Teams to do live by homers alone

Let's see.

Thursday got off to a bad start. My friend Bruno Sniders' stepson called to tell me that Bruno had died Wednesday night.

That set back my schedule for the day. The biggest casualty was that I didn't have or take the time to switch quarterbacks from Kirk Cousins to Aaron Rodgers. When I heard the early scoring from the Packers-Vikings game, I thought that omission would be costly. It could be, but Rodgers finished with just 18 points and change.

As Thursday's games played out, they reminded me of something that I observed about the Pirates' 8-0 loss to the Giants the night before.

My biggest concern coming down the stretch was that the Bucs' offense frequently depended solely on home runs, and not on building runs and sustaining big innings. The biggest example was during a five-game stretch when Pittsburgh scored just nine runs but still went 4-1 because the pitchers held the opponents to five. But even those meager nine runs, if I'm not mistaken, all scored on home runs.

My observations on the National League wild card game I expressed in a Facebook post: The Pirates were like McCroskey in "Airplane!". I guess they picked the wrong day to start walking people. I guess they picked the wrong day to stop hitting popups. I guess they picked the wrong day to have no range in the infield. Bottom line: The Pirates did almost everything poorly. It didn't help that Giants LHP Madison Bumgarner was in his best postseason form, which is very good.

Back to Thursday's American League Division Series games and home runs. The Tigers scored three runs, all on solo homers, and lost. The Angels scored two runs, both on solo homers, and lost. The dagger in Los Angeles' loss was that the Royals won that game on Mike Moustakas' 10th-inning ... solo homer.

Baltimore put a game-clinching eight-run eighth inning together with a series of base hits and misplays.

And don't you know today the Orioles overcome a 6-3 deficit with a four-run eighth built on hits and walks. No home runs. Four of the Tigers' runs scored on homers, but even for the purposes of this post, you can't really complain when three consecutive hits started their five-run fourth inning, which closed with J.D. Martinez's three-run homer and Nick Castellanos' solo shot.

But aside from that one inning, the Tigers couldn't put together any sustained offense. If they go home this weekend and do the same, they won't make it to a Game 5.

A few words about J.D. Martinez. Two years ago, he was the best player I saw in the Double-A Texas League and in the Corpus Christi Hooks' lineup. That's saying something, because one of his teammates was 2B Jose Altuve, who was almost as good in the Texas League as he was as this year's AL leader in batting average, hits and stolen bases.

This season didn't start out well for Martinez. The Astros released him. The Tigers signed him. After Martinez tore up the Triple-A International League, Detroit called him up and he almost immediately began to hit.

He talked about how he reconstructed his swing during the off-season. After he joined the Tigers, I asked him whether he went back more to the hitting style he used at Corpus Christi, and he said it was similar. He indicated that the Astros and hitting coach Dave Mallee wanted Martinez to hit more to the opposite field. He had trouble doing that, partly because he couldn't change his swing adequately and partly because he was resistant.

Another time-consuming task Thursday was running playoff fantasty drafts for the three Inner League Baseball leagues.

In those leagues, which began a year before Rotisserie Leagues, our starting lineup is one player in each of nine statistical categories. I'm in the playoffs in two of the leagues. In one of them, J.D. Martinez is in my lineup for RBI. In the other, he's my HR guy. It appears that I did something right.

Can Seattle, Miami or KC break through? What about Moustakas?

Wow! It has been a week since my last post.
My reasons (excuses?) are a busy weekend covering two Stars games, a Mavericks game and a rodeo; a cold and a migraine, and, most important, getting the three fantasy leagues I run back in shape.
Inner League Baseball, started in 1979, calls for fan-chise owners to have their rosters frozen from March 8 (this year) to March 20 to prepare for the draft on the 23rd. I hadn't updated the draft order or each owner's financial status (some $3,000 still to collect), or sent out a ballot for proposed rules changes, or provided a list of the top players in each of the nine statistical categories we use.
If you're interested in joining a league, leave in the comments section your contact information or a request for mine.
Anyway, here are some highlights of what has been going on in baseball.
The exhibition standings don't mean a lot. But I do think there is value in a poor team's being able to (or learning to) win.
The current top teams are two of last season's breakout teams, the Indians and Pirates, at 6-1. Teams to watch going forward are the Mariners (6-2), and Marlins and Royals (both 5-2). I'll have an eye on them, because I don't think much of any of their chances. If I had to pick one team to do well out of those three, it would be the Royals. But do they really have a chance to finish ahead of the Tigers? Or of a phalanx of potential wild cards in the other AL divisions that will include whatever teams don't lead their division out of the Red Sox, Rays, Orioles, Athletics, Rangers and Angels.
You can pretty much be sure that the Braves (1-6) and Red Sox (1-5) will finish ahead of Seattle, Miami and Kansas City during the regular season.
Speaking of the Pirates, Wednesday's win was a good one, 6-4 over Toronto. They scored five runs in three innings against Blue Jays RHP Brandon Morrow, who is a proven major leaguer but might still have arm trouble. OF Travis Snider was 3-for-3, including a homer against Morrow. It's also a good sign that Pittsburgh scored early, with its starters and mostly major leaguers in the lineup. And it was a lineup that included journeyman CF Chris Dickerson instead of MVP Andrew McCutchen.
Speaking of award winners, Detroit RHP Max Scherzer was impressive in a 3-0, three-hit victory over -- oh, well, it was just the Astros. He allowed one hit and struck out three in three innings. I don't believe the game log is correct in indicating that he threw just 16 pitches, all strikes. That would mean his strikeouts all were on three pitches and every other batter saw only one pitch.
Back to the Indians. They defeated the Mariners 8-5 with three runs in the top of the ninth against RHP Danny Farquhar. Even though most major leaguers had left the field by then, Farquhar did close some games for Seattle last season. And Cleveland's first run scored on a double by SS prospect Francisco Lindor.
Seattle's new closer, RHP Fernando Rodney, is expected to make his spring debut Thursday.
There was a pitching matchup you'd like to see during the regular season. The Padres sent RHP Andrew Cashner against White Sox LHP Chris Sale. It was no contest. San Diego scored four first-inning runs, three on C Nick Hundley's home run, on the way to winning 8-0.
Giants RHP Matt Cain had the upper hand over Angels RHP Jered Weaver as San Francisco won 3-2.
The Phillies and Braves honored the late Jim Fregosi before their game in Clearwater, Fla. Then, not in the tradition of Fregosi or baseball, the teams went home after nine innings even though the score was tied 2-2.
The situation was the same in the Marlins-Mets game, except that they played a 10th inning and Miami won 5-2. Guys you never heard of put the Marlins in the winners' circle. Doubles by Mark Canha and Brent Keys drove in the 10th-inning runs, Michael Brady was the winning pitcher and LHP James Leverton earned the save. He threw three ground balls, including a game-ending double-play grounder after C Travis d'Arnaud reached on an error.
Leverton's is a story of perseverance. The Cubs drafted him out of Texas Tech in 2008, three years after he and Giants OF Roger Kieschnick led Rockwall High School to the Texas state championship game. After Chicago released Leverton, he pitched in independent ball before signing with Miami, and made it to Triple-A for the first time last season.
* * *
Statistical leaders. Among them are Royals 3B Mike Moustakas with three home runs and 10 RBI; Padres 1B Tommy Medica with a .556 average; Orioles RHP Chris Tillman, Rockies LHP Franklin Morales and Athletics RHP Jesse Chavez (?!) with two wins in two starts; Diamondbacks fragile RHP Brandon McCarthy with nine innings pitched in two starts (see below); D-backs RHP Josh Collmenter with three saves; Dodgers RHP SB with eight strikeouts, and Athletics rookie OF Billy Burns with seven stolen bases.Tigers rookie 3B/OF Nick Castellanos has seven RBI in his first 14 at-bats.
This information doesn't have any binding relevance, but it could signal that Moustakas is ready to make the kind of leap forward that 1B Eric Hosmer did in 2013 and that if Medica's for real, he or 1B Yonder Alonso could be trade bait. Morales could win a spot in Colorado's rotation. Collmenter's performance could be a fluke, or he could step into an unsettled closer's job. Burns has a chance to become another John Cangelosi. For Rosin, for now I'll resist the urge to write his name as RHP Seth Rosin (Bag) or to make "up Brainerd" jokes about the native of Fargo, N.Dak.
* * *
Pitchers. Can't live without them, can't kill them. The six-innings-is-enough mentality really bothers me. Teams are doing little or nothing to stop its insidious spread. Inside of pitching three innings in their first spring start, which used to be the norm, starters are down to two, sometimes for their first TWO spring starts. Royals RHP James Shields worked only one inning, 10 pitches, in his spring debut. And, as it happens, Yankees RHP Masanori Tanaka, Cardinals RHP Adam Wainwright and Tigers RHP Justin Verlander are scheduled to make their first start Thursday.
I'd set the over and under on the season's first nine-inning complete game at May 15. I'm figuring it might be closer to June 1.
Hold the phone! Dodgers LHP Hyun-jin Ryu pitched four whole innings Wednesday night.
* * *
Player moves. The Rangers, possibly down two left-handers in their season-opening rotation, signed free-agent LHP Joe Saunders. He could receive $1.5 million if he makes the Opening Day roster. Better news for Texas was that LHP Matt Harrison (sore back) returned to throw 38 pitches off a mound Wednesday.
The Orioles made yet another 11th-hour pitching move, signing LHP Johan Santana. The 34-year-old could start or pitch out of the bullpen, but isn't expected to be ready to return from shoulder surgery before June.
OF/1B Rick Ankiel has retired, so you can scratch him off your cheat sheet.
* * *
Injury news. Dodgers OF Yasiel Puig left Wednesday night's game because of a sore upper back, but is expected to play Thursday. His teammate, RHP Zack Greinke, threw off a mound for the first time since suffering a strained right calf muscle six days earlier.
Reds RHP Mat Latos threw off a mound 19 days after undergoing knee surgery.
Rockies OF/1B Michael Cuddyer was hit by a pitch on a shoulder blade Wednesday, but his injury wasn't considered serious. 
With Tigers OF Andy Dirks expected to be out until June following back surgery, OF/3B Don Kelly is the most likely candidate to platoon with OF Rajai Davis in left field. The injury also could be good news for Davis' fantasy owners, who now will see even more chances for him to steal bases if he occasionally could reach base against right-handed pitchers.
Yankees 1B/DH Mark Teixeira, who missed most of last season because of a wrist injury, and OF Alfonso Soriano, who has been sidelined by the flu, are expected to make their debuts Thursday.
Diamondbacks RHP Bronson Arroyo, scratched from his scheduled start Tuesday, underwent an MRI exam and received an epidural injection Wednesday for what was diagnosed as a herniated disk.
Royals RHP Luke Hochevar, who became a valuable bullpen piece last year, is expected to be out until late May because of a sprained right elbow.
I hope this information made up for some lost time.
* * *
Hockey. I'm still stuck on 67 points and in third place (now 8 points out of second), and still having problems with my goalies. Twice this week I have played the Capitals' Braden Holtby against the Flyers' Steve Mason. I did get two wins out of those games, but they allowed a total of 17 goals -- and didn't even play all 60 minutes. As soon as I heard about Ryan Miller's trade to the Blues and tried to reacquire him, but saw that he was on the first-place team's roster. It's quite possible that the owner just reacted faster than I did. He has made nearly 60 moves this season, and has 88 points to show for it.
Wednesday's trade deadline brought some remarkable deals. Imagine a Derek Jeter-for-Dustin Pedroia trade. That's pretty much what the Rangers did in sending captain Ryan Callahan to the Lightning for captain Martin St. Louis. Another interesting move was the Stars' trading goalie Dan Ellis to Florida for goalie Tim Thomas. Dallas picked up a playoff-tested goalie who can provide a better option and allow starter Kari Lehtonen to rest more often down the stretch. Thomas Vanek remains on my team even though he was traded to his third team this season (the Canadiens). These trades will make the final six-week run to the playoffs more interesting.
* * *
Basketball. With another week after this, I have clinched first place in the regular season.
Congratulations to me, but I'm in a dogfight this week. That's significant because my opponent this week is the owner leading our league's other division and second overall 17 1/2 games behind me. So he's quite likely to be my opponent if we both reach the finals -- or a difficult semifinal opponent.
This week it's 4-4. Though I trail by just three 3-pointers and two steals, but my leads in the shooting percentages are tenuous. Congratulations to Joakim Noah for another (barely) triple double -- 10 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists. If only he could block more shots or, this week, get more steals.

Matsuzaka to take Wakefield's spot

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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.

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