| Dan Haren, P, Arizona Diamondbacks | Saturday 3/1, 10:41 PM CT |
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| Dan Haren made his Arizona spring debut on Saturday. The ex-Athletic allowed one run on five hits over a pair of innings. Three of Haren's four strikeouts came on outstanding split-finger fastballs. Haren is a top-tiered mixed league option. His move from the AL to NL is positive; his venue move from Oakland to Arizona isn't. |
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| Joe Crede, 3B, Chicago White Sox | Saturday 3/1, 10:36 PM CT |
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| Joe Crede is not willing to role over and give up his starting third base role to the younger Josh Fields. The veteran Crede blasted a home run over the bullpen beyond the left-field wall in Saturday's win over Arizona. Crede, however, has a chronic back ailment that can't be trusted. He is a high risk - low reward option -- and Fields might not get enough at bats to justify a roster spot in mixed formats. Third base for the Pale Sox is one position that should be avoided until late March. |
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| Shawn Chacon, who is battling for a rotation spot with the Astros, gets a chance to earn brownie points on Sunday when he starts against the Washington Nationals. Chacon has a shot to earn a slot at the back end of a weak Houston rotation. |
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| Hunter Pence went 2-for-3 with an RBI in Saturday's loss to the Braves. Pence, who was brilliant with Houston last season, is currently over valued in most formats. Pence is being drafted before proven veterans, and considering the second-year outfielder has only 108 games under his belt, he comes with some risk. That said, he could also prove to be worthy of his current draft day status. |
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| Tom Glavine, P, Atlanta Braves | Saturday 3/1, 10:11 PM CT |
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| Tom Glavine, who was pitching in a Braves uniform on for the first time since 2002, registered two strikeouts and allowed one run in two innings of work in the win over the Astros. Glavine doesn't offer much in the way of strike outs, but he will stay near the mean in ERA and WHIP. |
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| Woody Williams faced the minimum in the Astros loss Saturday, allowing one hit in two innings of work. The veteran right-hander's only hit allowed was a single to Yunel Escobar. |
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| Ty Wigginton, a sleeper candidate at the corner in mixed formats, homered off Tom Glavine in the second inning on Saturday. Wiggington was successful in his short stint with Houston late last summer. After being traded from the Rays, Wiggs hit six home runs in 164 at-bats. |
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| Jeff Francoeur hit a three-run home run off right-hander Runelvys Hernandez on Saturday. It's early, but Francoeur is currently hitting .429 this spring. |
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| Chien-Ming Wang tossed two scoreless innings on Saturday, allowing but one hit and registering one strike out. Wang, who is currently the Yankees projected opening day starter, bolstered his fantasy value in his first spring outing. |
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| Chase Utley, 2B, Philadelphia Phillies | Saturday 3/1, 8:03 PM CT |
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| Chase Utley recorded his third double of the spring and has continued where he left off after returning last September from a hand injury that cost him five weeks of games. Despite missing those five weeks, Utley's 48 doubles tied for third in the National League last year, and he was the only second baseman to record 100 runs scored and 100 RBI. Don't believe the so-called experts that don't buy into positional scarcity, and especially don't believe those who don't consider Utley a first round talent. |
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| Adam Eaton, P, Philadelphia Phillies | Saturday 3/1, 7:58 PM CT |
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| Adam Eaton wasn't good in his first Grapefruit League outing of 2008. He surrendered three singles and a three-run home run in the first inning. Eaton completed two innings Saturday allowing five hits, three earned runs, walking three and striking out two. |
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| Shelley Duncan recorded five RBIs on Saturday afternoon with a three-run homer and a two-run double. The 28-year-old Duncan made a dramatic impact last year with seven homers and 17 RBIs, but earned some brownie points today in what figures to be a competitive battle for starter status at first base. Duncan is battling Jason Giambi, Morgan Ensberg and Wilson Betemit for playing time. |
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| Jon Lester, P, Boston Red Sox | Saturday 3/1, 7:42 PM CT |
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| Jon Lester, walked four of the nine batters he faced in his first spring start Saturday against Minnesota.
He gave up five runs, four earned, and recorded only three outs. Lester's velocity was present in the debut, hitting as much as 94 MPH on the gun, but his command was awful. |
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| Pitching coach Mike Maddux told Fox Sports that left-hander Chris Capuano has the eye of the tiger this spring.
"I think he really wants to silence the critics," Maddux said. "No doubt about that." Capuano began the 2007 campaign with a 5-0 record and 2.31 ERA. Capuano followed his hot start by never winning another game, going 0-12 with a 6.08 ERA in 18 starts. He was eventually taken out of the rotation and sent to the pen. Capuano recorded 18 victories in 2005, and then made the National League All-Star team the following season. Believing those two achievements are aberrations isn't logical. Look for the Brewers left-hander to earn a spot in the rotation and have a bounce back season. |
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| B.J. Ryan, P, Toronto Blue Jays | Saturday 3/1, 5:38 PM CT |
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| Skipper John Gibbons told the Blue Jays team website that the days of using closer B.J. Ryan for more than one inning are done. Ryan, who led the Majors with 13 multi-inning saves in 2006, will not see any eighth inning work this season as long as he is the primary ninth inning option.
"He's one of the best closers in baseball," Gibbons said, "but you won't see him coming in the eighth inning again. You won't see any of that. We want to try to definitely stay away from that. Plus, we've got guys we've got confidence in to get that final out of the eighth."
Ryan is scheduled to throw 25-30 pitches in a batting-practice on Sunday morning and receive his first Grapefruit League action in mid-March. |
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| Daniel Cabrera had his stuff working on Saturday against Washington, pitching three shutout innings. The 0's talented right-hander gave up two hits and struck out one while facing 10 batters on the day. Cabrera had everything working and his command was abnormally outstanding. His 7-1 ground ball-to-fly ball ratio was also encouraging. Cabrera has been a breakout candidate for so many years, most sharp players avoid his inconsistent performances. If the hard-throwing righty can ever "get it" -- he will be a stellar mixed league option. |
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| Scott Moore, 3B, Baltimore Orioles | Saturday 3/1, 5:23 PM CT |
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| Scott Moore hit a home run to deep right field on Saturday as the O's defeated the Nats 4-1. Moore added a two-run double on the day. Moore, who played in 19 September games last year had 12 hits in 52 at bats and while he registered only one home run, he did record 11 RBI. Moore is slated to back up Melvin Mora at third base this year, but this past week was taking grounders at second base. If Brian Roberts is traded like many believe he will, Moore becomes a viable fantasy option in AL-only formats. |
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| Brad Penny, P, Los Angeles Dodgers | Saturday 3/1, 5:06 PM CT |
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| Brad Penny was impressive in his first spring training start Saturday. The Dodgers right-hander allowed one hit in two scoreless innings. He walked one and struck out two. A healthy Penny will assist fantasy owners in all formats. Throwing half of his innings in pitcher friendly Dodger Stadium with hopeful starts against the Padres in PETCO Park as well. |
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| Twins manager Ron Gardenhire told the Star Tribune that Craig Monroe has a strained calf muscle, this following his team’s 7-6 loss to the Boston Red Sox Saturday.
Monroe hasn’t been able to work since Thursday, but he was back in the batting cage today.
“He felt more like a cramp than anything else,” Gardenhire said. “But we’re just backing him up — a little more precautionary. A couple days. He wants to get out there pretty quick, so hopefully we’ll be able to get him back out there.”
Consider Monroe nothing more than a deep league AL-only option when healthy. |
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| Justin Huber was scratched from the Royals lineup for Saturday's exhibition game due the flu, according to the KC Star. The virus has been working its way through the Royals' locker room -- Ryan Shealy missed his third game Saturday due to the same sickness. |
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| Marlon Anderson collided with Ryan Church during Saturday's spring game and sustained a bruised chest, according to the New York Daily News. Anderson initially has been diagnosed with a bruised sternum, but more should be known about his condition following an MRI. |
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| Ryan Church collided with Marlon Anderson during Saturday's spring game, according to the New York Daily News. The Mets confirmed that Church sustained a concussion. "He doesn’t remember anything about anything," said Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz said. "He doesn’t remember going out to catch the ball. He doesn’t remember the collision. He’s able to walk. His jaw is sore. But he’s a little woozy." It sounds like Church will be out for at least a little while, but for how long will depend on the severity of the concussion. We'll have more news for you as it becomes available. |
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| Dmitri Young, 1B, Washington Nationals | Saturday 3/1, 2:30 PM CT |
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| Dmitri Young was scratched from Saturday's exhibition game due to a strain that runs from his side into his left quadriceps, according to the Washington Post. The soreness should only cost him a few days, barring something unexpected. |
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| Paul Lo Duca took dry swings in a batting cage on Friday and is slated to have a soft-toss session on Saturday, according to the Washington Post. Lo Duca hopes to catch batting practice on Monday. He's recovering from offseason knee surgery and still hopes to be ready for the season opener. |
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| Johnny Estrada's surgically repaired knee is fine, but his surgically repaired right elbow still is tender and inflamed, so he'll be shut down for the time being, according to the Washington Post. "I'm not too worried - yet," Estrada said. He won't work out for a few days, at which point we should have a better read on his status going forward. |
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| Shawn Hill, P, Washington Nationals | Saturday 3/1, 2:20 PM CT |
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| Shawn Hill was sent for a precautionary MRI on his sore right forearm Saturday, according to the Washington Post. The exam revealed no torn tendons or swelling, but the club plans to hold him back a bit to rest up. Hill has trouble staying healthy, so while the MRI results were good news, the fact that he's bothered enough by this to warrant an MRI in the first place is a bit concerning. |
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| Adam Loewen, LF, Toronto Blue Jays | Saturday 3/1, 1:49 PM CT |
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| Adam Loewen is out of minor league options, which means he can't be sent down without passing through waivers, according to MLB.com. The Orioles plan to keep him in their rotation and let him learn on the fly, even if that costs them in the short term. "All I know is he has good stuff, and all young pitchers go through trying times," added pitching coach Rick Kranitz. "I'm sure he'll have a few ups and downs, but as long as [he learns] from it -- especially [the] mistakes -- he'll be fine." Loewen has plenty of talent and upside, but he missed most of last season due to a stress fracture in his elbow, so he'll have to prove he can stay healthy before proving he can mature into a quality fantasy option. |
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| Cameron Maybin said his tight right hamstring felt better Saturday morning and that he should be back in the mix within a couple of days, according to MLB.com. "It feels better than yesterday," he said Saturday morning. "I'm getting a little stretching in. I will still participate in BP and throwing, just no running." Maybin was pulled from Friday's game due to the ailment, but it appears it shouldn't slow him down much in his attempt to lock down the starting role in center field. |
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| Carlos Delgado has been sent back to New York to undergo an MRI on his sore right hip, according to Newsday. "We don't expect it to be an extended situation," GM Omar Minaya said. "It's early in spring training and we wanted to get a look at it." Let's hope they're just being cautious, because Minaya added that the soreness is in the same area of Delgado's hip that bothered him last September. Delgado missed two weeks due to that injury. |
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| Recovering from elbow surgery, Dustin Moseley felt some soreness in the joint Friday and was shut down for the day, according to the LA Times. He's expected to pitch in a game next week, so obviously at this point, the Angels aren't too concerned about it. |
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| Aubrey Huff, DH, Baltimore Orioles | Saturday 3/1, 10:33 AM CT |
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| Aubrey Huff has faced live pitching the past two days, according to the Baltimore Sun. He's working his way back from hernia surgery and could see his first spring game action next week. At this point, Huff should be ready for the beginning of the regular season. |
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| As expected, Brandon Fahey returned to action Friday after missing the previous day's exhibition game because he had fluid drained from his thigh, according to the Baltimore Sun. "The bruise went away, but it still swelled up, so they just drained the fluid that was in there. It's fine. It doesn't hurt at all," he said. "It was just calcium deposits or something. They figured it was better to drain it. It didn't hurt when it was swollen." It appears this was just a minor malady, and he should be good to go. Fahey started at shortstop and went 0-for-2 on Friday. |
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| Jason Isringhausen is working on adding a split-finger fastball and a hybrid spread-finger splitter to his arsenal of pitches, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "He keeps adding a little something different with hitters," manager Tony La Russa said. "I think that's very important, especially for somebody who pitches late in the game. The old videotapes aren't going to tell the whole story in a particular year." Every little bit helps. Izzy picked up 32 saves and posted a 2.48 ERA and 1.07 WHIP last year. |
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| B.J. Ryan, P, Toronto Blue Jays | Saturday 3/1, 10:12 AM CT |
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| B.J. Ryan will have his surgically repaired elbow examined on Sunday, according to the Toronto Star. We should have a better idea after the exam about whether he really will be over his Tommy John surgery in time for the regular-season opener. |
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| The Royals denied a report on ESPNDesportes.com that they were expressing renewed interest in signing Sammy Sosa to a contract, according to the KC Star. "We’re very comfortable with the current group of players we have in camp competing for spots on our 25-man roster," GM Dayton Moore said. "There is no immediate desire to acquire other players through free agency." He might end up being a decent fit in Kansas City, but for the moment the team doesn't want to give him the guaranteed starting job that he's seeking. |
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| Rays manager Joe Maddon said Friday that the inflammation in Scott Kazmir's elbow is "going away a bit," and he's making progress in his recovery, according to the St. Petersburg Times. While that's positive news, Kazmir still has no timetable set for his return. Until a timetable is set, his availability for the beginning of the season will remain up in the air. |
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| Anderson Garcia is getting closer to resuming regular workouts, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Garcia has been limited recently by biceps tendintis, but it looks like he will soon get back to trying to win a spot in the M's bullpen. |
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| Kazuo Matsui missed Friday's game due to what originally was diagnosed as hemmorrhoids, but further tests revealed the it was something else, according to the Houston Chronincle. "It wasn't what we thought it was, so he'll get a chance to play (today)," manager Cecil Cooper said. Um, well, we'll just leave that all up to your imagination as to what really was going on there, but it sounds like he should be back in action Saturday. |
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| Tigers manager Jim Leyland formally announced Friday that Justin Verlander will start their opening day game against the Royals on March 31, according to the Detroit Free Press. No surprise here, as Leyland already had hinted that Verlander would get the nod. He had 18 wins and posted a 3.66 ERA and 1.23 WHIP last season. |
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| Orlando Hernandez attempted to toss a batting practice session Friday, but his troublesome right foot didn't feel comfortable and limited his velocity, according to the New York Daily News. "I'm not worried, but I'm worried," El Duque said. "I have a lot of time still - one month. But now, it's no good. I'm not feeling comfortable on the mound." He had been scheduled for his spring game debut Monday, but he'll try to throw another batting practice, instead. Hernandez has a bunion on his right big toe that won't be removed until after he retires. He also had surgery on the adjacent toe during the offseason, which has left that digit shorter. Clearly, his ability to push off the rubber and stay on the mound will be ongoing concerns. |
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| David Ross, C, Boston Red Sox | Saturday 3/1, 8:53 AM CT |
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| David Ross hasn't played in a spring game yet due to a sore back, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. "We're going to give him another day, just in case, another day before he starts hitting," manager Dusty Baker said. "Back spasms, they let go when they want to and they can grab you when they want to. We want to make sure it subsides." Right now, this sounds like just a minor early spring ailment that shouldn't affect his status for the regular season. |
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| Bill Bray, P, Cincinnati Reds | Saturday 3/1, 8:51 AM CT |
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| Bill Bray was able to throw of a mound Thursday, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. "It went pretty well," Bray said. "I felt fine." Bray had been limited to long-toss for a while due to a sore shoulder and now will stick with bullpens for a bit longer. |
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| Jerry Gil, P, Cincinnati Reds | Saturday 3/1, 8:47 AM CT |
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| Jerry Gil is being shut down for at least the next five days due to a strained quadriceps, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. "I worked hard," he said. "I was ready to play some baseball." Gil missed nearly all of last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, so being felled by a quadriceps must be a tough pill for him to swallow. The club will take things slowly with his return, which could limit his chances of breaking camp with the team. |
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| Randy Johnson is scheduled to take the mound for his next throwing session on Tuesday, according to the East Valley Tribune. Johnson will face hitters in batting practice then receive four days of rest, the longest he has gone between outings this spring. Johnson is still about a week behind his mound-mates this spring and will likely miss the first round of the rotation. Johnson is on track to make his regular season debut on April 6 in Colorado. |
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| Angels manager Mike Scioscia said that Kelvim Escobar is "still in the same window" to begin a throwing program in mid-to-late March, according to the LA Daily News. Even if he stays on course throughout his rehab from a sore shoulder, Escobar probably will not be ready for game action until May. |
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| Stephen Drew, SS, Arizona Diamondbacks | Saturday 3/1, 8:24 AM CT |
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| Stephen Drew , who was held out of Friday's game, had three wisdom teeth removed, notes the East Valley Tribune. The reported noted that Drew is scheduled to make his spring debut on Saturday and the minor oral surgery went as planned. Drew's current average draft position is the 15th round of mixed formats. |
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| Toby Hall, C, Chicago White Sox | Saturday 3/1, 8:22 AM CT |
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| The White Sox are taking things slowly with Toby Hall this spring after he battled a dislocated shoulder all of last season, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. "They just want to be very cautious with me so we don't have any setbacks," Hall said. "I'm on a program, and it's coming along. I'm really doing almost everything that the rest of the team is doing, except playing in games. They want to make sure I'm ready to go by the final two weeks of the spring, so that's what we're shooting for." Hall opted against undergoing surgery to repair the joint, so he's hoping it will just heal with rehab. It's something to consider if he hits any bumps in the road once he does start playing in games. |
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| Brandon Webb, P, Arizona Diamondbacks | Saturday 3/1, 8:21 AM CT |
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| Brandon Webb pitched two strong innings on Friday despite an upper respiratory infection, this according to the East Valley Tribune. The Diamondbacks' ace needed only 16 pitches in his two innings, facing only six batters. Webb is scheduled to pitch again Tuesday, on three days’ rest, in the D-Backs’ exhibition opener against Texas in Surprise. |
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| The Boston Globe reports that Bartolo Colon threw another session of long toss on Friday. The former Cy Young Award winner is scheduled to throw his first bullpen session Tuesday and follow that up with three bullpens, every other day, thereafter. The team is working him up to his first scheduled game action on March 15. |
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| Chad Tracy, 1B, Arizona Diamondbacks | Saturday 3/1, 8:13 AM CT |
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| Chad Tracy said he won't be cleared for game action until he's allowed to get off blood thinners he's been taking since developing a blood clot in November, according to the Arizona Republic. "As soon as I get off of the thinners, if I'm able to run, then technically I could play in a game," he said. "But I don't know where I'll be with the knee." Tracy doesn't expect to stop taking the blood thinners for another two or three weeks, and he's running at only 60 percent of his weight on a gravity-differential machine. Realistically, it sounds like we won't see him test his surgically repaired knee in a game for quite a while. |
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| Miguel Montero still is bothered by his broken finger enough that the Diamondbacks announced Friday he will not play in a spring game for at least the next two weeks, according to the Arizona Republic. A CT scan revealed Friday that the fractured digit sustained in a December winter league game still has not fully healed. At this point, it looks like Montero will have a tough time being ready by opening day. |
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