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| Derrick Turnbow really hasn't found a new pitch, he has actually fixed a mechanical flaw in his motion that has allowed him to recapture the movement on his pitches that has been missing, this according to MLB.com. "He's like Mariano Rivera out there," said Ryan Braun. "Everything he throws has cut on it. It's absolutely nasty." Turnbow is being counted on as the team's 8th inning option this season, but with Eric Gagne in the closers role, Turnbow becomes a very interesting late round pick up in all leagues. |
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| Yovani Gallardo threw off the hill for about five minutes for the first time since undergoing knee surgery, this according to MLB.com. "My arm feels good, my knee feels good. It was a pretty big step." Gallardo will still likely miss his first couple of starts, but this is a positive sign that he will possibly be able to contribute in April. |
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| Jason Marquis continues to battle for a starting spot in the Cubs rotation and on Thursday he allowed no runs in three innings in the Cubs' 2-1 loss to the A's. Marquis has allowed only one run this spring in five innings and he hasn't missed a regular season start due to injury in four years marking him as one of the best 5th starters in the game. |
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| Jake Peavy, P, San Diego Padres | Thursday 3/6, 8:59 PM CT |
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| Jake Peavy worked three innings on Thursday and picked up the win for the Padres over the Rockies. Peavy allowed four hits and two runs on the day as he also struck out four. Peavy looked sharp other than a HR allowed to Troy Tulowitzki, so consider him to be good to go as the best right handed hurler in the NL. |
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| Chris Snyder, C, Arizona Diamondbacks | Thursday 3/6, 8:56 PM CT |
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| Chris Snyder has been hot all spring as he is hitting .615 with an NL leading 18 total bases after going 2-for-2 on Thursday. Snyder is battling with Miguel Montero for playing time behind the plate, and his bat has done an awful lot of talking thus far. |
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| 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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| Ben Sheets, P, Milwaukee Brewers | Thursday 3/6, 8:46 PM CT |
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| Ben Sheets worked quickly on Thursday against the Mariners, and the results were encouraging as he allowed just two hits while striking out three over three innings. Sheets possesses one of the most electric arms in the game, but the injury bug always seems to knock him out of substantial time each year. He is a risk on draft day, but few have higher upside. |
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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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| Matt Cain, P, San Francisco Giants | Thursday 3/6, 8:37 PM CT |
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| Matt Cain looked awful on Thursday as he allowed five hits and five runs in just 2.1 innings against the Angels. Cain pitched three shutout innings in his first start this spring, so it's far from panic time in San Francisco. Many will look at his win total of just seven and overlook Cain on draft day this year, don't be one of them as he has the talent to be a big-time winner. |
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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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| Brandon Backe went three innings on Thursday, but the results were far from ideal as he allowed four runs on seven hits. Maybe we can just chalk this up to the foot injury he has been dealing with? Keep an eye on his next outing to get a better idea of where he sits. |
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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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| Juan Pierre, LF, Los Angeles Dodgers | Thursday 3/6, 8:05 PM CT |
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| Juan Pierre had two hits and stole his fourth base of the preseason for the Dodgers on Thursday. Pierre is playing like his job is on the line, and since it is, his work thus far is proving to Joe Torre that he isn't ready to be a backup OF just yet. |
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| Derek Lowe, P, Los Angeles Dodgers | Thursday 3/6, 8:02 PM CT |
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| Derek Lowe struggled mightily on Thursday as he allowed five runs on six hits and two walks over three innings to the Red Sox. Lowe has averaged 13 wins a season since coming to LA while keeping his ERA below 3.90 each year, so don't be overly concerned about this poor outing. |
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| Kevin Gregg, P, Florida Marlins | Thursday 3/6, 7:58 PM CT |
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| Kevin Gregg entered play on Thursday with three scoreless innings, but that all changed in the span of five pitches as he allowed back-to-back-to-back HR to the Cardinals. Gregg will be the Marlins closer as the highest paid player on the roster a year after he posted 32 saves for the Fish. |
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| Skip Schumaker was impressive on Thursday as he had three hits and scored three runs from the leadoff spot for the Cardinals. Schumaker also threw a runner out on the bases as he continues to impress the Cards front office in his bid to win a large role in the team's outfield plans this season. |
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| Jason Isringhausen picked up the win in his first appearance of the spring as he tossed one inning and allowed no baserunners. Despite injuries last year, Izzy still put up 32 saves and a 2.48 ERA despite being limited almost exclusively to one inning outings. Look for more of the same this year as Tony LaRussa certainly knows how to use his relievers. |
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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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| Edwin Encarnacion had two hits on Thursday, including a grand slam, on his way to six RBI for the Reds. Encarnacion will look to take the next step with his game this year, and if he does he could make an excellent late round gamble at the third base position this year. |
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| Adam Dunn, LF, Cincinnati Reds | Thursday 3/6, 7:38 PM CT |
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| Adam Dunn worked this off-season on cutting down his strikeouts, and he spoke with the AP about it on Thursday. “I’m trying to be more aggressive early in the count,” Dunn said. I even hit a ball down the third-base line. I don’t think I’ve done that my entire life.” Dunn may cut down on the K which would be great, but you draft him for power, and he has tons of it with 4-straight 40 HR seasons. |
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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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| Tom Gorzelanny threw a first pitch strike to only one of nine hitters on Thursday and he allowed five runs, all earned on two hits, two walks and a hit batter. At least he was able to throw without incident given the fact that he has been dealing with a sore left shoulder this spring. |
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| Freddy Sanchez is still dealing with an injured shoulder that isn't stopping him from hitting, but it has precluded him from playing in the field. “I went out and threw about 60 feet today, not much,” Sanchez said. “I’m doing what they tell me to do. I’m doing a little throwing program here and see if that’s going to help. But I don’t know where I am as far as game-wise or when I can be back or anything like that," according to a report on the AP. Sanchez seems truly worried about his progression from off-season surgery, but the team is still hopeful that he will be able to throw in time to play once the season starts. Regardless, this news is discouraging. |
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| Yunel Escobar went 2-for-3 with a run scored and three RBI on Thursday for the Braves. The bigger news might have been the fact that Escobar batted second in the lineup behind Kelly Johnson, the other player he appears to be battling for the leadoff spot in Atlanta. |
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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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| Pedro Martinez had his first appearance pushed back after heavy rains canceled the Mets game on Thursday, this according to MLB.com. Normally Pedro would just be asked to pitch on Friday, but to avoid the 115 mile trip on Friday for the actual game, he will just throw a simulated game instead. Pedro is on track to be the Mets second starter this year behind Johan Santana and he hasn't experienced any troubles with his shoulder so far this year which is a great sign. |
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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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| Though the team will likely be without the service of 41-year-old OF Moises Alou until the first or second week or May due to a hernia operation, they don't have any plans to make a move to acquire OF depth, this according to MLB.com. "It's fair to say we'll go with someone internal right now," said GM Omar Minaya. Minaya went on to hint that the team still views Endy Chavez as their fourth OF so they may go with either Brady Clark or Angel Pagan as a starter for the first month of the season. |
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| Chipper Jones should be back from a strained hamstring and in the Braves lineup on Friday, this according to MLB.com. Chipper has not only hit but taken grounders in the field, so it sounds like the team is just being careful with its offensive leader early in camp. |
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| Rafael Soriano could return to the mound from a stomach issue and soreness in his elbow this weekend, according to a report on MLB.com. The team still hasn't laid out a plan as to when he will see live game action, but getting him back on the hill is the first step in that process. However, given the fact that he has battled arm issues for most of his career, any issues, no matter how minor they are claimed to be, are significant. |
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| Tom Glavine allowed two runs and two walks on Thursday in 2.2 innings, this according to a report on MLB.com. "The first two [innings] were alright," said Glavine. "But that's typically the case down here. Any time you extend yourself another inning, that next inning gets a little tougher." Given his collapse down the stretch last season which included a 6.10 ERA and 1.52 WHIP over his final six starts, Glavine has a lot to prove this year in his return to Atlanta. |
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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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| Noah Lowry, P, San Francisco Giants | Thursday 3/6, 5:55 PM CT |
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| Noah Lowry will undergo surgery on his wrist and likely be out of action for at least 2-3 weeks, this according to a report on MLB.com. Lowry will the pressure in the area relieved without damaging the tissue for what is being termed exertional compartment syndrome, or a condition that is caused from repetitive movements such as throwing a baseball. The upshot of all of that is that Lowry will likely not be ready to pitch until May meaning that Kevin Correia and Jonathan Sanchez both now appear to be in line to open the year in the team's starting rotation. As a result, the Giants talks with the White Sox for the services of Joe Crede might be tabled as Sanchez was believed to be the main target of the Sox. |
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| J.R. Towles won't lose playing time to backup Brad Ausmus this year, at least as it pertains to a strict sense of each catcher only working with certain pitchers, this according to a report on MLB.com. "[If] J.R. Towles is our catcher of the future, then he needs to catch everybody," manager Cecil Cooper said. "We can't have a special guy here and a special guy there. If he's the regular catcher, then at some point, he's got to move on in there and be the guy all the time." Finally a manager that uses common sense. If Towles is able to put up 400+ AB this season chances are he will make a wonderful number two catcher who might even be useful in one catcher scenarios in mixed leagues. |
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| Adam Eaton, P, Philadelphia Phillies | Thursday 3/6, 5:23 PM CT |
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| Adam Eaton lasted only two innings on Thursday before being removed from the game due to back pain, this according to MLB.com. "Obviously, I didn't make good pitches. But at the same time, my back acted up a little bit and I didn't get good extension on anything." Given the fact that Eaton also experienced some issues in his last start, he is about ready to find him self in the trash heap of waiver wire starters. Given his hideous performance last year (6.29 ERA, 1.63 WHIP), Eaton shouldn't be touched right now. |
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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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| One of the best power prospects in baseball is moving across the diamond. Angel Villalona, the 17-year-old Dominican Republic native, will make the move over to first base after spending the 2007 season, his first in professional baseball, at third, according to Baseball America. "I think I am better at first base," Villalona said through an interpreter. "I feel more comfortable at first base, and they put me there for a reason." Villalona is already listed at 6-3, 210 pounds at his young age, so most had speculated that he'd need to move eventually. He's a long ways away from the big leagues, but few in the minors possess his upside. |
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| Jim Edmonds injured his calf on Thursday , this according to the AP. At this point all we know is that Edmonds was removed after one inning of action, but given his history of injuries, this is certainly a terrible start to the 2008 season for the former all-star. |
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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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| According to the Houston Chronicle, Woody Williams was pleased with his effort on Thursday giving up five runs on six hits and two walks with four strikeouts over 2 2/3 innings today against the Cleveland Indians. The box score reports that Williams threw 40 of his 71 pitches for strikes.
Williams told the paper, "I think I threw a lot better than the numbers are going to show. I threw a lot of pitches, good pitches that they seemed not to put in play. They fouled them off. I went into a lot of deep counts, which is unusual for me. A lot of positives to take out of today and working for next time out."
Williams might have been pleased with his performance, but his line was horrible regardless. The Astros' pitching staff top to bottom is one of the weakest in the league, and ranks near the bottom with Baltimore's. Fantasy owners would be well served to avoid them all together regardless of format. |
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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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| Todd Wellemeyer was stretched out on Thursday and fared well for three innings. The Cardinals right-hander ran into trouble in the fourth and left after 3.2 innings of work. Wellemeyer allowed two runs on two hits, with four walks and four Ks. Wellemeyer was serviceable last year with the Cards. He finished the season with 11 starts, a 3-3 record, 4.54 ERA and struck out 60 in 79 innings of work. As was the case today his control is his Achilles. The righty walked 40 batters in '07. |
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| Chris Coste, C, Philadelphia Phillies | Thursday 3/6, 3:17 PM CT |
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| Catcher Chris Coste launched his first home run of the spring Thursday. The shot came in the second inning off Tampa starter James Shields. Coste was 1-for-2 with two RBI on the afternoon and is hitting .300 this spring. |
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| Chase Utley, 2B, Philadelphia Phillies | Thursday 3/6, 3:14 PM CT |
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| Chase Utley hit a two-run homer, his first of the spring, off of one time top prospect Grant Balfour on Thursday. Utley has been showing off his power this spring, but it has been all or nothing for the All Star second baseman as he is hitting only .273 on the spring. |
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| Cameron Maybin returned to the lineup for the Fish on Thursday after missing the last week with a hamstring pull. The Florida outfielder, who is expected to impress this year, singled and stole a base. He was 1-for-2 on the day and is hitting .273 this spring. |
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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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| According to Mets GM Omar Minaya, Moises Alou will have surgery and should be on a bike roughly one week later, this according to MetsBlog.com. “hopefully.” He is expected to be back in four to six weeks, as had been reported on Wednesday. |
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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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| CBS Sportsline is reporting that the Giants Kevin Frandsen is out as the San Francisco shortstop.
The 25-year-old infielder was replaced by non-invitee Brian Bocock. The team continues to look for a replacement for Omar Vizquel.
Frandsen started at second base against Kansas City on Wednesday. A day later, he was at third base when the Giants played the Angels.
Frandsen came into spring training expecting to compete with Ray Durham for the starting job at second base but was moved to shortstop when Vizquel had surgery to remove a torn medial meniscus on Feb. 27. Vizquel is expected to return sometime in mid-to-late April.
Bocock, 23, hasn't played above Class A during two years in the Giants' minor league system. |
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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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| Marlon Anderson has cleared to play tonight against the Nationals, according to a Mets Blogspot. Anderson has been day-to-day with a bruised sternum and is expected to be in the lineup tonight. Anderson collided with teammate Ryan Church on Saturday leaving the Mets outfielder with a concussion. |
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| Damion Easley has been cleared to play tonight when the Mets square off against the Nationals, reports blogspot. Easley is still working his way back from last year's ankle injury and will see his first action of the spring. |
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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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| Ty Wigginton is expected to be out of action until Saturday, this according to the Houston Chronicle. Wiggington is suffering from a tender right quad muscle.
Wigginton was injured last Sunday during the split-squad game against the Atlanta Braves
"I got a little knot, but I'm good to go," he said. "I think they're erring more on the side of caution." Wiggy offers mixed league owners positional versatility and cheap home runs with his switch from Tampa Bay to Houston's Minute Maid Park. |
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| Joey Votto, 1B, Cincinnati Reds | Thursday 3/6, 1:16 PM CT |
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| The Cincinnati Enquirer is slowly exposing the type of manager Dusty Baker is, old school. The latest report out of Reds camp notes that Baker wants his hitters to hit.
“I really, really hate the called third strike. I hate that. You're guess and you ain't ready to hit.”
Baker was referring to a Joey Votto at-bat.
Baker on Votto: “He needs to swing some more. I talked to him about that. Strikeouts aren't the only criteria. I'd like to see him more aggressive.”
Baker trusts veterans and you can bet he will put up with a strikeout from Adam Dunn long before he accepts it from the rookie first baseman. At this point expect the first-bag in Cincinnati to be platooned this year between Votto and veteran Scott Hatteberg. |
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| Lou Piniella has finally realized, or admitted, that Cubs pitching coach Larry Rothschild needs to be supervised. Piniella told the Chicago Tribune he would take over some of Rothschild's duties during spring training, "Look, whether it's spring training or wherever, you want to play good solid game and if you lose them, that's fine. But when you get sloppy and you make mistakes ... not good, not good. The wins and losses, I told you we wouldn't care too much early in the spring, but you'd like to win once in while, too, if you're going to tee it up." The facts speak for themselves. There have been too many young arms breakdown in Chicago, and all of them have been under Rothschild's watch. It is, however, doubtful Cubs management will allow Piniella to do with Rothschild what he would really like, since the long time pitching coach has already survived the regimes of Don Baylor and Dusty Baker.
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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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