The biggest contract signing Monday was the Diamondbacks' re-signing with OF Gerardo Parra for this season.
Tuesday's activities dwarfed that one. The Braves avoided arbitration with the two players they hope will be the kingpins of their offense for the near future. 1B Freddie Freeman signed for a franchise-record $135 milion over eight years, and OF Jason Heyward agreed to two years and $13.3 million.
To put Freeman's contract in perspective, the most Chipper Jones ever got was $90 million for six years. Yes, there has been some inflation since then, but Freeman's amount still blows Jones out of the water. Can Freddie earn it? Yes, unless complacency sets in. In Heyward's case, Atlanta must be hoping that his seeing a few million now could be the incentive he needs to show that he's ready to earn and receive much more in his next contract. He hasn't yet shown that he's worthy.
A more sobering note: Padres LHP Cory Luebke will undergo Tommy John surgery for the second consecutive year, and as a result will not be pitching for the second season in a row.
Free agency continues to be a topic, but a slow-moving topic with no signings for a while.
The players being spurned because they would cost the signing team a draft pick are RHPs Ubaldo Jimenez and Ervin Santana, OF Nelson Cruz, DH Kendrys Morales and SS Stephen Drew.
With RHP Jeremy Hellickson out for at least six weeks this season, the Rays could sign RHP Bronson Arroyo, the next-best available starter to take Hellickson's spot in the rotation for at least a while.
Other starting pitchers still available include LHPs Chris Capuano, Barry Zito and Paul Maholm, and RHPs Tommy Hanson and Jake Westbrook. Out of that group, I'd be most interested in Maholm and Hanson (if he isn't hurt).
Former closers available are RHPs Joel Hanrahan, Andrew Bailey, Rafael Betancourt, Kevin Gregg, Brett Myers, Francisco Rodriguez and Fernando Rodney. There are reasons why most of them USED TO BE closers. Rodriguez is second among active pitchers with 302 career saves, but at this point he's far more likely to get 2 more saves than to get 300. Rodney is the best of the lot; he still seems to have that chip on his shoulder/swagger combination that works so well in that role. RHPs Luis Ayala and Frank Francisco have had some saves during their career, but seem barely capable of keeping a major league job now.
LHPs Mike Gonzalez and Oliver Perez also are available for bullpen supporting roles.
Other free agents who have had some success in years past are 3B Placido Polanco and OF Juan Pierre, who doesn't seem likely even to steal enough bases to have some fantasy value.
Look ahead to Thursday. That's the day when the first pitchers and catchers will report -- for the Diamondbacks, who will open the regular season (with the Dodgers) a week earlier than everyone else in Australia. Arizona also seems serious about being a player, both in free agency and on the field.
* * *
Hockey. On Monday, eight skaters were active on my team, and they provided no goals, one power-play point and two penalty minutes.
As usual, I misplayed my goalies. I used Frederik Andersen, who gave up four goals in Anaheim's loss. I really had been counting on Ben Scrivens to win for Edmonton against the Sabres, the league's worst team. But he wasn't in goal. The newly reacquired Steve Mason did play for Philadelphia, allowing two goals in a win.
Tuesday was better. Clarke MacArthur helped me pick up a point with 14 penalty minutes that moved me into second in that category. That point lifted my team's total to 67, 7 1/2 points out of second place. I'm also within 20 of first place for the first time in ... a month? two months? My plus/minus is sliding into at least the outer circles of hell. I'm down to plus-45, just 4 ahead of the team behind me and 41 away from the next higher team. My best chances for an additional point are save percentage (trailing by .025) and assists (10 back of the next higher team).
For Wednesday, I decided to go with Joe Pavelski, playing at home against Dallas, than with Corey Perry, who's going against the Blackhawks.
* * *
Basketball. Through Monday, my lead was just 5-1-2 -- with ties in assists and 3-point field goals, and trailing again in field goal percentage. After Tuesday, it appears that I'm up to 6-2, with a lead in assists on the strength of Ricky Rubio's 13. Gerald Green sabotaged me with his 2 for 13 shooting. Jodie Meeks played only a minute before he decided he couldn't play on his sore ankle -- just long enough to miss both of his shots.
Meeks is now off my roster, along with Joe Johnson. In their place, I picked up Jose Calderon to help on 3-pointers and Boris Diaw for his shooting percentage. It doesn't hurt that he's one of my favorite players. What's not to like about a black man named Boris from France? (Especially one who can play.)
I really need to fix my field goal percentage before the playoffs to avoid a premature exit. If I don't I'll have to depend on building up big leads in the counting stats, and late in the week still trying to use only my best shooters.
It's possible that I would make more playoff moves, or that I could stand pat with players I hope will do better.
Showing posts with label Jason Heyward. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jason Heyward. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Heyward hammers first homer
After pounding baseballs into a parking lot in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., for a couple of weeks, Braves RF prospect Jason Heyward hit his first exhibition homer in a 12-4 victory over the Tigers. The blast came against RHP Max Scherzer, from whom Detroit is expecting big things. Tigers manager compared Heyward to a young Albert Pujols. Expect the rookie to arrive in Atlanta amid even more hype on Opening Day. And expect whoever gets him in your fantasy league to overpay for Heyward.
Speaking of hype, the legend of Reds rookie LHP Aroldis Chapman continued with two scoreless innings in his first exhibition game, or any game on U.S. soil. His fastball was clocked at 99 and 100 mph on different radar guns. That was in a 14-5 win over the Royals. Possible good news for Kansas City was that 3B Josh Fields, filling in for injured 3B/1B Alex Gordon, hit a home run against Cincinnati RHP Nick Masset.
Other home runs of note included Blue Jays C J.P. Arencibia’s third this spring. Don’t get too excited about this one; it was against marginal Astros RHP Bud Norris in Toronto’s 4-1victory. In the Brewers’ 6-2 win over the Mariners, RF Corey Hart hit his second. That could be a good sign that he won’t cut down his effort after signing a multiyear contract.
It could have been a typical high-scoring Arizona game when C Mike Napoli hit his second spring homer in the Angels’ 13-9 victory over the Rangers. Or it could be that Napoli is continuing to develop, and is a good candidate to spend the All-Star break at home in Anaheim to play in the game.
In the Twins’ 5-0 victory over the Orioles, RHP Kevin Slowey had a pitching line of 310012. You might recall that he was one of our Jarrod Washburn Award winners before last season, and won 10 games before going on the disabled list for most of the season’s second half. It’s entirely possible that we’d name him the Washburn Award winner (for an inexpensive pitcher who will rack up the wins) again this year.
The Yankees and Pirates both were in mid-season form as New York won 6-0. RHP Alfredo Aceves pitched four hitless innings. Pittsburgh’s only hit in the game was 1B/OF Steven Pearce’s single against RHP Ivan Nova, who is more likely to pitch at Triple-A Scranton than in Yankee Stadium this year. The Yanks’ closer, RHP Mariano Rivera, hasn’t even pitched yet this spring and isn’t scheduled to until March 16. He said, “When the time comes, I will be ready.” We have no reason to doubt him.
Mets OF Chris Carter, late of the Red Sox, became the second player this spring to homer twice in the same inning – New York’s eight-run ninth in an 11-2 victory over the Marlins. The game’s biggest news, however, might have been RHP prospect Jennry Mejia’s three scoreless innings. Manager Jerry Manuel compared Mejia’s moving cut fastball to Rivera’s. My own comparison to Rivera is Rangers RHP Neftali Feliz, because from the time I first saw each of them in the minors I felt they have almost impossible-to-hit stuff but not enough stamina to withstand high pitch counts as a starter. Ergo, each would be best as a reliever. I haven’t seen Mejia yet, so I’m not sure about his optimum role.
Three games ended as one-run decisions on last-inning runs. The Rays beat the Pirates 4-3 on OF Fernando Perez’s 10th-inning single. In another 10-inning game, the Giants defeated the Dodgers 3-2 with strong-armed rookie RF Roger Kieschnick preventing what would have been the tying run by throwing out 2B Ron Belliard at home plate. The Red Sox edged the Cardinals 7-6, with rookie 1B Che-Hsuan Lin driving in the winning run. Boston RHP Josh Beckett pitched three perfect innings.
Injuries:
Rangers LF Josh Hamilton (bruised left shoulder) was supposed to return to the field Sunday, but the scheduled “B” game was rained out. Instead, he came back today and went 2-for-3 against the Angels.
Mets RHP Francisco Rodriguez (pinkeye) was expected to come back to throw Tuesday or Wednesday, and to pitch in a game over the weekend. However, New York NL has shut down RHP Kelvim Escobar (weak shoulder), who is expected to begin the season on the disabled list.
Astros RHP Brandon Lyon (cyst in his shoulder) threw 30 pitches in the bullpen, and could face batters by the weekend.
Dodgers 3B Casey Blake is out because of a strained rib cage muscle. RHP Cory Wade (tender shoulder) will be out two weeks.
Cardinals SS Brendan Ryan (wrist surgery) hit soft toss, and could take batting practice for the first time Friday.
Phillies LHP J.C. Romero (elbow surgery) is scheduled to throw in the bullpen Tuesday. He expects to be ready by the home opener in Philadelphia April 12.
Dodgers RHP Ronald Belisario isn’t injured, but he hasn’t been able to pitch because he’s still home in Venezuela. He has had difficulty obtaining a visa because of a DUI arrest last summer.
The PED News:
Dr. Anthony Galea, the Canadian physician under fire for allegedly arranging to smuggle performance-enhancing drugs into the U.S., said he had provided anti-inflammatory drugs to Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez. Mets SS Jose Reyes said Dr. Galea used with him a “blood spinning” technique that kind of sounds like the blood doping banned by the Olympics decades ago.
Sample Scouting Report:
Aroldis Chapman, LHP, Reds
Ht.: 6-4 Wt.: 180 T: L Age: 22* Inj. Risk: 10 Alt. Pos: SP
{2010} Chapman was considered such a good pitcher in Cuba that president Raul Castro forgave him for an attempt to defect in 2008, and allowed him to travel with the national team the next year. He then defected in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Chapman’s fastball reportedly has been clocked at 102 mph; he has flirted with triple figures this spring. At least some of the hype around him is justified. There is a lot of interest in Cincinnati about having him in the rotation this season. How well he does will depend on how he can control his slider and continue to develop a changeup. Without those, he’d be best in Triple-A or even Double-A this season. Born: Feb. 28, 1988, Cuba*.
Projection
IP: 81 W: 6 ERA: 4.00 WHIP: 1.33 S: 0 SO: 73 $3
Speaking of hype, the legend of Reds rookie LHP Aroldis Chapman continued with two scoreless innings in his first exhibition game, or any game on U.S. soil. His fastball was clocked at 99 and 100 mph on different radar guns. That was in a 14-5 win over the Royals. Possible good news for Kansas City was that 3B Josh Fields, filling in for injured 3B/1B Alex Gordon, hit a home run against Cincinnati RHP Nick Masset.
Other home runs of note included Blue Jays C J.P. Arencibia’s third this spring. Don’t get too excited about this one; it was against marginal Astros RHP Bud Norris in Toronto’s 4-1victory. In the Brewers’ 6-2 win over the Mariners, RF Corey Hart hit his second. That could be a good sign that he won’t cut down his effort after signing a multiyear contract.
It could have been a typical high-scoring Arizona game when C Mike Napoli hit his second spring homer in the Angels’ 13-9 victory over the Rangers. Or it could be that Napoli is continuing to develop, and is a good candidate to spend the All-Star break at home in Anaheim to play in the game.
In the Twins’ 5-0 victory over the Orioles, RHP Kevin Slowey had a pitching line of 310012. You might recall that he was one of our Jarrod Washburn Award winners before last season, and won 10 games before going on the disabled list for most of the season’s second half. It’s entirely possible that we’d name him the Washburn Award winner (for an inexpensive pitcher who will rack up the wins) again this year.
The Yankees and Pirates both were in mid-season form as New York won 6-0. RHP Alfredo Aceves pitched four hitless innings. Pittsburgh’s only hit in the game was 1B/OF Steven Pearce’s single against RHP Ivan Nova, who is more likely to pitch at Triple-A Scranton than in Yankee Stadium this year. The Yanks’ closer, RHP Mariano Rivera, hasn’t even pitched yet this spring and isn’t scheduled to until March 16. He said, “When the time comes, I will be ready.” We have no reason to doubt him.
Mets OF Chris Carter, late of the Red Sox, became the second player this spring to homer twice in the same inning – New York’s eight-run ninth in an 11-2 victory over the Marlins. The game’s biggest news, however, might have been RHP prospect Jennry Mejia’s three scoreless innings. Manager Jerry Manuel compared Mejia’s moving cut fastball to Rivera’s. My own comparison to Rivera is Rangers RHP Neftali Feliz, because from the time I first saw each of them in the minors I felt they have almost impossible-to-hit stuff but not enough stamina to withstand high pitch counts as a starter. Ergo, each would be best as a reliever. I haven’t seen Mejia yet, so I’m not sure about his optimum role.
Three games ended as one-run decisions on last-inning runs. The Rays beat the Pirates 4-3 on OF Fernando Perez’s 10th-inning single. In another 10-inning game, the Giants defeated the Dodgers 3-2 with strong-armed rookie RF Roger Kieschnick preventing what would have been the tying run by throwing out 2B Ron Belliard at home plate. The Red Sox edged the Cardinals 7-6, with rookie 1B Che-Hsuan Lin driving in the winning run. Boston RHP Josh Beckett pitched three perfect innings.
Injuries:
Rangers LF Josh Hamilton (bruised left shoulder) was supposed to return to the field Sunday, but the scheduled “B” game was rained out. Instead, he came back today and went 2-for-3 against the Angels.
Mets RHP Francisco Rodriguez (pinkeye) was expected to come back to throw Tuesday or Wednesday, and to pitch in a game over the weekend. However, New York NL has shut down RHP Kelvim Escobar (weak shoulder), who is expected to begin the season on the disabled list.
Astros RHP Brandon Lyon (cyst in his shoulder) threw 30 pitches in the bullpen, and could face batters by the weekend.
Dodgers 3B Casey Blake is out because of a strained rib cage muscle. RHP Cory Wade (tender shoulder) will be out two weeks.
Cardinals SS Brendan Ryan (wrist surgery) hit soft toss, and could take batting practice for the first time Friday.
Phillies LHP J.C. Romero (elbow surgery) is scheduled to throw in the bullpen Tuesday. He expects to be ready by the home opener in Philadelphia April 12.
Dodgers RHP Ronald Belisario isn’t injured, but he hasn’t been able to pitch because he’s still home in Venezuela. He has had difficulty obtaining a visa because of a DUI arrest last summer.
The PED News:
Dr. Anthony Galea, the Canadian physician under fire for allegedly arranging to smuggle performance-enhancing drugs into the U.S., said he had provided anti-inflammatory drugs to Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez. Mets SS Jose Reyes said Dr. Galea used with him a “blood spinning” technique that kind of sounds like the blood doping banned by the Olympics decades ago.
Sample Scouting Report:
Aroldis Chapman, LHP, Reds
Ht.: 6-4 Wt.: 180 T: L Age: 22* Inj. Risk: 10 Alt. Pos: SP
{2010} Chapman was considered such a good pitcher in Cuba that president Raul Castro forgave him for an attempt to defect in 2008, and allowed him to travel with the national team the next year. He then defected in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Chapman’s fastball reportedly has been clocked at 102 mph; he has flirted with triple figures this spring. At least some of the hype around him is justified. There is a lot of interest in Cincinnati about having him in the rotation this season. How well he does will depend on how he can control his slider and continue to develop a changeup. Without those, he’d be best in Triple-A or even Double-A this season. Born: Feb. 28, 1988, Cuba*.
Projection
IP: 81 W: 6 ERA: 4.00 WHIP: 1.33 S: 0 SO: 73 $3
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Call him Crash
Rookie OF Jason Heyward continues to make news of the kind we see only before exhibition games begin.
He has hit so many balls over the right field fence at the Disney complex that the team is putting a net over that fence to protect cars in the parking lot. The impetus for the net was a shot by Heyward that crashed through the sunroof of an Atlanta executive’s car.
We’ll be more impressed if the Braves have to build a net over a fence at Turner Field. But if Heyward pans out as the Braves hope he will in time, if not this season, this story would become legend.
Injuries, a paean to Mark Prior:
Phillies RHP Brad Lidge figures he is a week or two behind where he normally would be, which means he could begin the season on the 15-day disabled list coming off elbow and knee surgeries. LHP Jamie Moyer had three off-season operations. He threw his first live batting practice Thursday.
Mets OF Jeff Francoeur, who underwent surgery on his left thumb, said he believes it has passed the test of taking repeated swings in batting practice.
Rangers LF Josh Hamilton returned to practice Friday, two days after suffering a bruised left shoulder. RHP Warner Madrigal is Texas’ newest player on the walking wounded list. He cut short his throwing session today because of tightness in his forearm.
Cubs RHP Angel Guzman hasn’t been pitching because of a sore shoulder.
Giants 2B Freddy Sanchez, recovering from off-season surgery, could begin fielding grounders this weekend.
Yankees CF Curtis Granderson had his vision tested during the off-season. That revealed that his vision was 20-30. He since has put on contact lenses, which he hopes will help him hit lefthanders better. Make a note to yourself to check how he does against good southpaws in exhibition games.
For openers:
There’s nothing official, but it appears that LHP Clayton Kershaw will be the Dodgers’ Opening Day starter and RHP Carlos Zambrano would pitch the Cubs’ first game.
The Los Angeles Daily News reported that Kershaw would receive the honor, but manager Joe Torre wouldn’t confirm that. Torre said the rotation for the first five exhibitions, beginning Friday, March 5, would be RHP Vicente Padilla, LHPs Eric Stults and Kershaw and RHPs Chad Billingsley and Hiroki Kuroda. Stults is among a large group fighting for the fifth starter’s role with James McDonald, Charlie Haeger, Carlos Monasterios, Russ Ortiz, Ramon Ortiz and Josh Towers. McDonald and perhaps Haeger would seem to be the other top candidates.
Cubs manager Lou Piniella said he expects Zambrano to start the opener, but hasn’t yet committed to him.
Rotate:
At least while LHP Ted Lilly recovers from shoulder and knee surgery, which could keep him out all of April, the Cubs will have two openings in their rotation. The candidates for numbers four and five are RHPs Jeff Samardzija and Carlos Silva and LHPs Sean Marshall and Tom Gorzelanny, which should have Chicago fans sending Lilly get-well-soon cards.
The Brewers also have two openings in their rotation, with much better options. LHP Randy Wolf and Doug Davis (why?) and RHP Yovani Gallardo are set, with RHPs Jeff Suppan and David Bush and LHPs Manny Parra and Chris Narveson trying to work their way into the rotation.
Reporting:
All but two teams will have their entire roster working out as of today. Hitters from the Blue Jays and Nationals will have their position players hitting, throwing and fielding for the first time in Florida, and the White Sox, Indians, Athletics, Rockies and Dodgers doing the same in Arizona.
News and notes:
The Red Sox might move 2B Dustin Pedroia from second in their lineup to fifth, to give him more opportunities to drive in runs. RF J.D. Drew or SS Marco Scutaro could move into the two hole.
The Cardinals and free-agent 2B Felipe Lopez have agreed on a one-year, $2-million contract, pending his passing a physical exam.
He has hit so many balls over the right field fence at the Disney complex that the team is putting a net over that fence to protect cars in the parking lot. The impetus for the net was a shot by Heyward that crashed through the sunroof of an Atlanta executive’s car.
We’ll be more impressed if the Braves have to build a net over a fence at Turner Field. But if Heyward pans out as the Braves hope he will in time, if not this season, this story would become legend.
Injuries, a paean to Mark Prior:
Phillies RHP Brad Lidge figures he is a week or two behind where he normally would be, which means he could begin the season on the 15-day disabled list coming off elbow and knee surgeries. LHP Jamie Moyer had three off-season operations. He threw his first live batting practice Thursday.
Mets OF Jeff Francoeur, who underwent surgery on his left thumb, said he believes it has passed the test of taking repeated swings in batting practice.
Rangers LF Josh Hamilton returned to practice Friday, two days after suffering a bruised left shoulder. RHP Warner Madrigal is Texas’ newest player on the walking wounded list. He cut short his throwing session today because of tightness in his forearm.
Cubs RHP Angel Guzman hasn’t been pitching because of a sore shoulder.
Giants 2B Freddy Sanchez, recovering from off-season surgery, could begin fielding grounders this weekend.
Yankees CF Curtis Granderson had his vision tested during the off-season. That revealed that his vision was 20-30. He since has put on contact lenses, which he hopes will help him hit lefthanders better. Make a note to yourself to check how he does against good southpaws in exhibition games.
For openers:
There’s nothing official, but it appears that LHP Clayton Kershaw will be the Dodgers’ Opening Day starter and RHP Carlos Zambrano would pitch the Cubs’ first game.
The Los Angeles Daily News reported that Kershaw would receive the honor, but manager Joe Torre wouldn’t confirm that. Torre said the rotation for the first five exhibitions, beginning Friday, March 5, would be RHP Vicente Padilla, LHPs Eric Stults and Kershaw and RHPs Chad Billingsley and Hiroki Kuroda. Stults is among a large group fighting for the fifth starter’s role with James McDonald, Charlie Haeger, Carlos Monasterios, Russ Ortiz, Ramon Ortiz and Josh Towers. McDonald and perhaps Haeger would seem to be the other top candidates.
Cubs manager Lou Piniella said he expects Zambrano to start the opener, but hasn’t yet committed to him.
Rotate:
At least while LHP Ted Lilly recovers from shoulder and knee surgery, which could keep him out all of April, the Cubs will have two openings in their rotation. The candidates for numbers four and five are RHPs Jeff Samardzija and Carlos Silva and LHPs Sean Marshall and Tom Gorzelanny, which should have Chicago fans sending Lilly get-well-soon cards.
The Brewers also have two openings in their rotation, with much better options. LHP Randy Wolf and Doug Davis (why?) and RHP Yovani Gallardo are set, with RHPs Jeff Suppan and David Bush and LHPs Manny Parra and Chris Narveson trying to work their way into the rotation.
Reporting:
All but two teams will have their entire roster working out as of today. Hitters from the Blue Jays and Nationals will have their position players hitting, throwing and fielding for the first time in Florida, and the White Sox, Indians, Athletics, Rockies and Dodgers doing the same in Arizona.
News and notes:
The Red Sox might move 2B Dustin Pedroia from second in their lineup to fifth, to give him more opportunities to drive in runs. RF J.D. Drew or SS Marco Scutaro could move into the two hole.
The Cardinals and free-agent 2B Felipe Lopez have agreed on a one-year, $2-million contract, pending his passing a physical exam.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)