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| A.J. Burnett smashed his right hand while closing his car door Sunday, breaking the nail on his index finger, according to MLB.com. The injury will keep Burnett from throwing his curveball for 10-14 days. He won't miss any spring starts, but obviously Burnett won't be able to work on his breaking ball for a little while. |
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| Joe Crede, 3B, Chicago White Sox | Sunday 3/2, 8:18 PM CT |
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| One of Giants GM Brian Sabean's top advisors, Ted Uhlaender, was on hand Saturday to witness Joe Crede's home run, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. It has been widely reported that the Crede could be San Francisco-bound once the Giants are convinced that the third baseman's balky back isn't an issue. The Sox want to hand the third base job to Josh Fields. |
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| Joey Devine, P, Oakland Athletics | Sunday 3/2, 7:21 PM CT |
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| Joey Devine will sit out a few days because of back spasms, according to the AP. He's yet to appear in a game this spring but has a good chance to make the roster as a setup man if he pitches well. |
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| After playing in the first three spring games, Hank Blalock was out of the lineup for the second straight day Sunday and isn't scheduled to play tomorrow. He's not injured, but the team is just easing him into things, Blalock told the AP. Blalock missed most of last season after having surgery to remove a rib, and apparently the Rangers don't want to overburden him this spring. |
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| Nick Masset, P, Chicago White Sox | Sunday 3/2, 6:34 PM CT |
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| Nick Masset twirled three scoreless innings Sunday, allowing three hits and walk with one punchout. The righty, who is out of options, is trying to win a roster spot and won't have a problem doing so with more outings like this. |
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| Luke Hochevar had another great outing Sunday, tossing two scoreless frames while giving up one hit and striking out two. The right-hander has allowed one hit and no runs in four spring innings thus far. Hochevar has an outside shot at cracking the Royals rotation, but the team has also discussed bringing the first-round pick out of the bullpen. |
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| Joaquin Benoit is about “10 days behind” the other Rangers pitchers, pitching coach Mark Conner told the AP. Benoit is not injured, but he skipped winter ball for the first time in his career and is still trying to strengthen his arm. He had a bullpen session Sunday. “It was good. I was more in the strike zone, more consistent,” Benoit said. “I’m building up. It’s something that is not going to take the whole year.” Benoit is a candidate to close for the Rangers, so it would behoove him to get into game action as soon as possible. |
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| Brandon McCarthy threw for 10 minutes off a bullpen mound Sunday and had no problems with his tender elbow. He will throw another bullpen session this week before pitching in a game, perhaps as soon as Friday. “I want him to have another good bullpen, crank up the intensity on the breaking ball a little bit and his changeup,” pitching coach Mark Connor said in the AP. “He threw all of his pitches today, and I was happy with the result.” The Rangers have held McCarthy back as a precaution but keep tabs on him to make sure he doesn't suffer any setbacks. |
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| Kevin Millwood, who's been dealing with a sore hamstring, threw a 10-minute bullpen session Sunday and had no problems. He will throw on the side again Monday and is scheduled to pitch a simulated game Wednesday. “It will be just like throwing my first game. I just don’t have to field my position or cover first base or anything like that,” Millwood said in the AP. “There are certain things where I can feel (the hamstring), but it’s nothing pitching that’s bothering me. I think the running and turning, things like that.” Millwood had hamstring issues last year, so it's important to keep an eye on him this spring to make sure the problem doesn't linger into the season. |
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| Aubrey Huff, DH, Baltimore Orioles | Sunday 3/2, 6:01 PM CT |
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| Aubrey Huff's spring debut should come sometime this week. He is recovering from offseason surgery to repair a sports hernia. “He’s very close. He ran the bases today,” manager Dave Trembley said in the AP. “He’s got to slide yet, and I’d like to see him hit off live pitching again.” Huff had a very good second half last year, but he has declined each of the last five seasons. |
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| Hideki Matsui didn’t take batting practice Sunday due to a stiff neck. He may hit Monday, though, and could see his first game action this week, according to the AP. Matsui is coming back from offseason knee surgery. Matsui is behind the other hitters but should be up to full speed by the start of the season. |
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| Clay Buchholz didn't have his best stuff Sunday, as he allowed four runs on five hits and a walk in two frames. Buchholz is the favorite for the No. 5 spot in the Red Sox rotation if Bartolo Colon isn't ready at the beginning of the year, but he'll need to get better. |
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| Royals manager Trey Hillman said that Mark Grudzielanek likely will make his spring exhibition debut on Friday, according to MLB.com. Grudzielanek and other Royals veterans are being brought along slowly this spring so they don't get worn out. Jose Guillen might make his debut a week from today. |
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| Troy Patton, P, Baltimore Orioles | Sunday 3/2, 2:15 PM CT |
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| Troy Patton cut his side session short after only 10 pitches on Sunday. Patton, who's believed to have a SLAP (superior labrum anterior to posterior) lesion in his shoulder, will undergo an arthrogram in the next few days that will pinpoint the nature of his injury, according to MLB.com. If the arthrogram confirms the tear, Patton will have to choose between season-ending surgery and trying to rest and rehab the ailment. Either way, it appears unlikely that he will be able compete for the fifth starter's role this spring. |
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| Mike Maroth, P, Kansas City Royals | Sunday 3/2, 10:24 AM CT |
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| Mike Maroth is slated to test his sore shoulder by throwing in a bullpen on Monday, according to the KC Star. "I really let it go last Wednesday," he said, "and I felt it the next day. We just backed off." So long as everything goes well with his sore shoulder, Maroth should make his spring debut Thursday, as he tries to claim a spot in the Royals rotation. |
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| Brian Anderson is going to throw a bullpen session on Sunday, and if that goes well, it's possible he could take part in a game as soon as next week, according to the Tampa Tribune. " When I first showed up here, my feeling on everything was there was no way I was going to get into a game and it was basically going to be working out for six weeks and hope to get into some extended spring training games," Anderson said. "Things have progressed, I think, quicker than they thought." Anderson missed all of last season due to Tommy John surgery, so the Rays weren't expecting anything out of him for at least the first couple of months of the 2008 season when they signed him to a minor league deal. If he keeps progressing, he might be able to contribute much sooner. |
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| Wyatt Toregas left Saturday's exhibition game after being hit on his left index finger by a pitch, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "The finger was dislocated and he popped it back in," manager Eric Wedge said. "It was bothering him quite a bit." More will be known about his status going forward after he's examined further on Sunday, but an extended absence could cost him his chance at being the Indians' third catching option. |
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| Jonathan Papelbon had migraines bad enough last year that he had to ask manager Terry Francona for the night off on a couple of occasions, according to the Boston Herald. "When I get them, they shut me down - I can’t open my eyes," Papelbon said. "I don’t know, maybe we can get to the bottom of it this year. It’s something I have to deal with and hopefully it’s something we can find a cure for sooner than later." What he's doing this year is using a new mouthpiece that helps him deal with intense teeth-grinding while sleeping and when pitching. With any luck that will do the trick and allow the stud closer to be available every game. |
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| Coco Crisp, CF, Boston Red Sox | Sunday 3/2, 8:21 AM CT |
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| The Cubs had talks in recent weeks with the Red Sox about acquiring Coco Crisp, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. However, the talks reportedly were initiated by the Sox, who weren't impressed with the Cubs' tossing out Matt Murton in their offer. The White Sox rapped with the Sox about Crisp earlier in the offseason, but they also couldn't come to an agreement. Things should heat up as spring training goes along, but Chicago is just one of many possible destinations for Crisp. |
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