Today’s TV viewing included Boston’s 5-4 victory over the Orioles. Starting for the Red Sox, RHP Clay Buchholz gave up three runs in two innings. Baltimore’s starter, RHP Jeremy Guthrie had similar problems, primarily because he couldn’t put away batters. Two marginal major leaguers, 2B Tug Hulett and 1B Aaron Bates, worked Guthrie for walks. In what had to be disappointing to the Sox, CF Jacoby Ellsbury wasn’t as patient. The leadoff batter instead popped out to end the threat.
Rain wiped out all of the games in the Phoenix area, meaning that the only games in Arizona were two between split squads of Diamondbacks and Rockies in Tucson. Even those games were shortened because of wet weather. Arizona won one game 9-3 in six innings, with much of the time being eaten up while the D-backs were scoring eight runs against LHP Franklin Morales in 1 2/3 innings. Without such a struggling pitcher, the other game made it through seven innings with the Rockies winning 4-1.
Despite their rainout, the Angels kept LHP Joe Saunders on schedule for his first regular-season start by having him throw batting practice in a bullpen. The White Sox did the same thing with RHP Jake Peavy, who pitched a simulated game
Scoring the most runs in the eight games in Florida were the Pirates, in a 15-5 victory over the Twins. RF Garrett Jones hit a home run against his former team, and 1B/SS Bobby Crosby also went deep for Pittsburgh. RHP Ronald Uviedo added a win to the save he recorded Friday. That spring production doesn’t necessarily make him a worthwhile fantasy pick but it could land him a spot in the Bucs’ bullpen.
The Twins’ good split squad apparently was playing against the Yankees, and recording an 11-0 shutout. It was the second scoreless effort in two days by Minnesota’s staff.
The Mets may have clinched fourth place in the National League East almost a month before the season begins. The defeated the Nationals again, 6-5. In his first game for Washington, RHP Jason Marquis gave up five runs in two innings. C Omir Santos helped New York’s cause with an inside-the-park grand slam courtesy of Nationals LF Willy Taveras’ indecision about grabbing the ball from under the fence down the left field line.
Instead of going home after nine innings, the Rays and Phillies stayed for Tampa Bay’s 5-3 victory in 10 innings. That gives the Rays the early lead in games between the last two losing World Series teams.
RHP Kyle McClellan, fighting LHPs Rich Hill and possibly Jaime Garcia for the job as the Cardinals’ fifth starter, needed just 39 pitches to get through three innings of a 7-4 victory over the Marlins. OF Brett Carroll hit a home run for Florida.
Even before the Blue Jays have made it through the first week of exhibition games, injury problems are limiting their pitching rotation. That could keep LHP Brian Tallet in a starting role. However, he gave up four runs in two innings, including homers by RF Magglio Ordonez and 1B Ryan Strieby. Toronto’s rotation is unsettled, with RHPs Shaun Marcum, Dustin McGowan and Brandon Morrow and LHPs Ricky Romero, Marc Rzepczynski and Brett Cecil also fighting for spots. Marcum, McGowan and Cecil are coming back from injuries.
Injuries – current, not Prior:
Dodgers C Russell Martin will be out 4-6 weeks because of a pulled groin muscle. While he’s out, LA said it would go with rookie A.J. Ellis and old-timer Brad Ausmus. Ellis batted .314 last season at Triple-A Albuquerque, but is just 1-for-13 in the majors. Despite the Dodgers’ cheery words about Ellis, expect them to shop for a catcher if Martin would miss more than a couple of weeks to begin the season.
Royals 3B Alex Gordon suffered a broken right thumb when he slid headfirst trying to steal second base in Saturday’s game. He could be back by Opening Day, but at least until then 2B Alberto Callaspo and 3B Josh Fields are expected to share time at third base. Callaspo has lost his second base job to 2B Chris Getz, who went to Kansas City from the White Sox in a trade for OF/3B Mark Teahen.
Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Webb threw soft toss, and is considered day to day. He might not be able to pitch in a game by mid-March.
Giants 3B/OF Mark DeRosa, expected to be their left fielder this season, took his first batting practice following off-season surgery. OF/2B Emmanuel Burriss has been wearing a walking boot to protect his fractured left foot. He could be out two months. Even then there would be a question about how well Burriss, whose game is predicated almost entirely on his speed, could run.
Red Sox RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka threw 65 pitches on the side.
What they’re working on:
Phillies RHP prospect Phillippe Aumont turned around his poor exhibition debut by pitching 2 2/3 scoreless innings against the Rays. As part of Philadelphia’s switching him from a reliever to a starter, he has lowered his arm angle from over the top to three-quarters. That has improved his slider, making it a second out pitch to go with his fastball. His work on that most likely will continue in the high minors this season.
Sample Scouting Report:
Kyle McClellan, RHP, Cardinals
Ht.: 6-4 Wt.: 205 T: R Age: 25 Inj. Risk: 10
{2010} McClellan could be a hometown favorite; his family has had Cardinals season tickets for years. He has been mostly a setup man since jumping from Double-A to the majors to open the 2008 season with St. Louis. The Cardinals are giving him a shot as a starter this spring, which seems surprising because he has seemed to lack stamina in slumping during the second half of each of his two seasons as a big leaguer. It’s also possible that he could grow into a closer’s job. The key for McClellan will be improving the control that slipped last year. 2009: 67 IP, 4-4 W-L, 3.37 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 3 S, 51 SO. Born: June 12, 1984, Florissant, Mo.
Projection
IP: 66 W: 3 ERA: 3.56 WHIP: 1.35 S: 3 SO: 48
Saturday, March 13, 2010
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
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
Pavano outpitches Lester
The starting pitchers were RHP Carl Pavano and LHP Jon Lester, so the 5-0 final score was no surprise. It was surprising, however, that Pavano’s Twins were the winners over Lester’s Red Sox.
Updating Thursday’s Email, Rays 2B Sean Rodriguez hit his third home run in three games in a 12-7 victory over the Yankees. This one was against New York RHP Phil Hughes. Even so, we’re still not convinced that Rodriguez is the man for an everyday role in Tampa Bay’s lineup. Keep a watch on the competition between him and RF Matt Joyce, one of whom will be a starter with Ben Zobrist playing either second or right field.
The Astros’ offensive output fell from 21 hits Thursday to 14. And those weren’t nearly enough in a 17-7 loss to the Tigers, who pounded the ball for 16 hits.
The Blue Jays treated Phillies LHP Cole Hamels rudely, scoring three runs in three innings against him. Toronto won 14-9, with 3B/OF Jose Bautista hitting a home run. He could be a sleeper candidate. The statistics to look for with him are walks and on-base percentage. Bautista has some power but needs to improve his selectivity at the plate.
Sample Scouting Report:
Jose Bautista, OF, Blue Jays
Ht.: 6-0 Wt.: 195 B: R Age: 29* Alt. Pos.: 3B
{2010} Those who put stock in second-half statistics no doubt have Bautista on their list for 2010. Ten of his home runs last season came after August. Those who downgrade performances in September against a lot of minor league pitchers won’t care about him. There is good reason to keep him in mind as a fifth outfielder/corner infielder/DH. Bautista won’t help your average, but he has shown that the more he plays, the more patient he is, allowing him to draw walks. Those lead to more runs and greater value in 5X5 leagues. He also crushes left-handed pitching (.293 last season), giving him a greater opportunity to play at least a platoon role with a young Toronto outfielder such as Travis Snider. Bautista’s eligibility at third base also gives him greater relative value at that position. 2009: .235 BA, 13 HR, 40 RBI, 4 SB, 54 R. Born Oct. 19, 1980, Dominican Republic*.
Projection
AB: 376 HR: 13 RBI: 43 SB: 3 R: 54 Value: $4
Updating Thursday’s Email, Rays 2B Sean Rodriguez hit his third home run in three games in a 12-7 victory over the Yankees. This one was against New York RHP Phil Hughes. Even so, we’re still not convinced that Rodriguez is the man for an everyday role in Tampa Bay’s lineup. Keep a watch on the competition between him and RF Matt Joyce, one of whom will be a starter with Ben Zobrist playing either second or right field.
The Astros’ offensive output fell from 21 hits Thursday to 14. And those weren’t nearly enough in a 17-7 loss to the Tigers, who pounded the ball for 16 hits.
The Blue Jays treated Phillies LHP Cole Hamels rudely, scoring three runs in three innings against him. Toronto won 14-9, with 3B/OF Jose Bautista hitting a home run. He could be a sleeper candidate. The statistics to look for with him are walks and on-base percentage. Bautista has some power but needs to improve his selectivity at the plate.
Sample Scouting Report:
Jose Bautista, OF, Blue Jays
Ht.: 6-0 Wt.: 195 B: R Age: 29* Alt. Pos.: 3B
{2010} Those who put stock in second-half statistics no doubt have Bautista on their list for 2010. Ten of his home runs last season came after August. Those who downgrade performances in September against a lot of minor league pitchers won’t care about him. There is good reason to keep him in mind as a fifth outfielder/corner infielder/DH. Bautista won’t help your average, but he has shown that the more he plays, the more patient he is, allowing him to draw walks. Those lead to more runs and greater value in 5X5 leagues. He also crushes left-handed pitching (.293 last season), giving him a greater opportunity to play at least a platoon role with a young Toronto outfielder such as Travis Snider. Bautista’s eligibility at third base also gives him greater relative value at that position. 2009: .235 BA, 13 HR, 40 RBI, 4 SB, 54 R. Born Oct. 19, 1980, Dominican Republic*.
Projection
AB: 376 HR: 13 RBI: 43 SB: 3 R: 54 Value: $4
Rodriguez hits to make his pitch
Spring training moved into high gear with 27 major league teams playing in 14 games. The Nationals lost two split-squad games.
Sean Rodriguez continued his hot start toward winning the Rays’ second base job by hitting his second home run in two games. It was the only hit against Orioles LHP Brian Matusz in 1 1/3 innings of their 6-5 defeat.
Blue Jays C prospect J.P. Arencibia won their game over the Tigers 9-7 with a two-run homer in the ninth inning against Tigers RHP Zach Miner. Our thinking is that Arencibia is a much better prospect than Detroit SS Brent Dlugach, who hit his second homer this spring.
Listened to part of the Rangers-Royals spring opener. Texas was one of the big-hitting teams – in fact, each major league team from the Lone Star State banged out 21 hits. The Rangers defeated Kansas City 13-3, and the Astros clobbered the Nationals 15-5. For Houston, RF Hunter Pence hammered two homers – in the fourth inning. Those were against marginal RHPs Shairon Martis and Joel Peralta, but Pence’s 3-for-3 day with four RBI might have signaled the beginning of what we think could be a big year for him.
The Rockies had a mere 17 hits in their 11-1 victory over the Diamondbacks.
The teams walked to runs in the Mets’ 17-11 victory over the Cardinals. There were 18 bases on balls. A name to file away: St. Louis 2B Daniel Descalso. He might not be in the majors until 2011, but he was 2-for-2 in the game.
Mets SS Jose Reyes missed the game to undergo a blood test. There apparently was an abnormality in an earlier test during his physical exam.
LHP Johan Santana threw off a mound for the first time since undergoing elbow surgery last September. He made 40 pitches in batting practice to Rod Barajas and rookie Josh Thole, who are expected to be New York’s catchers this season.
Almost all of the scoring – two runs apiece – was against the bullpen in the Phillies’ 3-2 win over the Yankees. The starters, RHP Roy Halladay and LHP C.C. Sabathia, each pitched two scoreless innings.
The dishonor of playing the spring’s first tie game, 4-4 in 10 innings, went to the White Sox and Angels. They couldn’t possibly have played any longer – not with approximately 7,000 pitchers and a couple of hundred position players available in their spring training camp.
It wasn’t long ago that RHP Radhames Liz was a fraudulent prospect with the Orioles. He’s now with the Padres, and he gave up six runs in the eighth inning of their 9-3 loss to the Mariners. Included was 1B Tommy Everidge’s grand slam. It was a good day for Seattle first basemen; Ryan Garko also hit a solo homer.
The Nationals were hoping to improve their bullpen by trading for RHP Brian Bruney, but he was the losing pitcher in their 10-4 loss to the Marlins.
A guy we’ve touted as a potential closer somewhere is RHP Joe Nelson. He saved Boston’s 2-1 victory over the Twins.
What they’re working on:
Red Sox RHP Jonathan Papelbon, who has no reason to feel that Nelson is a threat to the closer’s job, is trying to regain his split-finger pitch. He threw four of them among his 13 pitches against the Twins.
Worth noting:
The Cubs’ closer of record, RHP Carlos Marmol, was 11-for-11 in save opportunities after taking over the job last season. A word of caution: His 161 appearances during the past two seasons were the majors’ second-highest total, so he could feel the pressures of being overworked. Or he might be one of those pitchers who haven’t always babied their arm so that the workload wouldn’t bother him.
The White Sox have used 3B Gordon Beckham, fueling speculation that he could be used in a trade with the Padres for 1B Adrian Gonzalez.
The Angels credit RF Bobby Abreu, who has a long-established and well deserved reputation as a selective batter, with helping SS Erick Aybar exceed his career on-base percentage by 55 points last season and 3B Chone Figgins and CF Torii Hunter improve theirs by 40 points.
Sample Scouting Report:
J.P. Arencibia, C, Blue Jays
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 215 Age: 24 B: R
{2010}Arencibia hasn’t yet lived up to the potential that Toronto saw when it made him a supplemental first-round draft pick in 2007. The former Tennessee Volunteer’s average has dropped at each of his last two stops, and he has struck out at least four times for every walk in each of his four minor league stops. You should look past his .236 average at Triple-A Las Vegas last year to consider it a negative but not something that would keep him from having fantasy value. That would come from his 21 homers and 75 RBI, which would give him more value than most catchers. A year earlier, he totaled 27 dingers and 105 RBI in high Class A and Double-A. J.P. also needs to work on his throwing. He has a strong arm, but threw out just 25 per cent of potential base stealers in 2009. The Jays need a catcher; by mid-season Arencibia could have that job.
Projection
AB: 385 BA: .264 HR: 17 RBI: 62 SB: 0 R: 50 Value: $5
Sean Rodriguez continued his hot start toward winning the Rays’ second base job by hitting his second home run in two games. It was the only hit against Orioles LHP Brian Matusz in 1 1/3 innings of their 6-5 defeat.
Blue Jays C prospect J.P. Arencibia won their game over the Tigers 9-7 with a two-run homer in the ninth inning against Tigers RHP Zach Miner. Our thinking is that Arencibia is a much better prospect than Detroit SS Brent Dlugach, who hit his second homer this spring.
Listened to part of the Rangers-Royals spring opener. Texas was one of the big-hitting teams – in fact, each major league team from the Lone Star State banged out 21 hits. The Rangers defeated Kansas City 13-3, and the Astros clobbered the Nationals 15-5. For Houston, RF Hunter Pence hammered two homers – in the fourth inning. Those were against marginal RHPs Shairon Martis and Joel Peralta, but Pence’s 3-for-3 day with four RBI might have signaled the beginning of what we think could be a big year for him.
The Rockies had a mere 17 hits in their 11-1 victory over the Diamondbacks.
The teams walked to runs in the Mets’ 17-11 victory over the Cardinals. There were 18 bases on balls. A name to file away: St. Louis 2B Daniel Descalso. He might not be in the majors until 2011, but he was 2-for-2 in the game.
Mets SS Jose Reyes missed the game to undergo a blood test. There apparently was an abnormality in an earlier test during his physical exam.
LHP Johan Santana threw off a mound for the first time since undergoing elbow surgery last September. He made 40 pitches in batting practice to Rod Barajas and rookie Josh Thole, who are expected to be New York’s catchers this season.
Almost all of the scoring – two runs apiece – was against the bullpen in the Phillies’ 3-2 win over the Yankees. The starters, RHP Roy Halladay and LHP C.C. Sabathia, each pitched two scoreless innings.
The dishonor of playing the spring’s first tie game, 4-4 in 10 innings, went to the White Sox and Angels. They couldn’t possibly have played any longer – not with approximately 7,000 pitchers and a couple of hundred position players available in their spring training camp.
It wasn’t long ago that RHP Radhames Liz was a fraudulent prospect with the Orioles. He’s now with the Padres, and he gave up six runs in the eighth inning of their 9-3 loss to the Mariners. Included was 1B Tommy Everidge’s grand slam. It was a good day for Seattle first basemen; Ryan Garko also hit a solo homer.
The Nationals were hoping to improve their bullpen by trading for RHP Brian Bruney, but he was the losing pitcher in their 10-4 loss to the Marlins.
A guy we’ve touted as a potential closer somewhere is RHP Joe Nelson. He saved Boston’s 2-1 victory over the Twins.
What they’re working on:
Red Sox RHP Jonathan Papelbon, who has no reason to feel that Nelson is a threat to the closer’s job, is trying to regain his split-finger pitch. He threw four of them among his 13 pitches against the Twins.
Worth noting:
The Cubs’ closer of record, RHP Carlos Marmol, was 11-for-11 in save opportunities after taking over the job last season. A word of caution: His 161 appearances during the past two seasons were the majors’ second-highest total, so he could feel the pressures of being overworked. Or he might be one of those pitchers who haven’t always babied their arm so that the workload wouldn’t bother him.
The White Sox have used 3B Gordon Beckham, fueling speculation that he could be used in a trade with the Padres for 1B Adrian Gonzalez.
The Angels credit RF Bobby Abreu, who has a long-established and well deserved reputation as a selective batter, with helping SS Erick Aybar exceed his career on-base percentage by 55 points last season and 3B Chone Figgins and CF Torii Hunter improve theirs by 40 points.
Sample Scouting Report:
J.P. Arencibia, C, Blue Jays
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 215 Age: 24 B: R
{2010}Arencibia hasn’t yet lived up to the potential that Toronto saw when it made him a supplemental first-round draft pick in 2007. The former Tennessee Volunteer’s average has dropped at each of his last two stops, and he has struck out at least four times for every walk in each of his four minor league stops. You should look past his .236 average at Triple-A Las Vegas last year to consider it a negative but not something that would keep him from having fantasy value. That would come from his 21 homers and 75 RBI, which would give him more value than most catchers. A year earlier, he totaled 27 dingers and 105 RBI in high Class A and Double-A. J.P. also needs to work on his throwing. He has a strong arm, but threw out just 25 per cent of potential base stealers in 2009. The Jays need a catcher; by mid-season Arencibia could have that job.
Projection
AB: 385 BA: .264 HR: 17 RBI: 62 SB: 0 R: 50 Value: $5
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Not much relief from bullpens
Here’s what happened today, when the schedule of exhibition games expanded to nine, with five of those between teams that both ostensibly were made up of major league players.
A trend was terrible relief pitching, which is understandable because especially this early in the spring, a number of even the late-inning relievers are pitchers who won’t even get a sniff of the majors in 2010.
The Tigers had some encouraging developments. RHP Jeremy Bonderman started and pitched two scoreless innings. OF Casper Wells, whom we introduced to you Tuesday, drove in a run with a triple to tie the game in the ninth inning, then scored the winning run in a 7-6 victory over the Blue Jays. However, LHP Daniel Schlereth, part of Detroit’s big trade with the Diamondbacks and Yankees, blew a lead by giving up four runs in the bottom of the eighth – with three of those on a home run by minor league journeyman Chris Lubanski.
There was similar bullpen failure in the Giants’ 8-7 victory in 10 innings over the Mariners. San Francisco allowed two runs to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth. 1B Aubrey Huff homered for the Giants. RHP Tim Lincecum gave up three runs in just one inning. He noted that his violent motion has “a lot of moving parts” and that he has to refine each one of those to get his delivery working right. There’s no need to panic now, but remember that there’s a possibility he might not be able to put everything back together just right.
The Orioles hit six home runs in a 12-2 rout of the Rays, but the most interesting homer in that game might have been by 2B Sean Rodriguez. He’s fighting for the starting job in Tampa Bay. If he wins that, Ben Zobrist could start in right field. I predict that if Zobrist plays regularly at second base, the Rays have a good chance to make the playoffs, but if Rodriguez or Reid Brignac is in the usual starting lineup, TB will be a weaker, non-playoff team.
Anyway, today Baltimore got two home runs apiece from DH Josh Bell and 1B Rhyne Hughes. Don’t go putting them on your draft or auction list. Bell hit a homer against RHP Matt Garza, a legitimate major leaguer, but the other was against LHP Heath Phillips. Hughes, who already is 26 years old, hit his blasts against journeyman Phillips and 29-year-old Jason Cromer. You might see similar performances by these players this season – if you’re at a Triple-A game.
Here’s an idea for the majors. Take a page from the NBA’s book and have a few teams that are hopelessly overmatched in a major professional league.
In spring training, baseball pretty much does that by scheduling exhibitions against college teams. The major league teams won all four games against collegians today, by a composite score of 53-10. That’s 6-0 in favor of a handful of major leaguers and the professional minor leaguers representing MLB cities.
The Red Sox swept Northeastern 15-0 and Boston College 6-1 in a pair of seven-inning games. The Marlins played all nine against the University of Miami for a 19-3 victory. In an eight-inning contest, the Phillies overcame Florida State’s 6-4 lead to win 13-6. Seminoles pitchers walked 16 batters. Bad news for Philadelphia was that RHP prospect Phillippe Aumont lasted just two-thirds of an inning and allowed five runs.
The Yankees didn’t play a college team, but they did find a willing opponent in the Pirates. New York didn’t win until OF Colin Curtis hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth against Pittsburgh RHP Virgil Vasquez for a 6-3 victory.
Position changes:
SS Miguel Tejada opened the exhibition season with the Orioles at his new position, third base.
White Sox 3B prospect Dayan Viciedo will start at first base in their opening exhibition.
Failed SS prospect Sergio Santos is now with the White Sox trying to make it as a righthanded pitcher.
Injuries:
White Sox CF Alex Rios is out because of a sore right shoulder. He seems to be becoming somewhat brittle. Expect him to miss 30-40 games this season.
Astros 1B Lance Berkman (bruised left knee) will miss Thursday’s game. If he plays Friday, that would be as a DH.
Cardinals SS Brendan Ryan seems impatient to get back as he recovers from surgery on his right wrist. Beware his trying to come back too soon and missing a significant part of this season as well.
Indians DH Travis Hafner has missed much of the past two seasons, and still has to prove he has regained his former strength and form 17 months after arthroscopic shoulder surgery.
News and notes:
The Diamondbacks and RF Justin Upton have officially agreed on a six-year, $51.25-million contract.
Padres RHP Heath Bell is working to add a changeup to the fastball and curve he already was throwing. You might not realize this, but even with just two pitches he led the National League with 42 saves in 2009.
A trend was terrible relief pitching, which is understandable because especially this early in the spring, a number of even the late-inning relievers are pitchers who won’t even get a sniff of the majors in 2010.
The Tigers had some encouraging developments. RHP Jeremy Bonderman started and pitched two scoreless innings. OF Casper Wells, whom we introduced to you Tuesday, drove in a run with a triple to tie the game in the ninth inning, then scored the winning run in a 7-6 victory over the Blue Jays. However, LHP Daniel Schlereth, part of Detroit’s big trade with the Diamondbacks and Yankees, blew a lead by giving up four runs in the bottom of the eighth – with three of those on a home run by minor league journeyman Chris Lubanski.
There was similar bullpen failure in the Giants’ 8-7 victory in 10 innings over the Mariners. San Francisco allowed two runs to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth. 1B Aubrey Huff homered for the Giants. RHP Tim Lincecum gave up three runs in just one inning. He noted that his violent motion has “a lot of moving parts” and that he has to refine each one of those to get his delivery working right. There’s no need to panic now, but remember that there’s a possibility he might not be able to put everything back together just right.
The Orioles hit six home runs in a 12-2 rout of the Rays, but the most interesting homer in that game might have been by 2B Sean Rodriguez. He’s fighting for the starting job in Tampa Bay. If he wins that, Ben Zobrist could start in right field. I predict that if Zobrist plays regularly at second base, the Rays have a good chance to make the playoffs, but if Rodriguez or Reid Brignac is in the usual starting lineup, TB will be a weaker, non-playoff team.
Anyway, today Baltimore got two home runs apiece from DH Josh Bell and 1B Rhyne Hughes. Don’t go putting them on your draft or auction list. Bell hit a homer against RHP Matt Garza, a legitimate major leaguer, but the other was against LHP Heath Phillips. Hughes, who already is 26 years old, hit his blasts against journeyman Phillips and 29-year-old Jason Cromer. You might see similar performances by these players this season – if you’re at a Triple-A game.
Here’s an idea for the majors. Take a page from the NBA’s book and have a few teams that are hopelessly overmatched in a major professional league.
In spring training, baseball pretty much does that by scheduling exhibitions against college teams. The major league teams won all four games against collegians today, by a composite score of 53-10. That’s 6-0 in favor of a handful of major leaguers and the professional minor leaguers representing MLB cities.
The Red Sox swept Northeastern 15-0 and Boston College 6-1 in a pair of seven-inning games. The Marlins played all nine against the University of Miami for a 19-3 victory. In an eight-inning contest, the Phillies overcame Florida State’s 6-4 lead to win 13-6. Seminoles pitchers walked 16 batters. Bad news for Philadelphia was that RHP prospect Phillippe Aumont lasted just two-thirds of an inning and allowed five runs.
The Yankees didn’t play a college team, but they did find a willing opponent in the Pirates. New York didn’t win until OF Colin Curtis hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth against Pittsburgh RHP Virgil Vasquez for a 6-3 victory.
Position changes:
SS Miguel Tejada opened the exhibition season with the Orioles at his new position, third base.
White Sox 3B prospect Dayan Viciedo will start at first base in their opening exhibition.
Failed SS prospect Sergio Santos is now with the White Sox trying to make it as a righthanded pitcher.
Injuries:
White Sox CF Alex Rios is out because of a sore right shoulder. He seems to be becoming somewhat brittle. Expect him to miss 30-40 games this season.
Astros 1B Lance Berkman (bruised left knee) will miss Thursday’s game. If he plays Friday, that would be as a DH.
Cardinals SS Brendan Ryan seems impatient to get back as he recovers from surgery on his right wrist. Beware his trying to come back too soon and missing a significant part of this season as well.
Indians DH Travis Hafner has missed much of the past two seasons, and still has to prove he has regained his former strength and form 17 months after arthroscopic shoulder surgery.
News and notes:
The Diamondbacks and RF Justin Upton have officially agreed on a six-year, $51.25-million contract.
Padres RHP Heath Bell is working to add a changeup to the fastball and curve he already was throwing. You might not realize this, but even with just two pitches he led the National League with 42 saves in 2009.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Guys in Mets uniforms win 1st exhibition
It was good to see some baseball on my laptop today, mlb.tv’s telecast of the Braves-Mets game in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Especially after New York manager Jerry Manuel took the starters out of the lineup because the field was wet, the players bore little resemblance to major league teams.
Just check out these Mets “stars” – the starting pitcher, RHP Nelson Figueroa; in relief, LHP Bobby Livingston, and with an eighth-inning solo homer cementing their 4-2 victory, Russ Adams. If those players are all with the Mets this season, they’ll be worse than they were in 2009.
Let’s go back to that thing about taking starters out because rain had soaked the field. The same teams that are so concerned about avoiding injury to their high-priced talent at a time of exhibition games think nothing about sending those same players out on the field to complete a regular-season delayed for hours. That’s just good business, because then they can collect the ticket money from people who long since went home and went to bed.
Anyway, the winners of today’s other two games were predictable.
The Tigers defeated Florida Southern 13-1. The only Detroit player worthy of note was OF Casper Wells, who hit a home run. He’s not worthy of note just for that homer, but because he might have a future in the majors. That future isn’t likely to be this season, but keep your eye on him.
Even the Pirates found a team they could beat: Manatee Community College-Sarasota, by a 6-1 count. Marginal major league OFs Brandon Moss and Steven Pearce hit home runs against teenaged pitchers.
Speaking of teams of imposters:
The Dodgers are sending 33 players to Taiwan for three games March 12-14. Two Taiwanese players, LHP Hong-chih Kuo and SS Chin-lung Hu, will make the trip. However, the only really recognizable regulars on the trip will be 1B James Loney, 2B Ron Belliard and LF Manny Ramirez.
For starters:
Tigers manager Jim Leyland announced that RHP Justin Verlander would be their Opening Day starter. Following him in the rotation would be RHP Max Scherzer. Detroit has a battle for a fifth starter among LHPs Dontrelle Willis, Nate Robertson and Phil Coke and RHPs Eddie Bonine and Armando Galarraga.
The need for speed:
In Monday’s intrasquad game, Rangers CF Julio Borbon stole two bases. He told the Dallas Morning News he expects to steal at least 50 bases as Texas’ leadoff batters. Borbon was on a pace that would have resulted in well over 50 last year after being promoted from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Diamondbacks CF Chris B. Young hopes to steal more bases after his SB total dropped in each of the last two seasons. Here’s a bit of advice: Get on base once in a while.
Mets SS Jose Reyes hit the first pitch in their Monday intrasquad game for a triple. It wasn’t that he had an extra-base hit against rookie Tobi Stoner, who isn’t likely to see CitiField this season unless he buys a ticket. The interest was that Reyes ran swiftly and without pain in his oft-battered legs.
Enhancing performance:
We’re not saying the two paragraphs on either side of the line above are related, but Reyes is one of a number of athletes being questioned in a federal investigation of Canadian Dr. Anthony Galea, accused of arranging to smuggle human growth hormone into the United States.
Others who have testified or might have to talk to the FBI include Reyes and Mets teammates Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgaro, Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez (hmm), Rockies RHP Huston Street, Tiger Woods, swimmer Dara Torres and NFL quarterback Chris Simms.
Injuries:
Mets RHP Elmer Dessens left today’s game after being hit on the right knee by Braves C Brian McCann’s line drive.
The Red Sox are playing a low-stress doubleheader Wednesday against Northeastern University and Boston College. They’ll do that without CF Mike Cameron, who has a left groin injury. I’ll set the over/under on how many games he’ll play this year at 110 – and take the under.
Astros 1B Lance Berkman will miss their opening exhibition Thursday because of a left knee injury suffered Sunday.
Marlins RHP Derrick Turnbow has been out because of an infected left big toe.
Rocco Baldelli has rejoined the Rays, but as a special assistant and not as a player. The former outfielder couldn’t sign with anyone as a free agent because of concerns about a shoulder injury.
Unheralded rookie:
The Tigers’ second base job is Scott Sizemore’s to lose. Detroit is likely to open the season with CF Austin Jackson and Sizemore as the all-rookie 1-2 combination at the top of the batting order.
What they’re working on:
Dodgers RHP Eric Gagne, recovering from a shoulder injury, has extended his delivery and is noticing greater velocity on his pitches.
Braves 3B Chipper Jones noted that batting lefthanded last season he was taking his top hand off the bat early, and lifting his head instead of keeping it down with his eyes trained on the ball. So he’s working to overcome both bad habits.
Especially after New York manager Jerry Manuel took the starters out of the lineup because the field was wet, the players bore little resemblance to major league teams.
Just check out these Mets “stars” – the starting pitcher, RHP Nelson Figueroa; in relief, LHP Bobby Livingston, and with an eighth-inning solo homer cementing their 4-2 victory, Russ Adams. If those players are all with the Mets this season, they’ll be worse than they were in 2009.
Let’s go back to that thing about taking starters out because rain had soaked the field. The same teams that are so concerned about avoiding injury to their high-priced talent at a time of exhibition games think nothing about sending those same players out on the field to complete a regular-season delayed for hours. That’s just good business, because then they can collect the ticket money from people who long since went home and went to bed.
Anyway, the winners of today’s other two games were predictable.
The Tigers defeated Florida Southern 13-1. The only Detroit player worthy of note was OF Casper Wells, who hit a home run. He’s not worthy of note just for that homer, but because he might have a future in the majors. That future isn’t likely to be this season, but keep your eye on him.
Even the Pirates found a team they could beat: Manatee Community College-Sarasota, by a 6-1 count. Marginal major league OFs Brandon Moss and Steven Pearce hit home runs against teenaged pitchers.
Speaking of teams of imposters:
The Dodgers are sending 33 players to Taiwan for three games March 12-14. Two Taiwanese players, LHP Hong-chih Kuo and SS Chin-lung Hu, will make the trip. However, the only really recognizable regulars on the trip will be 1B James Loney, 2B Ron Belliard and LF Manny Ramirez.
For starters:
Tigers manager Jim Leyland announced that RHP Justin Verlander would be their Opening Day starter. Following him in the rotation would be RHP Max Scherzer. Detroit has a battle for a fifth starter among LHPs Dontrelle Willis, Nate Robertson and Phil Coke and RHPs Eddie Bonine and Armando Galarraga.
The need for speed:
In Monday’s intrasquad game, Rangers CF Julio Borbon stole two bases. He told the Dallas Morning News he expects to steal at least 50 bases as Texas’ leadoff batters. Borbon was on a pace that would have resulted in well over 50 last year after being promoted from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Diamondbacks CF Chris B. Young hopes to steal more bases after his SB total dropped in each of the last two seasons. Here’s a bit of advice: Get on base once in a while.
Mets SS Jose Reyes hit the first pitch in their Monday intrasquad game for a triple. It wasn’t that he had an extra-base hit against rookie Tobi Stoner, who isn’t likely to see CitiField this season unless he buys a ticket. The interest was that Reyes ran swiftly and without pain in his oft-battered legs.
Enhancing performance:
We’re not saying the two paragraphs on either side of the line above are related, but Reyes is one of a number of athletes being questioned in a federal investigation of Canadian Dr. Anthony Galea, accused of arranging to smuggle human growth hormone into the United States.
Others who have testified or might have to talk to the FBI include Reyes and Mets teammates Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgaro, Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez (hmm), Rockies RHP Huston Street, Tiger Woods, swimmer Dara Torres and NFL quarterback Chris Simms.
Injuries:
Mets RHP Elmer Dessens left today’s game after being hit on the right knee by Braves C Brian McCann’s line drive.
The Red Sox are playing a low-stress doubleheader Wednesday against Northeastern University and Boston College. They’ll do that without CF Mike Cameron, who has a left groin injury. I’ll set the over/under on how many games he’ll play this year at 110 – and take the under.
Astros 1B Lance Berkman will miss their opening exhibition Thursday because of a left knee injury suffered Sunday.
Marlins RHP Derrick Turnbow has been out because of an infected left big toe.
Rocco Baldelli has rejoined the Rays, but as a special assistant and not as a player. The former outfielder couldn’t sign with anyone as a free agent because of concerns about a shoulder injury.
Unheralded rookie:
The Tigers’ second base job is Scott Sizemore’s to lose. Detroit is likely to open the season with CF Austin Jackson and Sizemore as the all-rookie 1-2 combination at the top of the batting order.
What they’re working on:
Dodgers RHP Eric Gagne, recovering from a shoulder injury, has extended his delivery and is noticing greater velocity on his pitches.
Braves 3B Chipper Jones noted that batting lefthanded last season he was taking his top hand off the bat early, and lifting his head instead of keeping it down with his eyes trained on the ball. So he’s working to overcome both bad habits.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Hanson starts for Braves vs. Mets Tuesday
First pitches are not far away this spring. The first actual exhibition games will be Tuesday. Other teams, including the Rangers, have scheduled intrasquad games today or Tuesday. For Texas, the intrasquad contests will be both today and Tuesday.
Managers and pitching coaches have spent a lot of time constructing rotations for the first few exhibitions. They have taken into account factors such as who is in or who is trying to be in the regular-season rotation, whose arms from shoulder to fingertip are physically capable of pitching and how the schedules will line up with the regular season for the winners in the spring-training pitching derby.
Here’s a look at some of the early March rotations.
Padres: These days, pitchers making their first exhibition start pitch just two innings. That leaves plenty of innings for the bullpen. In some cases, teams will use two or more starters in the same game. That’s was San Diego has planned Thursday for the first of four games against the Mariners. RHPs Chris Young and Kevin Correia both will pitch then. On Friday, the Padres will use multiple pitchers battling for the fifth starter’s job – RHP Mat Latos, LHP Wade LeBlanc and RHP Sean Gallagher. The Saturday pitchers will include RHPs Jon Garland and Tim Stauffer, and LHP Clayton Richard and RHP Cesar Carrillo will work Sunday. Over the course of the exhibition, that list would be whittled down to five starters.
Twins: Like the Padres and Seattle in Peoria, Ariz., Minnesota’s exhibition season will open with a series against a team training in the same town: the Red Sox in Fort Myers, Fla. The Twinkies will visit the Sox for the first game Thursday, with RHP Nick Blackburn scheduled to start, with RHP Kevin Slowey also pitching. The Twins will be the home team Friday, with RHP Carl Pavano starting. Back at City of Palms Park Saturday, LHP Francisco Liriano will start for Minnesota. RHP Scott Baker and LHP Brian Duensing both will start Sunday in split-squad games against the Yankees and Pirates. On Monday, Blackburn and Slowey would pitch again against the Orioles in Sarasota. The Twins will open the regular season with a rotation of Baker, Pavano, Blackburn and Slowey.
Braves: Manager Bobby Cox named RHP Derek Lowe the starter for the regular-season opener, but RHP Tommy Hanson will start the year’s first exhibition between two major league teams – Tuesday at 1:10 p.m. EST against the Mets in Port St. Lucie, Fla. The game will be on mlb.tv. Atlanta and the Mets will play Wednesday in Lake Buena Vista, with RHP Tim Hudson starting for the Braves. Against the Pirates Thursday, RHP Kenshin Kawakami will start. Lowe is scheduled against the Nationals Friday. RHP Jair Jurrjens threw 15 pitches off a mound today for the first time this spring, while he’s recovering from a sore shoulder. He’ll throw again in three side sessions before joining the exhibition rotation, so RHP Kris Medlen will fill in for Sunday’s game against the Astros in Kissimmee.
Other teams have named starters for their first exhibition. Among them are the Orioles (RHP Jeremy Guthrie Wednesday against the Rays), Cubs (RHP Randy Wells Thursday vs. the Athletics) and Reds (RHP Mike Lincoln Friday against the Indians). Lincoln, who has made almost all of his major league appearances in relief, is trying to win the fifth starter’s position in a competition with LHPs Aroldis Chapman and Matt Maloney and RHPs Micah Owings, Justin Lehr, Travis Wood and Kip Wells. Good luck, Mike Lincoln.
Playing ball:
The actual first pitch of spring training is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. EST Tuesday, when the Pirates host Manatee Community College-Sarasota. The day’s other game is the Tigers’ 1:05 date with Florida Southern College. Detroit apparently feels confident enough to take on a four-year college.
Injuries:
The Blue Jays were encouraged today when RHP Dustin McGowan pitched batting practice in his first appearance against batters since July 2008.
Rangers LF Josh Hamilton sat out today’s intrasquad game because of renewed pain in his left shoulder. Better news for Texas was that LHP Derek Holland, recovering from a sprained knee, pitched batting practice. RHP Warner Madrigal (tight forearm) isn’t expected to throw again until long toss Thursday.
Money, money, money, money:
Giants RHP Tim Lincecum, a two-time National League Cy Young Award winner, will be making $10 million this season, the first under his new two-year contract. To justify his $18.5-million salary, Lincecum’s teammate, LHP Barry Zito, would have to BE Cy Young about 110 years ago.
The Angels have money to spend, but they don’t treat their moolah lightly. They allowed free-agent 3B Chone Figgins to go to the Mariners, who will pay him about $9 million. LA/Anaheim has five infielders – 1B Kendry Morales, 2B Howie Kendrick, SS Erick Aybar, 3B Brandon Wood and 3B/SS Maicer Izturis – under contract for barely more than $8. They’re all signed through 2012, though it seems dicey to be paying Wood until 2014 until he shows something in the majors.
3B/1B Troy Glaus could be a bargain for the Braves. They signed the free agent to a one-year, $2-million contract. He has noted no limitations from the right shoulder that kept him out of the majors most of last season.
The Yankees signed RHP Chan Ho Park to a one-year deal for $1.2 million, plus $300,000 in incentives. He’s not being overpaid on the gross scale that he was by the Rangers, but his salary still seems high for a long reliever.
Speaking of the Yanks’ bullpen:
RHP Mariano Rivera and LHP Damaso Marte threw for the first time today. Rivera’s debut was good news for New York fans, Marte’s not so much.
A battle:
2B/RF Ben Zobrist has a place in the Rays’ batting order. What isn’t known is where he would play. The decision will come down to whether OF Matt Joyce can show more this spring than either SS Reid Brignac or 2B Sean Rodriguez. Two of the three are expected to be on the Opening Day roster. If Joyce makes the team out of spring training, Zobrist wouldn’t be needed in the outfield and would start at second base. If the two infielders make the roster, one would start at second base and Zobrist would go to right field. Our money is on Joyce and Rodriguez to be on the roster.
Managers and pitching coaches have spent a lot of time constructing rotations for the first few exhibitions. They have taken into account factors such as who is in or who is trying to be in the regular-season rotation, whose arms from shoulder to fingertip are physically capable of pitching and how the schedules will line up with the regular season for the winners in the spring-training pitching derby.
Here’s a look at some of the early March rotations.
Padres: These days, pitchers making their first exhibition start pitch just two innings. That leaves plenty of innings for the bullpen. In some cases, teams will use two or more starters in the same game. That’s was San Diego has planned Thursday for the first of four games against the Mariners. RHPs Chris Young and Kevin Correia both will pitch then. On Friday, the Padres will use multiple pitchers battling for the fifth starter’s job – RHP Mat Latos, LHP Wade LeBlanc and RHP Sean Gallagher. The Saturday pitchers will include RHPs Jon Garland and Tim Stauffer, and LHP Clayton Richard and RHP Cesar Carrillo will work Sunday. Over the course of the exhibition, that list would be whittled down to five starters.
Twins: Like the Padres and Seattle in Peoria, Ariz., Minnesota’s exhibition season will open with a series against a team training in the same town: the Red Sox in Fort Myers, Fla. The Twinkies will visit the Sox for the first game Thursday, with RHP Nick Blackburn scheduled to start, with RHP Kevin Slowey also pitching. The Twins will be the home team Friday, with RHP Carl Pavano starting. Back at City of Palms Park Saturday, LHP Francisco Liriano will start for Minnesota. RHP Scott Baker and LHP Brian Duensing both will start Sunday in split-squad games against the Yankees and Pirates. On Monday, Blackburn and Slowey would pitch again against the Orioles in Sarasota. The Twins will open the regular season with a rotation of Baker, Pavano, Blackburn and Slowey.
Braves: Manager Bobby Cox named RHP Derek Lowe the starter for the regular-season opener, but RHP Tommy Hanson will start the year’s first exhibition between two major league teams – Tuesday at 1:10 p.m. EST against the Mets in Port St. Lucie, Fla. The game will be on mlb.tv. Atlanta and the Mets will play Wednesday in Lake Buena Vista, with RHP Tim Hudson starting for the Braves. Against the Pirates Thursday, RHP Kenshin Kawakami will start. Lowe is scheduled against the Nationals Friday. RHP Jair Jurrjens threw 15 pitches off a mound today for the first time this spring, while he’s recovering from a sore shoulder. He’ll throw again in three side sessions before joining the exhibition rotation, so RHP Kris Medlen will fill in for Sunday’s game against the Astros in Kissimmee.
Other teams have named starters for their first exhibition. Among them are the Orioles (RHP Jeremy Guthrie Wednesday against the Rays), Cubs (RHP Randy Wells Thursday vs. the Athletics) and Reds (RHP Mike Lincoln Friday against the Indians). Lincoln, who has made almost all of his major league appearances in relief, is trying to win the fifth starter’s position in a competition with LHPs Aroldis Chapman and Matt Maloney and RHPs Micah Owings, Justin Lehr, Travis Wood and Kip Wells. Good luck, Mike Lincoln.
Playing ball:
The actual first pitch of spring training is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. EST Tuesday, when the Pirates host Manatee Community College-Sarasota. The day’s other game is the Tigers’ 1:05 date with Florida Southern College. Detroit apparently feels confident enough to take on a four-year college.
Injuries:
The Blue Jays were encouraged today when RHP Dustin McGowan pitched batting practice in his first appearance against batters since July 2008.
Rangers LF Josh Hamilton sat out today’s intrasquad game because of renewed pain in his left shoulder. Better news for Texas was that LHP Derek Holland, recovering from a sprained knee, pitched batting practice. RHP Warner Madrigal (tight forearm) isn’t expected to throw again until long toss Thursday.
Money, money, money, money:
Giants RHP Tim Lincecum, a two-time National League Cy Young Award winner, will be making $10 million this season, the first under his new two-year contract. To justify his $18.5-million salary, Lincecum’s teammate, LHP Barry Zito, would have to BE Cy Young about 110 years ago.
The Angels have money to spend, but they don’t treat their moolah lightly. They allowed free-agent 3B Chone Figgins to go to the Mariners, who will pay him about $9 million. LA/Anaheim has five infielders – 1B Kendry Morales, 2B Howie Kendrick, SS Erick Aybar, 3B Brandon Wood and 3B/SS Maicer Izturis – under contract for barely more than $8. They’re all signed through 2012, though it seems dicey to be paying Wood until 2014 until he shows something in the majors.
3B/1B Troy Glaus could be a bargain for the Braves. They signed the free agent to a one-year, $2-million contract. He has noted no limitations from the right shoulder that kept him out of the majors most of last season.
The Yankees signed RHP Chan Ho Park to a one-year deal for $1.2 million, plus $300,000 in incentives. He’s not being overpaid on the gross scale that he was by the Rangers, but his salary still seems high for a long reliever.
Speaking of the Yanks’ bullpen:
RHP Mariano Rivera and LHP Damaso Marte threw for the first time today. Rivera’s debut was good news for New York fans, Marte’s not so much.
A battle:
2B/RF Ben Zobrist has a place in the Rays’ batting order. What isn’t known is where he would play. The decision will come down to whether OF Matt Joyce can show more this spring than either SS Reid Brignac or 2B Sean Rodriguez. Two of the three are expected to be on the Opening Day roster. If Joyce makes the team out of spring training, Zobrist wouldn’t be needed in the outfield and would start at second base. If the two infielders make the roster, one would start at second base and Zobrist would go to right field. Our money is on Joyce and Rodriguez to be on the roster.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)