Coming back: Quentin, Marcum

A couple of players we’ve been touting hit home runs.
In fact, White Sox LF Carlos Quentin slammed two in their 15-3 rout of the Cubs, which put flags at half staff all over Chicago’s north side. Unless he’s hurt again, Quentin appears to be a slam-dunk American League Comeback Player of the Year.
Also, Blue Jays C prospect J.P. Arencibia hit his second home run this spring. We’re not making too much of that hit because it was against Yankees RHP Andrew Brackman, their most overhyped draft pick since Brien Taylor. OF Adam Lind, who could be one of a handful of the AL’s best offensive players this season, homered against New York RHP Jonathan Abominablesnowman. However, the best news for Toronto is that RHP Shaun Marcus (speaking of Comeback of the Year candidates) pitched two scoreless innings in his 2010 debut.
Two years ago, the Rays indicated that they had arrived by playing aggressively and not blinking in spring training against their chief AL East competition, the Red Sox and Yankees. Tampa Bay beat Boston 6-4 on OF Justin Ruggiano’s two-run homer in the ninth inning. Don’t make too much of it because it came against LHP Kris Johnson, who isn’t likely to get any closer to Boston than Pawtucket this summer.
The Marlins defeated the Cardinals 6-5 in 10 innings on a single by 3B Hector Luna against RHP Oneli Perez. Both are likely to be non-factors in fantasy baseball this season.
This just in: The Nationals still suck. They lost to the Mets (insert team name in previous sentence) 14-6.
The Giants’ split squads both were in games where the winning team scored 12 runs. They defeated the Diamondbacks 12-6 and lost to the Brewers 12-1.
Played today’s cursed tie were the Phillies and Pirates, who each scored three runs in 10 innings in a Battle of Pennsylvania in Florida.
Sample Scouting Report:
Carlos Quentin, OF, White Sox
Ht.: 6-2 Wt.: 220 B: R Age: 27 Inj. Risk: 10
{2010} Quentin has been hurt in each of the last two seasons, reducing his desirability in many fantasy leagues. Hand, heel and knee injuries sidelined him for two months last season, but in 2008 Quentin had 36 homers and 100 RBI despite missing the final month. He’s not an all-or-nothing slugger who’ll strike out whenever he doesn’t rattle a wall with the ball, but a thoughtful batter who will take or foul off marginal pitches and draw walks. One thing to watch for in spring telecasts or reports is Quentin’s weight. If he’s slim and trim that could mean a win for you in your draft or an auction bargain. 2009: 351 AB, .236 BA, 21 HR, 56 RBI, 3 SB, 47 R. Born Aug. 28, 1982, Bellflower, Calif.
Projection
AB: 508 BA: .278 HR: 30 RBI: 90 SB: 4 R: 81 Value: $12