| Ryan Shealy, 1B, Kansas City Royals | Thursday 3/6, 8:53 PM CT |
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| Ryan Shealy homered for the second straight game on Thursday as he attempts to work his way back into the Royals' plans this season. Shealy hit .280-7-36 in 193 AB for the Royals in 2006 before slumping to .221-3-21 in 172 AB last season. Given the fact that Ross Gload and Justin Huber are also around, Shealy will have to prove himself with a solid spring to break camp with the club. |
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| Vicente Padilla worked three innings on Thursday and allowed one unearned run against the White Sox. On the day, Padilla walked two and struck out two while giving up one hit. Padilla is being counted on to throw 200 innings by the Rangers, but that might be a stretch given his propensity to find himself injured. Even if he does stay healthy, Texas is a bad place to pitch, so his upside is limited. |
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| Felix Hernandez allowed only two runs in four innings on Thursday on two solo HR to Ryan Braun and and Rickie Weeks of the Brewers. In fact, those were the only two hits he allowed as he punched out five batters. This could be the year that King Felix begins to fulfill his amazing potential. The possessor of a hammer curveball and 95+ mph fastball, the baby faced Hernandez won 14 games last season with 165 K, but there is talent there to better those numbers this season substantially. |
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| John Lackey, P, Los Angeles Angels | Thursday 3/6, 8:41 PM CT |
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| John Lackey looked good in the bullpen on Thursday, but with only four starts scheduled the rest of the spring he may not be ready for opening day, this according to the AP. "You have to build up stamina," manager Mike Scoiscia said. "Unless something unforeseen would happen, we would at least want John to be at 100 pitches so that he can pitch deep enough into his first start. That’s going to take a little bit of work.” So it sounds like the Angels may start the year without their top-2 starters, though barring a setback, Lackey may not even have to be placed on the DL and may only miss one start. Stay tuned. |
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| Jered Weaver looked sharp on Thursday allowing only a single run over three innings. Coming on the heels of his last outing in which he allowed nothing in two innings, the younger Weaver appears to be in mid-season form. Weaver had a solid season last year but since it did not match his fine work the year before, you might be able to get a bit of bargain with Jered on draft day this year. |
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| Francisco Liriano will make his spring debut on Friday, this according to a report on the AP. This will be Liriano's first appearance in the States since September 1st, 2006, so look for him to be amped for the outing. |
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| Craig Monroe returned from a strained calf that kept him out of action for a week to play in his second game of the spring on Thursday. In the game, Monroe had a two run single for the Twins. Monroe is involved with Jason Pridie and Carlos Gomez for playing time in the OF, so a solid spring would certainly be beneficial to the former 28 HR hitter. |
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| Franklin Gutierrez had three hits on Thursday as he tries to lock down a starting spot in the Indians OF. The team also has Jason Michaels, David Dellucci and Ben Francisco (who had four hits on Thursday) in the mix in a crowded outfield situation, so a lot will be determined before the team leaves camp for the regular season. |
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| James Shields allowed six hits and two runs on Thursday to the Phillies in a solid overall performance in which both of the runs he allowed came on a HR by Chris Coste. “I think he just got some balls up that he was not trying to get up,” manager Joe Maddon said to the AP. “You could see when he was making his pitches down and getting ahead, he was very effective. I’m not concerned with him at all.” Shields was a fantastic pitcher last season who exhibited power (184 K) and control (5.11 K/BB). If he can remotely approach those totals this season, he will once again be a top of the line hurler. |
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| Mariano Rivera will make his first appearance of the spring on Friday, this according to a report on the AP. Rivera is coming off his worst season of his career, though 30 saves and a 1.12 WHIP certainly are a great floor for a closer, so draft Rivera as a top-10 closer with confidence yet again. |
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| David Eckstein did something he rarely does, that is he hit a HR on Thursday for the Jays. In fact, it was a grand slam. “I haven’t had solid contact the whole spring training,” said Eckstein on a report on the AP. “So it was finally nice to hit one solid.” Eckstein is struggling along with a .182 average this spring, but he figures to be his normal spunky, overachieving self for the Jays once the season starts. |
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| Taking what could be his last shot at a major league career, Sidney Ponson threw for scouts on Thursday and they were duly impressed, according to a report on MLB.com. "My mind is clear. My arm is good. I'm working hard. I'm in pretty good shape. I'm pretty happy with the way I threw today." Ponson hit 93-94 mph on the gun, and he weighed in at 248 pounds, 12 pounds below the 260 he carried when he last pitched for the Twins. Someone will certainly take a shot on Ponson, but he is a long way from having any fantasy value. |
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| Rocco Baldelli may or may not play on Friday, even his manager appears uncertain, according to a report on MLB.com. "We'll make that determination tomorrow morning. He just wasn't up to speed and I have to make sure with Ronnie," manager Joe Maddon said. "I've just got to make sure with him. I'm not really sure he can play tomorrow, based on his recovery the last time out." The team is really, really being careful with the fragile Badelli. Despite an extremely high skill level, we hesitate to advise anyone to count on anything from good old Rocco since the cat just can't seem to stay healthy long enough to get into any kind of groove. He makes a great speculative late round play, but that's about it at this point. |
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| Troy Percival made his spring debut on Thursday and by all accounts it was a successful outing, this according to MLB.com. It took Percival only nine pitches to record three outs including one strike out. Percival likely will be used sparingly the rest of the spring, and there really is no way to know how he will hold up over the course of the season. But saves are saves and he is the first man who will be called on to pick them up for the Rays. |
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| Scott Kazmir still plans on making his scheduled start on opening day, this according to MLB.com. "He threw really well," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "He looked normal and he was not holding back. I think one solid bullpen and he might be ready for the game after that." The team hopes that he will return to action at some point next week as everything appears to be moving in a very positive direction right now for the hard throwing lefty. |
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| B.J. Ryan, P, Toronto Blue Jays | Thursday 3/6, 6:22 PM CT |
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| A day after it was announced that he would make his first appearance of the spring on Saturday, B.J. Ryan and the Blue Jays have decided to take it slow with the return of their injured closer, this according to MLB.com. Instead, Ryan will throw a couple of simulated games first which will consist of single inning simulations on Saturday and Tuesday, and if they go well he will likely make his first appearance on March 15th. As we suggested yesterday, don't be too quick to overlook Jeremy Accardo in the Jays bullpen because the team will likely be very cautious, especially early on, with Ryan. |
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| Joakim Soria has had a bit of a rough spring, but on Thursday he pitched two scoreless innings as he works to neutralize the adjustments made by batters to his stuff and approach, according to a report on MLB.com. Soria will open the year as the Royals closer, and with no one around representing a serious threat to the position, he hopes to build on last year's success that included 17 saves and a 9.78 K/9 mark. |
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| Adam Jones, CF, Baltimore Orioles | Thursday 3/6, 5:18 PM CT |
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| Adam Jones was forced to leave the Orioles game on Thursday due to back stiffness, this according to MLB.com. "If it had been a regular-season game, I definitely would have kept playing," said Jones. "But it's Spring Training, and when you feel discomfort, you definitely take yourself out and get some treatment." We will take Jones at his word here, but we will certainly be keeping a close eye on him over the next week or so to see if there are any lingering effects. |
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| Joey Devine, P, Oakland Athletics | Thursday 3/6, 4:36 PM CT |
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| Joey Devine, out the past couple of days because of back spasms, threw no Wednesday on the sidelines and could see game action on Saturday, this according to MLB.com. Devine figures to be little more than an arm in the A's bullpen early in the year, but if the team end's up trading Huston Street as has been rumored, Devine could find himself in the closers role for the rebuilding A's. |
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| Bobby Crosby, who returned to action on Wednesday from back spasms, also played on Thursday and reported no ill effects, this according to MLB.com. "I'm feeling good, really good; it felt great yesterday," Crosby said. "It was just a blip. Just back spasms, something that seems to happen once a year. It's a two-day thing." Crosby remains an extreme risk given his injury history, but he also remains a player capable of big things if he could stay healthy the entire season. |
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| The hand injury suffered by Daric Barton may be worse than originally reported, this according to a report on MLB.com. Barton was sent to see a specialist on Thursday when a myriad of tests will be run to learn the extent of the injury after he missed his fifth straight game. The injury was thought to be a minor tweak that would keep him out for a few days, but things have taken a much more serious tone over the past 24 hours. The A's may find themselves happy to have brought in Mike Sweeney and to have kept Dan Johnson around if this injury turns out to be serious. |
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| Eric Chavez, 3B, Oakland Athletics | Thursday 3/6, 4:24 PM CT |
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| Eric Chavez, six days removed from an epidural, returned to limited action on Thursday including lifting weights, riding a bike and soft tossing, this according to MLB.com. Chavez will now work on a staggered schedule moving forward meaning he will not hit and field on the same day. The team is still hopeful he will be ready to go around opening day, but with this measured approach the fantasy value of the A's third basemen is likely at an all-time low. |
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| Eddie Guardado is trying to take advantage of spring injuries to Joaquin Benoit and C.J. Wilson to establish himself in the Rangers bullpen, this according to MLB.com. Kazuo Fukumori has also taken advantage of the chance to throw and has looked solid, while Franklyn German has been the most impressive of the group. Wilson and Benoit both are expected to return soon and be ready to go by the start of the year, but the others battling for spots in the pen have been taking full advantage of the opportunity to pitch. |
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| Jonathan Papelbon signed a one-year deal for $775,000 on Thursday avoiding the arbitrary figure the team could have issued. The number is nearly twice what the team could have given him had they chose to renew his deal. According to the Boston Globe, Papelbon's new salary beats Mariano Rivera's two-year closer service time record of $750,000.
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| Livan Hernandez, who signed a one-year deal with the Twins in February, was hit hard on Thursday. The Minnesota right-hander gave up six runs, five earned, on 10 hits over three innings in his second start of the spring. He walked one, struck out one and gave up one home run. The team is expecting more for their $5 million investment. |
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| Gavin Floyd, P, Chicago White Sox | Thursday 3/6, 3:42 PM CT |
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| Gavin Floyd was forced to miss his Thursday start due to the flu, according to the Chicago Tribune. He should be back on the hill soon. |
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| Former Braves killer Dontrelle Willis put in three solid innings of work on Thursday. Willis gave up two hits, walked one and struck out three in a scoreless outing. Willis has a 1.80 ERA this early spring. |
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| After six Cactus Leagues games, the Mariners are hitting .341 as a team, according to MLB.com. Outfielder Mike Morse is hitting .636; shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt a healthy .455, and catcher Kenji Johjima is a steady .444. Noteworthy is Ichiro Suzuki's slow start. He has yet to get a hit. Sooner or later the years are going to catch up with Ichiro. We are not saying it is this year, but the 34-year-old is due to start a statistical descent. |
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| Third baseman Adrian Beltre returned to Arizona on Wednesday night, this according to MLB.com. The Seattle third baseman reported to work Thursday morning and was in the starting lineup for the game against the Brewers. Beltre had missed two games while in Mexico attending the funeral of his wife's grandmother. |
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| Carlos Pena, 1B, Tampa Bay Rays | Thursday 3/6, 2:57 PM CT |
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| Carlos Pena hit his first home run of the spring on Thursday. The Rays squared off against the Phillies and Pena, the comeback player of the year in '07, hit his long-ball against Chad Durbin. |
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| Akinori Iwamura led off Thursday's afternoon affair against the Phils right-hander Adam Eaton with a second-pitch home run. Eaton gave up five hits, four earned runs and failed to strike out a Tampa hitter in two innings of work. Iwamura figures to be a low-level five-category contributor this year on a good Rays club. |
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| After throwing two scoreless innings on Saturday, Chien-Ming Wang couldn't escape the first inning on Thursday vs. the Reds. The Yankees right-hander gave up six runs in 2/3rds of an inning, throwing 32 pitches to 11 hitters. Cincinnati scored six times in the bottom of the first. |
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| Tim Wakefield completed three innings of work on Thursday afternoon against the Dodgers. The right-handed knuckler gave up one hit and two walks, while striking out three and not allowing a run. Wake is an innings-eater. While he'll have outings where he can't spot his wobbler, and has to rely on his 80 MPH fastball, as a rule consistency is his M.O. |
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| Daniel Cabrera , who was outstanding in his last trip to the mound for the Orioles pitching three shutout innings, continues to live up to his M.O. On Thursday, the talented right-hander gave up five runs in the first inning. He allowed three hits, walked two and threw a wild pitch. Cabrera simply can't be trusted. Owners just don't know what they are getting with Cabrera from game-to-game, or even pitch-to-pitch. |
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| C.C. Sabathia retired nine straight Astros in his three innings of work on Thursday. The former Cy Young winner isn't getting the respect of a Cy Young winner as Josh Beckett and Erik Bedard are both going before the Indian left-hander in most March drafts. |
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| Rangers' closer C.J. Wilson is suffering from bicep tendonitis, according to the Dallas News. Wilson, who and has not pitched since last week, is considered day-to-day and has no definitive timetable for a return. If Wilson could not open the regular season as the primary ninth inning option, Eddie Guardado would get the call to close. |
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| John Lackey, P, Los Angeles Angels | Thursday 3/6, 1:36 PM CT |
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| According to the OC Register, Angels right-hander John Lackey just finished a 41-pitch bullpen session and said he felt great. “I felt really strong today,” said Lackey who finished the session with an unarmed Mike Scioscia standing in as batter. “I’m definitely encouraged. Ready to roll.”
In fact, Lackey was so encouraged that he was not ready to write off an Opening Day start as out of reach.
“I wouldn’t say that (he won’t be ready by March 31),” he said. “I think I would have got some guys out today.”
Lackey is now scheduled to make his first spring start on Monday against the Oakland Athletics. |
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| The White Sox are expecting big things from veteran right-hander Jose Contreras this year, notes SI.com. They think part of Contreras' problem last season, when he was 10-17 with a 5.57 ERA, was psychological. Contreras was served with divorce papers on Opening Day last year. This spring, the report are he is in the mid-90s with his fastball. Fanball and RotoTimes reside in St. Louis, so we need to see that mid-90s heater... to believe it. |
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| Joe Crede, 3B, Chicago White Sox | Thursday 3/6, 12:47 PM CT |
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| SI.com is reporting that the White Sox are not thrilled about what the Giants are offering for third baseman Joe Crede. A Giants person conceded, "We badly need bats.'' The Sox reportedly want Jonathan Sanchez who San Francisco apparently isn't willing to deal. At this point Crede may not be traded before the beginning of the season which ultimately hurts Josh Field's fantasy value. |
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| The Boston Globe reports that the Red Sox are expected to continue negotiations Wednesday night with the agents for closer Jonathan Papelbon on a new contract.
If they can't reach an agreement the Sox are expected to renew his deal for an arbitrary figure that would likely be near the $425,000 he made last season. |
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| B.J. Ryan, P, Toronto Blue Jays | Thursday 3/6, 12:42 PM CT |
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| B.J. Ryan will look to make his spring training debut on Saturday after a solid outing on Wednesday in a simulated game, this according to MLB.com. "I still try not to do too much, too fast, but on the other hand, I need to get ready to get out there and pitch in some games." Ryan is hoping to be the team's closer from day one this year, though that would be less than one year after he had TJ surgery. Ryan appears to be on his way to closing in April, but we would still caution against putting too much faith in him early until we seem him have solid outings on the mound in game-action. As such, Jeremy Accardo is a must grab for those of you who plan on rostering Ryan. |
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| Coco Crisp, CF, Boston Red Sox | Thursday 3/6, 12:33 PM CT |
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| Coco Crisp continues to set himself apart from rookie Jacoby Ellbury as the two battle for playing time in center field, but Crisp is headed the wrong way in the positional battle. Crisp is suffering from a groin pull which has limited him since earlier in the week, and now the Boston Globe reports he underwent root canal on Thursday. Someone needs to tell Crisp he is fighting for at-bats, because he obviously isn't aware of it. |
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| Mark Teahen, LF, Kansas City Royals | Thursday 3/6, 12:22 PM CT |
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| Outfielder Mark Teahen skipped batting practice for a second straight day, according to the KC Star. Teahan was held out of Wednesday's work after telling the training staff his sore forearm was still bothering him.
“He came in feeling better today,” Hillman said, “but he’s going to take the day off from swinging today and concentrate on defense. We’ll put the bat back in his hands (Friday) and see what happens.”
Hillman told the Star that Teahen probably won’t return to the lineup before Saturday. |
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| Mike Maroth, P, Kansas City Royals | Thursday 3/6, 12:18 PM CT |
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| Mike Maroth has been pushed back again after being slowed by tightness in his shoulder this spring, notes the KC Star. The veteran left was scratched from Thursday's work, his scheduled spring debut, and instead threw live batting practice on the practice fields.
“He hasn’t had a setback,” Hillman said. “We’re just being careful. We want to make sure that soreness has totally disappeared." Maroth has little fantasy value, even in AL-only leagues and at this point is a long shot to make the rotation. |
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| The Royals scratched Luke Hochevar from a scheduled relief outing Thursday in order to give him a starting assignment Friday against the Rangers in a “B” game, this according to the KC Star.
“Don’t read anything into that,” manager Trey Hillman said. “He came in as a starting candidate, so what more do you want to read into that. He’s as much in the race as he was. The intent from day one was to build his innings.”
Hochevar has retired all but one of the 13 batters he's face this spring, so it's clear that he's in the mix right now for a starting role. Let's see what he does over the next couple of weeks.
“I’m very impressed with what he’s done up to this point,” Hillman said. “I’ve been impressed with his presence, with his confidence level, and just his perception of being in control on the mound.”
Hochevar is expected to pitch three innings against the Rangers. |
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| Hideki Matsui was back in the cages on Wednesday taking batting practice for the first time since suffering a stiff neck last weekend. Matsui told the Daily News he is at about 80-90% strength and felt now pain in his neck.
"I didn't swing 100%, but I felt pretty good," he said through his interpreter.
Matsui said he expects to get in his first spring game by next week. Skipper Joe Girardi said it "might be a little sooner." |
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| Bartolo Colon will make his spring training debut for the Red Sox on March 15, according to the Boston Globe. The former Cy Young winner had another encouraging bullpen session on Wednesday and his high 80s fastball will be put to the test in live action.
The report noted that Colon threw his first breaking pitches of the spring during his session, and is ready to throw two innings of spring work.
If all continues to go well, Colon will pitch batting practice Monday before facing the Reds on their next visit, Saturday, March 15. |
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| Delmon Young has been fitting in well with his new club, according to the Star Tribune. The staff is gaining confidence in him and think he is going to make an impact in 2008. Manager Ron Gardenhire has stated, "He is very excited to be here, and has done everything we have asked. He has a chance to keep working and be a really good ballplayer. He has a lot to learn, but he is growing as a hitter, getting better and better. He has a lot of talent". |
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| Ben Zobrist, SS, Tampa Bay Rays | Thursday 3/6, 9:55 AM CT |
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| Scrappy pro Ben Zobrist has been very busy this spring working at multiple positions, according to The St. Petersburg Times. Zobrist has played at second base, shortstop, third base, and center field, in an attempt to etch out a role as a valued utility man for the young Rays franchise. He stated, "Whatever I have to do to be able to be out on the field, I'm willing to do it". |
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| Miguel Cabrera is poised to improve his defense and decrease his mistakes, as reported on the Detroit Free Press. Everyone knows Miguel is an elite hitter but he is determined to play better defense and put his 23 errors in 2007 behind him. He has notably slimmed down from 2007 as well. |
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| Ben Francisco is likely headed to Triple-A due to a stacked Cleveland outfield, according to the Beacon Journal. Ben had a solid 2007 campaign as he batted .274 with three home runs and 12 RBI over 62 at bats, but there frankly isn't a spot for him right now in a talented young outfield anchored by the elite Grady Sizemore. |
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| Roger Clemens has suffered enough from his probe into steroid use, as said by Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner. He also went on to say that the FBI is too busy with more important crimes to spend their resources on determining whether Clemens lied to Congress about taking performance enhancing substances, according to the AP. |
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