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We told you about Benson
There are some surprises among the teams currently leading the major leagues’ division, but the most interesting position is fourth place in four of the six divisions.
The American League leaders are Toronto (7-3) in the East, Minnesota (7-3) in the Central and Oakland (7-4) in the West. In the National League, Philadelphia leads the East at 7-2, with Florida not far behind at 6-4; St. Louis tops the Central at 6-3, and San Francisco (7-2) is first in the West.
But look at who’s fourth in the AL divisions – the Red Sox (4-5) in the East, White Sox (4-6) in the Central and Angels (3-7) in the West. All were considered playoff teams going into the season, and all still could be. Our thinking is that that the team in the greatest jeopardy is Boston, which really is beginning to show its age. It didn’t help that CF Mike Cameron couldn’t play because of a strained lower abdomen, which the Sox were checking to make sure it wasn’t appendicitis. With bruised ribs also sidelining LF Jacoby Ellsbury, another 30-something, Bill Hall, played center field and committed an error. Don’t even get us started about Jason Varitek, Mike Lowell, Tim Wakefield and Big Grandpapi.
In the National League, the Dodgers are fourth at 4-5, and it could be difficult for them to finish the season above .500. Their pitching staff is a mess. Is that Russ Ortiz or Ramon Ortiz on the roster? Both? Oh, no!
LA did win, with its 2009 hero, OF Andre Ethier, driving in the winnng run with a walk-off single.
The current order of the NL Central (separating the three teams tied for third) could easily be the way it finishes. It’s also possible that St. Louis could be the division’s only team to finish above .500.
OOO It was getaway day in Cleveland, and the Indians’ 3-2 victory over the Rangers took just 2 hours, 3 minutes to play. It helped that Tribe LHP David Huff pitched a complete-game four-hitter. Texas LHP Matt Harrison was about as good, but was victimized because two errors preceded Indians OF Shin-soo Choo’s three-run homer in the eighth inning.
OOO Hey! We told you the Diamondbacks would bring up RHP Kris Benson to start Saturday’s game, and the team now has announced that fact.
OOO We also told you Blue Jays LF Travis Snider’s current stint in the majors could be short. It won’t help him that Toronto traded cash or a player to be named to the Giants for OF Fred Lewis, who just completed an injury-rehab assignment at Triple-A Fresno. For now, the Jays have optioned OF Jeremy Reed to Triple-A Las Vegas and put RHP Dustin McGowan on the 60-day disabled list to make a roster spot for Lewis.

Cantu can
Marlins 1B/3B Jorge Cantu set a major league record with his 10th consecutive game with at least one hit and one RBI. That performance actually stretched his streak to 14 games over last year and this, four short of the major league record for H/RBI games at any point in a season. Ray Grimes established that mark for the 1922 Cubs. His streak no doubt has helped Florida OF Cameron Maybin score at least one run in each of his last nine games. It hasn’t helped Cantu that LF Chris Coghlan has been out for two games because of bruised left ribs. He could play Friday. OF Brett Carroll started in Coghlan’s place Wednesday and hit a home run.
Another streaking player is Phillies 2B Chase Utley, with four home runs in the last three games. And then there’s Astros LF Carlos Lee, in an 0-for-18 slump. Without his help, Houston won for the first time in 2010 – with the winning pitcher, RHP Bud Norris, striking out nine Cardinals in five innings.

Injuries
LF Felix Pie left the Orioles’ game in the seventh inning, holding his left shoulder. He also had injured it making a throw during Baltimore’s opening game. RHP Koji Uehara (strained left hamstring) threw on the side and could pitch batting practice Saturday.
OOO Yankees RHP Chan Ho Park suffered a right hamstring injury while warming up, so he was unable to pitch in relief.
OOO Phillies RHP Joe Blanton (strained left oblique) is scheduled to throw in the bullpen Friday and could begin an injury-rehab assignment Tuesday.
OOO The Diamondbacks scratched 1B Adam LaRoche (tight right quadriceps). They moved OF/1B Conor Jackson to first base and started OF Gerardo Parra in left field.
OOO RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (strained neck) could return to the Red Sox soon. In his second injury-rehab start for Triple-A Pawtucket, he had a line of 630002 against Buffalo (Mets organization). He has given up five hits in 11 scoreless innings, and is eligible to come off the disabled list Sunday.

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.
The biggest news about closers is that the Orioles have put LHP Mike Gonzalez on the disabled list because of a strained shoulder, and moved RHP Jim Johnson into the closer’s role. They also recalled RHP Kam Mickolio, who might have some save opportunities. Gonzalez isn’t expected back for 3-4 weeks. And, by the way, we also told you that Gonzalez appeared to be hurting and that Johnson might replace him.
Yankees RHP Mariano Rivera’s fourth save wasn’t difficult. He entered the game with two out and two runners on base, with New York leading the Angels 6-2. Rivera retired the only batter he faced to end the game.
Nationals RHP Matt Capps also received his fourth save, but had to work harder. In 1 2/3 innings of Washington’s 7-5 victory over the Phillies, he allowed three hits and one run on CF Shane Victorino’s homer.
In the Brewers’ 8-6 win over the Cubs, RHP Trevor Hoffman picked up his third save, but gave up a run tainted by a hit awarded when RF Corey Hart and 2B Rickie Weeks allowed a popup to fall safely.

Stewart leads majors' quick HR start

Our regular Tuesday Emails during the season will be Minor League Updates, telling you about players on the move through their farm system. That could mean players who have been promoted or are likely to be, players who are performing exceptionally well (or poorly), top prospects who are injured or returning from injury, and information on the somewhat anonymous “minor leaguers” who are included in trades or mentioned in trade talks.
Because the minor league season doesn’t begin until Thursday, we’re changing our usual order so that this Tuesday Email will be News and Notes.
Wednesday, as usual, will include Injury Updates (preview, Mark Prior is still hurt somewhere). On Thursday, we’ll tell you about the minors’ Opening Day. The focus of that report will be the Triple-A Opening Day starters. Those are the first pitchers likely to be recalled to their major league affiliate; we’ll give you an idea of how viable they would be as major league and fantasy baseball pitchers.
By this weekend, we’ll give you information on how you can subscribe for five (or more)-times-a-week themed Emails during the regular season. Let us know of your interest and what you’d like to see by Emailing lary@fantasybaseballscout.com.
Thanks for your continuing interest in and support of Fantasy Baseball Scout.
News and Notes
The Orioles and Rays were the last teams to open this season. Their game made it so that there was at least one home run in each of the 15 openers.
Rockies 3B/2B Ian Stewart hit a homer in each of their first two games.
SS Everth Cabrera is in the Padres’ lineup because of his base-stealing ability and to a lesser extent defense. It was a huge bonus for San Diego that he drove in four runs in a 6-3 victory over the Diamondbacks.
RHP Kanekoa Texeira made the Mariners’ roster because of a sensational spring, but he didn’t do as well in his debut against the Athletics. His pitching line was 1 2/3 51112, with Oakland 2B Mark Ellis driving in the winning run with a single to give Texeira and Seattle a loss.
The Red Sox re-signed RHP Josh Beckett to a four-year, $68-million contract.
LHP Aroldis Chapman will make his first regular-season appearance in the U.S. Sunday when he pitches for the Reds’ Triple-A affiliate, Louisville, at Toledo of the Tigers’ organization. There’s likely to be a large crowd, possibly a sellout or more. I’ve covered a couple of extravaganzas involving international sensations. Orlando Hernandez’s career turned out to be pretty good, but Hideki Irabu didn’t deliver as promised. Chapman has an advantage over both of them in being several years younger.

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. We’ll also have a FREE Article on the old site letting you know which pitcher or pitchers each team is using to close games.
We’ve been promoting Giants RHP Brian Wilson as a likely National League saves leader. He’s off to a good start, with saves in each of San Francisco’s first two games. One of those was the customary easy-in, easy-out one clean inning with a three-run lead. The other was entering with a runner on base, one out and a three-run advantage. The result was the same: Wilson slammed the door. Not only is does he have a high-90s fastball, but he’s also on a rising team that is likely to win a lot – including a high number of close, savable games. My early assessment is that the Giants are light years ahead of the Dodgers and should battle the Rockies for the National League West title.
There weren’t really any nail-biting saves on Monday. The other saves were by Angels LHP Brian Fuentes, 6-3 over the Twins; Mariners RHP David Aardsma, 5-3 at Oakland, and Rockies LHP Franklin Morales, 5-3 at Milwaukee. Morales gave up a run, and it’s almost certain that RHP Huston Street would resume his role as Colorado’s closer when he comes off the disabled list.
Also on Monday, Blue Jays RHP Jason Frasor blew a save at Texas, giving up two runs in a third of an inning. He appeared to throw very well, and was in part a victim of poor luck or timing. Frasor gave up an infield hit to DH Vladimir Guerrero and a bloop double by RF Nelson Cruz on a pitch that appeared to fool him. Bottom line: Don’t write off Frasor as a possibility.
Tuesday’s savers (saviors?) were Wilson; Yankees RHP Mariano Rivera, 6-4 at Boston; Twins RHP Jon Rauch, 5-3 at LA/Anaheim; Padres RHP Heath Bell, 6-3 at Arizona, and Brewers RHP Trevor Hoffman, 7-5 over the Rockies. Hoffman gave up a run on two hits. The most impressive save might have been by Rauch. He dispatched three Angels, two with strikeouts.
The Orioles’ new closer, LHP Mike Gonzalez, blew a save in a 4-3 loss at Tampa Bay. My feeling is that Gonzalez’s arm hasn’t been right since shortly after he arrived in Atlanta. I’d stay away from him, and expect to see him on the DL before long. Baltimore’s best alternative could be RHP Jim Johnson.