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| Scott Thorman has been struggling at the plate but erupted for four RBI on Sunday, while also collecting his first home run of the spring. The Braves are reportedly trying to deal Thorman, and a performance like this will improve his worth and help him land elsewhere. |
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| Brian Barton had another strong day at the plate as he fights to earn a roster spot with the Cardinals. He picked up his second triple of the spring on Sunday and collected two RBI, giving him four. |
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| Joe Blanton was struggling through a tough spring, but seemingly got himself back on track on Sunday as he only allowed one run on three hits over five innings, with five strikeouts. He will need to keep this up to solidify his role as the A's number two starter behind Harden. |
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| J.J. Hardy was the Brewers' only offensive force on Sunday as he knocked in both of Milwaukee's runs on a hard hit double. The pair of RBI now give him six for the spring. |
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| Dan Ortmeier had a rough day at the plate as he struck out twice over three at-bats. He was expected to be the Giants featured first baseman this season, but is not helping his cause as he currently has the most strikeouts on the team. |
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| Franklin Morales was awarded a start over the injured Jason Hirsch and he effectively seized the opportunity as he only allowed one run and three hits over four innings, with three strikeouts. He has an ERA of 2.00 over nine innings and should solidify a spot in the Rockies bullpen at the start of the season. |
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| Chris Burke, acquired from Houston in the Jose Valverde deal last December, doubled twice on Sunday and drove in three runs.
Burke has played at shortstop, second and third base this spring and the team would like to get him work at first before the exhibition season ends. Burke, who is hitting .363 this spring, with four doubles, a homer and five RBI, will be a valuable asset in NL-only formats by mid-season if he continues to be used in the primary utility role by manager Bob Melvin. |
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| Claudio Vargas pitched five hitless innings, walking one and striking out two, to help Milwaukee beat the Seattle Mariners in a split-squad game. Vargas made a strong case to begin the season in the Brewers starting rotation with Sunday's performance. Vargas is battling David Bush, Chris Capuano and Jeff Suppan for the final two slots of the rotation.
Vargas was 11-6 with one save and a 5.09 ERA in 23 starts and 29 total appearances last season. |
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| Daryle Ward went a perfect 4-for-4 on Sunday with three RBI, pushing his spring total to seven. He played DH today, but unfortunately for him he plays in the NL. |
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| Kyle Kendrick was hit hard again on Sunday. The right-hander lasted just two innings, yielding six runs and seven hits. He threw 40 pitches while facing 11 batters in the second, and his spring ERA has ballooned to 16.43. Kendrick is still penciled in as the team's third starter behind Cole Hamels and Brett Myers, but the staff won't hesitate moving him down in the rotation while moving up veterans Jamie Moyer and Kent Benson if he continues to struggle. Both Kendrick and Adam Eaton have not looked sharp this spring. |
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| Jolbert Cabrera continues to perform very well as he knocked in his team leading 10th RBI on Sunday. He is fighting hard to earn a roster spot in the Cincinnati infield. |
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| Randy Wolf finally made it out of the first inning after failing to do so in each of his last two outings, but he was still sluggish as he allowed two runs and five hits over three innings of work on Sunday. On a positive note, he did have five strikeouts and still has time to solidify his spot in the Padres rotation. |
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| Ryan Howard hit his second home run of the spring on Sunday. The Phillies bagman won his arbitration this winter and will earn 10 large for the season. Arguably the top fantasy first baseman, a healthy Howard will battle Prince Fielder for the home run title this summer. |
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| Matt Belisle has all but locked up a spot in the Reds rotation with his spring work.
Belisle allowed an unearned run and two hits in three innings to earn his second win this spring. He walked three and struck out one. |
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| Jeremy Hermida has been struggling mightily at the plate this spring but could be ready to turn it around as he hit his first home run on Sunday. That was only his fourth hit in 27 at-bats. |
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| Cristian Guzman homered from both sides of the plate on Sunday helping the Washington Nationals beat the Cleveland Indians in a split-squad affair.
Guzman finished with three hits and four RBI. He hit a three-run homer off starter Jeremy Sowers in the second inning batting right-handed and a solo shot in the fourth batting left-handed against Rick Bauer. |
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| Dodgers manager Joe Torre continues to be impressed with Clayton Kershaw and even went as far as comparing his left-hander to a blast from the past lefty, Sandy Koufax, according to MLB.com.
Kershaw worked his way through Major League hitters Mike Lowell, J.D. Drew and Sean Casey in a perfect 10-pitch inning on Sunday, after which Torre acknowledged that the teenager (he turns 20 on March 19) had been promoted from Minor League camp and into the Major League clubhouse. Could he stick when the team breaks camp? No, according to Torre. Torre was saying he was "about as close to 100 percent without being 100 percent" sure that Kershaw would not be in his starting rotation when the season opens in three weeks. He cited the flameouts of Kerry Wood and Mark Prior as cautionary examples of rushed talent and left only slight wiggle room to change his position "if everything else fell into place." |
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| John Maine threw four no-hit innings on Sunday, and retired 12 of the 13 batters he faced, allowing only a walk to David Newhan in the second inning.
The Astros didn’t get a hit until Nick Gorneault’s two-out single off Billy Wagner in the fifth. Maine is a mixed league option regardless of format and with the smallest success this year will push a 13-15 win season.
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| Major League Baseball is approaching the midpoint of Spring Training games and Freddy Sanchez has yet to be cleared to play.
The Pirates will not rush their second baseman and his shoulder injury, but Sanchez is continuing to increase how hard he throws and is taking ground balls during the team's infield work before games. But he's still not able to do so at 100 percent effort.
The good news is according to MLB.com is Sanchez has reported no soreness or discomfort in his shoulder recently. Sanchez has no timetable for when he will be cleared to return to the field. |
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| Ricky Nolasco pitched three perfect innings on Sunday afternoon, but wasn't able to finish out the forth inning in the Marlins spring loss to the Orioles. The right-hander exited after 3 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on four hits and no walks. He struck out four and threw 56 pitches -- 38 for strikes. Nolasco, who missed most of the 2007 campaign to an elbow injury, has the ability to contribute this year if healthy. Consider the Marlins' starter a reserve option in NL-only formats. |
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| Mark DeRosa is expected to make his spring exhibition debut on Monday, according to MLB.com. "I feel fine," DeRosa said Sunday. "I'm ready to be one of the guys again." DeRosa has been working his way back from a procedure that corrected an irregular heartbeat. He should have enough time to get into game shape for the start of the regular season. |
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| Adam Eaton will skip his next start due to his ailing back, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. "We're giving it a couple days off," said Eaton. "The MRI results were .... slight herniated disc. And some arthritis on the right side. Which is kind of what we knew going in. But it's official." He could get back into game action on Saturday, but he's going to be cutting it close for the beginning of the season if he doesn't resume pitching relatively soon. |
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| ESPN.com reports that a day after leaving a spring training start with a strained right groin, Braves pitcher Mike Hampton said he was 'OK". The Braves' left-hander said he doesn't expect to miss his next start and plans to throw again Monday. To those owners that were beginning to get excited about his return to the mound after a two-year absence, consider this a reminder that Hampton is made of glass. |
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| Shawn Hill received a cortisone shot in his arm on Saturday, according to the Washington Post. "They injected it, and he had instant relief," GM Jim Bowden said. "What that means, I don't know. We'll have to wait and see when he goes back on the mound." Hill's recovering from offseason surgery to decompress a nerve in the arm, so this is somewhat concerning. He could still be ready for the start of the season, but that will depend on when he can return to the mound and how his arm holds up. |
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| Fernando Nieve has an encouraging bullpen session on Saturday, according to the Houston Chronicle. He's been out for over a week with a strained hamstring, and it's going to be difficult for him to earn a rotation spot. |
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| J.R. Towles was forced to exit Saturday's exhibition game due to a strained hamstring, according to the Houston Chronicle. The Astros don't believe it's a serious issue, so he should be back soon. Towles is hitting .538 with a homer and five RBI so far this spring. |
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| Kazuo Matsui will meet with a specialist concerning his ongoing problem with hemorrhoids, according to the Houston Chronicle. "He's going to see if there's another treatment we can do to accelerate the healing process," general manager Ed Wade said. "We're going to make sure we are doing everything to relieve the discomfort he's got." He left a game late last month due to the ailment but should be able to play while receiving treatment, so it shouldn't affect his preparation for the start of the season. |
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| Ryan Church returned to exhibition action on Saturday after missing time with a concussion, according to the New York Daily News. "Willie (Randolph) asked me if I wanted another day (off), but I wanted to get out there," Church said. "I'm a little fatigued, a little tired, but other than that, no headaches or dizzy spells. I feel good. I didn't think about it at all ... and now I can just put it behind me. I know I can play (today) if I feel like I do right now." It looks like Church is good to go and should be fine for opening day. |
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| It turns out that the foul ball that hit Randy Winn's leg Friday missed his knee and hit his shin, according to the Contra Costa Times. "I wish I didn't do it at all," he said, "but if it had to hit somewhere, better the shin than the knee." He should be back in action soon. |
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| Jason Hirsh still was bothered by his sore shoulder during a throwing session on Friday, according to the Denver Post. "It's better than it was. We are just taking it day by day," Hirsh said. "I would like to get out there, but I don't want to rush it and make it worse." If he doesn't return to the mound soon, there's a realistic chance he won't be ready when the regular season begins. |
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| Aaron Cook was held out of Friday's game as a precaution due to inflammation in his shoulder. "I hope that I just miss that one turn and step right back into the rotation (either Tuesday or Wednesday)," Cook said, according to the Denver Post. "I haven't missed any throwing, so I don't feel like I am behind at all." It appears he has just a minor ailment that shouldn't affect his status for the start of the season, barring any setbacks. |
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| The Rockies will play it safely with Luis Vizcaino and hold him out of game action again Sunday, according to the Denver Post. It'll be the third straight game he'll skip due to a sore elbow, but he believes he'd be available if it were a regular-season contest. |
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| Manager Dusty Baker said he likes what he's seen from Johnny Cueto, who's battling for a spot in the Reds starting rotation, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. "Who's looked better than him?" Baker asked. Cueto allowed just a single and struck out four in three innings Friday, while tossing 97-mph fastballs, 78-mph changeups and 87-mph sliders. He's outperformed Homer Bailey, Edinson Volquez, Jeremy Affeldt, Josh Fogg, Matt Belisle and Matt Maloney thus far this spring, and Baker's not bothered by the fact that Cueto has worked just four Triple-A games and none in the majors, so he might just earn a starting job if he keeps it up. |
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| Alfonso Soriano picked up two hits in his Saturday return from a fractured finger. But while he said the finger was "perfect," he admitted that he only ran at about 85 percent, because he has a mental block about pushing last year's torn quadriceps at top force, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. "I'm still a little scared because today's only my second game," said Soriano. "I think after I start playing every day, I'll feel more comfortable and can run 100 percent." Let's hope he gets over the mental hurdle and that his quadriceps, which he tore seven months ago, holds up when he does test it at full speed. |
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| Miguel Montero has been cleared to begin light activity next week, according to the Arizona Republic. He's recovering from a broken right index finger, and it's unlikely he'll be ready for opening day. |
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| In the search for a starting left fielder, San Diego is starting to look hard at Chase Headley . In the Padres 9-5 victory over the Texas Rangers in Cactus League action, Headley hit a two-run homer, a triple and a sacrifice fly, totaling three RBI and two runs scored. Matt Antonelli, Headley's top competitor for the job, went 0-for-1 while the veteran component, Scott Hairston, did not play. Headley could prove worthy of consideration at 3B as well, his natural position, but his bat is going to force any and all options to be considered regardless. |
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