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| Carlos Villanueva a will continue his bid for a spot in the Brewers' starting rotation on Monday, the final split-squad date this spring for Milwaukee, according to MLB.com. The team has both Villanueva and fellow starting candidate Chris Capuano scheduled to pitch five innings with approximately 80 pitches in one of the final opportunities they will have to voice their worth for the job. Villanueva will face the White Sox with Capuano facing Mariners. This could be a big moment for both pitchers, so check back in to see how it goes. |
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| 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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| Tony Abreu, 3B, Los Angeles Dodgers | Sunday 3/16, 10:53 PM CT |
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| Tony Abreu, a promising young talent without a defined role (thus far), saw his first game action since March 7th today, playing five innings of the Dodgers' 7-6 loss to the Marlins, according to MLB.com. In addition to ripping a second-inning single off center fielder Cameron Maybin's glove and working his way around to third to score on Derek Lowe's sacrifice fly, Abreu ran hard on a third-inning grounder, with shortstop Henley Ramirez's throw barely beating him. Abreu, 23, worked in several positions around the infield as a rookie last season, seeing considerable action as third, short and second. The hope is to earn similar responsibilities (if not more) in 2008. |
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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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| Hopes of working towards a spot in the starting rotation remain alive but are in trouble for Todd Wellemeyer, according to MLB.com. Wellemeyer allowed four hits and three runs through five innings today in a 3-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves. The arm that worked in a relief mode last season walked just one and garnered three strike outs in the outing, but two home runs surrendered indicate there is still work to be done. Some offensive support would have been nice (just nine total hits for the Cards), but mistakes made ruled the story of the day. |
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| Runelvys Hernandez has been informed by manager Cecil Cooper that he is no longer in the running for a spot in the Astros' starting rotation, according to MLB.com. Hernandez, a non-roster invitee, will instead compete for a bullpen job. "He's out of the picture as a starter," Cooper said. "I just told him, 'Look, the performance we saw [on Saturday] and what I've seen in the past, it just wasn't what we thought it would be.' We just don't have the innings to keep things going, so we want to give him an opportunity in the bullpen. He might fit in there." Hernandez has allowed 11 earned runs over 10 1/3 innings this spring over four outings. He has given up three homer and walked seven while striking out five. This only adds to frustrations already felt throughout the pitching staff in Houston. Beyond Roy Oswalt, the rest of the starting rotation is aging and/or questionable. Adding to the bullpen is a nice option to bring Hernandez along as he has the arm to make it work in the show, but the lack of progress is concerning, both for the team and the individual. |
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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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| The Reds continue to express pleasure with RHP Edinson Volquez who has been a shining light in spring training and once again looked solid in Cincy’s loss to Philadelphia (6-2) in the Grapefruit League today. Volquez allowed just three hits and one walk in five scoreless innings. In one of the more open and competitive rotation battles in the majors this season, Volquez has made his mark and seems well on his way to making noise in the show. “Volquez was awesome,” said manager Dusty Baker, speaking about the hurler after today’s loss. “It was an awesome display. Their hitters were talking. They couldn’t pick up his pitches. He is just what the scouts said he was when they traded (Josh) Hamilton for him.” Those are strong votes of confidence from a man that has seen far too many pitchers go south to throw around such words with ease, and it appears this kid needs to be tracked moving forward. |
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| Ian Stewart, 3B, Colorado Rockies | Sunday 3/16, 7:43 PM CT |
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| As he battles to compete with veteran Marcus Giles and Jayson Nix for the job at 2B, Ian Stewart is starting to fall behind the pack and may end up in with the minor league squad in Colorado Springs, according to MLB.com. Hitting just .241 this spring, the Rockies were hoping to see the power Stewart displayed early in his career return. Stewart's efforts to shorten his stroke are paying off in better plate discipline and more contact. "Over the last couple of weeks, I've really felt good, and I'm taking good at-bats," Stewart said. "I'm happy where I'm at." However, making the team out of Spring Training could be difficult. Garrett Atkins is a mainstay at third and a host of middle-infield types playing second, Jeff Baker, Clint Barmes and Omar Quintanilla, play more positions and would be more likely to play in a utility role. |
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| Ian Snell, P, Pittsburgh Pirates | Sunday 3/16, 7:14 PM CT |
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| Following a story from earlier in the week, Ian Snell has accepted a new three-year agreement with the Pittsburgh Pirates, according to the Associated Press. Snell and the Pittsburgh Pirates agreed Sunday to three-year contract worth at least $8 million, a deal reached five days after the Pirates had unilaterally renewed the pitcher for 2008. Snell would have been eligible for salary arbitration after next season. The agreement includes team options for 2011 and 2012. Pittsburgh selected Snell in the 26th round of the 2000 amateur draft after he graduated from high school in Camden, Del. The 26-year-old right-hander went 9-12 last season with a 3.76 ERA in 32 starts and has a 24-26 record in a major league career that began in 2004. Snell led the Pirates with 208 innings last season, and general manager Neal Huntington decided Snell was worth the risk of a multiyear contract. |
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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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| Ryan Braun, LF, Milwaukee Brewers | Sunday 3/16, 3:36 PM CT |
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| Ryan Braun missed another game Sunday due to lingering tightness in his right Achilles tendon, according to MLB.com. "We don't know what's bringing it on," manager Ned Yost said. "It might be a new pair of shoes that he put on. It might be an exercise program that he was doing. He's got stiffness in his Achilles and there's no sense taking chances. ... I don't see it to be anything major." It may not be major right now, but it's becoming a little concerning. Braun missed games Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and today due to the ailment. He got into Friday's game, but clearly this is something that will need to be monitored closely in the coming days. |
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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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| Carlos Delgado was struck by a piece of a broken bat during Sunday's game, according to MLB.com. He was pulled from the game and needed four stitches to close a gash, but it shouldn't affect his preparation for the start of the season. |
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| Ramon Castro failed to complete Sunday's spring game after feeling a twinge in his right hamstring, according to MLB.com. He was taken out of the contest as a precaution, so it appears to be a minor ailment. |
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| Pedro Martinez made his spring debut Sunday against the Tigers. He struggled a bit, but ended up working four scoreless innings, allowing four hits and striking out four. "It was the first time I had to execute," Martinez said, according to MLB.com. "They were patient, and I got myself in trouble. But I got to work out of the stretch then." Pedro's been brought along slowly this spring but remains on target for the start of the season. |
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| As expected, Scott Olsen was able to toss a simulated game on Sunday, according to MLB.com. Since everything went well in the two-inning, 35-pitch session, Olsen should take part in Thursday's exhibition game against the Cardinals. Olsen is recovering from shoulder tendinitis but should be make his regular-season debut on April 4, barring a setback. |
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| Jeff Francoeur was hit on the left side of his face by a pitch during Sunday's game, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He had some cuts inside his mouth that might need stitches and was headed for X-rays, but it appears that he avoided serious injuries. We'll have more updates for you as they become available. |
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| Nomar Garciaparra won't return to spring action until Thursday, according to the AP. He's still dealing with soreness in his wrist after being hit by a ball March 7. |
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| Joel Pineiro, P, St. Louis Cardinals | Sunday 3/16, 10:21 AM CT |
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| The Cardinals expect Joel Pineiro to begin the season on the DL, because they don't want to push him to return too quickly and risk more damage, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "You'd be jeopardizing him to be putting him in that situation," pitching coach Dave Duncan said. "If it takes time, it takes time." Pineiro is dealing with shoulder inflammation and a strained lat, but he could return by the second week or so of the season, if all goes well. |
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| Justin Hampson underwent an MRI Friday that revealed inflammation in his shoulder, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. Although Hampson said there was "nothing big on the labrum," it's not clear when he'll be ready to resume pitching. He's been out since March 11, but the malady has bothered him since spring training opened. |
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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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| Yovani Gallardo pitched some batting practice Saturday for the second time and reported no problems with his knee, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Recovering from surgery on the joint, Gallardo might take part in a game by the end 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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| Wandy Rodriguez said Saturday that he expects to make his next start, according to the Houston Chronicle. "I think in five days, I'll be ready," he said. "Today I feel much better. I'm going to get treatment and then throw and nice and easy. Maybe then I can do a bullpen." Rodriguez was limited to just two pitches during Friday's outing due to a strained left oblique. |
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| The Astros announced Friday that Kazuo Matsui would undergo anal fissure surgery on Monday, but he sought a second opinion Saturday and is undecided about the procedure at this point, according to the Houston Chronicle. "I'm still thinking about whether to the operation or not," Matsui said through an interpreter. "I haven't decided yet." Part of the holdup might be that he'd miss a couple of weeks while recovering, which means he'd probably miss the season opener. |
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| Luis Castillo took part in his first spring game on Saturday, walking twice and going 0-for-1, according to the New York Daily News. "I ran well and I didn't feel anything in my knees," Castillo said. "I felt good. I hope I feel like that the whole spring. ... I think I made the right decision having surgery. I feel so different." It looks like he has a good chance to be ready for opening day. |
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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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| Omar Vizquel, SS, San Francisco Giants | Sunday 3/16, 8:50 AM CT |
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| Omar Vizquel threw Saturday for the first time since undergoing knee surgery on Feb. 27, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. "Everything is on schedule. Everything's good. No pain," Vizquel said. "I think it's realistic to get back for the home opener. That's what I'm shooting for." At this point, Vizquel is aiming to be ready to join the Giants for game action during the second week of the season. |
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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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| Brad Hawpe, RF, Colorado Rockies | Sunday 3/16, 8:32 AM CT |
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| Brad Hawpe might be cleared to take some limited batting practice on Sunday and resume throwing in a few days, according to the Denver Post. Hawpe has been out since Monday with a strained elbow. |
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| The Indians have been contacted by some teams that are interested in acquiring Jason Michaels in a trade, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The clubs think the Indians might be willing to deal Michaels, so they can move Ben Francisco into the left-field platoon with David Dellucci. It appears unlikely that the Indians will deal Michaels or Francisco, but you never know. |
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| Javier Valentin skipped Saturday's game after taking a foul ball off his shoulder the day before, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. "It's sore, real sore," Valentin said. "But I'm OK." If he really is OK, we should see him back in action within the next couple of days. |
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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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| Takashi Saito made his spring exhibition debut on Saturday, according to the LA Times. "I'm happy," pitching coach Rick Honeycutt said. "The main thing for me is he didn't feel any [pain]." Saito had been out all spring with a strained calf, but barring a setback, he should be ready for opening day. |
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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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| Kerry Wood, P, Chicago Cubs | Sunday 3/16, 7:33 AM CT |
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| Cubs manager Lou Piniella appears to be leaning towards using Kerry Wood as his closer, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. "To me, the two setup roles are just as important as the closer role," Piniella said. "In fact, they are probably a little more demanding in getting up and getting warmed up and being used as opposed to pitching basically the ninth inning. The closer has a tough job in that the game is in his hands when he gets out there. But, boy, I'll tell you, the seventh- and eighth-inning pitchers work a heck of a lot more." You can infer from that statement that the oft-injured Wood would be better suited in the physically less-demanding role of closer. Piniella plans to begin using his closer candidates -- Wood, Carlos Marmol and Bob Howry -- on consecutive days this week, and their performances likely will dictate which way Piniella goes in the end. |
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| Doug Slaten, P, Arizona Diamondbacks | Sunday 3/16, 7:26 AM CT |
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| Doug Slaten will take part in his first game action of the spring, working a minor league game, on Saturday, according to the Arizona Republic. Slaten underwent knee surgery during the offseason, but he should be ready when the regular season gets underway. |
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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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| As expected, Rafael Soriano made his spring debut on Saturday. "All right for the first time out," manager Bobby Cox said of Soriano's performance, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 16 of his 23 pitches were for strikes, and he reached 94 mph on two pitches. Soriano has been slowed this spring by a stomach virus and sore elbow, but barring a setback, he should be ready for the opener. |
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