By Ray Flowers
March 13, 2009 9:40am CDT

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAY

Scott Baker allowed four runs on Thursday. All four runs scored on four solo home runs, and that doesn't happen very often. Baker has allowed 1.13 HR/9 innings in his career, despite a 9% HR/F mark. The fly ball ratio isn't scary at all, but when you allow 45 percent of batted balls to go in the air you are bound to allow a few long ones.

Ryan Doumit hit a home run on Thursday. Still, he hasn't looked good at all this spring as he is sporting a .217 average thus far.

Gio Gonzalez punched out four D'backs in just two innings of work on Thursday. He still has a shot at claiming a starting role with the A's, though Vince Mazzaro certainly appears to be ahead of him after picking up the "W" in three scoreless innings on Thursday (there might be a second opening in the rotation if Justin Duchscherer fails to ready himself in time to start the season).

Joe Mather hit a home run to up his Grapefruit league leading RBI total to 13. You can basically book it that he will begin the year as the Cardinals' starter at third base.

Jamie Moyer lasted five innings on Thursday against the Rays and was in mid-season form. He walked only one batter, didn't strike anyone out, but still allowed just two runs. Even at 46 years of age, he might still have enough chutzpa to get by on most days.

Jose Reyes will most probably end up in the leadoff role once again for the Mets after the team appears unlikely to pursue a plan to bat the dynamic offensive weapon in the third hole.

James Shields tossed four scoreless innings, allowing just one hit to move his record to 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA this spring. He isn't being drafted like it, but Shields could certainly end up being a top-10 starter at the end of the 2009 season.

Denard Span doesn't appear to be in danger of losing his spot in the lineup, but he is just 3-for-25 in the early going. Still, he better get to hitting or he could find himself spending more time than his owners would like on the bench.


PITCHING BATTLES

Chris Carpenter with his arm: Carpenter held the Red Sox scoreless over four innings on Thursday. He looked great in the outing, allowing just two hits as he forced the Sox to put the ball in play as he walked only one batter. In the eight innings he has tossed this spring he has failed to allow a single run. Everyone in St. Louis is smiling.

Dodgers fifth starter: The club is still talking about Jason Schmidt filling the role, but in a moment of honesty they would have to tell you that they have zero confidence in the guy. How could they after barely 25 innings on the hill over the last two seasons? What are the alternatives? Eric Milton? He hasn't thrown an inning in the majors since tossing 31.1 in 2007 for the Reds. Claudio Vargas tossed just 37 innings last season for the Mets, and in his six-year career he owns a 4.94 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. Oh, and don't forget that Randy Wolf is their fourth starter, and he has tossed more than 120 innings just once in four seasons. That's why the Dodgers are said to be interested in Pedro Martinez. "He's someone we're curious about,'' GM Ned Colletti said. Seems like a perfect fit for the Dodgers, who seem content to try and fill the role with a myriad of options whose best days were four or more years ago. Why didn't the club just sign a top option instead of trying a virtual assembly line of broken-down hurlers?

Phillies fifth starter: With Kyle Kendrick continuing to look like a 19-year-old 46th-round draft pick facing Team USA, and youngster Carlos Carrasco clearly not yet ready to make his mark, the battle for this spot comes down to Chan Ho Park and J.A. Happ. On Thursday Happ allowed one run on a solo home run in three innings of work, and he now owns a 2.45 ERA this spring in 14 innings. He also has 10 Ks and just three walks. As for Park, he has allowed two runs in seven innings with five strikeouts and zero walks. Will the up and coming Happ, or the grizzled veteran (Park) win out? The rest of camp will be crucial to making the call.

Rays closer: Troy Percival made his spring debut on Thursday throwing a perfect inning against the Phillies. Does this mean that he could actually open the year as the Rays' closer? Take a deep breath, but the answer is yes. What are the Rays thinking? That should be the first thing that jumps to mind. Percival did lead the squad with 28 saves last season, but he was awful. While his ERA of 4.53 wasn't strong, it actually stood out when compared to his horrific 1.77 HR/9 mark and his worst BB/9 mark (5.32) since 2000. Percival also struck out just 7.49 batters per nine (career 9.99), and was probably the luckiest pitcher in baseball with a .181 BABIP (career .243). Simply put, the guy belongs nowhere near the closers job with much better options available (Dan Wheeler and Grant Balfour to name just two). Here's to hoping the team wises up - but don't discount the possibility that Percival just suffers yet another injury which knocks him out of the running.

White Sox starters: Bartolo Colon and Jose Contreras both tossed 50 pitches in batting practice on Thursday, and both continue to defy the odds by looking good each time out. Contreras is scheduled to toss an inning on Sunday against the Mariners, whereas Colon will go on Monday against the Royals. Barring a setback, and honestly it's a near miracle that neither has suffered one as of yet, they could still conceivably end up as the 4th and 5th starters for the Sox. Given the injury history of Colon, and the ineffectiveness of Colon the past few years, you needn't pay either any mind unless you are in an AL-only league anyway, and even then, they don't merit your attention until late in the draft.


POSITION BATTLES

Diamondbacks fourth outfielder: This battle really isn't a battle if Eric Byrnes is healthy, as the job will be his, leaving Alex Romero out of the mix (the team usually carries only four outfielders, choosing to go with another arm instead). Just two years ago Byrnes was a top-20 fantasy performer as he exploded for 103 runs, 50 steals, 21 home runs and 83 RBI. Unfortunately, his hamstring betrayed him last season and he was limited to 206 extremely ineffective at-bats (.209-6-23-28-4). Byrnes has run the bases the past two days, and is scheduled to do so again on Friday as he tries to work his way back to prominence. "It was progressively better than it was the day before, so based on what he does [Friday], there's a good chance we could get him involved in games after that," Arizona manager Bob Melvin said. Given how miserable he was last season, Byrnes is nothing more than a flier at this point, especially because he has continued to have some issues with his legs in camp.

Pirates left field: The Pirates are locked in with Nate McLouth in center, and if Brandon Moss is healthy he will start in right field, and that leaves left field open to a battle. The team had hoped that fleet of foot Nyjer Morgan could grab the reigns and lead off for the club, but he has been awful this spring, hitting .188 with a .235 OBP in 32 AB. As they say, you can't steal first base. Given that he has hit .296 with a .351 OBP in 267 big league at-bats we can't rule out the cub going with him, but he isn't doing himself any favors. Who could the team turn to instead? Well, they signed Erik Hinske this offseason and he could easily fill a platoon role facing right-handers because he certainly is a mess against lefties (.219/2.92/.365). If Hinske ends up starting against righties, the other half of the duo could end up being Craig Monroe, who hit all of .202 last season with the Twins. However, he blasted three home runs on Thursday and now has six long balls in spring. He has long been mildly successful in his career against lefties, hitting .259 with a .776 OPS, so if he continues to force the Pirates' hand like this, Morgan could end up being the man out.

Royals second base: Mark Teahen is trying to find a place to play with the Royals, and as such he has been asked to spend some time trying to prove he can handle the rigors of second base. On Thursday, Teahen went deep, and the team keeps hoping that he will take the role and run with it, as there is no doubt that they aren't sold on Alberto Callaspo. Alberto did hit .305 last year, but he hit just .215 the year before and owns a .266 batting average without a single home run in 399 career AB. As for Teahen, he isn't much better, though he is coming off a season of 15 home runs and 59 RBI, so there is little doubt that he provides a more forceful option than Callaspo. With the team letting Esteban German go, there is certainly a spot on the roster for a utility infielder, and Teahen could end up in that role if he doesn't gain the starting spot at second over Callaspo. About the only place that Teahen's bat would have value would be at second base.


HEALTH CONCERNS

Mike Cameron strained his rib cage, but the Brewers are hopeful it's a minor injury. Teammate Bill Hall ran at full speed during a minor-league game on Thursday and appears to be nearing a return to game action - possibly this weekend.

Doug Davis tossed a the ball on the side on Thursday for 12 minutes and his triceps faired well so he will throw a bullpen session on Friday. We wonder, was it 12 minutes or 12 minutes and 15 seconds that he threw for?

Phil Dumatrait has been shelved due to left shoulder inflammation. He was awful last season anyway, with a 5.26 ERA and 1.58 WHIP, so he shouldn't be on anyone's short list of options in an NL-only league even if healthy.

Pedro Feliz played an intrasquad game on Wednesday, his first game action of the spring as he attempts to make if back from offseason back surgery. He should have time enough to get his swing and game in order for opening day.

Tom Gordon is a week away from throwing a bullpen session for the D'backs. Uh, really, he is still alive?

Manny Ramirez wasn't able to play in his first game due to a tight hamstring. He should be available to play in the next day or two, so don't worry about it.

Look for Mariano Rivera to toss another batting practice session on Friday as he continues his road back from shoulder surgery.