| Matt Garza, P, Tampa Bay Rays | Sunday 3/16, 11:32 PM CT |
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| With spring training winding down, the Rays are hoping to see some consistency from Matt Garza on Monday, staring against the Phillies, according to MLB.com. Garza is part of a trio of young guns the Rays view as the key to their success. Thus far this spring, Garza has been up and down and offered little in the way of stability. With Scott Kazmir starting the season injured, Jamie Shields and Garza will need to step it up. |
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| Dana Eveland , the rising hopeful shooting for the A's fifth spot in the starting rotation, is slated to start for the Athletics on Monday against the Royals, according to MLB.com. Eveland has been a bright spot for the A's this spring, touting a 1.80 ERA over 10 innings. One more strong start tomorrow may solidify his spot on the major league roster on opening day. |
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| After yesterday's loss to the Yankees, Detroit manager Jim Leyland had a few vague but somewhat insightful words concerning Detroit's relief pitching, according to MLB.com. When asked what the team might do during these final days of spring training, Leyland replied, "I've got my team already with the exception of one guy. I've got 24." That would seem to indicate the team is moving forward with all hands on deck staying put, including Fernando Rodney. Rodney has struggled to stay healthy and prove anything in game action. He has been one of the more concerning question marks in the mix for relief work, but a bullpen of 24 would, technically speaking, leave one position open to get to 25. With rumors swirling of a potential trade involving 3B Brandon Inge, it may be that this situation is facing a potential change in chemistry. Stay tuned. |
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| Gavin Floyd, P, Chicago White Sox | Sunday 3/16, 8:36 PM CT |
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| An outing gone bad for Gavin Floyd shouldn’t be weighted too heavily, according to MLB.com. Floyd surrendered five hits and four runs through four innings as the White Sox fell 5-6 to Arizona. Floyd suffered through three walks, somewhat balanced by three strike outs, but the box score won’t show the weather: Rain, cold, wind. Floyd has all but secured the fifth spot in Chicago’s starting rotation, but his work throughout spring training has been as solid as ever and the work done in that fourth inning (one walk, two strikeouts, a weak grounder to 2B Juan Uribe) may be a better indicator of things to come. |
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| In a concerning sign for the Twins, hoping to turn to a veteran pitcher to carry the load, Livan Hernandez struggled in a Grapefruit League loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, 8-3, according to the Associated Press. The Blue Jays stole three bases on Hernandez during his four-plus innings of work on Sunday. The steals weren't the only time the Blue Jays were attempting to run on Hernandez, as many times when balls were hit, the runners were already in motion. Hernandez admitted after the game that he was not too pleased with his inability to stop the running game and that he'll try to make adjustments the next time he's on the mound. "Sometimes, you get lazy and they run easy," Hernandez said. "I was not going to home plate like I'm supposed to go -- fast." With the season right around the corner, it would seem a bad sign that the veteran hurler is playing lazy now. However, it is early and the problem should be fixable. What may be more concerning is his work as the Twins' ace as the right-handed Hernandez gave up six runs. He allowed nine hits and has posted a 9.69 ERA in four starts this spring. |
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| In his deepest outing of the spring thus far, John Patterson found discomfort but signs of positive progress, according to the Associated Press. Patterson, who has missed much of the last two seasons because of a sore right forearm, struggled through four innings in humid, 89-degree temperatures two days after battling the flu, allowing six runs and eight hits, walked none and struck out two. "It's rehabilitation by fire, really," Patterson said. "The only way to do it is to go at it and go out and pitch. I'm not upset about today. ... You have to keep working forward." Under the circumstances, it is encouraging that Patterson came out and pitched this well. He was asked to do more with less and, for the most part, pitched well. |
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| Hoping to garner the attention of coaches and earn favor for opportunities this season, SS John McDonald went 3-for-3 today with a run scored, a RBI, and a stolen base in the Blue Jays' 8-3 win over Minnesota. David Eckstein stands between McDonald and a starting job at SS, but his bat could prove worthy of playing time if he stays hot. |
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| With worries of replacing Torii Hunter still serving as a point of contention for fans in Minnesota, Carlos Gomez, acquired as part of the trade sending top pitcher Johan Santana to the Mets, is showing there may be a silver lining to the worrisome changes made by the Twins this season. Gomez went 1-for-2 with a run scored and his sixth stolen base of spring training. This kid is all but guaranteed the starting job in Minnesota's center field spot this season and early indications suggest the young speedster will have fans breathing a sigh of relief. |
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| Joe Mauer, C, Minnesota Twins | Sunday 3/16, 6:09 PM CT |
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| With spring training winding down and the starters getting more at-bats, Minnesota catcher Joe Mauer showed well in the Twins' 3-8 loss to Toronto in Grapefruit League action today. Mauer went 2-for-3 with one RBI, one of just two Minnesota players with multiple hits. The fantasy owner knowns Mauer is the man to own behind the plate, but the durability is the most troublesome concern and won't be measured in these early games. |
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| Hideo Nomo, P, Kansas City Royals | Sunday 3/16, 3:57 PM CT |
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| Hideo Nomo is officially out of the mix to join the Royals rotation, according to the KC Star. "The simple and short part of it," manager Trey Hillman said, "is that we’re not going to consider him as a starter anymore." The long of it was a rough spring -- eight runs and 17 hits over 11 innings -- that forced him out of the mix. Kyle Davies, John Bale, Brett Tomko, Jorge De La Rosa and Luke Hochevar remain in the competition for the final two starting roles, while Nomo has agreed to compete for a bullpen spot now. |
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| The Orioles are trying to get Daniel Cabrera to stand taller on the mound and throw downhill; he did that Sunday and looked great before tiring in the sixth inning, according to the Baltimore Sun. Cabrera allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings Sunday, while striking out five batters and walking just one. He still carries a lot of potential, and maybe the O's are figuring out a way to help him gain some consistency. |
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| Manager Joe Maddon admitted Sunday that Scott Kazmir "more than likely" will begin the season on the disabled list due to his strained elbow, according to MLB.com. "We really consider it minor," Maddon said. "But to us, it's major in the sense that we don't want it to reoccur at the end of the season." It's pretty major to fantasy folk, too, since he's one of the top strikeout artists. The Rays hope he'll be ready by the middle of next month, but they also thought he'd be ready for opening day. |
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| Mark Grudzielanek rejoined the Royals Friday after heading to Kansas City for testing on his sore back, which was dubbed a lower-back strain, according to the KC Star. Although the ailment is not believed to be serious, it's not clear when he'll return to action. |
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| Miguel Olivo tested his strained groin with a light workout on Saturday, according to the KC Star. He sustained the injury Friday but could be ready to return to game action by the middle of next week. |
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| Jonny Gomes has decided to appeal his two-game suspension, according to the St. Petersburg Times. If his case isn't resolved before the regular season begins, Gomes will be allowed to play until it is. |
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| Shawn Riggans was hit on his left hand by a pitch Saturday, according to the St. Petersburg Times. "It's just real upsetting," Riggans said. "I was starting to get into somewhat of a rhythm, and (this) could possibly set me back a bit." He sustained at least a bruised hand, and it's possible he broke it. More should be known today, but an extended absence could push him out as the top candidate to back up Dioner Navarro. |
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| The Mariners have shut Brandon Morrow down for a few days due to a tired throwing shoulder, according to the Seattle Times. Assuming all goes well, he'll play catch Sunday and resume pitching early next week. |
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| Jason Giambi returned to action on Saturday and was the designated hitter. He should play first base on Sunday, according to the New York Daily News. Giambi had been out since Tuesday due to back spasms. |
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| The Yankees added Billy Traber to their 40-man roster on Saturday, though it doesn't mean he's landed a spot on the team, according to the New York Daily News. "Not necessarily," manager Joe Girardi said. "But he's an intriguing guy. He's thrown the ball pretty well. But, as I've said, the next two weeks are pretty important for a lot of people." Traber's intriguing, because he hasn't allowed a run in four innings this spring and only four hits to the 16 batters he's faced. Traber's trying to win a spot in the bullpen. |
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| The A's have confirmed that Carlos Gonzalez won't go with them to open the season in Japan, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. "I'll be all right and I know I'll get my opportunity soon," Gonzalez said. The top prospect will miss the next week or so due to a strained hamstring and likely will begin the season with Triple-A Sacramento. |
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| Eric Chavez, 3B, Oakland Athletics | Sunday 3/16, 8:39 AM CT |
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| Not surprisingly, the A's will not bring Eric Chavez along when they travel to Japan, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Instead, he will continue to rehab his ailing back in Arizona with the hope he will be available for their home opener on April 1. Chavez has been taking batting practice and was able to run the bases on Saturday, but there's little sense in sticking him on a plane for 12 hours twice. |
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| Josh Beckett is set to begin a throwing program on Sunday morning, according to the Boston Globe. Beckett, who has been out for about a week with a back injury, will throw on flat ground Sunday. He'll then work his way up to mound work. Beckett will not travel with the Red Sox to Japan next week, but he should be ready once they resume play upon returning from their trip. |
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| For the first time since January, Kelvim Escobar was able to play catch on Saturday, according to the LA Times. "I'm very pleased," said Escobar. "But at the same time, I have to be patient. I can't rush it. I'm going to do what they tell me to make sure I don't have a setback." He'll continue to stretch out his flat-ground sessions for a several weeks before stepping onto a mound. If all goes well in his recovery from a sore shoulder, Escobar could begin a rehab assignment by the middle of next month and join the Angels in May. |
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| Jerry Owens, CF, Chicago White Sox | Sunday 3/16, 7:39 AM CT |
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| Jerry Owens returned to action for B game on Saturday, and tested his strained right groin by legging out a double and scoring on a shallow sac fly, according to the Chicago Tribune. The ailment had kept him out since Tuesday, but he'll be in a Cactus League game Sunday and should be fine going forward. |
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| Scott Moore, 3B, Baltimore Orioles | Sunday 3/16, 7:23 AM CT |
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| Scott Moore finally returned to action for Saturday's spring game after being sidelined since March 3 with a strained abdominal muscle, according to the Baltimore Sun. "I know that we wanted to take care of it so it was completely gone and didn't come back or get worse," he said. "I knew it was going to be awhile, but it feels like I've been out a month." Manager Dave Trembley said Moore's extended absence won't affect the utilityman's shot at making the team. |
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