| Adam Lind, LF, Toronto Blue Jays | Thursday 3/13, 11:29 PM CT |
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| Adam Lind has been sent down to Triple-A Syracuse, according to MLB.com. He finished fourth among AL rookies with 11 home runs in 2007 but there is no spot for him in the Jays' outfield as of now. |
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| Luis Mendoza went perfect for the first three innings of action against the Rockies, but he got rocked for five runs on five hits in the fourth inning. He is competing for a rotation spot and has been performing well and gaining praise from the Rangers' staff, but they have to be displeased with today's outing from him. |
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| Hank Blalock blasted a three-run homer against the Rockies on Thursday, and looks to be fine and back on track following his car accident. Blalock is among the most dangerous hitters in the league, but has struggled to stay healthy (only played 58 games in 2007). |
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| Josh Hamilton continues his torrid start with the Rangers as he went 3-for-3 on Thursday with an RBI, his 12th of the spring. He is now batting 15-for-26, with a team leading 29 total bases. |
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| Damon Hollins went 2-for-3 on Thursday and knocked in a pair of RBI (on a two-run homer), pushing his spring total to 11. He is hitting very well, but still hasn't locked up a spot on the opening day roster. |
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| Joe Saunders, P, Los Angeles Angels | Thursday 3/13, 6:30 PM CT |
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| Joe Saunders had a solid outing on Thursday as he went scoreless over four innings of work, while only surrendering two hits and two walks. He seemingly has a firm grasp on a rotation spot as he has only allowed one run over nine innings of work this spring. |
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| Ichiro Suzuki finally recorded a hit this spring as he went 1-for-4 on Thursday. He entered the game with a 0-for-21 skid. |
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| Mike Mussina had his best outing of the spring on Thursday as he was perfect over five innings, with two strikeouts. He threw 64 pitches, 41 of them strikes. He continues to battle for a spot in the Yankees' rotation. |
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| Fausto Carmona earned his second win of the spring on Thursday, but his performance was shaky as he allowed three runs on five hits over four innings, with only one strikeout. Carmona aims to build on the momentum that led to 19 wins in 2007, but he carries a 5.19 ERA so far this spring. |
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| Gregg Zaun, C, Toronto Blue Jays | Thursday 3/13, 5:26 PM CT |
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| Gregg Zaun was previously only hitting 1-for-7 this spring but ended his slump with a vengeance on Thursday as he went 3-for-3 with three RBI, while recording his first home run. Zaun is expected to remain the Jays' starting catcher this season, with Rod Barajas serving as top backup. |
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| Prized prospect Brandon Moss hit his first home run on the spring. He now has five RBI, but will likely start the season in the minors due to solid depth for Boston. |
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| Matt Garza, P, Tampa Bay Rays | Thursday 3/13, 5:06 PM CT |
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| Matt Garza had a good outing on Thursday as he went scoreless over 4.2 innings, with four hits allowed and a pair of strikeouts. He is expected to start in the Rays' rotation this season and hopefully he will have more days like this one. |
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| Melvin Mora, 3B, Baltimore Orioles | Thursday 3/13, 4:38 PM CT |
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| Melvin Mora continued his hot streak on Thursday as he went 1-for-2 with an RBI, his ninth of the spring. His hit was his fourth double as well and he is doing great as he looks to bounce back from his average 2007 campaign. |
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| Jason Kubel, DH, Minnesota Twins | Thursday 3/13, 4:32 PM CT |
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| Jason Kubel went 1-for-3 and drove in the Twins' only run in a 3-1 loss to Baltimore. He needed a solid outing as he was hitting under .200 this spring. |
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| Jeremy Bonderman had control issues on Thursday as he allowed three runs on six hits over four innings. Bonderman has a 5.54 ERA for the spring. |
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| B.J. Ryan, P, Toronto Blue Jays | Thursday 3/13, 3:49 PM CT |
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| The Blue Jays team website reports that ninth inning option, B.J. Ryan, is scheduled to appear in his first Grapefruit League game of the spring on Friday.
Barring a change of plans, the one-inning appearance will mark Ryan's first big league outing since April 14 last season. Ryan has done everything the team has asked, and his promising spring offers the left-hander a good chance to begin the season on the active roster. Whether he starts out in middle relief, or as the team's primary closing option, is still uncertain. |
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| Nick Blackburn worked three innings and gave up runs in two of them on Thursday afternoon, notes the team website. Blackburn gave up two hits and walked two batters. The right-hander came into today's spring game with four scoreless innings. The Twins starter, took part in six 2007 contests, working 11.2 innings, giving up 19 hits and 10 earned runs. Blackburn is a long shot to make the opening day roster but his early spring performance has been promising. |
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| Adam Loewen, P, Baltimore Orioles | Thursday 3/13, 3:24 PM CT |
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| The Orioles confirmed on Thursday afternoon that Adam Loewen will miss his next scheduled start due to a left shoulder injury, notes the team website. Baltimore manager Dave Trembley said it was purely a precautionary move.
"He told me if this was the regular season, he'd put me out there," Loewen said of Trembley. "But since I have the extra start -- since I was first out there and [scheduled to throw] six when everyone else was throwing five -- [he thought] it would be wise to skip this one. Let another guy show us what he's got, and then I'd just fill in the next time at the same pitch count."
Loewen's injury doesn't appear to be serious, but staff has little choice but to be careful with the current mix of starting option. The few that they have. |
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| Kevin Cash, C, Boston Red Sox | Thursday 3/13, 2:35 PM CT |
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| With the release of Doug Mirabelli, Kevin Cash is now expected to be the backup behind Jason Varitek and serve as Tim Wakefield's personal catcher. Cash can't hit worth a lick, so he's useless in fantasy leagues. |
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| The Red Sox released Doug Mirabelli on Thursday. The Sox will go with Kevin Cash as Jason Varitek's backup and Tim Wakefield's personal catcher. Mirabelli hit just .195 over the previous two seasons, but he was kept around just for Wakefield. It will be interesting to see if the absence of his security blanket affects Wake this year. |
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| Jesse Crain, P, Minnesota Twins | Thursday 3/13, 2:04 PM CT |
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| The Star Tribune reports that Jesse Crain, pitching in a minor league spring training game Thursday, suffered a bruised right knee after being struck by a line drive. Twins team physician Dr. Dan Buss examined Crain and determined that no X-Rays were needed.
“I plan on throwing Sunday unless Andy (pitching coach Rick Anderson) or the doctors say something,” Crain said.
The right-hander was pitching in the first inning when Guillermo Quiroz hit a liner up the middle striking Crain. The Twins reliever was limited to 18 games a year ago, but has the ability to post solid K rate. |
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| Fernando Rodney took part in his first mound throwing session this spring, this according to MLB.com. The right-hander threw only fastballs off the mound in the Tigers bullpen in what pitching coach Chuck Hernandez called a seven-minute session. It was his first session off of a mound since early in camp, when he came up with tendinitis in his right shoulder.
"I feel very loose today," Rodney said afterwards. "I didn't try to do too much." Rodney's status for opening day is still unclear. |
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| The Providence Journal followed Red Sox Bartolo Colon's first spring start today and according to the report his appearance is complete. The right-hander threw 26 pitches (18 strikes) and allowed one run (solo homer) on two hits with one walk and one strikeout.
He retired the first two batters he faced in the second inning before surrendering a solo homer to the Rays' Jon Weber, who crushed the first offering over the right-center field wall. |
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| The Red Sox placed right-handed pitcher Curt Schilling on the 60-day disabled list on Thursday, with the expectation that the 41-year-old will be sidelined until the All-Star break. The Sports Network reports that Schilling was removed from the active roster to make room for right-hander Lincoln Holdzkom, a Rule 5 pickup, a returnee via Philadelphia.
Abiding by the league's collective bargaining agreement, Schilling agreed to begin rehabilitating his injured right shoulder in mid-February rather than having surgery.
There is no timetable for Schilling's rehab and his return is totally dependent on his progress. |
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| The Boston Globe reports that there was lots of Thursday morning talk concerning the performances, and the work, of Bartolo Colon . The report notes that manager Terry Francona is pleased with how Colon's throwing and is eager to see him in the game against a pretty good Rays lineup. Colon's next start is slated against the Yankees next Monday in Tampa. What will be more interesting than how the former Cy Young winner fairs against the Yanks, will be the velocity on his fastball. If Colon can find his arm strength and clock his semi-heater in the neighborhood of 92-94 MHP, he automatically becomes an intrigue for fantasy owners who are familiar with Colon and his ability. |
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| The Josh Beckett watch is taking on a life of its own. The latest news out of Florida, according to the Boston Globe, is that Beckett received treatment Thursday morning on his ailing back, and is feeling better. Skipper Terry Francona said they're now trying to determine when they might get Beckett out on the field to play catch. Count on the Beckett watch to heat up as the team prepares for a long plane flight to Japan. |
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| Julio Lugo, SS, Boston Red Sox | Thursday 3/13, 10:15 AM CT |
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| Red Sox manager Terry Francona told the Boston Globe on Thursday that shortstop Julio Lugo and his back woes, could be ready for game action by Friday or Saturday. Great news for fantasy owners that were able to grab Lugo cheap. Lugo's 2007 numbers were disappointing after a solid 2006 campaign in Tampa Bay. |
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| Hayden Penn, P, Baltimore Orioles | Thursday 3/13, 10:10 AM CT |
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| Fantasy owners can take Hayden Penn's name out of the O's battle-hat for the No. 5 slot in the starting rotation. The Orioles sent four players to their minor league camp on Thursday, including Penn, according to the Baltimore Sun.
With Troy Patten out to a shoulder injury, and Steve Trachsel a default starter due to injuries, the final placement could go to Radhames Liz. The young right-hander has not only improved his mechanics this spring, he's pitched four scoreless innings as of March 11th. |
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| Joe Crede, 3B, Chicago White Sox | Thursday 3/13, 9:48 AM CT |
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| MLB Trade Rumors reports that the Giants have recently scouted Joe Crede and Brandon Inge. The report notes that the Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo said the Giants could be less likely to acquire Crede given the Noah Lowry injury. Then on Monday, Kenny Williams mentioned that the two teams he'd discussed Crede with hadn't impressed with their offers. Williams suggested Crede could be his opening day third baseman, despite Josh Fields' worthiness.
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| The Providence Journal reports that the biggest concern for Boston right now is Josh Beckett, who has been hampered by back spasms. No two reports out of Boston have been the same, and while most note his status for the team's trip to Japan is undecided, he's not expected to travel on the 14 hour flight. Beckett has been drafted as a fantasy ace in all formats this month, and while his back injury isn't considered serious, it's concerning nevertheless.
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| Scott Kazmir threw 33 pitches of live batting practice on Thursday morning and told the The Tampa Tribune he is ready to make his first Grapefruit League start Sunday against the Tigers. Kazmir told the paper he tossed about five changeups, five sliders and the rest fastballs to Joel Guzman and Jon Weber in the session. |
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| Matt Albers, P, Baltimore Orioles | Thursday 3/13, 7:02 AM CT |
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| Orioles manager Dave Trembley told the Baltimore Sun that he is trying to narrow that list of fifth-starter candidates.
Matt Albers , Brian Burres, Hayden Penn, Garrett Olson, Radhames Liz, Lance Cormier and Jim Johnson are believed to be in the running, barring late trades or free-agent acquisitions. When fantasy managers face the same fifth starter dilemma at the end of the month, the decision should not include any of the names Baltimore skipper Trembley has in his hat. |
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| Jonny Gomes, RF, Tampa Bay Rays | Thursday 3/13, 6:14 AM CT |
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| Tampa Bay and New York benches cleared during the second inning of a Grapefruit affair on Wednesday, leading to the ejections of two players and two coaches.
Just four days after Yankees manager Joe Girardi complained about Tampa Bay's over-the-top home-plate collision that injured catcher Francisco Cervelli, the powers-to-be warned both teams before the game asking for both clubs best behavior. As is the case in most big league contests, warnings from umpires mean little.
The benches cleared after New York's Shelley Duncan slid into Rays second baseman Akinori Iwamura with spikes raised. Duncan was thrown out by at least 10 feet and was immediately ejected. Tampa Bay's Jonny Gomes was ejected, too, after racing in from right field and barreling into Duncan as other players poured onto the field. Ah... we love the smell of baseball fights in the morning here at Fanball/Rototimes. |
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