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| Joba Chamberlain is trying to work on more than just his fastball this spring, this according to MLB.com. "I've just got to attack the zone more and trust my stuff, and not be too perfect with it," Chamberlain said. Chamberlain has been working on a two-seamer he learned from Chien-Ming Wang that he hopes will induce more groundballs this season. |
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| Joaquin Benoit, who hasn't pitched an inning this spring due to a sore throwing shoulder, threw 15 pitches in a simulated game on Monday and reported no problems, this according to MLB.com. Benoit still needs to build up arm strength which means he could still be a week away from pitching in a game. |
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| Kevin Millwood threw 51 pitches in a simulated game on Monday and the results where encouraging, this according to MLB.com. "I felt good, I just wanted to throw the ball better than I did," Millwood said. "It's not my stuff, I just wasn't locating the ball very well." Millwood still hopes to be able to take the ball on opening day though it's uncertain if his hamstring woes have set him back to the point that he will be able to make his first start. |
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| Carlos Quentin returned to game action on Monday after spending some time on the sidelines to rest his surgically repaired shoulder, this according to MLB.com. Quentin went 2-for-5 on the day. "Am I there yet?" Quentin asked. "No, I'm not there as far as getting my timing down. But strength-wise, my shoulder feels even better." Quentin is in a battle for the starting LF role this season and he would appear to be the teams top choice to man the spot if he can prove that he is healthy. |
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| Jerry Owens, CF, Chicago White Sox | Monday 3/10, 11:24 PM CT |
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| Jerry Owens returned to the field to play on Monday after missing time due to a sore groin, this according to MLB.com. "Those two at-bats were the second and third at-bats I've had off a lefty all spring," Owens said. "Today, I took some balls out there and it felt good." Owens figures to get a fair amount of playing time if healthy, but his value is in his legs so the Sox have to be hoping he can avoid the type of season long woes that bothered another one of their speedsters, Scott Podsednik, last year (pods now plays for the Rockies). |
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| Roy Halladay got his work in on Monday, and though he punched out five Astros batters, he allowed six hits and three runs in the game. Halladay is just working himself into game shape as he continues to be one of the most consistently excellent starting pitchers in baseball. |
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| Jason Hammel looked horrible on Monday as he was tagged for nine hits, three walks and nine runs in just 3.1 innings. Battling for the fifth spot in the rotation with Andy Sonnanstine, Hammel's outing may have cost him a chance to open the year as anything more than a bullpen arm. |
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| George Sherrill pitched two scoreless, hitless innings on Monday, the third straight appearance he has allowed no hits for the Orioles. Sherrill seems to be over the leg issues that plagued him early in camp, and he has solidified his role of closer to open the year with the Orioles given his run of dominance. |
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| Eric Chavez, 3B, Oakland Athletics | Monday 3/10, 8:20 PM CT |
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| Eric Chavez was cleared to resume running on Monday, this according to MLB.com. On the down side he is still about a week away from taking any groundballs. Chavez is highly doubtful to start the season on time, but if the team moves Jack Cust to the OF Chavez might be able to find his way into the lineup even if his back issues preclude him from fielding. |
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| Erik Bedard, P, Seattle Mariners | Monday 3/10, 8:04 PM CT |
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| Erik Bedard allowed four runs on Monday as he saw his spring ERA increase to 8.00 with his new ballclub. "Compared with other [Spring Trainings], I would say I'm pretty close to the same. If I do bad the rest of the spring, it would be different," said Bedard on a report on MLB.com. Bedard is still in line to start for the Mariners on opening day, and barring a collapse, he figures to be one of the top-20 SP this season and one that possesses top-10 talent if he can put it all together. |
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| Kevin Slowey is still in the mix to grab a spot in the Twins starting rotation after a solid outing on Monday, this according to MLB.com. Slowey threw three scoreless innings during which time he struck out three and gave up six hits, a great improvement over his work in his first two outings. "It's a confidence thing with him," Gardenhire said. "He's got good stuff. He's just got to quit overthrowing the ball and use [all of his pitches] and trust them all." Slowey appears to be battling Phil Humber, Glen Perkins and Kevin Mulvey for the fifth spot in the rotation, and the battle figures to go down to the wire. |
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| Jesse Crain considered his appearance on Monday a success even though he allowed one run and three hits in one inning. "By far, this is the best I've thrown," Crain said after his outing. "I threw all my pitches for strikes and my slider was a lot better today." Crain was limited to just 16.1 innings last season but he figures to have a prominent role in the Twins bullpen if he can remain healthy. |
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| Jordan Tata will have his injured hand examined by doctors after he punched a door and early reports are that he has a broken pinkie on his throwing hand, this according to MLB.com. Tata will now almost certainly have to start the season in the minors and try to work his way back up to the bigs as a long reliever unless one of the teams starters is subsequently injured. |
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| Rocco Baldelli will more than likely enjoy some game action in the next couple of days, this according to the Tampa Tribune. Baldelli will be tested on Tuesday with the hope of returning to the field soon thereafter. “I think the point’s coming pretty soon where we’re going to need to get him out on the field and get a clear sense of what we can expect in April and beyond, but we’re not there yet,” said Andrew Friedman. You can hope against hope with Baldelli, but he still seems like nothing more than a shot in the dark at this point. |
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| Ben Zobrist will miss at least the next four weeks due to a hairline fracture in his left thumb, this according to the Tampa Tribune. Jason Bartlett will start at SS, and the report went on to state that a Reid Brignac promotion was highly unlikely leaving Andy Cannizaro as the most likely backup middle infielder until Zobrist is once again healthy. |
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| Julio Lugo, SS, Boston Red Sox | Monday 3/10, 6:36 PM CT |
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| Julio Lugo's injured back will keep him out of action for a least a couple more days and there is growing concern that he will not be ready to go on opening day, this according to MLB.com. "I think when Lugo tried to play that one day, I think he overdid it a little bit and set himself back," manager Terry Francona said. "So we need to sit on it a little bit." Lugo figures to be greatly undervalued this season given this injury and his .237 average last season, but he remains a solid source of SB with an average of 32 bags the past three seasons. |
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| Justin Verlander threw three scoreless innings on Monday to run his streak to eight innings this spring without a run allowed, this according to a report on Slam Sports. After an 18 win season with 183 K, there is little reason to expect any fall off this season as Verlander has a golden right arm and will be supported by the best offense in baseball. |
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| Jorge Posada was cleared to play defense with the Yankees, he has been out with a sore lat, this according to MLB.com. "I would like to know how I feel tomorrow, but I don't think it's going to be any problem," Posada said. "I threw yesterday and I didn't feel anything." Posada should be fine and he remains one of the safest plays at the catching position as he seems to always accumulate 20 HR and 80 RBI. |
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| John Lackey, P, Los Angeles Angels | Monday 3/10, 5:12 PM CT |
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| John Lackey pitched 1.2 innings against the A's on Monday in what can be described as a solid outing, this according to MLB.com. However, the odds of him making the opening day start for the Angels are shrinking. "The probability is he'll be ready for his first turn in the rotation -- that's more important than being the starter in the opener," manager Mike Scioscia said. Truth is, it doesn't really matter is he starts opening day or not as long as he is healthy which appears to be the case. Continue to monitor his progress, but unless he suffers a setback, it appears you can draft him with confidence. |
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| Scott Kazmir is on schedule to make his first start of the season on Sunday, this according to the AP. “It felt good, really good (being on the mound)”,” Kazmir said. “Just a little different. It’s been a while since I was on the mound. My release point was off a little bit. But everything felt free and easy.” Great news for Kazmir owners, and both he and the team are still hopeful that Scott will be able to start the team's first game of the season. |
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| Adam Miller, P, Cleveland Indians | Monday 3/10, 2:43 PM CT |
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| Adam Miller has been sent down to the minors, according to the AP. He was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo, as was Reid Santos. Michael Aubrey and Scott Lewis were optioned to Double-A Akron as well. Lastly, Chuck Lofgren was sent to minor league camp. The most significant cut here is Miller, who couldn't seem to shake his finger ailment which cost him a shot at the Indians' rotation. |
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| Luis Mendoza has been making strides and has worked his way up the Rangers rotation, thanks in part to Brandon McCarthy's injury, this according to MLB.com. Pitching coach Mark Connor stated, "He's a strong contender, just because of what I've seen last September and this spring: his stuff, his work ethic, his aptitude. The kid picks up things well."
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| Eric Chavez, 3B, Oakland Athletics | Monday 3/10, 1:18 PM CT |
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| Eric Chavez's opening day streak will likely end at nine, according to the SF Chronicle. Chavez still hasn't fielded any grounders, and won't until his agility improves. Back surgery takes a long time to heal and team trainer Steve Sayles stated, "It would be more advantageous for him to stay here and get work done rather than to make the trip to Japan". He also added that Chavez would not be medically fit to serve as DH. Chavez will continue to drop down fantasy draft boards. |
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| Scott Kazmir threw off the mound today for the first time since straining his elbow two weeks ago, according to the Tampa Tribune. He threw around 37 pitches in a session that lasted about 10 minutes. Joe Maddon commented,“We’re pretty satisfied with the way he’s throwing. It’s real loose and free and no restrictions whatsoever, so he might be OK to get right back out there. We’ll build him up slowly from that point, but he’s looking good.” This is good news for one of the game's best young pitchers.
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| Josh Beckett is more pessimistic about his ailing back, according to the Boston Globe. He had trouble sleeping last night, and didn't feel much better after undergoing treatment this morning, even though an MRI revealed no issues with the disks in his lower back. He said,"Today wasn't as good as yesterday. We'll just have to wait and see I guess. Doctors told me yesterday that there was a possibility I'd come in and feel like I do today so as far as that goes, the doctors were right." When asked if he would be ready to go for the 24th he added,"I don't know. If I'd had as much progress from yesterday to today as I did from the first day to the second day, I wouldn't have ruled that out. Today I'm just holding up my obligation (to talk to media). It probably would have been better to talk to you guys yesterday because I was a little more optimistic. I'm in a pretty crappy mood as far as this thing goes because it was a pretty frustrating day because yesterday was good and today's kind of horse(bleep)." He then said this when asked when he thinks he will pitch again, "We're going to make sure it's completely pain free. I can't even really if laying in one position too long, or sitting in one position too long or standing in one position too long it kind of goes backwards. I've got to keep moving and stuff like that." Beckett will continue to drop down fantasy draft boards following this news.
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| Fernando Rodney is expected to pitch on Tuesday, according to DetroitNews.com. Coach Leyland mentioned this on Rodney's recovery from tendonitis,"This will be the big week, the telling week. But I'm reluctant to emphasize that because I don't want someone rushing himself with the thought, if I don't get moving, I won't make the team." Rodney recorded 54 strikeouts over 50 innings in 2007 and will have a good chance to save games for Detroit if healthy, especially if Todd Jones continues to struggle.
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| Juan Uribe, 2B, Chicago White Sox | Monday 3/10, 9:28 AM CT |
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| Juan Uribe is said to have a sizable edge for the starting second base spot, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. He only hit .234 in 2007 but a back ailment suffered by Danny Richar has put Uribe at the top of the depth chart with just a few weeks until opening day. Richar is still in intense pain and Alexei Ramirez was a solid candidate at one point but he is having problems locating pitches, namely the breaking ball. |
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| Scott Elarton is fighting hard for a roster spot with the Indians, according to IndiansConfidential.com. He has pitched well as he has only allowed one run over six innings, but the Indians have a strong and deep pitching staff and he will be lucky to make it as a bottom of the line reliever. He commented, "Instead of just getting ready for the season, I'm trying to make the team." |
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| Andy Marte, 3B, Cleveland Indians | Monday 3/10, 8:49 AM CT |
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| Andy Marte is not hitting well, but that is fine according to MLBnewsonline. To ease the pressure, the team said he is a lock to make the team regardless of his spring performance, which is great for him considering how poorly he hit in the Dominican Winter League (only hit .198). He is making contact this spring but his bat lacks any real "pop" as he is wavering at the .200 average mark. His breakout campaign seems a long way from now. |
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| Coco Crisp, CF, Boston Red Sox | Monday 3/10, 8:34 AM CT |
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| Coco Crisp is recovering from his injury, but still isn't near full-speed, according to Provo.com. His lateral movement is fine but Coach Francona stated, “The burst forward is still not in a position where we want him to try to do something in a game. He’s just not ready.” There is speculation that Crisp could be traded, but he will likely have to get healthier before a favorable deal can get done for Boston.
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| Hank Blalock is ready to return to his post at third base, according to MLB.com. He was previously relegated to DH duty following his car accident. |
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| Daisuke Matsuzaka got rocked in his third spring start, according to Projo.com. He threw 28 pitches in the first inning and ended the day with three runs and three hits over three innings of work, with three walks. He did have five strikeouts however and Coach Francona stated, “When he made his pitches he was fine. We want to get his pitch count up, so he feels like he’s working, which he did a little too quick. When he didn’t make pitches he paid the price.”
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| Joe Crede, 3B, Chicago White Sox | Monday 3/10, 7:30 AM CT |
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| Joe Crede may in fact remain with the White Sox this season despite many trade rumors, according to the Chicago Sun Times. GM Kenny Williams stated that the team received two real offers for Crede but they did not favor the White Sox and Williams added that Crede has one year left on his contract. He also stated, "The most difficult thing in all of this would be if I have to have that conversation with Josh Fields because he has done everything we've asked, and he's played well enough where he deserves to be on a big-league roster". Crede had a tough 2007 season due to injuries but he was a big part of the White Sox magical 2005 season and was a strong candidate for World Series MVP.
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