Your spring training updates: Baseball

The Game Room
1

Pick your team(s) and give us a Spring Training update. Mine is Yankee related. Post as little or as much as you want. Toss in quotes and comments. Educate us about your team(s).

  1. **Boomer ** has Type 2 diabetes… *This is very manageable, but he will have to pretty much stop drinking and eat healthy. Any bets on him going through the season without a hospital visit? I hope he can do this. *
  2. **Bobby Abreu ** is scheduled to start at DH tonight. He says he will be ready for opening day… *Don’t rush Bobby, it is a long season. *
  3. **Carl Pavano ** threw a bullpen session yesterday that Ron Guidry described as “outstanding,” according to Torre. Torre was just happy Pavano remained healthy, which may say more about the Yanks’ expectation levels than Pavano’s sharpness. He is 0-1 with a 5.63 ERA this spring. Hitters are batting .303 against him. … *At least Torre is being realistic about Pavano, Trade this time bomb quick. *
  4. **Chris Britton ** allowed four hits and five runs in one-third of an inning in the Yanks’ 9-1 loss to Toronto. … Off to Scranton he goes.
  5. Scott Proctor, **Brian Bruney ** and **Sean Henn ** each threw a scoreless inning. Yanks were 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position. …Nice to have so much relief depth it does stretch down to Scranton. Henn and maybe Bruney will be starting the season in Scranton.
  6. Ruben Sierra, reassigned by the Mets last week, was seen around the batting cage at Legends Field talking to Derek Jeter… *No clue what this means. *
  7. **Rudy Giuliani ** might be a semi-regular on broadcasts this year. ““You will be going to a lot of cities (to campaign),” Waldman said in the bottom of the fourth. “So when we (the Yankees) are in the same town, you should come up and do an inning or two.”” … I guess Rudy has some free ad time with his Yankee connection, maybe he can pull the same trick with ESPN
  8. **Moose ** is very happy with his pitching at this point and had this to say when asked about the home opener: “I’m assuming it’ll be (Chien-Ming) Wang,” Mussina said. “Wang deserves it, he earned it last year and he’s throwing the ball well.” … I would like to see Pettitte get the home opener, but no big deal.
  9. Farnsworth, one of the Yankees’ setup men, is working on a changeup and a sinker, hoping that pitches in the mid-80s can keep hitters from sitting on his fastball. It’s something that pitching coach Ron Guidry suggested at the end of last season…*The idea seems to be that throw 100 is what wipes him out, I hope it helps. *
  10. Jeff Karstens, a pitcher Mariano Rivera says “has tremendous potential,” has helped create a rare rotation contest this spring in Yankee camp, a place that usually holds competitions only for less-significant, workaday jobs such as backup catcher. As a result, inconsistent Japanese import **Kei Igawa ** may be getting his first taste of pinstriped pressure even as he is trying to get used to pitching against brawnier lineups and living in a new country where he speaks the same language as only one teammate. “My shoulders are more broad, my back and chest are completely different, my posture,” Karstens said. So is his velocity. He had pitched nearly a full season by the time he was called up last year in August, so he mostly threw his fastball at 86 miles per hour. He hit 93 once this spring and is generally pitching at 91. But Torre also would not rule out the idea that Igawa, a notorious slow starter in Japan, could get some seasoning in Triple-A if the Yanks deem he isn’t ready.… *I like Karstens, he can be a very competent 5th starter and he will eat up the innings. *

Jim

2

I know it’s “hope springs eternal” time, but the O’s at least look pretty interesting so far.

Pitching:
They lost Kris Benson to a shoulder tear.
Canadian Eric Bedard will start opening day. He’s been good, and was good last year.
Daniel Cabrera looks positively awesome sometimes, but has been inconsistent in past years.
Canadian Adam Loewen showed flashes last year. I was at a game in which he retired 21 (IIRC) straight Twins.
They also have Steve Traschel.
Their bullpens looks pretty good with Chris Ray. They picked up submariner, Chad Bradford this off season.

Offensively, who knows.

They have speed and patience at the front with Brian Roberts and Corey Patterson. In the middle, Miguel Tejada, of course, with up-and-comer Nick Markakis, free agent Jay Payton from Oakland, Aubrey Huff, Melvin Mora, and a few other typically disappointing young guys to round thigns out.

A decent-hitting catcher in Ramon Hernandez.

3

Funny, you didn’t mention Wright. How’s he looking back with his favorite Pitching Coach?

Do you think they have a chance of getting past Boston, Toronto and NY?

Jim

4

What, no love for Tampa? :stuck_out_tongue:

I haven’t been paying attention at all. Seems like the Sawx have the same old same old: young untried pitchers paired with the old former stars ready to fall apart at a moment’s notice, and Manny being Manny. In other words, who the hell knows?

5

Well, I’m playing in the other baseball thread, so why not join in here, too:

In the wonderful world of Mets baseball:

Of the good…

David Wright, Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, and Carlos Delgado are all healthy and happy. Willie Randolph is said to be considering batting Wright second in place of Paul LoDuca, which would mean the Mets top five would go Reyes, Wright, Beltran, Delgado, Alou. This would be exciting to watch. LoDuca is not a particularly good hitter and gets too many at-bats in the two hole.

Oliver Perez struck out nine Red Sox in five innings last week, cementing his role in the rotation. Maybe he can get back what he had early in his tenure at Pittsburgh. John Maine looks pretty strong, too.

Someone with the unlikely name of Joe Smith looks like a good bet to stick in the bullpen, and displace some of the crappier “names” that are out there now.

Omar Minaya is still the general manager, and he’s very good at his job.
Of the bad…

Lastings Milledge, the prospect so good we couldn’t trade him for anyone or anything in the last few years (including possibly Roy Oswalt) is hitting .375 with walks and power this spring. He will not get onto the Opening Day roster, though, because Willie Randolph is infatuated with Shawn Green, who is terrible.

Jorge Sosa is out of the running for a rotation slot, and so are Alay Soler, who was released, and Aaron Sele, who may or may not make the team at all. Right now it’s looking like Chan Ho Park versus Mike Pelfrey for the rotation spot behind Glavine, El Duque, Maine, and Perez. Yeesh.

Aaron Heilman claims he will start the season just fine in spite of elbow problems. He will not, however, start this season, because I hate Willie Randolph.

Willie Randolph is still the manager, and he is very bad at his job.

6

Wood and Prior . . . well, let’s just end it right there.

:frowning:

7

Yeah He is right? I mean any idiot can have 14 diffrent starting pitchers and get within one out of the World Series while putting up the best regular season record in baseball.

You wanna start in on Willie, you got to go through me first, Have at thee!

8

The only reason they had 14 different starting pitchers is because Willie is too stubborn to change his approach midstream. I’m riding this horse pretty hard, but explain to me again why you’d prefer to see a neverending cycle of crappy replacements to putting in Aaron Heilman and seeing what he can do? That kid is going to wind up leaving as a free agent and becoming someone’s #3 starter. Chan Ho Park has no business being anyone’s fifth starter.

And the Mets made it to within one out of the World Series because they had the best lineup in the National League. Any idiot can write “Reyes, LoDuca, Beltran, Delgado, Wright, Floyd, Valentin, Nady/Green/Chavez” onto his lineup card 100 times and see a really good record as a result.

But he’s obsessed with veterans to the detriment of the team; why is Shawn Green playing right field for this team? Why, in the name of Bobby Valentine, is Julio Franco still taking up a roster spot? What is he going to do? Pinch hit? For whom? If he’s so valuable as a “mentor,” cut him and hire him back as a coach.

In-game Randolph is dreadfully conventional in all the wrong ways. Augh!

I actually miss Bobby Valentine. That dude took a team that had no business even sniffing the playoffs to the World Series on clever lineup fiddling, smart usage of the bench and bullpen, and weird psychotic motivational tactics. Yet somehow two years later he sucked and we needed Art Howe.

9

Come on fans, lets hear about Cleveland, LA, Detroit etc.

10

Maybe Toronto.

I kind of forgot about Wright, but I think he’s been fine.

Loewen had another good start yesterday, 4 hits, no walks in 5 innings, and bradford had a decent outing.

They’ve really hit poorly. I think they’re tied for last in dingers, and they’re slugging .336 as a team. Slugging!

11

Jonathan Papelbon is back to closing for my Red Sox. Despite some teeth-gnashing at
some Red Sox blogs, I am actually favorable towards this view. While a good starter will
probably help you more than a good closer, the difference isn’t a great as some people might
make it out to be.

12

Dodgers

Still trying to find #5 in the rotation. On the up side, it’s because we have too much young talent, not too little. It looks like the other 4 will be Lowe, Penny, Schmidt and Wolf. We have a strong bullpen, but I’d be happier with a proven closer in there. The infield is solid, with depth everywhere. Loney is shaping up to be a superstar in a few years, and should be able to handle first with aplomb. If not, we can always shift Nomar back. The outfield is solid, too. Gonzalez, Ethier and Pierre aren’t going to let a gnat go by uncaught, much less a fly. The only place I see a weakness in this years lineup is the lack of a power hitter. But with the young talent and arms the Dodgers have, we can probably trade for one after the season starts and things shake down a bit. If the team stays healthy, we’ll win the division in a walk, because the other teams in the NLWest don’t have shit this year.

They’ve also completely revamped the parking at Dodger Stadium, which was way overdue. With the 210 extension almost complete, we can shoot straight into Chaves Ravine from home with little traffic, dropping down on the 2 and entering the stadium parking lot via either the Golden or Academy gates.

13

Angels

I love Moreno and Stoneman, but I am sorely disappointed in the new acquisition- HGH Boy. Gee, a career middle-of-the-roader who has an insane breakout year? I can never trust that… I wish Moreno would eat his contract and never play him, but it won’t happen, and goddammit we need the bat… :mad:

Mike Scioscia is my favorite manager, and I hope we have a good year. I have been traveling and haven’t been able to keep up with how we’ve done this spring, but it makes no difference anyway.

Opening day is April 2- see you there.

14

Hmm, lets see…

Soriano, Lee and Ramirez are all hitting a ton in the early stages of Spring Training. We’re having an unseasonably warm spring here in Chicago and if that holds out I expect these guys to stay hot. I like the top of that order.

Ryan Theriot looks like he’s going to beat DeRosa out of a job at 2B and I really hope he does. DeRosa was a dumb signing. If only he were a lefty to bat in that #2 spot.

Izturis has had a very, very impressive spring with nearly a .500 OBP. If he can do anything close to that in the regular season he’ll slot into the #2 spot perfectly and his defense will be critical.

We’re crowded at the corners in the outfield with Cliff Floyd, Darryl Ward, Jaqcues Jones and Matt Murton all hoping for at bats. All but Murton are lefties and will be important if they can stay healthy and productive. I’m especially excited about Ward if he can show an ability to work the count every once in a while. All but Murton are playing very well in Arizona.

Barrett is putting up his usually impressive number for a C.

Theriot and Murton are probably the only prospects that will make the roster.

We have pitchers.

15

Indians have some interesting stuff going on. They’re threatening to start the season with Garko in AAA, which I think is a mistake, and have already decided to send Adam Miller back to the farm in favor of Fausto Carmona (who has my favorite current baseball name) as the 5th starter.

They’ll start the season without Cliff Lee, who has a pulled oblique. But, frankly, Lee hasn’t been as good as his record for the past couple of years.

Talks with Sabathia to extend his contract may be stalling. He’s already signed for two more years, but I know the team would love to get more. They are starting talks with Jake Westbrook, who is a free agent after this season.

I really dislike the idea of sending Garko down and essentially moving Casey Blake to first. I like Casey, but one of his great strengths is his ability to play multiple positions and sticking him at first and starting the season with an extra utility infielder is just wack.

Holy mackerel. I just used “wack” in a sentence.

16

Royals have officially declared Alex Gordon to be 3B for 2007, no big surprise since I don’t think Mark Teahen played a single inning there all spring.

Luke Hudson is slightly injured, but is expected to be ready in early April

17

Does that mean they’ll have to give equal time to the other candidates? “Coming up in the third inning Sam Brownback does the play by play” I think I’ll skip that.

18

That is a very good question, and I was wondering it myself. It might be a good GQ question, I am not sure. Just something we should expect to hear. I suspect he might get away with it as he has been dropping in on Yankee Broadcasts even when he was out of office and not running for anything.

Everyone, thanks for your reports, I hope we get some more in.

Jim

19

Regarding the Oakland A’s

I haven’t been paying too close attention this spring–easy, since the A’s don’t even bother radio broadcasting much of spring training–but I’ve seen enough reports to know that:

• Rich Harden seems healthy. Don’t know if it will last, but it would be an amazing string of bad luck if he’d down for significant time for a third year in a row. Right now, all looks good–which is good news for the A’s, bad news for American League hitters.

• Dan Haren has been named opening day starter. A decent call–he’s got the talent and doggedness to anchor the rotation–though he’s sometimes inconsistent.

• There’s been a Bobby Crosby sighting. He’s playing again, after missing a lot of last year with injuries. It’s a crucial year for him; he looked major in his rookie season, hasn’t done much since. If he stays upright and lives up to expectations, the team will have more punch in the lineup, even without the departe Frank Thomas.

• Speaking of Thomas, his replacement Mike Piazza is having a good spring, hitting around .400 and keeping his old body upright. The one spring game I got a chance to listen to, this past weekend, Piazza hit a ball so hard that the crack of the bat made me think the ball would jump right out of my radio. I think he’ll make the DH and league switch adjustment just fine.

• CF Mark Kotsay is out until mid-May, after back surgery. This means little to the casual fan, but if you’re tight with the game you know Kotsay’s a terrific centerfielder, both getting the ball and throwing out runners, and the team will miss having him out there for the first month and a half. But Kotsay’s had long-standing back problems, and if the surgery which he finally had done corrects that, the A’s may benefit in the long run by having him on the field more often.

Other that these brief notes, there isn’t much to say about the A’s. They’ve been having a very quiet spring–in sharp contrast with the Angels, who’ve been having injury problems (Chone Figgins being the latest to go down) and controversy (the whole Gary Matthews Jr.-HGH to-do). From the A’s perspective, problems in Anaheim may be their biggest asset early in the season.

20

Yanks have suffered a major set-back to start the season.

Chien-Ming Wang, Yankee Ace will miss April with a grade 1 pulled hamstring.

I am sure Boston & the Jays rejoice.