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| Rays highly pimped shortstop prospect, Reid Brignac , got his first hit of the spring, an RBI single in the fourth inning. Brignac has been hampered by a toe injury he suffered in a team intrasquad contest in late February. Brignac won't make the Rays opening day roster when camp breaks in late March -- but he's their shortstop of the future and could see some at-bats in September. |
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| Carlos Guillen crushed his third home run of the spring as he led the Tigers to an exciting 9-7 win over the Pirates. He also tripled in a run on his other hit, and now has six RBI. Guillen has been an unsung hero for the Tigers as he quietly racked up 102 RBI in 2007. |
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| Boof Bonser had a dismal outing on the bump as he allowed three runs over three innings, with four walks. Bonser ended the 2007 season poorly and it has unfortunately followed him into 2008. |
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| Miguel Batista lost command of his pitches on Sunday as he allowed two runs on four hits over three innings, while walking three. He was battling a sore back, which was the likely culprit of his pitching woes. |
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| Juan Rivera, RF, Los Angeles Angels | Sunday 3/9, 9:29 PM CT |
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| Juan Rivera registered two-run single in a three-run seventh inning, helping his Angels defeat the Texas Rangers 6-4 on Sunday.
Juan Rivera , who missed most of the 2007 season with a broken tibia, is fighting for at-bats in a loaded LA outfield. The acquisition of Torii Hunter during the offseason has resulted in Rivera receiving action at first base this spring.
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| Jeremy Sowers had a rough day at the ballpark as he allowed six runs on seven hits over a mere two innings of work on Sunday. Sowers needs to bounce back if he expects to make the Indians roster. |
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| Jose Guillen went 0-for-3 in his Royals spring debut today. The Royals scooped him up to add much needed "pop" to their lineup. |
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| Esteban Loaiza is making a case for the Dodgers No. 5 slot in the Los Angeles rotation.
The 36-year old veteran outpitching Daisuke Matsuzaka working three innings, allowing two hits and two walks in a victory over the Red Sox. He struck out four of his 13 batters, including David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez and Mike Lowell.
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| Edwin Jackson did not help his chances to win a spot in the Rays rotation as he got rocked for six runs on seven hits over four innings of work. Jackson was once haied as one of the most promising pitchers when he was groomed by the Dodgers, but now you can see why they gave up on him. |
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| Vernon Wells' surgically repaired right shoulder appears to be nearing 100 percent. The All Star center fielder recorded four RBI Sunday as the Blue Jays defeated the Phillies, 9-4. |
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| Toronto Blue Jays got four solid innings from Jesse Litsch in a victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. Litsch is fighting for the fifth and final slot in the Jays starting rotation.
The right-hander allowed two hits, struck out six and threw 39 of his 65 pitches for strikes. |
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| Octavio Dotel got hammered for four hits and three runs in his only inning of work. Performances like that will not help his chances to be the featured setup man for the Sox. |
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| Hideki Matsui returned to the New York Yankees' lineup, his spring debut Sunday.
The team's designated hitter received his first live action and looks rusty in the process. Matsui was 0-for-3 with two groundouts and a flyout. |
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| Chris Roberson enjoyed another solid day at the plate as he went 2-for-3, while picking up his third RBI. He needs to continue to perform well if he expects to make the Orioles, who have one of the deepest outfields in the league, especially since adding Luke Scott. |
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| Phil Hughes was again unhittable in his second spring start. The Yankees' right-hander pitched four hitless innings, retired his first nine batters before walking two in the fourth, and struck out one during the Sunday afternoon win over the Twins. |
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| Nate Robertson is having a dominant spring. On Sunday the left-hander allowed only a Chris Gomez's single leading off the third and lowered his ERA to 1.00 during his spring work. Robertson struck out four and walked none. Robertson is slated to be the Tigers No. 5 starter to begin the season but he's pitched more like an ace. |
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| Jake Westbrook pitched three solid innings on Sunday, and the Cleveland Indians hit three solo home runs to defeat the Washington Nationals, 5-2. Westbrook has been bothered by a sore right arm this spring but appears to be ready for the opening week of the regular season. The Indians right-hander missed several starts last year to injury and logged a substandard K rate and had only six wins on the season. In Westbrook's second start this spring he gave up one hit, one walk and struck out five. |
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| Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit his first home run of the spring on Sunday, a shot to right-center. Saltalamacchia came into today's game batting .167 on the spring. |
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| Freddy Guzman's three-run home run with two outs helped Detroit to a 9-7 victory against the Pirates in 10 innings on Sunday. Guzman, who was a December acquisition from the Rangers, was a Triple-A monster last year in Oki City registering 56 steals in 133 games. He continues to compete for a utility role with arguably the best team in the American League. |
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| Rocco Baldelli has not played since March 4, and he wasn't active for the Rays game on Sunday. Joe Maddon said he will not be in the lineup on Monday against the Indians, according to MLB.com.
In light of those comments, Baldelli was asked if he felt any pressure.
"I don't feel any pressure," Baldelli said. "I'll do what I feel I can. I guess you could say it's precautionary."
Baldelli said he can't categorize the problem that's preventing him from coming back full bore after missing most of the 2007 season with hamstring problems -- but if it wasn't obvious before this spring -- it is now - the one time top prospect compared to the Yankees Joe DiMaggio - has legs made of glass. |
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| Ben Zobrist recorded a single and a double in three trips to the plate on Sunday and improved his spring average to .444 (8-for-18). Zobrist also stole a base and scored a run. Zobrist is fighting for a utility role for the Rays and if he can find a spot on the 25-man roster he'll have some fantasy value in AL-only formats. |
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| Chip Cannon, 1B, Toronto Blue Jays | Sunday 3/9, 5:13 PM CT |
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| The Toronto Blue Jays assigned infielder Chip Cannon to their minor league camp on Saturday. Cannon has no current fantasy value in any format. |
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| Toronto Blue Jays optioned Davis Romero to Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday. Davis last pitched for Toronto in 2006 when he appeared in seven games compiling 16 innings and a 3.86 ERA. Romero has no fantasy value in traditional formats. |
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| The New York Yankees sent Mark Melancon to their minor league camp on Saturday. Melancon has no fantasy value in traditional formats. |
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| The New York Yankees assigned Steven Jackson to their minor league camp on Saturday. Jackson has zero fantasy value in traditional formats. |
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| The New York Yankees assigned Scott Strickland to their minor league camp on Saturday. Strickland has no fantasy value in traditional formats. |
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| Adam Loewen, P, Baltimore Orioles | Sunday 3/9, 4:38 PM CT |
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| Starter Adam Loewen, who is out of minor league options, gave up three runs in the third inning of Sunday's 7-3 win over the Marlins. Loewen was forced to the showers after 2 2/3 innings, having allowed four hits and three earned runs. He walked three, struck out two and threw 55 pitches -- 32 for strikes. Outside of AL-only formats, Loewen shouldn't be a fantasy consideration. |
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| Red Sox manager Terry Francona said Sunday that Josh Beckett "looked way better than we expected," according to the Boston Globe. However, Francona failed to commit as to whether Beckett would be ready for their season-opening trip to Japan. Beckett came down with back spasms while warming up for his Saturday start and was scratched. Hopefully, he'll be back on the mound soon and ready to roll in Japan. |
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| Gary Sheffield skipped his third straight game on Sunday due to leg cramps, but he should return in a couple of days, according to the AP. "I’d be worried more if he was the shortstop, where you’ve got to play, take groundballs, make the double play," manager Jim Leyland said. "He’s probably not going to play the outfield to start with. If he’s able to hit to start with, that’s good enough for right now." The malady doesn't appear to be any big deal, but when you're talking about a 39-year-old, it's still something to pay attention to. |
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| Francisco Cervelli is expected to miss eight to 10 weeks after sustaining a broken wrist when he was run over by Elliot Johnson in an exhibition game on Friday, according to MLB.com. "I'm not sure exactly what our plans were with him," manager Joe Girardi said. "But obviously, he's a very good player and he's going to be missed wherever he would have been the next eight to 10 weeks." He probably would have been at Double-A Trenton, which is where he should pick things up once he's healthy again. |
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| Bartolo Colon tossed 43 pitches in his first batting practice of the spring on Sunday, according to MLB.com. "I think the most important thing was getting loose," said pitching coach John Farrell. "We'll just make sure that tomorrow he feels fine and we'll look to slot him into a game at some point this coming week." So long as his body responds well Monday, Colon should be slated to make his exhibition debut on Thursday, though he's expected to be limited to fewer than 30 pitches. |
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| An MRI on Brandon McCarthy revealed that he has severe inflammation in his forearm that will cost him at least the next 4-6 weeks, according to MLB.com. That means he won't be ready for the start of the regular season. Rookie Luis Mendoza should have the inside track to replace McCarthy in the rotation, but fellow rookie Eric Hurley and Sunday signee Sidney Ponson will figure into the competition. |
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| The Rangers stepped up to the proverbial plate and inked Sidney Ponson to a minor league contract on Sunday, according to SportsTicker. He threw for a number of scouts on Thursday, and the Rangers decided to give him a shot. He was 2-5 with a 6.93 ERA and 1.88 WHIP in seven starts for the Twins last season, so don't expect much, if anything, from Ponson in Texas. |
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| Coco Crisp, CF, Boston Red Sox | Sunday 3/9, 11:17 AM CT |
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| According to Sporting News Radio (Overnight for the Score) and the Cubs Reporter, a Coco Crisp for Jason Marquis and Sam Fuld deal is close. The radio reported that the Cubs and Red Sox are close to a deal that would send Fuld and Marquis to the Red Sox for Crisp. This news is purely speculation and rumor, but it is newsworthy. Stay tuned. |
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| C.J. Wilson plans to toss a bullpen session in the next few days and maybe another one before getting into game action, according to the Dallas Morning News. He's been out with biceps tendinitis but is expected to be ready for opening day, barring a setback. |
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| Brandon McCarthy underwent an MRI late Saturday on the stiff forearm that has bothered him for several weeks, according to the Dallas Morning News. Even if the results, which are due to be released on Sunday, are negative, it appears unlikely that he'll be ready for the start of the regular season. |
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| Bud Selig may be willing to review, and possibly rescind, Jose Guillen's suspension before an arbitrator rules on an appeal, according to the KC Star. "I haven’t made any decisions on that yet," Selig said. "We are working to finish off all of Sen. (George) Mitchell’s recommendations, which will really tighten the program up." Guillen has been suspended 15 days for violating baseball’s drug policy after the San Francisco Chronicle reported he purchased $19,000 in steroids and human growth hormone from 2003-05. Guillen has appealed the suspension, but obviously, Selig could nix or reduce it on his own. Stay tuned. |
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| Wilkin Ramirez said he hopes to miss just a week or two due to his partially dislocated shoulder, according to the Detroit Free Press. Unfortunately, that should be enough time missed to keep him from making the Tigers roster, despite hitting .438 over 16 spring at-bats. |
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| Hideki Matsui is slated to make his spring debut on Sunday, according to the New York Daily News. "I'm ready," Matsui said. "I'm good." He'll DH Sunday in his first game action since undergoing knee surgery in November. He should also take part in Monday's game. |
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| Jack Cust, LF, Oakland Athletics | Sunday 3/9, 8:42 AM CT |
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| Jack Cust was beaned on his helmet by a pitch Saturday, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. "I'm not as dizzy, but I still feel it," Cust said. "I was a little unstable. I wanted to stay in, but when I got on my feet, I felt a little woozy." He was sent for X-rays, though the results haven't been made available. It sounds like he'll be all right, but we'll have to wait for an update to be certain. |
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| After leaving the mound before starting Saturday's game due to back spasms, Josh Beckett received several hours of treatment, but the Red Sox haven't announced the severity of the injury, according to the Boston Herald. Through a Red Sox spokesperson, Beckett said, "We’ll just wait and see how it feels tomorrow." He'll be re-evaluated Sunday morning and may undergo an MRI. We'll bring you the details as they are released. |
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| Coco Crisp, CF, Boston Red Sox | Sunday 3/9, 8:08 AM CT |
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| Coco Crisp hasn't played since last Sunday and won't be ready to go today, according to the Boston Globe. "That's just the way it worked out," Crisp said. "I have this injury, and I'm not going to go out there and play, tear a groin muscle or something doing that. Got to wait it out." On top of the groin issue, Crisp had a root canal and will have a follow-up procedure Thursday. Meanwhile, his competition in center field, Jacoby Ellsbury, jacked a two-run homer in Saturday's game. |
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| Clay Buchholz will spend his Sunday bullpen session trying to correct a mechanical problem, the arching of his back, which is something that he's worked on since signing with the Red Sox, according to the Boston Globe. "As your foot gets too far away from your body, there's a counterbalancing effect that has to take place," pitching coach John Farrell said. "As the foot gets further away from the body, that leg lift has the tendency to push the shoulders back. So the thought being that you get his foot underneath his lead knee, that will allow him to stay a little more upright and direct as he drives to home plate." Farrell admitted that Buchholz may be dealing with nerves, too. That's understandable, considering the expectations that have followed last year's no-hitter. He may begin the season in the minors, but he'll be pitching for the Sox sooner or later. |
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