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| Earlier reports siad that Joe Torre would use Clayton Kershaw as a starter but ESPN's Baseball Tonight is reporting that he will be used out of the bullpen. |
Our View: With prominent left-handed hitters in the Phillies lineup Kershaw could come in the game in some crucial situation.
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| The Houston Chronicle reports that Jose Castillo was outrighted to Triple-A on Wednesday. Pitchers Dave Borkowski, Jack Cassel and Ryan Houston joined him in the demotion. |
Our View: Castillo hit .246 with six home runs and 37 RBIs in 127 combined games for San Francisco and Houston last season. He came to Houston from the Giants on Aug. 20.
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| CBS reports that Curt Schilling would have been ready for the postseason had he hd surgery when it was originally recommended in January. Dr. Craig Morgan wanted to operate then and said in spring training that the only way Schilling might pitch this season would be if he had surgery. Team physician Dr. Thomas Gill recommended rehabilitation. Schilling reluctantly agreed, then had surgery on June 23. |
Our View: Morgan says Schilling's shoulder is "phenomenal" and that his health would not prevent him from pitching at the start of next season. Schilling has said that if he does play again, he would want to return in the second half of next season.
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| MLB.com reports that Jeff Larish will work at third base, rather than first, in the Arizona Fall League. Should he show well, he stands a good chance to make the 2009 Major League roster. He filled in for Carlos Guillen down the stretch and finished the season with a .260 average and 16 RBI in 104 at-bats. |
Our View: His league-leading 28 home runs and 101 RBIs at Double-A Erie earned him Tigers Minor League Player of the Year honors in 2007, and he followed that with 21 homers and 64 RBIs in 103 games for Toledo this year. With more work, he could provide the lefty power the Tigers have sought in some kind of role for the last few years, but the Tigers have to find a way to use him. It has been said that Guillen may find himself playing outfield next season.
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| The L.A. Daily News reports that Takashi Saito may not be on the NLCS roster. After throwing a side session on Wednesday, he decided to scrap throwing from the windup. Saito said the decision rests with others, but he seemed to offer a cryptic hint that he won't be on the roster when he said this, with Kenji Nimura translating: "I'm never going to say I'm (off) the roster, because that isn't for me to decide. It's up to Joe (Torre) and the coaching staff, and they might want me to give it some time and work on my mechanics so I can be ready for the World Series." |
Our View: Saito led the Dodgers with 18 saves this season. If he were left off of the roster, Jonathan Broxton will likely be the closer. Broxton successfully filled the role earlier in the season when Saito went on the DL.
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| Scott Kazmir will throw in Game 2 of the ALCS, according to the Boston Globe. He earned his first playoff win in his last start despite a slow start and managing just 5.1 innings. |
Our View: He was was 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in four starts against Boston this season. He allowed six home runs in 18 innings and walked 14 batters.
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| James Shields has been slated to pitch Game 1 of the ALCS against Boston, according to the Tampa Tribune. Manager Joe Maddon is sticking with the same rotation he used in the first round against Chicago, with Scott Kazmir following Shields in Game 2, and Matt Garza taking the hill in Game 3. Andy Sonnanstine will "probably" pitch Game 4. |
Our View: Shields won 14 games in the regular season for the AL East champion Rays, with a 1.15 WHIP. He allowed three earned runs in a winning effort against Chicago in Game 1 of the ALDS as well.
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| The Cubs have decided to pick up Rich Harden's $7 million option for 2009, according to the AP. |
Our View: The team was waiting for the 30-year-old pitcher to visit with a shoulder specialist before making a decision on his option, but the team is apparently not concerned about the injury-prone pitcher's health after picking up his option. He maintained a solid 2.07 ERA and 1.06 WHIP over 148 innings this season.
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| Daisuke Matsuzaka has been slated to take the hill in Game 1 of the ALCS against the Rays, according to the Boston Globe. |
Our View: Josh Beckett will follow him in Game 2, and Jon Lester will go in Game 3. Tim Wakefield will start Game 4, and Dice-K would start again in Game 5. Boston is aiming for a third World Series title in five years.
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| Indians' GM Mark Shapiro commented that the team may try to bring back Casey Blake, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. |
Our View: The Indians feel Blake is a natural fit, but that may not be the case if Jhonny Peralta ultimately moves to third base. Blake blasted 21 homers this season and is currently chasing a championship as the Dodgers are set to begin the NLCS against Philadelphia.
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| Rudy Seanez may be added to the Phillies' NLCS roster instead of J.A. Happ, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. |
Our View: Happ did not appear in the NLDS against Milwaukee. The decision to add Seanez or Happ will come down to what they feel is more valuable: a long-reliever capable of pitching multiple innings in the event of a starter breaking down, or another righthander who would be more likely to contribute in mid-to-late inning situations.
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| Reds' GM Walt Jocketty has made a call to the agent of Josh Bard, and has a mild interest in signing him, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. |
Our View: Paul Bako won't be back and Bard would be added to split time with Ryan Hanigan.
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| Impending free agent Jon Garland is not likely to re-sign with the Angels, according to the LA Times. |
Our View: He was acquired in the deal that shipped veteran shortstop Orlando Cabrera to Chicago, but the Angels are looking to free up money to make a run at a top free agent, such as CC Sabathia. Garland won 14 games in 2008, but held a poor 4.90 ERA and 1.51 WHIP.
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| Jamie Walker does not need to undergo surgery on his left elbow, according to the Baltimore Sun. He spent the past two days in Birmingham, Alabama, getting examined by Dr. James Andrews. Phil Tannenbaum (his agent) said, "Walker had his second appointment with Dr. Andrews today, and Dr. Andrews gave him a clean bill of health. He prescribed a little bit of rest and some exercises, and Walker should be ready to go for spring training."
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Our View: This is good news for the 37-year-old reliever, who is entering the final season of a three-year, $12 million deal he signed in November 2006.
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