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28 March, 2004
 Here
he goes again, launching the annual appeal with the slightly battered, but
trusty tin cup (staking out the choice street locations). (Although not nearly
as crafty as the guy with the leather jacket, Rolex & cell phone outside
Shopper's Drug Mart on St. Clair Avenue in Toronto.) Many thanks to
those who've already sent in contributions for the new season. If you can
help out, click the cup image (at right or below). Wishes for a great
season ! jdm Pitching line = IP H R ER BB
SO
 Game
action Saturday ... Aaron Heilman NYN (from the pen) 2 2 0 0 1 3
... not a good first impression, Juan Cruz ATL 2 5 3 3 1 2
... Danny Garcia 2B NYN 2-3, double ... Wilson Betemit
ATL (at SS) 2-4, 2 RBI ... Ryan Madson PHI 1 3 1 1 0 2 ...
Wily Mo Pena 1-1, triple, 2 RBI ... Cody Ransom
SF 2-5, three-run homer ... Todd Linden SF 2-3 ... Rule 5 guy Luis
Gonzalez COL 3-5, triple, 4 RBI ... Joaquin Benoit TEX, looks like
relief is his game, 1 0 0 0 0 0 ... Shingo Takatsu CHA 1 0 0 0 0 1 ...
Laynce Nix 1-3, homer ... Joe Borchard CHA 1-2, homer ...
Jeremy Reed CHA 0-3 ... Erik Bedard BAL 6 2 0 0 1 9
Troop
movements ... DET -- optioned RHP Franklyn German to Triple-A ...
TOR -- optioned Vinny Chulk to Triple-A ... ANA -- optioned RHP Derrick Turnbow to AAA :
" ... Turnbow has a fastball that tops out at 98
mph, and the Angels regard him as a potential closer. But he posted an 8.00 ERA
in Cactus League play, walking four in nine innings. Turnbow gave up two walks
and three runs in 1 innings Thursday against Kansas City. "I thought he was
totally overthrowing," Scioscia said. "His arm is without question major league.
He has things he still needs to improve on to be a major-league pitcher. It
could take some time for him to be at the back end of games." (Los Angeles
Daily News)
Team-by-team
Top 10s updated. FOX rankings dropped (as they included a fair amount
of now dated material), and TheSportsNetwork and Street&Smith's added.
Jeff
Niemann, Rice, rounding into form 7.1 2 1 1 2 12, ERA down to 3.05.
While Jered Weaver, Long Beach State, has been the toast of
college ball so far, Rice offers three potential first-round pitching picks :
ERA W-L IP H R ER BB SO OBA
Philip Humber.... 1.79 5-1 45.1 25 11 9 11 69 .156
Wade Townsend.... 1.81 4-0 44.2 25 13 9 18 57 .162
Jeff Niemann.....
3.05 4-2 44.1 29 16 15 15 48 .191
Weaver,
Jered....
0.64 8-0 56.2 22 4 4 8 89 .118
Kazuo
Matsui NYN taking a break :
" ... Art Howe told Kazuo Matsui to take (Saturday)
off and not even show up at the ballpark, sensing the grind of spring training
and all the extra work the Japanese shortstop does was wearing him down. Matsui
went 0-for-2 yesterday, dropping his average to .189 (10-for-53), with 13
strikeouts." (New York Daily News)
Scott
Rex, OnDeck, seeing some starting shots for Bubba Nelson and Jung Bong
in CIN :
" ... Nelson and Bong are pitchers who can start or
relieve. Nelson has the higher ceiling of the two. His bread-and-butter pitch is
his low-90s sinker. He can induce a ton of grounders with the pitch Nelson also
throws a good slider and a solid curve. When his slider is on, he can chew up
right-handers. Nelson's stuff profiles to relief, but the Reds need starters, so
look for Nelson to get a long look as a starter. Bong is more of a feel pitcher.
His two best pitchers are a big breaking curve and a solid change-up. He uses
his high-80s fastball to set up his curve and change. For Bong to succeed in the
majors, he must be sharp with his curve. Like Nelson, Bong should get a chance
to start some in Cincy. The Reds' rotation is full of short-term starters.
TEX
in an unusual position ... choosing from among some decent pitching options :
" ... "We're going to be loaded up with young
players," Hicks said. "But we'd also like to win as many games as we can and get
off to a good start. This team is going to be heavily weighted toward young
players anyway, but we'd like to get off to a good start." The fifth starter in
the rotation will be the test case. The Rangers like left-hander Glendon Rusch,
who is 29 years old, has pitched in 193 major league games and has made a strong
bid to win a spot in the rotation. They also like Mickey Callaway, who will be
29 in May and has also pitched well this spring. Either one could be in the
rotation to start the season over right-hander Ricardo Rodriguez, who is
four years younger and clearly one of the crucial pieces to the Rangers' future.
But Rodriguez restated his own case for being in the Rangers' rotation with five
strong innings in a 10-7 victory over the Chicago Cubs in Mesa, Ariz., on
Friday. "He threw real well," Showalter said. "You want to talk about a
hitter-friendly day. They had the wind blowing out and their first lineup in. He
was throwing strikes. It was about as much as you could ask for in one day." ...
Rodriguez allowed one run on six hits with a walk and a strikeout. "This was one
of the best because I had more concentration," Rodriguez said. "I knew I needed
it to earn my spot on the roster. Hopefully from now on, that's me there, like I
pitched today." Before that outing, the Rangers seemed to be strongly leaning
toward giving Rodriguez more time in Triple A. That's not what he wants. He
wants the Rangers to put him on the Opening Day roster. "After today, they have
to think about it," Rodriguez said ... He may get another start Wednesday
in Tucson, Ariz., against the Arizona Diamondbacks to prove his case." (Fort
Worth Star Telegram)
Chin
Hui Tsao COL likely heading for more minor league seasoning :
" ... Tsao worked two clean innings - the two times
he faced the 7-8-9 hitters in the White Sox lineup. The top of the order went a
combined 8-for-17. "A mixed bag," Hurdle said of Taso. "At times he outthinks
himself. He doesn't give himself enough credit at times. There are not many who
can hit his fastball. . . . There are still things that make you scratch your
head." (Rocky Mountain News)
27 March, 2004
Game
action Friday ... Wily Mo Pena CIN 2-4, grand slam ... Shawn
Hill MON 5 5 0 0 0 1 & 2-2, double ... Joe Mauer MIN 2-3, 2
RBI (off Roy Halliday no less) ... Kevin Cash TOR 3-4 ... Simon
Pond TOR 2-4 ... Bronson Arroyo BOS 6 4 1 1 1 4 ...
Bobby Hill PIT 0-3 ... Ramon Castro FLO 2-4, double,
5th homer ... Hee Seop Choi FLO 3-4, 4th homer ... Kazuo
Matsui NYN 0-2 ... looks like he's secured a rotation spot, Matt
Riley BAL 4 1-3 3 0 0 1 4 ... Jason Romano LA 2-3, double ...
Chin Hui Tsao COL 5 8 4 4 0 2 ... Dan
Wright CHA 6 7 2 2 1 2 ... Neal Cotts CHA 1 1 0 0 0 1
... Jeremy Reed CHA 0-4 ... Chris George KC 4 8 6 6
2 1 ... Alfredo Amezaga ANA 3-4 ... Justin
Duchscherer OAK 4 6 4 4 0 4 ... Matt Kata ARZ (at SS)
2-3 ... Ricardo Rodriguez TEX 5 6 1 1 1 1 ... Laynce
Nix TEX 3-5, 2 runs, 2 RBI ... Chad Durbin CLE 5 3 0 0 0 4
... Andy LaRoche ATL 2-4, double ... Adrian Hernandez MIL 3 1 0 0
0 5
Troop
movements ... NYN -- optioned RHP Jason Anderson to Triple-A ... CLE --
acquired second baseman Brent Abernathy from the Tigers for cash
considerations and assigned him to Triple-A .. SEA -- optioned outfielder
Jamal Strong and infielder Luis Ugueto to Triple-A,
reassigned first baseman Bucky Jacobsen to minor league camp ...
MON -- optioned RHP Seung Song and OF Valentino Pascucci
to Triple-A ... FLO -- optioned RHP Mike Neu to Triple-A,
reassigned RHP Scott Sanders, C Ryan Jorgensen to
minor league camp ... LA -- optioned outfielder Chin-Feng Chen
to AAA, reassigned pitcher Agustin Montero and infielder Eric
Riggs to the minor-league camp ... ATL -- acquired RHP Chris
Reitsma from the Reds for RHP Bubba Nelson and LHP Jung
Bong ... MIN -- optioned 1B Justin Mourneau, OF Michael
Restovich to Triple-A, sent RHP Adam Johnson outright to
Triple-A ... OAK -- reassigned outfielder Nick Swisher to minor league
camp ... TB -- sent LHP Bobby Seay outright to Triple-A
Once
a lock for the LA rotation, Edwin Jackson could be a minor leaguer at
season's start :
" ... (Jim) Tracy has left open that possibility
since anointing Jackson his fifth starter during the club's winter workouts two
months ago. "That's another one of the many different scenarios we have to look
at when we're trying to decide what makes the best sense for this club when we
start the season," Tracy said. Tracy's comments came before ... a 7-2 loss to
the Houston Astros in which Jackson entered to begin the sixth in relief of
Kazuhisa Ishii, pitched well for two innings, then gave up four runs in the
eighth. After the game, general manager Paul DePodesta also left the door open
for Jackson to begin the season at Triple-A Las Vegas. "I think anything is
still possible," DePodesta said. "But that's not necessarily a result of
anything that happened here tonight." ... Although Jackson has an 8.59 ERA for
the spring, that is still the third-best among the Dodgers' five projected
starters, and he has done little to pitch his way out of the rotation. But the
picture is clouded by the spectacular spring of veteran Jose Lima, who came to
camp as a non-roster invitee with a minor-league contract. Lima continued to
shine on a farflung Dodgertown back field Thursday, striking out nine and
allowing just one hit in six innings." (LA Daily News)
Notes
from the Twins' camp -- Brad Thomas close, JD Durbin back to AA :
" ... Thomas, getting his first start of the spring,
gave up one run on five hits in three innings. He had three strikeouts and did
not walk anyone. The Twins lefthander rarely fell behind in the count ... "We
were anxious to see how he would do, whether it's for the fifth spot [in the
rotation] or the bullpen," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He helped himself
big-time. Any time you have a lefthander throwing 92, 93, you have to take a
good look at him. If he can throw the ball over the plate, it is hard to let him
go." If the Twins wanted to send Thomas to the minors, he would have to clear
waivers. Fat chance of that happening to a lefty with his velocity."
" ... Starting pitching prospect J.D. Durbin
likely will begin the season at Class AA New Britain, where he finished last
season. The Twins want Durbin to perfect his changeup before promoting him to
Class AAA Rochester, N.Y. There's still a good chance that Durbin, a righthander,
will make his major league debut sometime this season. He was 6-3 with a 3.14
ERA for New Britain last season after being promoted from Class A Fort Myers."
(Minneapolis Star Tribune)
Jason
Bay PIT not likely to be ready for the start of the season :
" ... Bay is making a slower-than-expected recovery
from shoulder surgery and probably will start the season on the disabled list.
With Bay expected to be out a few more weeks -- the Pirates don't yet have a
timetable for his return -- utilityman Craig Wilson will likely get most of the
outfield starts in his place ... "It's not official yet, but we're going to be
hard-pressed to have him (Bay) ready for opening day," manager Lloyd McClendon
said Thursday. "He continues to make progress, but it's slow." (Associated
Press)
John
Sickels, ESPN.com, on Ryan Harvey CHN :
" ... Harvey, a 2003 first-round pick by the Cubs,
draws comparisons to Dale Murphy, since he's tall, lanky, strong and fast. A
knee injury in high school hurt his production a bit last year, but scouts drool
over his power potential and speed. I'm concerned about his plate discipline and
strike zone judgment, which need work, and while his potential is immense, we
need to see how rapidly he can adjust to pro conditions. He's at least three
years away."
A
command performance would help lefty Andy Pratt settle in with his new
club :
" ... Pratt, 24, didn't stay in the Braves system
for very long. Originally a ninth-round pick by the Texas Rangers in 1998, he
came to Atlanta in a trade at the start of the 2002 season. Since joining the
Braves organization, he's done nothing but put up results. He pitched at both
Double-A Greenville and Triple-A Richmond in 2002, even reaching Atlanta for one
game. Last year, the lefty led the International League in strikeouts and
finished seventh in ERA with a 3.40 ERA. Pratt, who was competing for the fifth
spot in the Braves rotation this spring, features a fastball in the 89-93 mph
range to go along with a slider and changeup. Scouts see him as a projectable
low-risk No. 4 starter in the Majors in the foreseeable future. He can throw the
slider and changeup for strikes consistently, but doesn't have quite as much
command with the fastball." (MLB.com)
26 March, 2004
Game
action Thursday ... Grant Balfour MIN 2 1 0 0 1 3 ...
Brad Thomas MIN 3 5 1 1 0 3 ... Michael Cuddyer MIN
2-5, double, grand slam ... Michael Restovich MIN 1-1, 2 runs, 2
RBI, SB ... Dave McCarty BOS, kicking around for so many
years, now 6 homers ... Bobby Hill PIT 1-1, SB ... Matt
Cepicky 1B MON 2-2 ... Kazuo Matsui NYN 0-4 ...
Joaquin Benoit TEX 2 1-3 1 0 0
0 0 ... Rafael
Soriano SEA 1 4 2 2 0 0 ...
Ryan Madson PHI 2 3 1 1 0 1 ... Wilson Betemit ATL
(at SS) 1-2, double ... Ben Howard SD 2 6 6 5 1 3 ...
Khalil Greene SD 2-3, 2 doubles ... Lyle Overbay MIL
3-3, double, SF, 5 RBI ... Rich Harden OAK, bouncing back, 5 7 0 0
2 2 ... another rough day for Edwin Jackson LA 3 6 4 4 1 2
Minor League ST ... JJ Hardy MIL, three-run homer ...
Dave Krynzel 2-4, triple
Troop
movements ... DET -- gave up on Matt Anderson, sent outright to AAA ...
ATL -- optioned pitcher Bubba Nelson and outfielder Ryan
Langerhans to AAA, pitcher Jose Capellan to A+, assigned
infielder Russell Branyan to minor league camp ... HOU -- acquired
infielder Mike Lamb from the New York Yankees for pitcher Juan
DeLeon; designated pitcher Santiago Ramirez for assignment
... TB -- optioned RHP Travis Harper to AAA ... BAL -- optioned
outfielder Tim Raines Jr. to AAA, assigned second baseman Mike
Fontenot to minor league camp ... CHN -- traded Juan Cruz & Steve Smyth to ATL
for LHP Andy Pratt and inf Richard Lewis ... BOS -- optioned RHP
Anastacio Martinez and C Andy Dominique to Triple-A ... KC
-- sent outfielder Dee Brown outright to Triple-A ... ARZ -- acquired LHP Randy Choate from the Expos
for one-time loophole FA RHP John Patterson
Another of the loophole FAs, Bobby Seay, told he won't
make the D'Rays :
" ... At 25 and a left-hander, Seay might be
attractive enough for another team to claim despite his lackluster career, which
includes 24 career games in the majors. A No. 1 pick of the White Sox in 1996,
Seay signed for a $3 million bonus with Tampa Bay after a loophole was found in
his contract with Chicago. The former Sarasota High star was touted as part of
the Rays' future along with Matt White. While White's career has been
sidetracked by numerous injuries, Seay's has been derailed by unfulfilled
promise." (Tampa Tribune)
Unreal.
Jered Weaver adds more lustre to a stunning season :
" ... Eighteen outs, 16 strikeouts for All-American
RHP Jered Weaver (8-0) ... Long Beach State (18-5) defeated visiting No.
10-ranked Wichita State (8-2) 10-1 on Wednesday evening. Weaver tied LBSU's
single-game record, recording 14 of the first 15 outs by strikout, catching
another runner stealing and getting a foul out to first for the other out. On
the night, Weaver walked two and scattered two hits over 6.0 shutout innings.
Weaver has now hurled 21.0 consecutive scoreless innings over his last three
starts, in winning his eighth straight. Weaver struck out the first five he
faced, broken up by a single, as the first 13 outs of the game were all by
strikeout ...It was the sixth time in eight starts that Weaver has struck out
double digits. He did it on 95 pitches. Weaver struck out the side four times on
the night." (LongBeachState.com)
Jim
Callis, Baseball America, adding a touch of caution on going overboard on
Jered Weaver :
" ... Weaver is very good, but his numbers are so
unfathomable that I think he's getting overrated by the general public. I'd
project him as more of a No. 2 starter than as a classic No. 1, and he's not the
next Mark Prior. Both his fastball and breaking ball are a half-grade or full
grade behind where Prior's were when he came out of Southern California. Weaver
throws an 88-94 mph fastball with lots of life, but his low three-quarters arm
slot has led to debate about how much of weapon his slider will be against big
league lefthanders. Weaver's fastball would rate a 60 on the 20-80 scouting
scale, with his slider and changeup 50 pitches. His command is so good that his
stuff plays better than its raw grades."
John
Manuel, Baseball America, on SEA's teenage phenom :
" ... the Mariners are developing excellent depth at
their lower levels as well. And it starts, of course, with 17-year-old
righthander Felix Hernandez, the organization's No. 1 prospect.
Sometimes, the best judges of talent are other players. "(Players) don't have an
agenda," one scouting director says. "They don't go into a game with their mind
made up. They just know who the players are. They aren't interested in tools;
they're interested in who can play." And according to players in Arizona minor
league, Hernandez is the most impressive player they have seen. He's sporting
more than his listed 170 pounds on his 6-foot-3 frame and was the talk of
Mariners' minor league camp. "His fastball is filthy, his slider is dirty and
his changeup is disgusting," one Padres player said. "You said he's just 17?
That's unreal."
CLE
3B prospect still on the shelf :
" ... Matt Whitney, recovering from a broken
leg suffered in a freak accident during a pick-up basketball game last spring
training, was examined in Cleveland earlier this week. The leg, which was broken
in two places and required two operations, has been slow to heal. Whitney, 20,
has been described by Shapiro as the organization's best hitting prospect since
Manny Ramirez. He is ticketed to play at Class A Lake County, but will open the
season in extended spring training." (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
PIT
GM expresses a little optimism about Freddy Sanchez :
" ... Littlefield said second baseman Freddy Sanchez
has been making "significant progress" from his right ankle injury and has no
reason to believe Sanchez will be out any longer than expected. Sanchez is
expected to be sidelined until May and could be a candidate for the 60-day
disabled list if the Pirates need to add another non-roster player to the 40-man
roster." (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
25 March, 2004
Game
action Wednesday ... Kurt Ainsworth BAL 5 8 2 2 2 2 ...
Chad Cordero MON 2 2 1 1 2 2 ... Shingo Takatsu CHA 1 1
0 0 1 0 ... Neal Cotts CHA 1 3 2 2 0 0 ... Aaron Looper
SEA 2 1-3 4 1 1 1 5 ... Jon Knott SD 2-2, homer ...
Simon Pond TOR, 3rd homer ... Sergio Mitre CHN 2 2-3 9 7 5 0 1
... Howard Kendrick ANA, game-winning single in the 9th ... Joey
Gathright TB 0-3 ... Greg Aquino ARZ 2 1 0 0 2 0
... Luis Gonzalez COL (Rule 5 pick) 2-4, 2nd homer, 3 runs ...
Kit Pellow COL 2-3, double ... Graham Koonce OAK 3-4,
2nd homer, 3 RBI ... Brandon Claussen CIN 2 4 4 3 2 2 ... Ryan
Wagner CIN 1 1 0 0 0 1 ... Ryan Vogelsong PIT 4 3 2 2
2 4 ... Tyler Yates NYN, 4-0, 5 3 0 0 0 3
Troop
movements ... PHI -- designated LHP Bud Smith for assignment,
claimed catcher Michel Hernandez off waivers from the Red Sox ...
SF -- optioned RHP Merkin Valdez, OF Carlos Valderrama
to Triple-A, INF Brian Dallimore and OF Nathan Haynes
to minor league camp ... TB released RHP Todd Jones, RHP Mike
Williams, shortstop Deivi Cruz, third baseman Fernando
Tatis; optioned RHP Dewon Brazelton, RHP Jesus
Colome and C Pete Laforest to Triple-A, reassigned 1B Fred
McGriff, C Edwards Guzman and RHP Todd Ritchie
to minor league camp ... COL -- optioned RHP Aaron Cook, LHP
Cory Vance, RHP Jason Young, 3B Garrett
Atkins and SS Clint Barmes to Triple-A, reassigned RHP
Brian Tollberg and RHP Travis Driskill to minor league
camp ... NYA -- released infielder Erick Almonte ... STL -- optioned RHP
Dan Haren, RHP Josh Pearce to Triple-A ... DET -- reassigned RHP
Ariel Prieto to minor league camp ...
Allan
Simpson, Baseball America, puts the spotlight on Jered Weaver as the
likely No. 1 pick in June. SD has the top pick and GM Kevin Towers has no
doubt the guy he's chasing :
" ... Weaver has been so dominant that Towers
believes he could step into the big leagues straight from the draft, something
that hasn't occurred since Ben McDonald, the No. 1 overall pick in 1989, did so
with the Orioles. "He could hold his own right now, he's that good," Towers
said. "He's been exposed to good competition, both at Long Beach State and
internationally. He's a strike thrower, he changes speeds well, he's got good
deception and he can get his fastball up to 93-94 mph. But it's a lot to ask
because all eyes would be on him, especially the media and his fellow players.
The expectations would be so high. "It wouldn't hurt for him to get in a few
innings in the minor leagues first, like Prior did, to acclimate himself to wood
bats and the professional environment. Plus, he would earn his stripes with his
peers by proving himself in the minors first."
Looks
as if Shingo Takatsu read Tuesday's papers :
" ... White Sox now are admitting Shingo Takatsu
might start the season at Class AAA Charlotte. The side-arming right-hander, who
is set to make a guaranteed $750,000 this season, is 0-1 this spring with a
10.13 ERA in 51/3 innings. He has given up 12 hits and two walks ... .Guillen stands by his pre-spring credo that reputations and past performances
mean nothing. He said everybody has to earn their way on the team. ''I'm not the
type of guy to have favorites,'' he said. ''I'm going to go with the one who
should be there and we have to make sure we don't make any mistakes, especially
in my first year of doing this ... Helping to complicate
the Takatsu decision is the spring performance of reliever Jon Adkins. The
right-hander delivered another scoreless inning to give him seven scoreless
innings this spring. Guillen stopped just short of saying Tuesday that Adkins
has been the best Sox pitcher all spring. ''It's going to be a tough decision,''
Guillen said. ''We have a couple guys throwing the ball real well. It's going to
be a nice battle for the job. I'm really excited [about] what [Adkins] has
done.'' (Chicago Sun Times)
Yanks
Dioner Navarro with lots of questions about his age :
" ... Navarro ... came out swinging yesterday to refute any lingering doubts
regarding the authenticity of his age. Navarro opened plenty of eyes, but left
some baseball observers scratching their heads, after hitting a robust .341 in
58 games last season with Double-A Trenton as a 19-year-old. Listed as being
born in Caracas, Venezuela, Feb. 9, 1984, the Yankees 2003 Minor League Player
of the Year came to the United States in 2001 after signing with the Yankees ... According to
an industry source, at least one American League team interested in trading for
Navarro last summer is believed to have expressed some concern with the
legitimacy of his birth date prior to the July 31 trade deadline. "I'm 20 years
old and anyone who thinks I'm not is just wrong," said Navarro ... Although his youthful facial features belied many of the
concerns, Navarro's age first came into question when it was learned he was
married with a 5-year-old son. Navarro openly admitted that he married his wife, Sherley, an American citizen of Puerto Rican descent, about a year-and-a-half
ago, and that the young boy, Gershon, is his stepson who maintains a
relationship with his biological father. Navarro and his family reside in Tampa.
"I'm young and it's a lot of responsibility, but as you learn how to handle it,
it gets easier," Navarro said." (Trenton
Times)
There's
more team-by-team prospect reviews at
Diamond Futures.
More on Dioner Navarro from the Yankee report :
" ... Offensively Navarro demonstrates solid plate
discipline, working counts well, striking out infrequently and showing the
ability to make hard contact to all fields. His smooth stroke is almost
identical LH or RH and has drawn comparisions to a young Roberto Alomar. He
demostrates an advanced ability to stay back on breaking pitches and + bat
speed. Defensively, Navarro a former infielder as a amateur, displays above
average athleticism and is frequently compared to current Yankee Catcher Jorge
Posada who also moved from 2B to C in the minor leagues. He also posseses
extreme quickness around the plate and an above average throwing arm. Navarro is
also baseball savy for his age as well as a dilligent worker ... greatest
weaknesses at this point is a lack of experience and a undeveloped body ...
If not traded, always a possibility with the Yankees, he is in line to break
into the majors in 2005 as Jorge Posada's caddy. "
24 March, 2004
Game
action Tuesday ... Sun Woo Kim MON 5 2 0 0 1 3 ...
Seung Jun Song MON 3 3 0 0 0 0 ... Eric DuBose
BAL 5 6 3 3 1 5 ... Terrmel Sledge MON 2-3, double ...
Doug Waechter TB 4 1-3 6 5 5 2 2 ... Joey Thurston
LA 3-4, double ... Hee Seop Choi FLO 1-4, triple ...
Jose Capellan ATL 1 4 2 2 0 0 ... Wilson Betemit ATL
0-2 ... Adam LaRoche ATL 0-3 ... ouch, Gavin Floyd
PHI 1 1-3 6 5 5 2 0 ... Coco Crisp CLE 2-4 ... Jayson
Werth TOR 1-1, double (see below) ... Bobby Crosby OAK 2-3
... Billy Hall MIL 2-3 ... Scott McClain CHN 2-2 ...
Matt Kata ARZ 3-3, double, homer, HBP ... Jeremy Reed
CHA 2-2 ... Ross Gload CHA 1-3, 3 runs, HBP, walk ... Zack
Greinke KC 3 4 2 2 3 2 (see below) ... Grant Roberts NYN 5
1/3 7 5 5 3 0 ... Kazuo Matsui NYN 0-4 ... Aaron Miles COL
3-5 ... Brad Hawpe COL 2-3, double ... Jose Lopez SEA
(again at 3B) 1-4, triple
Troop
movements ... PIT -- optioned RHP John VanBenschoten and LHP Mike
Gonzalez to
Triple-A, reassigned OF Daryle Ward, OF Ruben Mateo, OF
Henry Rodriguez, RHP Nelson Figueroa to minor league camp ...
TEX -- Rangers acquired shortstop Joaquin Arias from the Yankees
to complete the Alex Rodriguez trade ...
Baseball
America has named MIL as No. 1 farm system in baseball (LA 2nd, ANA 3rd) :
" ... Under (Jack) Zduriencik's guidance, the
Brewers scouting department has pulled off a string of four strong drafts that
completely rebuilt a once-moribund farm system. Entering the 2001 season,
Baseball America ranked Milwaukee's farm system dead last among the 30 major
league clubs for the second consecutive year ... The rapid resurgence of
Milwaukee's farm system is even more remarkable because it has been done almost
exclusively through the draft. The Brewers have had little luck in signing
international prospects, particularly in Latin America. The best foreign
prospect that they signed is shortstop Gilberto Acosta, who has spent the last
two years in the Rookie-level Arizona League ... By contrast, the Dodgers
(outfielder Franklin Gutierrez, shortstop Joel Guzman, third baseman Willy Aybar)
and Angels (Santana, second baseman Alberto Callaspo, shortstop Erick Aybar and
righty Rafael Rodriguez) have rebuilt quickly thanks to their efforts in Latin
America. The ever-modest Zduriencik deflects most of the praise directed his
way. And to his credit, he's quick to note that the job isn't finished. "The
bottom line is that we still have to get our kids to the big leagues,"
Zduriencik says. "It's an ongoing job. We still have a lot of work to do to have
them become productive big league players. "Then we can sit back and look at
it."
Cautious
optimism in MIL for a couple of the Brewers' prospects :
" ... Right-hander Mike Jones, the Brewers'
first-round draft pick in 2001, made his first exhibition appearance in the
minor-league camp in at Class AAA game against Anaheim. Jones allowed a homer
and three runs in three innings, with two of the runs unearned. He showed no
signs of the elbow problems that prompted the Brewers to shut him down during
the second half of the 2003 season ... Shortstop J.J. Hardy, selected in
the second round in 2001, was allowed to hit in a game for the first time since
injuring his shoulder in the Brewers' camp. Hardy said the shoulder was much
better and he anticipated opening the season on schedule with Indianapolis."
(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
As
expected, Zack Greinke KC heading for AAA to begin the season :
" ... he will remain with the Royals until the end
of spring training ... “I've been reading between the lines for the last
two or three weeks that I probably wasn't going to make the team,” Greinke said.
“It's not like it's the most amazing news ever. This was what I expected.”
... The Sporting News selected Greinke, a right-hander, as the 2003 minor-league
player of the year after he posted a combined 15-4 record and 1.93 ERA in 23
starts at Class A Wilmington, Del., and Class AA Wichita. “We're going to use
the rest of this spring as a school,” general manager Allard Baird said ... Club
officials initially leaned toward returning Greinke to Wichita, where he made
nine starts in 2003, but chose instead to send him to Omaha. “In Triple-A,”
manager Tony Pena said, “they have more veteran hitters. So he's going to have
better competition. If we need Greinke, I want him to feel as comfortable as
possible about pitching in the big leagues. "I want him to know that he has
faced veteran hitters. “We can't lose with this. This is the best decision for
him and the best decision for our organization.” (Kansas City Star)
Brandon
Lyon ARZ on the shelf :
" ... Lyon will undergo elbow surgery that will keep
him on the disabled list up to four months. Lyon, who appeared in 49 games for
Boston last season, going 4-6 with nine saves, will have ulnar nerve
transposition surgery Wednesday. Lyon is worried he may have ligament damage,
which would be revealed during the operation. If the ligament needs to be
replaced, he could be sidelined for a year. "I just want to get this taken care
of and, hopefully, be back for the end of this year," Lyon said." (Arizona
Republic)
BAL's
Mike Fontenot likely heading for Canada as the AAA second sacker for the
Ottawa Lynx :
" ... Lynx fans, say hello to Mike Fontenot, a
second baseman who's likely to end up in Ottawa. Not only did the guy hit at a
.320-plus clip last year at Baltimore's Double-A Bowie affiliate, he's on a fast
track to success. Basically, he leaves all of his 5-foot-8 frame (and that's
being generous) on the field day after day. The guy just works and works. And
he'll likely work his way into the hearts of Ottawa baseball fans. ''I kind of
expect to be in Triple-A,'' said the 23-year-old Louisiana native. ''I've never
been to Canada, but I've heard a lot of good things about it. I'll make sure I
bring my hand warmers.'' ... he's making the most of his opportunity
at this spring training camp. He's already clubbed two homers. ''I found out
that I was coming (to the big-league camp) in January and I got really pumped
up,'' he said ... His size, he says, has never been a factor. ''I never
thought about it as a big man's game,'' he said. ''I feel like I'm the same as
everybody. I've never heard much about my size, really.'' Size really doesn't
matter if you play the game like Fontenot does. The guy hits ropes. ''I just try
and get on base,'' he said. ''I try to hit the ball hard and hit the gaps with
it. Sometimes it goes out.'' He doesn't have to worry that his efforts have gone
unnoticed. ''He's a little guy who really opens your eyes,'' said Baltimore
manager Lee Mazzilli. ''He's still green, but he can play." (Ottawa Sun)
Jayson
Werth TOR edging toward a roster spot :
" ... Werth ... seems to be the favorite for
the reserve spot in the outfield, mostly because of his versatility. The former
first-round pick can play all three outfield slots and serve as an emergency
catcher. Not only that, he's one of the team's fastest runners and the Jays
think he has untapped upside at the plate. Werth is out of options, so the Jays
need to keep him on the roster or risk losing him ... On Tuesday, when
asked if there was anyone he'd consider using as a late-game defensive
replacement, Tosca immediately thought of Werth. "Jayson Werth has a chance to
be an above-average defender at all three positions," Tosca said. "I know he
gives us a little bit better arm strength down there, so there could be times
when I could rush him out there later in the game. That would probably be the
only guy, if he wasn't playing." (MLB.com)
23 March, 2004
Game
action Monday ... Ryan Madson PHI 2 1 0 0 0 0 ... Joe
Nathan
MIN 1 3 2 2 0 0 (teammate Johann Santana less than solid again, 3 6 4 4 2 0) ...
Michael Restovich MIN 2-4, grand slam, 4 RBI ... Michael
Cuddyer MIN 3rd homer ... Bobby Hill PIT 2-4, 2nd homer ...
Ruben Mateo PIT 3rd homer ... Bubba Crosby NYA,
inside-the-park grand slam ... Jason Stanford CLE 3 3 1 1 3 0 ...
Alex Escobar CLE 4-4, double ... Shingo Takatsu CHA
1-3 3 1 1 0 1 ... Lyle Overbay MIL 1-3, 1st homer ... minor
league vet Scott McClain CHN 6th homer
Minor league exhibitions are underway as well, but
few details available ... Corey Hart MIL AAA double, 2 sac flies,
3 RBI ... Jake Blalock PHI A-Ball, double, triple, homer ...
Brandon Phillips CLE AAA, 2 hits
Troop
movements ... ARZ -- optioned outfielder Luis Terrero to AAA ...
CHN -- optioned pitcher Francis Beltran and outfielders Jason
Dubois, Nic Jackson and David Kelton to AAA
... TEX -- signed LHP Nick Bierbrodt to a minor league
contract and invited him to spring training ... KC -- optioned catcher Mike
Tonis to AAA ... CIN -- optioned infielder Felipe Lopez
to Triple-A, assigned OF Reggie Taylor, RHP Aaron Myette,
C Dane Sardinha to minor league camp ... TOR -- reassigned LHP
Bruce Chen to minor league camp ... DET -- sent RHP Chris
Mears, RHP Craig Dingman and RHP Brian Schmack
to minor league camp ... BAL -- reassigned RHP John Maine to minor
league camp ... ANA -- reassigned 1B Casey Kotchman, SS Brian
Specht to minor league camp ...
Jeremy
Deloney. GetSportsInfo, rates his Top 5 rookie righties. Edwin
Jackson LA takes the nod at No. 1 with Ervin Santana ANA right
behind. Merkin
Valdez SF and Clint Nageotte
ranked 3-4 and Denny Bautista BAL grabbed the last slot :
" ... One of the few overpowering pitchers in the
minors, Santana has a mid-90s fastball with life. His "out" pitch is a
late-breaking slider comparable to Jackson's. Once Santana gains consistency
with his bread 'n butter, he could become a dominating major leaguer. He has an
easy delivery and nice arm action which allows him to vary speeds effectively
... needs to improve his average changeup in addition to understanding that he
doesn't have to blow every hitter away. Overall he has the potential to become
an ace for the Angels in the very near future."
" ... Bautista has exciting raw abilities ...
has a rubber arm and can work his fastball into the mid-to-high 90s even late
into games. The potential is there for him to acquire a plus curveball, but he
currently lacks command. Bautista could also stand to utilize his changeup more
often, but he can easily blow the fastball by anybody. His mechanics sometime
get out of whack - he often throws across his body which leads to erratic
command and control. He'll either be a top starter or a dominating late-inning
reliever."
Giants
getting a lift from minor league vet Francisco Santos, but Merkin Valdez
bothered by tendon trouble :
" ... Santos continued to play himself into
consideration for a roster spot with another strong performance, this one during
the Giants' 8-6 loss to the A's on Sunday. Santos went 2 for 4, including a
double, to lift his batting average to .341 ... ``It's one of those times when a
guy has really taken advantage of the opportunity,'' Manager Felipe Alou said.
Santos, 30, is a seven-year veteran of the club's minor league system and played
eight games with the Giants last season." (San Jose Mercury News)
" ... Valdez has soreness in his right
Achilles' tendon, in his push-off leg, which prompted a visit by Alou and
trainer Stan Conte during a dismal relief performance. Alou said Valdez, who
couldn't get the ball down, was limping. Valdez faced five batters and retired
one, giving up three hits and four runs." (San Jose Mercury News)
Another
Crosby a big ST rookie hit :
" ... Bubba Crosby furthered his case in New
York's 13-3 win over Detroit, as he hit an inside-the-park grand slam, his
second home run of the spring ... Crosby, 27, is hitting .412 this spring
with two homers and 11 RBIs in 14 games, also showing a knack for making plays
in the outfield. He has seen more action than he anticipated, giving him the
opportunity to open the eyes of teammates and coaches. "I just wanted to come
out, show them as much as I could in terms of what I could contribute," Crosby
said. "I felt I had some of the things that the team lacked, like speed in the
outfield. I wanted to show them that I could play all three outfield positions,
show them that I could bunt, steal and run. I've gotten so much playing time, so
I've been able to show them other things as well."
Bobby
Jenks ANA headed for AAA, but leaving a positive impression behind :
" ... Jenks, a 23-year-old right-handed starter,
spent enough time in big-league camp this year to continue to make bold
statements to the Angels about his burgeoning talent and ever-increasing
maturity. He pitched nine scoreless innings this spring before being touched up
for two runs in his final outing, but he impressed the Angels with his stuff and
his composure on the mound. ... "Bobby is starting to show why everybody
is getting excited about him," Angels manager Mike Scioscia says.
"Everyone knows the tremendous arm he has, but I think you're starting to see
some command and his ability to change speeds. That's what it's going to take
for him to become a big-league pitcher." ... Jenks seems to have his
priorities straight after years of soul-searching. He dotes on his two-year-old
daughter and nine-month-old son and says he's lost over 10 pounds and cut down
his body fat by six percent after seeing a personal trainer for the first time.
"I'm just maturing, growing up," he says. The Angels have noticed." (MLB.com)
Some
notes from Peter Gammons, ESPN.com :
" ... The consensus in the Cleveland camp was that
Grady Sizemore was the Indians best player this spring. But with Jody
Gerut, Milton Bradley and a healthy Matt Lawton, Sizemore will start the season
in Buffalo. Alex Escobar has had an extraordinary spring and is close to
being back to his former skills."
" ... If the draft were held tomorrow, Jered
Weaver would be the Padres' pick at No. 1. "He's as good as what we have,"
says one San Diego official."
" ... One extremely credible baseball man compares
Indians first baseman Michael Aubrey to Todd Helton."
22 March, 2004
Game
action Sunday ... Andy Marte ATL 1-2, homer, 2 RBI ... Ryan Wagner
CIN 1 0 0 0 0 0 ... Chad Durbin CLE 4 2 0 0 2 3 ... Matt Cepicky
MON 2-2, grand slam ... Justin Wayne FLO 4 2 0 0 2 2 ... Andy
Pratt ATL 1 0 0 0 2 0 ... James Baldwin NYN, far from a
rook, but a big day 5 1 0 0 0 4 & 3-3, double, 4 RBI ... Hee Seop
Choi FLO 0-3, error ... Grant Balfour MIN 2 1 0 0 0 4
... Michael Cuddyer MIN, at 2B, 3-3, double, triple, homer, SB
... Chris Shelton DET 0-3 ... Edwin Jackson LA
3 2 0 0 0 3 ... Aaron Heilman NYN 4 1-3 6 3 1 1 4 ... Danny
Garcia NYN 2-3, 2 doubles ... Franklin Gutierrez LA 2-4, 2
runs ... Dewon Brazelton TB 4 5 3 2 2 1 ... Jorge De
Paula NYA 5 2 1 1 0 1 (see below) ... Chris George KC
4 0 0 0 1 4 ... Scott Hairston ARZ 1-3, homer ... Edgar Gonzalez
ARZ 3 2 0 0 0 3 ... Chad Tracy ARZ 2-5, 2 doubles ... Merkin
Valdez SF 1-3 3 4 4 1 0 ... Jason Grilli CHA 3 14 9 9 1 0
... Jose Lopez SEA, at 3B, 1-3, double ... Ricardo Rodriguez
TEX 4 2-3 6 1 1 3 2 ... Aaron Miles COL 1-3, triple ... Jason
Romano LA CF, leadoff, 2-5
Troop
movements ... OAK -- optioned RHP Mike Wood, RHP Justin Lehr
and INF Adam Morrissey to Triple-A; reassigned RHP Joe Blanton
and C Jeremy Brown to minor league camp ... NYA -- optioned RHP Ramon
Ramirez, LHP Alex Graman to Triple-A ... TEX --
optioned first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to Triple-A ; reassigned
outfielder Jason Tyner to minor league camp ... SD -- optioned
pitchers Ben Howard and Dennis Tankersley and outfielder Xavier
Nady to AAA; assigned pitcher Matt Bruback, first baseman Tagg
Bozied to AAA ... DET -- optioned pitcher Matt Roney and
outfielder Cody Ross to AAA; assigned catcher-outfielder Ben
Petrick, outfielder Marcus Thames to minor league camp
...
Now
that's a prediction ! Jim Callis, Baseball America with his take on the 2007
title. "
... The NL West champion Dodgers are another club with a radically different
look from the present. They've overhauled a moribund offense with free agents
Nomar Garciaparra and Magglio Ordonez, plus prospects like first baseman James
Loney, outfielders Franklin Gutierrez and Xavier Paul and second baseman Andy
LaRoche. The pitching staff remains a strength, thanks to youngsters Edwin
Jackson, Greg Miller and Joel Hanrahan and the addition of Barry Zito."
John
Sickels, ESPN.com, with a Joe Mauer MIN update :
"
... Long term, there are no doubts about his bat. Should we expect him to
hit .300 or more in 2004? I think the chance that Mauer will hit .300 is better
than the chance that he'll hit .200, but I don't think we'll see him on the
batting title leader board, not just yet. My projection is that Mauer will hit
between .270 and .280 this year, possibly getting off to a slow start at first
but eventually adjusting. He won't have much home run power, but will be good
for doubles and a fair number of walks. His defense will be stellar, and he'll
earn some buzz for Rookie of the Year, but will finish second behind Oakland's
Bobby Crosby. In the long run, it all boils down to whether or not Mauer can
avoid Young Catcher Stagnation Syndrome. The history of tall catchers isn't
promising, but it is testament to Mauer's ability that so many are willing to
look past that in his case. Balancing everything together, statistics, tools,
skills, I can see no reason to think that Joe Mauer won't be a star."
TEX
looking at the Yankee kids : "
... Rangers scout Tom Giordano is spending time in the Yankees' minor league
camp, scouting the possible minor league players who will complete the Alex
Rodriguez-Alfonso Soriano trade. Indications are the Rangers will take shortstop
Joaquin Arias or center fielder Rudy Guillen." (Fort Worth
Star Telegram)
Sunday's
effort gave Jorge De Paula NYA a new life in his bid for a roster spot :
"
... De Paula, who entered the game with an 0-3 record and a 7.88 ERA in three
games, allowed one run on two hits over five innings on Sunday ... "I was
very pleased," said manager Joe Torre. "He was very comfortable to
watch. "We were a little concerned when he got whacked around and then we
found out that his back was bothering him," Torre said. "He recovered
from that quickly, and the way he threw the other night, we feel pretty good
about him." De Paula, who made his big-league debut last September and won
his only Major League start, will likely start the season in the rotation for
Triple-A Columbus, though his latest performance seemed to leave the door open
-- however slightly -- for him to make the Yankees' Opening Day roster. With Jon
Lieber on the shelf .... If De Paula can follow this outing up with another one
of the same nature, he could push Torre and pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre to
consider him for the job created by Lieber's absence. "If they give me the
opportunity, I'll work hard to get it," De Paula said. "I'm just
trying to work hard to make the team." "I don't know yet," Torre
said when asked whether or not De Paula could wind up starting for New York.
"I'm just glad to see De Paula jump in there, because he gives us options.
That's important for us." (MLB.com)
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