| Bill Bray, P, Cincinnati Reds | Wednesday 3/12, 11:56 PM CT |
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| Bill Bray tossed a scoreless inning Wednesday in his first action of the spring. He had been held back because of a sore shoulder that he suffered at the start of camp. "I wasn't paying attention to how hard I was throwing," Bray said on MLB.com. "I just wanted to throw strikes. I felt good." Bray has a nice arm and could potentially prove to be a worthy NL-only play if he picks up enough strikeouts. He won't be getting any save opportunities with Francisco Cordero around, though. |
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| Yunel Escobar had a single in his lone at-bat Wednesday and now has collected a hit in all 11 games this spring. The shortstop is batting .517 with six RBI, though 12 of his 15 hits have been singles. It's pretty clear that Escobar, who batted .326 in 319 at-bats last year, can hit, but how much power he produces will ultimately determine where he falls on the fantasy totem pole. |
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| Adam Eaton, P, Philadelphia Phillies | Wednesday 3/12, 11:28 PM CT |
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| Adam Eaton threw a bullpen session Wednesday and is slated to pitch in a minor league game Friday, according to the AP. Eaton is dealing with a herniated disk in his back. He is the favorite to hold down the final spot in the Phils rotation, but he'll have to show he's healthy. |
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| Cole Hamels, P, Philadelphia Phillies | Wednesday 3/12, 11:25 PM CT |
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| Cole Hamels was scratched from a minor league start Wednesday due to the flu, according to the AP. Unless Hamels comes down with pneumonia or something, he'll be just fine. |
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| Kyle Kendrick, P, Philadelphia Phillies | Wednesday 3/12, 11:24 PM CT |
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| Kyle Kendrick will throw in a minor league game Friday after getting shelled in his first three spring starts. He's not in jeopardy of losing his spot in the starting rotation, though. “Kyle doesn’t have to prove nothing to me,” manager Charlie Manuel said in the AP. “It will take more than a bad spring for him to lose his job.” Given his woefully low strikeout rate and lack of super stuff, Kendrick got pretty lucky last year to post the numbers he did. Expect him to come back down to earth this year. |
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| The Marlins optioned Daniel Barone to Triple-A Albuquerque Wednesday. He will provide starting depth at Albuquerque for the Fish and can also help out of the bullpen if needed. |
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| Anthony Reyes gave up three runs on six hits and a walk in four innings Wednesday, but he also struck out six in the outing and came away pleased with how he pitched. “I feel like every time I go out there I’m getting more confident and the strikeouts are going up a little bit,” Reyes said in the AP. “I think it’s starting to come together a little bit and the more I go out there, the sharper I’m going to get.” Reyes had a dreadful 2007 season, but he still has lots of ability and could be a good bargain late in a draft. |
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| Johnny Cueto continued his stellar spring with four shutout innings Wednesday, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out two. The youngster has given up one run in nine innings this spring, with just six hits, one walk and eight punchouts. Cueto is just 22 and has made only four starts above Double-A, but if he keeps pitching like this he may sew up a spot in Cincy's rotation. |
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| Kip Wells, P, Colorado Rockies | Wednesday 3/12, 9:38 PM CT |
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| RHP Kip Wells struggled in the Rockies' 4-1 loss to the White Sox in Cactus League action today, giving up four runs on nine hits through five innings, according to MLB.com. While the team remains optimistic about Wells' future, there are concerns. He spent much of '07 working with players on base and struggled as a result, and thus far this year he is finding it difficult to break the trend. "I saw him get outs when he was down and give up hits when he was up," said Rockies manager Clint Hurdle. Wells is battling with several candidates, including Franklin Morales, Mark Redman, and Josh Towers for the final two spots in the rotation, one of which could be filled once Jason Hirsh recovers from right shoulder pain. Outings like this leave major questions to be answered. |
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| Brad Lidge, P, Philadelphia Phillies | Wednesday 3/12, 9:07 PM CT |
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| Brad Lidge threw 26 pitches in his second bullpen session Wednesday and is scheduled to toss batting practice on Friday and Sunday, according to MLB.com. It's possible Lidge could appearance in a minor league or simulated game sometime next week. "I felt outstanding again," Lidge said. "It feels like it's coming really fast, so I think next week is a possibility for getting in games." Recovering from knee surgery, Lidge is hoping to be ready by opening day. |
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| Sergio Mitre has been diagnosed with a strained right forearm and won't be able to throw for the next four-to-six weeks, according to MLB.com. The timetable means Mitre won't appear in a major league game until at least June. The right-hander is worth drafting now only in the latter rounds of NL-only play. |
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| Aaron Cook, P, Colorado Rockies | Wednesday 3/12, 8:10 PM CT |
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| Aaron Cook threw three innings in an intrasquad game against minor leaguers Wednesday, allowing four hits while striking out three, according to the AP. The sinkerballer was scratched from his last start due to inflammation in his shoulder. It appears he's good to go now, though. |
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| Brian Wilson, P, San Francisco Giants | Wednesday 3/12, 8:07 PM CT |
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| Brian Wilson tossed a scoreless inning Wednesday and has been unscored upon in five of six outings this spring. Wilson has been anointed as the Giants closer for the '08 season. He has the stuff to succeed and could be a nice stopper to grab later on in your draft. |
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| Chase Headley sure is making it hard for the Padres to justify sending him down. He had a three-run, two-out double Wednesday and is now batting .400 with 11 RBI this spring. Headley once seemed like a longshot candidate for the left field job, but he could now be in the driver's seat for the position. |
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| Orlando Hernandez tested a new delivery in a simulated game Wednesday, according to the AP. El Duque is ditching his customary leg-kick in an effort to to relieve pressure on a troublesome bunion on his right foot. Manager Willie Randolph isn't worried that the new windup might affect Hernandez's ability to deceive hitters. "I think his mystique is his ability to get people out," Randolph said. "The kick didn't really get people out. He does it so early that there isn't a lot of deception to it. It's more about his timing." El Duque was good when healthy last year, but the injury issues make him a risky mixed league play. |
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| Mike Cameron, CF, Milwaukee Brewers | Wednesday 3/12, 7:08 PM CT |
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| Mike Cameron is applying for a therapeutic use exemption that would allow him to take certain supplements or substances not currently approved by MLB, according to MLB.com. He also plans to undergo a series of neurological tests on Friday to see if he's still feeling the effects of a 2005 outfield collision with then-teammate Carlos Beltran. Cameron, who is facing a 25-game suspension at the start of the season for testing positive a second time for a banned stimulant, said that he feels fine physically but that he's been having some minor mental lapses sometimes. This news isn't likely to affect Cameron's fantasy value one way or another. |
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| Mike Hampton had a four-inning simulated game against Braves hitters Wednesday and didn't go through any problems with his groin or anything else, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I'm looking forward to pitching and enjoying my next start," said Hampton, who strained his right groin Friday. "I didn't have any tweaks [Wednesday], nothing going on." The lefty, who is attempting a comeback after missing 2 1/2 seasons while recovering from two elbow surgeries, is expected to make his next scheduled start on Monday. Hampton hopes to be ready to go at the beginning of the season, but you certainly don't need to write his name down in ink for the Braves rotation. |
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| The Reds reassigned Matthew Maloney to their minor league camp Wednesday. Maloney had been considered a longshot candidate for the starting rotation, but he quelled any of those thoughts by allowing 11 runs in four spring innings. |
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| The Cardinals could use some arms for their banged up rotation, but former starter Ryan Franklin won't be moving out of the bullpen. "A major strength of us [in 2007] was our bullpen," manager Tony La Russa said on MLB.com. "And I don't think messing with that bullpen, when you're going to have to fill it with somebody else that does Franklin's job, [is wise]. I don't know that we have that person." Franklin has made 106 starts in his career but spent all of last year in the pen for St. Louis and excelled, posting a 3.04 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in 80 innings. He could be the first one to step in and close for the Cards if something happens to Jason Isringhausen, which makes him worth owning in NL-only leagues. |
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| Andre Ethier, RF, Los Angeles Dodgers | Wednesday 3/12, 5:55 PM CT |
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| Andre Ethier went deep Wednesday and drove in two runs. He's hitting a mediocre .273 this spring but has three dingers and six RBI. Juan Pierre is hitting only .200, though he drew a surprising three walks today. Even if Ethier out-plays Pierre this spring, we still think the veteran will get more playing time in left field. |
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| Cameron Maybin had a pair of homers - a solo and a three-run shot - in Wednesday's 13-7 win over St. Louis. The youngster was dealing with a strained hamstring earlier this spring but appears to be over the ailment now. He is battling for the starting job in center, but the Marlins don't have any reason to rush the 20-year-old. |
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| Nate McLouth, CF, Pittsburgh Pirates | Wednesday 3/12, 5:12 PM CT |
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| Nate McLouth was 3-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI Wednesday. He's now hitting .400 this spring with a homer and six ribbies over 20 at-bats. His competition for the center field job, Nyjer Morgan, is batting .269 with one RBI in 26 at-bats. McLouth had an edge over Morgan heading into spring training, and that gap has only widened. |
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| Woody Williams was torched for eight runs on 10 hits over three innings Wednesday in his second start of the spring. He gave up four longballs in the contest. This outing comes after he gave up five runs on six hits and two walks in 2 2/3 frames last week. His spring ERA now sits at 15.26. The veteran is looking to rebound this year after a disappointing first season in Houston, but consecutive starts like this isn't a good sign. |
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| Tony Abreu, 3B, Los Angeles Dodgers | Wednesday 3/12, 4:49 PM CT |
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| Tony Abreu flew to Philadelphia Wednesday to visit Dr. William Meyers, the sports hernia specialist who performed surgery on him last October, according to MLB.com. Abreu has had lingering effects from the hernia surgery, as well as soreness in his right buttocks. We'll update you on Abreu's visit to the doctor when more becomes known. With Jeff Kent also battling an injury, the Dodgers can't afford to be missing Abreu, as well. |
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| Takashi Saito threw a pain-free batting practice Wednesday. The closer has dealt with a calf injury all spring, but the tightness has apparently gone away. "My condition is very good," Saito said on MLB.com through a translator. "After I threw the bullpen last time, I felt very good. Before that, I felt some tightness in the calf, but I didn't feel that at all." Saito's numbers the last two years have been astounding, but he is 38 and also had shoulder problems last year. He is a health risk entering the season. |
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| Nomar Garciaparra hit off a tee with a fungo bat Wednesday for the second straight day. He hasn't played since a beaning last Friday left him with a sore right wrist. "That's the beauty of spring training," Garciaparra said on MLB.com. "Instead of pushing it, you can kind of take your time." The Dodgers third baseman said he still feels pain, but swelling in his wrist had begun to subside. Consider Nomar day-to-day for now. He should be good to go by next week. |
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| Jeff Kent, 2B, Los Angeles Dodgers | Wednesday 3/12, 4:38 PM CT |
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| Jeff Kent's strained right hamstring has healed well enough for him to begin playing, but he's not going to take the field just yet. "It lingers longer when you play on it -- any injury," Kent said to MLB.com. "I've had quad pulls and hamstring pulls my whole career. It's typical of what baseball players go through, nothing different." Kent said he would definitely be in the lineup if this were the regular season, but he doesn't want to rush things. Barring a setback, he should be fine by opening day. |
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| Brad Hawpe, RF, Colorado Rockies | Wednesday 3/12, 4:33 PM CT |
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| Brad Hawpe missed his second straight game Wednesday because of a sore elbow, according to MLB.com. However, there is no swelling in the elbow, and Hawpe isn't too concerned. "I hurt it just a little bit, but it was not that big of a deal," Hawpe said. "It's spring training, and you want to take care of injuries." For now, this doesn't seem like a big deal. Keep a close eye on it, though. |
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| Kosuke Fukudome will hit fifth behind Aramis Ramirez for the Cubs Friday, according to the Chicago Tribune. "In the five hole, I think he'll give us the best protection for [cleanup hitter Aramis] Ramirez," manager Lou Pinella said. "He's a good contact guy. He'll drive in runs with guys in scoring position, put the ball in play. It makes sense to me. We'll try it for a few more games and see what happens." Fukudome is a much better fit for the No. 2 spot with his on-base skills and lack of pop. This potential move doesn't seem to benefit the Cubs, but it won't hurt Fukudome's fantasy value. |
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| Ryan Theriot will hit leadoff for the Cubs Friday, and that's where he could end up batting for the Northsiders on opening day, according to the Chicago Tribune. Theriot might run more and score more runs in the leadoff spot, so this bit of news seems to be good for his fantasy stock. |
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| Alfonso Soriano will hit in the second spot for the Cubs Friday, with Ryan Theriot sliding into the leadoff spot and Kosuke Fukudome in the five hole, according to the Chicago Tribune. "We want to keep Soriano nice and healthy and strong all year," manager Lou Pinella said. "It seems to me, out of the leadoff spot, he'll want to do too much, run too soon. We'll see, just take a look at it. Last year he was out a few times with the leg pulls. If you talk to him, [he says] he's 80-85 percent. Put it this way: Out of the two hole it might be easier for him not to have to run as much... I don't think we'd ask him to bunt. My point of this is it's for his own good. And for the team's good, because having him in that lineup is important to us." Soriano might drive in a few more runs in the two spot, but it sounds like he won't run as much, so this isn't good news for him fantasy-wise. We'll see if this lineup setup sticks. |
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| Zach Duke, P, Pittsburgh Pirates | Wednesday 3/12, 4:04 PM CT |
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| Zach Duke made his second start of the spring and allowed two runs on five hits, over four innings. Duke induced seven ground ball outs, struck out one batter and walked none. The Pirates left-hander threw 66 pitches, 44 for strikes. Duke isn't even on mixed league radars, but is a reserve option in NL-only formats. |
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| Angel Pagan, LF, New York Mets | Wednesday 3/12, 3:42 PM CT |
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| Angel Pagan didn't get the start on Wednesday, but made the most of his at-bat in the seventh by hitting a two-run home run. Pagan is a reserve option in deep mixed formats and if the Mets injury woes continue, he could make the opening day roster as the fourth outfielder. |
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| Oliver Perez made his third exhibition game start and pitched four efficient innings. The left-hander allowed a run in the first inning and one single in his final three frames. He struck out one and walked none. Oliver remains a backend rotisserie option in mixed formats. |
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| Rafael Furcal's three hits on Tuesday ran his spring average to .357. The Dodgers shortstop is one of those players that always seems to have a hot March (career 333 hitter), but then cools in April. Furcal is healthy and excited about the Dodgers chances this year. The .284 career hitter is on average, leaving the mixed league draft board in the middle of the fifth round. |
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| Matt Diaz, LF, Atlanta Braves | Wednesday 3/12, 12:41 PM CT |
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| The Braves have discussed at length, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, that Matt Diaz deserves a shot at playing everyday.
The talented outfielder has hit .330 with 59 extra-base hits (19 homers) and 77 RBIs in 655 at-bats for the Braves over the past two seasons. Diaz deserves a chance and it appears that opportunity will finally come. The Braves outfielder is a fringe starting option in mixed leagues, and with everyday at-bats could work his way into a starting role in all formats. |
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| To no surprise, third baseman Dallas McPherson had a setback on Tuesday, this time a sore groin, notes the Palm Beach Post. He won’t play for a few days, reducing his chances of garnering at-bats at third base, yet alone winning the starting job. McPherson had a slow start to spring because of a sore oblique and is now on the verge of being released by one of the youngest teams in the league. McPherson is just one of those unfortunates, that happens to be made of glass. Even owners in the deepest of NL-formats should have no roster spot for McPherson. |
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| Kyle Lohse, P, St. Louis Cardinals | Wednesday 3/12, 11:48 AM CT |
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| The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is reporting that the Cards are interested in Kyle Lohse. The right-hander, once considered one of the better pitchers in the league, has failed to sign this offseason.
The Cardinals had dismissed signing Lohse but early season scheduling issues that have the team with only two off days in April, in combination with question marks surrounding the health of half their projected rotation, has changed their stance.
The report suggests that Lohse is expected to sign a one-year deal for $5 million after going 9-12 with a 4.63 ERA in 2007 with the Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies. Lohse carries a career 63-74 record and a 4.83 ERA.
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| Sergio Mitre went to the team doctor on Wednesday morning, according to the Palm Beach Post. The report noted that the Marlins wouldn’t explain why but what is known is that he had some kind of set-back in his recovery from a right forearm strain. Mitre threw off the mound Tuesday and said at the time he felt fine, but given the morning events his assessment of fine yesterday, isn't what it is today. More on the failing health of the Marlins pitching staff as information is available. |
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| Scott Olsen, P, Florida Marlins | Wednesday 3/12, 11:06 AM CT |
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| Skipper Fredi Gonzalez told the Miami Herald after watching Scott Olsen pitch Tuesday, he's not sure his projected starter for opening day will be up to task. Welcome in 22-year old Andrew Miller.
There are growing doubts by the team's manager that Scott Olsen or Sergio Mitre will be ready for the March 31 opener against the New York Mets. Expect Gonzalez to set the stage for a season that will throw youth to the fire, and give the inexperienced Miller, 22, the opening day honors. |
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| The Houston Chronicle reports that Felipe Paulino will be sidelined at least a month after suffering a pinched nerve in his upper arm.
An MRI exam showed no structural damage and the catcher will be evaluated on an ongoing basis.
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| The NY Daily News reports that Luis Castillo wants to be the latest rehabbing Met to return to the depleted lineup on Wednesday.
The second baseman told the media on Tuesday he's ready to make his spring-training debut, and do it as early as today against the Orioles at Tradition Field. Castillo is battling through knee soreness.
"I feel fine, I just ran the bases one more time and I feel good to play," said Castillo, who was hampered by knee problems late last season after the Mets acquired him in July from Minnesota. |
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| Orlando Hernandez will throw a simulated game at Tradition Field today, this according to Matthew Cerrone and the Mets Blog.
Cerrone notes in his report that "it’s looking more and more, to me, like El Duque, will just stay back at camp when the team begins the season, where he can continue to work and be ready about the time the team first needs a fifth starter around the middle of April." Hernandez is an afterthought in most drafts this March and until he gets healthy he has little fantasy value. |
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| Joel Hanrahan struck out eight of the 10 batters he faced on Monday. The Nationals pitcher worked three scoreless innings against the Braves.
Hanrahan, who had a 6.00 ERA in 51 innings for the Nationals last season, will need more of these kinds of spring performances if he wants to garner the top middle relief role for Washington. |
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| Troy Glaus, 3B, St. Louis Cardinals | Wednesday 3/12, 7:43 AM CT |
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| Federal prosecutors are investigating a doctor that reportedly prescribed drugs for major league baseball players, the New York Times reported Wednesday. Ramon Scruggs, a physician previously linked to major leaguers Troy Glaus and Scott Schoeneweis in media reports, is the target of the investigation by prosecutors in the Northern District of California. Scruggs has not yet been charged with any crimes in the investigation. |
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| The Nationals told MLB.com that Ryan Zimmerman's removal from Tuesday's game was a precautionary move. Zimmerman, suffered the hip injury while running to first base after a dropped third strike following his fourth at-bat. The third baseman is considered day-to-day. |
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