Spoiler [+]
Aaron Harang grew up about five minutes from what was once known as Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego and would go to the park to watch the Padres, to watch Tony Gwynn; so signing with his hometown team over the winter was a good fit for him. His whole family is in San Diego, and his wife's whole family is there, too.
AP Photo/Charlie RiedelAaron Harang's fly ball tendencies now will be rewarded.
But the comfort level for Harang in San Diego will go beyond any daycare help from the relatives. After years of pitching in the Reds' tiny ballpark, where just about any ball hit into the air to right field was a candidate to land in the Ohio River, Harang will now make his home starts in Petco Park, which swallows fly balls.
For Harang, this is a very big deal, because he is a fly ball pitcher. Over the past four years, Harang ranks ninth among all pitchers (minimum 600 IP) in fly ball percentage (42.2):
Ted Lilly: 49.1
Jered Weaver: 48.0
Tim Wakefield: 46.0
Scott Kazmir: 45.0
Scott Baker: 45.0
Matt Cain: 44.4
Ervin Santana: 42.9
Johan Santana: 42.7
Aaron Harang: 42.2
Scott Regan of ESPN Stats & Information considered all the home runs that Harang allowed since the start of 2008 and imagined a universe in which Harang had been pitching in Petco Park over the past three years, rather than in Cincinnati. The difference would have been enormous.
From Scott: "Using the HitTracker Software, I was able to transpose/overlay every home-game home run that Harang has given up since 2008 (43 total) and plot it at PETCO. Looking at the diagram, where the park change might benefit Harang seems to be in right/right center where 11 of the home runs he had given up would have stayed in the park at Petco. Over the past three years (2008 to 2010), Harang has given up more home runs to right/right center than any other part of the park.
17 -- Right/Right center
16 -- Left/Left center
10 -- Center
Overall, 13 of the 43 home runs Harang gave up at home would not have been home runs in San Diego (30 percent). So as you see in the graphic, all the red dots are home runs in Cincy that wouldn't be in San Diego."
The red dots represent home runs in Cincy that would have been mere fly outs in San Diego.
Harang does feel that over time, pitching in Cincinnati affected his choices. Rather than pounding the strike zone with fastballs -- which is the approach that Harang had always had -- Harang felt himself trying to miss bats. Rather than challenging hitters, he became more apt to throw a breaking ball. "The last couple of years, I felt I was pitching away from contact, and in turn making mistakes," he said the other day.
After the Padres signed Harang, San Diego pitching coach Darren Balsley reviewed videotape from Harang's best seasons and determined that over time, Harang had tended to quicken his delivery. With this in mind, Harang and Balsley have worked to slow down the right-hander's mechanics, to get back to a little higher leg kick and holding his weight back on his right leg a little longer, before he drives toward the plate.
Chris Young had success for the Padres for years, thriving in Petco Park, with some dynamics similar to those of Harang -- a deceptive delivery that makes his fastball look a little faster, and as an acute fly ball pitcher. Harang isn't going to tailor his pitch selection to Petco Park; he just wants to get back to throwing the way he did in 2006 and 2007. "You can't go in with the whole mindset of 'I can make mistakes,'" he said. "I'm not going to go in there and nit-pick around. I'm going to be aggressive."
---
Harang has had an OK spring training, although he is the type of pitcher who could be particularly impacted by the conditions in Arizona.
Another member of the San Diego rotation, Tim Stauffer, had a good outing.
[h3]Notables[/h3]
• John Mozeliak, the general manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, brought his golf clubs to spring training, and on the first day he arrived those sticks were placed in the trunk of his car. And the GM hasn't touched them since, because of a camp that began hectically. The Albert Pujols negotiations ended without an agreement, and then Adam Wainwright blew out his elbow. As Mozeliak talked over the phone on Wednesday morning, he mentioned that he is about to ask for the clubs to be packed away, to be taken to St. Louis.
The Cardinals' camp settled, though, after the Wainwright injury. Lance Berkman had elbow and leg issues early, but seems to be doing OK, and while new shortstop Ryan Theriot hasn't hit much this spring, Mozeliak feels like he's fit in well.
The Cardinals are also heartened by what they've seen from Kyle McClellan, who is expected to take Wainwright's spot in the St. Louis rotation. "In terms of what we've seen, it's what we would've expected," Mozeliak said. "He has a strong repertoire of pitches. The big challenge for him is going to be going through a lineup multiple times."
It's not as if the Cardinals are converting a lifelong reliever to plug a hole. McClellan competed against Jaime Garcia for a spot in the St. Louis rotation in the spring of 2010, and when he was told that he was being moved to the bullpen, he was deeply disappointed. McClellan pitched in relief and had a good season, posting a 2.27 ERA, and now, a year later, he's getting his shot.
"This is always what he's dreamed of doing," Mozeliak said. "Candidly, he felt like this is what he was going to do last year... I have a lot of confidence in him."
• It's looking more and more like Brian Wilson will open the year on the disabled list. And Cody Ross limped off the field.
• Heard this: The Rangers will likely decide by the weekend how they will use Neftali Feliz at the outset of the season. Alexi Ogando has been moved to the bullpen.
Matt Harrison had a good outing, perhaps locking up a spot in the Texas rotation. Meanwhile, Brandon Webb has been shut down again; we are nearing the two-year anniversary of his last appearance in a major league game, Anthony Andro writes.
• Heard this: The Nationals signed Oliver Perez based on a recommendation by pitching coordinator Spin Williams, who knows Perez from the days when both were with the Pittsburgh Pirates. There is no risk at all in this move, because Perez is being paid the minimum salary -- with the Mets picking up the rest -- and if Perez finds himself, there could be some reward for Washington.
• Gio Gonzalez continues to have an overpowering spring: He has a 2.14 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 21⅔ innings after his start Wednesday.
• Brandon McCarthy, who will be Oakland's No. 5 starter, has altered his pitching style, Susan Slusser writes.
• George Sherrill is having a shaky spring training, David O'Brien writes.
[h3]The battle for jobs[/h3]
1. Kyle Drabek will be a part of the Toronto rotation at the outset of the season, in the No. 2 spot.
2. Rick Ankiel is likely to be the center fielder for the Nationals, which is not good news for Nyjer Morgan.
3. Brett Lawrie was sent to the minors -- but he will be back soon, Mike Rutsey writes.
4. Luis Castillo is happy for his opportunity with the Phillies, writes D. Murphy.
5. Brad Emaus is going to get a shot to be the Mets' second baseman.
6. Joe Girardi seemed to hint that Freddy Garcia will be the No. 4 starter, over Bartolo Colon, Erik Boland writes. I think the bottom line in this conversation for the Yankees is this: Garcia has a recent track record, given that he is coming off a 12-win, 157-inning season with Chicago, and Colon -- who has a total of 257 innings in the big leagues since the end of the 2005 season -- does not.
7. Matt Reynolds remains on target to win a job in the Colorado bullpen.
8. Kila Ka'aihue is likely to see more time at first base than Billy Butler, writes Bob Dutton.
9. The Reds figure to choose between Jeremy Hermida and Fred Lewis, for an extra outfielder.
10. Carlos Silva made a great case for himself, Paul Sullivan writes. Mike Quade wants the roles for the staff set by Saturday.
11. Kevin Slowey is adjusting to the bullpen.
12. Julio Borbon is likely to be the Texas center fielder.
13. Chris Johnson could be the long-term answer at third base for Houston, Richard Justice says.
14. Jason Michaels is a guy who can help the Astros in a pinch.
15. Matt Dominguez is not ready to hit in the big leagues, writes Mike Berardino.
16. The Rays' bullpen is basically settled, says Joe Maddon.
17. Dustin Ackley was sent to the minors, and Jack Wilson will open the year as the Mariners' second baseman, writes Geoff Baker.
[h3]Dings and dents[/h3]
1. Brandon Morrow will start the year on the disabled list. There are a lot of components to this decision, including the Jays being proactive in managing Morrow's innings count early in the season. With Morrow feeling at less than 100 percent because of the muscular strain, the thinking was that it was better to make sure he's OK -- and to take the opportunity to pull back on the reins a little bit.
Remember, Morrow threw only 146.1 innings in 2010, striking out 178, so the Jays will probably keep him in the range of 175-180 innings this year. Morrow will make his debut on April 8.
2. It looks like Roy Oswalt is OK, after taking a line drive off his neck.
3. The Mets want Carlos Beltran ready for the start of the season, writes David Lennon.
4. Within this notebook, there is word that Vernon Wells came out of a game with a tight hamstring.
5. Carlos Guillen's future with the Tigers is in serious doubt.
6. A surgeon thinks Jake Peavy is OK; the target date seems to be May 1, writes Mark Gonzales.
7. John Jaso is dealing with a groin injury.
[h3]Moves, deals and decisions[/h3]
1. We're coming up on the two-year anniversary of the day that Major League Baseball formed a committee to study the Oakland Athletics' ballpark situation.
2. Jorge Posada is willing to play elsewhere in 2012 if the Yankees don't want him back, writes Kevin Kernan.
3. A former marketing director will run the Negro Leagues Museum.
4. Homer Bailey is expected to get the ball in the Reds' second game.
[h3]Wednesday's games[/h3]
1. Brian Matusz didn't last long against the Twins.
2. Watched a lot of the Mets-Cardinals game on Wednesday and came away with this: Jake Westbrook appeared very solid, in his best outing of spring training. And R.A. Dickey appears poised to have another strong season, throwing that hard knuckler of his.
3. Adrian Gonzalez went 3-for-6 in a Triple-A game.
4. Russell Branyan mashed a grand slam.
5. Ervin Santana was The Man for the Angels.
6. Chris Sale made an adjustment that helped him.
7. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire got to use the lineup he'll have during the season, and it has a whole lot of depth, Kelsie Smith writes.
8. Ricky Nolasco had a good outing. Which he needed.
AP Photo/Charlie RiedelAaron Harang's fly ball tendencies now will be rewarded.
But the comfort level for Harang in San Diego will go beyond any daycare help from the relatives. After years of pitching in the Reds' tiny ballpark, where just about any ball hit into the air to right field was a candidate to land in the Ohio River, Harang will now make his home starts in Petco Park, which swallows fly balls.
For Harang, this is a very big deal, because he is a fly ball pitcher. Over the past four years, Harang ranks ninth among all pitchers (minimum 600 IP) in fly ball percentage (42.2):
Ted Lilly: 49.1
Jered Weaver: 48.0
Tim Wakefield: 46.0
Scott Kazmir: 45.0
Scott Baker: 45.0
Matt Cain: 44.4
Ervin Santana: 42.9
Johan Santana: 42.7
Aaron Harang: 42.2
Scott Regan of ESPN Stats & Information considered all the home runs that Harang allowed since the start of 2008 and imagined a universe in which Harang had been pitching in Petco Park over the past three years, rather than in Cincinnati. The difference would have been enormous.
From Scott: "Using the HitTracker Software, I was able to transpose/overlay every home-game home run that Harang has given up since 2008 (43 total) and plot it at PETCO. Looking at the diagram, where the park change might benefit Harang seems to be in right/right center where 11 of the home runs he had given up would have stayed in the park at Petco. Over the past three years (2008 to 2010), Harang has given up more home runs to right/right center than any other part of the park.
17 -- Right/Right center
16 -- Left/Left center
10 -- Center
Overall, 13 of the 43 home runs Harang gave up at home would not have been home runs in San Diego (30 percent). So as you see in the graphic, all the red dots are home runs in Cincy that wouldn't be in San Diego."
The red dots represent home runs in Cincy that would have been mere fly outs in San Diego.
Harang does feel that over time, pitching in Cincinnati affected his choices. Rather than pounding the strike zone with fastballs -- which is the approach that Harang had always had -- Harang felt himself trying to miss bats. Rather than challenging hitters, he became more apt to throw a breaking ball. "The last couple of years, I felt I was pitching away from contact, and in turn making mistakes," he said the other day.
After the Padres signed Harang, San Diego pitching coach Darren Balsley reviewed videotape from Harang's best seasons and determined that over time, Harang had tended to quicken his delivery. With this in mind, Harang and Balsley have worked to slow down the right-hander's mechanics, to get back to a little higher leg kick and holding his weight back on his right leg a little longer, before he drives toward the plate.
Chris Young had success for the Padres for years, thriving in Petco Park, with some dynamics similar to those of Harang -- a deceptive delivery that makes his fastball look a little faster, and as an acute fly ball pitcher. Harang isn't going to tailor his pitch selection to Petco Park; he just wants to get back to throwing the way he did in 2006 and 2007. "You can't go in with the whole mindset of 'I can make mistakes,'" he said. "I'm not going to go in there and nit-pick around. I'm going to be aggressive."
---
Harang has had an OK spring training, although he is the type of pitcher who could be particularly impacted by the conditions in Arizona.
Another member of the San Diego rotation, Tim Stauffer, had a good outing.
[h3]Notables[/h3]
• John Mozeliak, the general manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, brought his golf clubs to spring training, and on the first day he arrived those sticks were placed in the trunk of his car. And the GM hasn't touched them since, because of a camp that began hectically. The Albert Pujols negotiations ended without an agreement, and then Adam Wainwright blew out his elbow. As Mozeliak talked over the phone on Wednesday morning, he mentioned that he is about to ask for the clubs to be packed away, to be taken to St. Louis.
The Cardinals' camp settled, though, after the Wainwright injury. Lance Berkman had elbow and leg issues early, but seems to be doing OK, and while new shortstop Ryan Theriot hasn't hit much this spring, Mozeliak feels like he's fit in well.
The Cardinals are also heartened by what they've seen from Kyle McClellan, who is expected to take Wainwright's spot in the St. Louis rotation. "In terms of what we've seen, it's what we would've expected," Mozeliak said. "He has a strong repertoire of pitches. The big challenge for him is going to be going through a lineup multiple times."
It's not as if the Cardinals are converting a lifelong reliever to plug a hole. McClellan competed against Jaime Garcia for a spot in the St. Louis rotation in the spring of 2010, and when he was told that he was being moved to the bullpen, he was deeply disappointed. McClellan pitched in relief and had a good season, posting a 2.27 ERA, and now, a year later, he's getting his shot.
"This is always what he's dreamed of doing," Mozeliak said. "Candidly, he felt like this is what he was going to do last year... I have a lot of confidence in him."
• It's looking more and more like Brian Wilson will open the year on the disabled list. And Cody Ross limped off the field.
• Heard this: The Rangers will likely decide by the weekend how they will use Neftali Feliz at the outset of the season. Alexi Ogando has been moved to the bullpen.
Matt Harrison had a good outing, perhaps locking up a spot in the Texas rotation. Meanwhile, Brandon Webb has been shut down again; we are nearing the two-year anniversary of his last appearance in a major league game, Anthony Andro writes.
• Heard this: The Nationals signed Oliver Perez based on a recommendation by pitching coordinator Spin Williams, who knows Perez from the days when both were with the Pittsburgh Pirates. There is no risk at all in this move, because Perez is being paid the minimum salary -- with the Mets picking up the rest -- and if Perez finds himself, there could be some reward for Washington.
• Gio Gonzalez continues to have an overpowering spring: He has a 2.14 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 21⅔ innings after his start Wednesday.
• Brandon McCarthy, who will be Oakland's No. 5 starter, has altered his pitching style, Susan Slusser writes.
• George Sherrill is having a shaky spring training, David O'Brien writes.
[h3]The battle for jobs[/h3]
1. Kyle Drabek will be a part of the Toronto rotation at the outset of the season, in the No. 2 spot.
2. Rick Ankiel is likely to be the center fielder for the Nationals, which is not good news for Nyjer Morgan.
3. Brett Lawrie was sent to the minors -- but he will be back soon, Mike Rutsey writes.
4. Luis Castillo is happy for his opportunity with the Phillies, writes D. Murphy.
5. Brad Emaus is going to get a shot to be the Mets' second baseman.
6. Joe Girardi seemed to hint that Freddy Garcia will be the No. 4 starter, over Bartolo Colon, Erik Boland writes. I think the bottom line in this conversation for the Yankees is this: Garcia has a recent track record, given that he is coming off a 12-win, 157-inning season with Chicago, and Colon -- who has a total of 257 innings in the big leagues since the end of the 2005 season -- does not.
7. Matt Reynolds remains on target to win a job in the Colorado bullpen.
8. Kila Ka'aihue is likely to see more time at first base than Billy Butler, writes Bob Dutton.
9. The Reds figure to choose between Jeremy Hermida and Fred Lewis, for an extra outfielder.
10. Carlos Silva made a great case for himself, Paul Sullivan writes. Mike Quade wants the roles for the staff set by Saturday.
11. Kevin Slowey is adjusting to the bullpen.
12. Julio Borbon is likely to be the Texas center fielder.
13. Chris Johnson could be the long-term answer at third base for Houston, Richard Justice says.
14. Jason Michaels is a guy who can help the Astros in a pinch.
15. Matt Dominguez is not ready to hit in the big leagues, writes Mike Berardino.
16. The Rays' bullpen is basically settled, says Joe Maddon.
17. Dustin Ackley was sent to the minors, and Jack Wilson will open the year as the Mariners' second baseman, writes Geoff Baker.
[h3]Dings and dents[/h3]
1. Brandon Morrow will start the year on the disabled list. There are a lot of components to this decision, including the Jays being proactive in managing Morrow's innings count early in the season. With Morrow feeling at less than 100 percent because of the muscular strain, the thinking was that it was better to make sure he's OK -- and to take the opportunity to pull back on the reins a little bit.
Remember, Morrow threw only 146.1 innings in 2010, striking out 178, so the Jays will probably keep him in the range of 175-180 innings this year. Morrow will make his debut on April 8.
2. It looks like Roy Oswalt is OK, after taking a line drive off his neck.
3. The Mets want Carlos Beltran ready for the start of the season, writes David Lennon.
4. Within this notebook, there is word that Vernon Wells came out of a game with a tight hamstring.
5. Carlos Guillen's future with the Tigers is in serious doubt.
6. A surgeon thinks Jake Peavy is OK; the target date seems to be May 1, writes Mark Gonzales.
7. John Jaso is dealing with a groin injury.
[h3]Moves, deals and decisions[/h3]
1. We're coming up on the two-year anniversary of the day that Major League Baseball formed a committee to study the Oakland Athletics' ballpark situation.
2. Jorge Posada is willing to play elsewhere in 2012 if the Yankees don't want him back, writes Kevin Kernan.
3. A former marketing director will run the Negro Leagues Museum.
4. Homer Bailey is expected to get the ball in the Reds' second game.
[h3]Wednesday's games[/h3]
1. Brian Matusz didn't last long against the Twins.
2. Watched a lot of the Mets-Cardinals game on Wednesday and came away with this: Jake Westbrook appeared very solid, in his best outing of spring training. And R.A. Dickey appears poised to have another strong season, throwing that hard knuckler of his.
3. Adrian Gonzalez went 3-for-6 in a Triple-A game.
4. Russell Branyan mashed a grand slam.
5. Ervin Santana was The Man for the Angels.
6. Chris Sale made an adjustment that helped him.
7. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire got to use the lineup he'll have during the season, and it has a whole lot of depth, Kelsie Smith writes.
8. Ricky Nolasco had a good outing. Which he needed.
Prospect stuff.
Spoiler [+]
Arizona pitching prospect Jarrod Parker has regained his velocity after Tommy John surgery wiped out his 2010 season, but he showed inconsistent command and secondary stuff in big league outings this spring. He looked very promising in his outing in a Double-A game on Wednesday, but with the same issues that can serve as a reminder: velocity comes back quickly after ligament replacement surgery while everything else takes more time.
http:///sports.espn.go.com/espn/gallery/enlargePhoto?id=6253441&story=6253266">http://sports.espn.go.com...253441&...idth=640,height=750,scrollbars=no,noresize'); return false;" href="http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog?name=law_keith&id=6253266#">[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Charlie RiedelIf command follows velo, Parker could help the D-backs sooner rather than later.
Parker touched 96 mph and sat 93-95, occasionally dialing down as low as 90 to locate better, and showed promise with all three offspeed pitches, including a changeup with a ton of action on it followed by another changeup with no action on it. That kind of inconsistency isn't surprising for someone in year 2 of his recovery from Tommy John surgery, but I imagine it's frustrating for a pitcher who remembers how well he could locate before he got hurt. I'd expect Parker to return to Double-A to start the season and move up, either to Triple-A or to the majors, once his command returns and he shows he can consistently locate at least one of those two breaking balls. Given how strong he looks and how well he's repeating his delivery -- love that long stride to the plate -- that could happen midyear.
• Cubs shortstop Junior Lake certainly looks the part, tall, projectable, an above-average runner, with some bat speed. His swing is long, mostly because he loads his hands so deep, and his overall approach at the plate wasn't great. He held his own last year in high-A, increasing his walk rate and cutting his strikeout rate despite moving up a level, but I would worry that the jump to Class AA would expose the rawness of his offensive game right now. I wouldn't be shocked to see him outgrow shortstop, too.
• Former top Cubs prospect Jay Jackson was a shell of his former self on Wednesday, sitting 87-88 in his first inning of work and 85-87 afterwards with a flat slider, just generally getting whacked like a weed while unable to finish his assignment for the day. I have to assume he's hurt for his fastball to be missing that much velocity.
• On a brighter note, Cubs lefty Chris Rusin, a senior sign out of Kentucky in 2009, showed some promise as a back-end starter with good control of three pitches, nothing straight, including a two-seamer at 87-88 mph that had insane life on it. He throws with very little effort and generally located well, but the velocity is fringy enough (he touched 91 with a four-semaer) that he will get hurt if he doesn't develop plus command -- he left one such fastball over the plate and the hitter, Ed Easley, nearly put it out on Center Avenue. I could see a lot of use for Rusin, though -- at the absolute worst, he's an ideal emergency callup starter, but I think he's more than that. In a world where teams are willing to pay Zach Duke $4.25 million, there's a place for Chris Rusin at $400K.
http:///sports.espn.go.com/espn/gallery/enlargePhoto?id=6253441&story=6253266">http://sports.espn.go.com...253441&...idth=640,height=750,scrollbars=no,noresize'); return false;" href="http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog?name=law_keith&id=6253266#">[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Charlie RiedelIf command follows velo, Parker could help the D-backs sooner rather than later.
Parker touched 96 mph and sat 93-95, occasionally dialing down as low as 90 to locate better, and showed promise with all three offspeed pitches, including a changeup with a ton of action on it followed by another changeup with no action on it. That kind of inconsistency isn't surprising for someone in year 2 of his recovery from Tommy John surgery, but I imagine it's frustrating for a pitcher who remembers how well he could locate before he got hurt. I'd expect Parker to return to Double-A to start the season and move up, either to Triple-A or to the majors, once his command returns and he shows he can consistently locate at least one of those two breaking balls. Given how strong he looks and how well he's repeating his delivery -- love that long stride to the plate -- that could happen midyear.
• Cubs shortstop Junior Lake certainly looks the part, tall, projectable, an above-average runner, with some bat speed. His swing is long, mostly because he loads his hands so deep, and his overall approach at the plate wasn't great. He held his own last year in high-A, increasing his walk rate and cutting his strikeout rate despite moving up a level, but I would worry that the jump to Class AA would expose the rawness of his offensive game right now. I wouldn't be shocked to see him outgrow shortstop, too.
• Former top Cubs prospect Jay Jackson was a shell of his former self on Wednesday, sitting 87-88 in his first inning of work and 85-87 afterwards with a flat slider, just generally getting whacked like a weed while unable to finish his assignment for the day. I have to assume he's hurt for his fastball to be missing that much velocity.
• On a brighter note, Cubs lefty Chris Rusin, a senior sign out of Kentucky in 2009, showed some promise as a back-end starter with good control of three pitches, nothing straight, including a two-seamer at 87-88 mph that had insane life on it. He throws with very little effort and generally located well, but the velocity is fringy enough (he touched 91 with a four-semaer) that he will get hurt if he doesn't develop plus command -- he left one such fastball over the plate and the hitter, Ed Easley, nearly put it out on Center Avenue. I could see a lot of use for Rusin, though -- at the absolute worst, he's an ideal emergency callup starter, but I think he's more than that. In a world where teams are willing to pay Zach Duke $4.25 million, there's a place for Chris Rusin at $400K.
Rumors.
Spoiler [+]
http://[h3]Nathan to close?[/h3]
3:28PM ET
[h5]Joe Nathan | Twins [/h5]
The Minnesota Twins have yet to name a closer for the upcoming season, but they may know more on the situation this weekend. Joe Nathan is slated to pitch on back-to-back days for the first time all spring, and if he is effective and has no setbacks Saturday and Sunday -- particularly during the second outing -- the right-hander could be named the closer going forward.
Matt Capps, however, has been stellar this spring while Nathan has been inconsistent, allowing six earned runs in 6 1/3 innings while walking three and striking out three. Furthermore, it appears that the club's second all-time saves leader is still building arm strength, lending credence to Capps starting the season as the closer.
To be fair to Nathan, he yielded all six of those runs in 1/3 of an inning versus the Phillies on March 13, so he has shown signs of consistency with the one exception.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Barney, for the win?[/h3]
3:07PM ET
[h5]Darwin Barney | Cubs [/h5]
It's been presumed all spring that either Blake DeWitt, Jeff Baker or a trade acquisition would start at second base for the Chicago Cubs on Opening Day, or at least some combination of the aforementioned. But that may not be the case, reports Carrie Muskat.
Darwin Barney has shoved his way into the conversation, says manager Mike Quade: "He's given himself every chance to be an important part of this infield."
Barney, 25, is hitting .359/.405/.436 in 16 games this spring, nearly identical numbers to that of Baker. DeWitt has struggled at .167.
It would be ideal if DeWitt, a left-handed hitter, and one of the two righties were paired together, but the spring numbers don't support such an alignment.
The Cubs could option Barney and wait for things to work themselves out, or make the tough choice to try and pass DeWitt, who is out of options, thrpough waivers.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Feliz to close, rotation set?[/h3]
2:51PM ET
[h5]Texas Rangers [/h5]
[h5]Rangers likely rotation [h5]
The Texas Rangers have set both their rotation and the back end of their bullpen with decisions made today, including the announcement that Neftali Feliz will close for the club again this season, as tweeted by Jeff Wilson.
Also, left-hander Michael Kirkman was sent to Triple-A Oklahoma City, which means Derek Holland, Matt Harrison and Tommy Hunter will fill out the rotation in Arlington, at least to start the season.
If Brandon Webb gets right, he'll eventually take one of the bottom three spots, and Kirkman is the next name on the totem pole should someone struggle enough to warrant being replaced.
Scott Feldman could also be in the mix to some extent, as could Martin Perez, but the left-handed prospect may not be ready until late in the season.
Alexi Ogando, who also got a look as a starter, will almost certainly be Feliz's main right-handed setup man.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Replacing Ross by the bay[/h3]
2:10PM ET
[h5]Cody Ross | Giants [/h5]
Cody Ross is likely to start the season on the disabled list with a calf injury, tweets Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News, which may open up a roster spot for Nate Schierholtz or even Travis Ishikawa.
Aaron Rowand and Mark DeRosa figure to fill in for Ross with Andrew Torres and Pat Burrell manning center and left field. Schierholtz, a natural right fielder, could make the club by default, or the Giants can choose to use DeRosa exclusively in the outfield.
The extent of Ross's calf injury is unknown, but it doesn't appear to be a long-term problem, so the club isn't likely to check on permanent solutions at this time.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Could Minor be back?[/h3]
1:57PM ET
[h5]Atlanta Braves [/h5]
UPDATE: Jair Jurrjens left his start Thursday after one inning of work, but as David O'Brien tweets did not walk off the field limping so it's difficult to blame the right-hander's previous problems with his knee and hamstring.
But if Jurrjens is hurt, Minor is likely to be called back to start in his place.
...
The Atlanta Braves' No. 5 starter competition has come down to right-hander Brandon Beachy and lefty Mike Minor, and CBS Sports' Danny Knobler tweets that the strong expectation is that Beachy will get the nod.
Minor would then head back to Triple-A Gwinnett, but may not be down long. The Braves know what he's capable of and it's not like he lost the competition -- his spring numbers were strong, Beachy was just a little bit better. Minor is likely to be the first arm called if a starter lands on the disabled list, and right-hander Jair Jurrjens will be on injury watch from the get-go.
If the rotation remains healthy, the Braves could use one of them as trade bait to land help in another area.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Rendon's draft status[/h3]
1:34PM ET
[h5]Top Draft Prospects [/h5]
[img]http://a.espncdn.com/i/teamlogos/leagues/lrg/trans/mlb.gif[/img]
When the season began five weeks ago, Rice third baseman Anthony Rendon was the No. 1 prospect thanks to plus defense, and advanced approach at the plate and above-average power. But he's slipped to No. 2 in the latest Future 50, due to some timing issues at the plate and the fact that a shoulder problem prevented him from playing third base.
Until now, that is. Rendon doubled, walked and was hit by a pitch in five trips to the plate Wednesday night versus Houston, but more importantly returned to the hot corner. He handled three ground balls, including one on a sacrifice bunt, with no apparent issues making the throw.
If Rendon continues to show no ill-affects of the ankle injury or the shoulder problem and his bat heats up as the weather warms a bit, the Pittsburgh Pirates may have one tough decision at No. 1 overall.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Boyer, Izzy vie for final spot[/h3]
1:23PM ET
[h5]Jason Isringhausen | Mets [/h5]
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=3289Jason Isringhausen, who has said he'd retire rather than accept a minor league assignment, is making a strong case to make the roster out of spring camp. But so is Blaine Boyer, and the right-hander's opt-out clause may force the hand of the Mets sooner rather than later.
Isringhausen experienced some inflammation earlier this week but felt fine after a bullpen session Wednesday, tweeted the imitable Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com.
Boyer's numbers are slightly better than that of Isringhausen's and the latter's injury history may ultimately make the Mets' decision an easy one.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Reyes among final four[/h3]
1:12PM ET
[h5]Boston Red Sox [/h5]
The Boston Red Sox and Dennys Reyes have agreed to extend his out clause until Saturday, giving the club more time to decide between the veteran left-hander and fellow southpaw arms such as Rich Hill, Randy Williams and Andrew Miller.
Miller has struggled this spring but the other three have all compiled strong cases to make the club. Reyes, Hill and Williams may have even been good enough to attract some attention from other clubs, since only one of them is likely to make the 25-man roster.
Reyes' opt-out clause is for just an instance, giving him a few days to find a club before the start of the regular season -- if the Red Sox don't choose to keep him. Hill, Miller and Williams lack such a clause.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Gutierrez out for Opening Day?[/h3]
1:02PM ET
[h5]Franklin Gutierrez | Mariners [/h5]
Franklin Gutierrez was diagnosed with a slow digestive tract earlier this month but a change in diet has yet to help him shake the stomach issues that have plagued for the last year or so. He hasn't played in almost a week and is undergoing more tests, reports The News Tribune.
The club reassigned veteran outfielder Gabe Gross to minor league camp this week and was expected to keep veteran Ryan Langerhans on the roster and option Michael Saunders to Triple-A Tacoma. That may change in Saunders' favor if Gutierrez isn't healthy soon.
Saunders and Langerhans both can handle center field with Gutierrez unavailable, but the Gold Glover played through similar issues last season so barring unforeseen issues with his current ailment, it's still a better bet that he's ready by Opening Day.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Lewis, Hermida battle it out[/h3]
12:45PM ET
[h5]Cincinnati Reds [/h5]
The Cincinnati Reds are planning to carry five outfielders to open the season, which means on top of keeping starters Jay Bruce and Drew Stubbs along with the two left field options in Chris Heisey and Johnny Gomes, they'll take either Jeremy Hermida or Fred Lewis along for the ride, too.
At the plate, Hermida is winning this contest hands down, as he's hitting .355/.488/.677 with three homers and a 9-5 BB/K ratio. Lewis has just seven hits in 40 at-bats and has yet to homer. He does have a bit of a defensive advantage, however, and is a better baserunner.
But considering Heisey can spell Stubbs in center as well as Lewis, Hermida may have a decided advantage heading into the final week of spring camp. The loser is likely to become a free agent.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Could Guillen be done in Motown?[/h3]
11:16AM ET
[h5]Carlos Guillen | Tigers [/h5]
Carlos Guillen has been slow to recover from microfracture knee surgery and will begin the season on the disabled list. The Tigers aren't sure when Guillen will return and there is some speculation whether he has played his last game in a Detroit uniform.
Lynn Henning of the Detroit News says Guillen's tenure with the Bengals is in serious doubt due to lingering issues with the knee.
"The Tigers will need to get on with their lives," Henning predicts. "Guillen probably gets bought out even if he escapes the DL."
Manager Jim Leyland confirmed earlier this week that Will Rhymes will open the season as his starting second baseman with Scott Sizemore headed to Triple-A. Rhymes' performance could influence whether the Tigers are willing to cut the cord with Guillen, whose first goal would simply be to prove he is healthy enough to contribute defensively.
Guillen had big seasons at the plate for the Tigers in 2006 and 2007, but has not come close to those numbers since.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Playing it safe with Morrow[/h3]
10:51AM ET
[h5]Brandon Morrow | Blue Jays [/h5]
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=28734Brandon Morrow will start the season on the disabled list, forcing the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/tor/toronto-blue-jaysToronto Blue Jays to dig one step deeper into their starting pitching crop to start the season.
Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star reports highly rated prospect Kyle Drabek will move into the second spot in the rotation between Ricky Romero and Brett Cecil. Jo-Jo Reyes will go fourth followed by Jesse Litsch.
If all goes well, Morrow is expected to miss just one outing, putting the competition for starts on hold for the time being.
The April outings will turn into auditions for Reyes and Litsch, with Marc Rzepczynski waiting in the wings should one of them falter.
Our Buster Oleny gives his take on why Morrow is headed to the DL:
- Doug Mittler
[h5]Buster Olney[/h5]
Morrow's innings
3:28PM ET
[h5]Joe Nathan | Twins [/h5]
The Minnesota Twins have yet to name a closer for the upcoming season, but they may know more on the situation this weekend. Joe Nathan is slated to pitch on back-to-back days for the first time all spring, and if he is effective and has no setbacks Saturday and Sunday -- particularly during the second outing -- the right-hander could be named the closer going forward.
Matt Capps, however, has been stellar this spring while Nathan has been inconsistent, allowing six earned runs in 6 1/3 innings while walking three and striking out three. Furthermore, it appears that the club's second all-time saves leader is still building arm strength, lending credence to Capps starting the season as the closer.
To be fair to Nathan, he yielded all six of those runs in 1/3 of an inning versus the Phillies on March 13, so he has shown signs of consistency with the one exception.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Barney, for the win?[/h3]
3:07PM ET
[h5]Darwin Barney | Cubs [/h5]
It's been presumed all spring that either Blake DeWitt, Jeff Baker or a trade acquisition would start at second base for the Chicago Cubs on Opening Day, or at least some combination of the aforementioned. But that may not be the case, reports Carrie Muskat.
Darwin Barney has shoved his way into the conversation, says manager Mike Quade: "He's given himself every chance to be an important part of this infield."
Barney, 25, is hitting .359/.405/.436 in 16 games this spring, nearly identical numbers to that of Baker. DeWitt has struggled at .167.
It would be ideal if DeWitt, a left-handed hitter, and one of the two righties were paired together, but the spring numbers don't support such an alignment.
The Cubs could option Barney and wait for things to work themselves out, or make the tough choice to try and pass DeWitt, who is out of options, thrpough waivers.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Feliz to close, rotation set?[/h3]
2:51PM ET
[h5]Texas Rangers [/h5]
[h5]Rangers likely rotation [h5]
- 1. C.J. Wilson, LHP
- 2. Colby Lewis, RHP
- 3. Matt Harrison, LHP
- 4. Tommy Hunter, RHP
- 5. Derek Holland, LHP
The Texas Rangers have set both their rotation and the back end of their bullpen with decisions made today, including the announcement that Neftali Feliz will close for the club again this season, as tweeted by Jeff Wilson.
Also, left-hander Michael Kirkman was sent to Triple-A Oklahoma City, which means Derek Holland, Matt Harrison and Tommy Hunter will fill out the rotation in Arlington, at least to start the season.
If Brandon Webb gets right, he'll eventually take one of the bottom three spots, and Kirkman is the next name on the totem pole should someone struggle enough to warrant being replaced.
Scott Feldman could also be in the mix to some extent, as could Martin Perez, but the left-handed prospect may not be ready until late in the season.
Alexi Ogando, who also got a look as a starter, will almost certainly be Feliz's main right-handed setup man.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Replacing Ross by the bay[/h3]
2:10PM ET
[h5]Cody Ross | Giants [/h5]
Cody Ross is likely to start the season on the disabled list with a calf injury, tweets Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News, which may open up a roster spot for Nate Schierholtz or even Travis Ishikawa.
Aaron Rowand and Mark DeRosa figure to fill in for Ross with Andrew Torres and Pat Burrell manning center and left field. Schierholtz, a natural right fielder, could make the club by default, or the Giants can choose to use DeRosa exclusively in the outfield.
The extent of Ross's calf injury is unknown, but it doesn't appear to be a long-term problem, so the club isn't likely to check on permanent solutions at this time.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Could Minor be back?[/h3]
1:57PM ET
[h5]Atlanta Braves [/h5]
UPDATE: Jair Jurrjens left his start Thursday after one inning of work, but as David O'Brien tweets did not walk off the field limping so it's difficult to blame the right-hander's previous problems with his knee and hamstring.
But if Jurrjens is hurt, Minor is likely to be called back to start in his place.
...
The Atlanta Braves' No. 5 starter competition has come down to right-hander Brandon Beachy and lefty Mike Minor, and CBS Sports' Danny Knobler tweets that the strong expectation is that Beachy will get the nod.
Minor would then head back to Triple-A Gwinnett, but may not be down long. The Braves know what he's capable of and it's not like he lost the competition -- his spring numbers were strong, Beachy was just a little bit better. Minor is likely to be the first arm called if a starter lands on the disabled list, and right-hander Jair Jurrjens will be on injury watch from the get-go.
If the rotation remains healthy, the Braves could use one of them as trade bait to land help in another area.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Rendon's draft status[/h3]
1:34PM ET
[h5]Top Draft Prospects [/h5]
[img]http://a.espncdn.com/i/teamlogos/leagues/lrg/trans/mlb.gif[/img]
When the season began five weeks ago, Rice third baseman Anthony Rendon was the No. 1 prospect thanks to plus defense, and advanced approach at the plate and above-average power. But he's slipped to No. 2 in the latest Future 50, due to some timing issues at the plate and the fact that a shoulder problem prevented him from playing third base.
Until now, that is. Rendon doubled, walked and was hit by a pitch in five trips to the plate Wednesday night versus Houston, but more importantly returned to the hot corner. He handled three ground balls, including one on a sacrifice bunt, with no apparent issues making the throw.
If Rendon continues to show no ill-affects of the ankle injury or the shoulder problem and his bat heats up as the weather warms a bit, the Pittsburgh Pirates may have one tough decision at No. 1 overall.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Boyer, Izzy vie for final spot[/h3]
1:23PM ET
[h5]Jason Isringhausen | Mets [/h5]
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=3289Jason Isringhausen, who has said he'd retire rather than accept a minor league assignment, is making a strong case to make the roster out of spring camp. But so is Blaine Boyer, and the right-hander's opt-out clause may force the hand of the Mets sooner rather than later.
Isringhausen experienced some inflammation earlier this week but felt fine after a bullpen session Wednesday, tweeted the imitable Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com.
Boyer's numbers are slightly better than that of Isringhausen's and the latter's injury history may ultimately make the Mets' decision an easy one.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Reyes among final four[/h3]
1:12PM ET
[h5]Boston Red Sox [/h5]
The Boston Red Sox and Dennys Reyes have agreed to extend his out clause until Saturday, giving the club more time to decide between the veteran left-hander and fellow southpaw arms such as Rich Hill, Randy Williams and Andrew Miller.
Miller has struggled this spring but the other three have all compiled strong cases to make the club. Reyes, Hill and Williams may have even been good enough to attract some attention from other clubs, since only one of them is likely to make the 25-man roster.
Reyes' opt-out clause is for just an instance, giving him a few days to find a club before the start of the regular season -- if the Red Sox don't choose to keep him. Hill, Miller and Williams lack such a clause.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Gutierrez out for Opening Day?[/h3]
1:02PM ET
[h5]Franklin Gutierrez | Mariners [/h5]
Franklin Gutierrez was diagnosed with a slow digestive tract earlier this month but a change in diet has yet to help him shake the stomach issues that have plagued for the last year or so. He hasn't played in almost a week and is undergoing more tests, reports The News Tribune.
The club reassigned veteran outfielder Gabe Gross to minor league camp this week and was expected to keep veteran Ryan Langerhans on the roster and option Michael Saunders to Triple-A Tacoma. That may change in Saunders' favor if Gutierrez isn't healthy soon.
Saunders and Langerhans both can handle center field with Gutierrez unavailable, but the Gold Glover played through similar issues last season so barring unforeseen issues with his current ailment, it's still a better bet that he's ready by Opening Day.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Lewis, Hermida battle it out[/h3]
12:45PM ET
[h5]Cincinnati Reds [/h5]
The Cincinnati Reds are planning to carry five outfielders to open the season, which means on top of keeping starters Jay Bruce and Drew Stubbs along with the two left field options in Chris Heisey and Johnny Gomes, they'll take either Jeremy Hermida or Fred Lewis along for the ride, too.
At the plate, Hermida is winning this contest hands down, as he's hitting .355/.488/.677 with three homers and a 9-5 BB/K ratio. Lewis has just seven hits in 40 at-bats and has yet to homer. He does have a bit of a defensive advantage, however, and is a better baserunner.
But considering Heisey can spell Stubbs in center as well as Lewis, Hermida may have a decided advantage heading into the final week of spring camp. The loser is likely to become a free agent.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Could Guillen be done in Motown?[/h3]
11:16AM ET
[h5]Carlos Guillen | Tigers [/h5]
Carlos Guillen has been slow to recover from microfracture knee surgery and will begin the season on the disabled list. The Tigers aren't sure when Guillen will return and there is some speculation whether he has played his last game in a Detroit uniform.
Lynn Henning of the Detroit News says Guillen's tenure with the Bengals is in serious doubt due to lingering issues with the knee.
"The Tigers will need to get on with their lives," Henning predicts. "Guillen probably gets bought out even if he escapes the DL."
Manager Jim Leyland confirmed earlier this week that Will Rhymes will open the season as his starting second baseman with Scott Sizemore headed to Triple-A. Rhymes' performance could influence whether the Tigers are willing to cut the cord with Guillen, whose first goal would simply be to prove he is healthy enough to contribute defensively.
Guillen had big seasons at the plate for the Tigers in 2006 and 2007, but has not come close to those numbers since.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Playing it safe with Morrow[/h3]
10:51AM ET
[h5]Brandon Morrow | Blue Jays [/h5]
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=28734Brandon Morrow will start the season on the disabled list, forcing the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/tor/toronto-blue-jaysToronto Blue Jays to dig one step deeper into their starting pitching crop to start the season.
Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star reports highly rated prospect Kyle Drabek will move into the second spot in the rotation between Ricky Romero and Brett Cecil. Jo-Jo Reyes will go fourth followed by Jesse Litsch.
If all goes well, Morrow is expected to miss just one outing, putting the competition for starts on hold for the time being.
The April outings will turn into auditions for Reyes and Litsch, with Marc Rzepczynski waiting in the wings should one of them falter.
Our Buster Oleny gives his take on why Morrow is headed to the DL:
- Doug Mittler
Morrow's innings
10:46AM ET
[h5]Carlos Silva | Cubs [/h5]
Maybe the possibility of losing a job brings out the best in Carlos Silva.
The Cubs' right-hander showed up at Cubs camp seemingly miffed that he would even have to compete for a rotation spot. After a series of shaky outings, Silva appears to have fallen far behind Randy Wells and Andrew Cashner for the final two spots.
The Cubs wanted to give Silva one more look and he responded by retiring 17 of the last 18 batters he faced in Wednesday's outing Oakland. At the very least, manager Mike Quade has a much tougher decision to make, writes Paul Sullivan in the Chicago Tribune.
Cashner, viewed as a centerpiece of the Cubs's future, is Silva's main competition for now. Cashner sports a 3.97 ERA in four games, but he has issued seven bases on balls.
Wednesday?s performance also could enhance the trade value for Silva, but a $11.5 million contract will be a major obstacle.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Will Slowey be traded?[/h3]
10:25AM ET
[h5]Kevin Slowey | Twins [/h5]
After months of uncertainty, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire answered his rotation questions Tuesday, naming Scott Baker as his fifth starter and moving Kevin Slowey to the bullpen.
Slowey's name will undoubtedly pop up in trade rumors, but La Velle Neal of the Star Tribune notes that the Twins used nine different starters last season, so there is plenty of incentive to keep the right-hander around as insurance.
Joe Christensen of the Tribune writes Thursday that Slowey is making the adjustment to a bullpen role.
The chances of Slowey being traded could increase if the Twins feel top pitching prospect Kyle Gibson is ready for a promotion at midseason.
Colorado and Toronto have been mentioned as possible destinations for Slowey in recent weeks. The Rockies, however, are now more comfortable using Esmil Rogers as their fifth starter in place of the injured Aaron Cook.
Milwaukee has pitching issues due to Zack Greinke's uncertain health, but the Brewers may be unwilling and unable to give up top minor league talent for Slowey, especially if Greinke misses only a few starts.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Lawrie's timetable[/h3]
10:19AM ET
[h5]Toronto Blue Jays [/h5]
The Toronto Blue Jays sent Brett Lawrie to the minor leagues Wednesday, but not before the 21-year-old infielder cut down the timetable before his major league debut.
Mike Rutsey of the Toronto Sun reports that Lawrie was thought to be a year or two away from the big leagues. But that thinking changed and Lawrie could end up in the majors at some point in 2011.
Lawrie, acquired from Milwaukee in the offseason, made the switch to third base from second this spring. When the Blue Jays feel Lawrie is ready, that could prompt a move of Jose Bautista from third base to right field.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Tough call on Garcia[/h3]
10:05AM ET
[h5]Freddy Garcia | Yankees [/h5]
Freddy Garcia seemed to be closing in on the fifth spot in the New York Yankees' rotation, but back-to-back shaky outings have moved him "from front-runner to fringe candidate," reports Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News.
Erik Boland of Newsday has a different take, writing that manager Joe Girardi is dropping hints that Garcia will be the No. 5 starter over Bartolo Colon.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=30400Ivan Nova has been impressive in his last four outings and has all but locked up the No. 4 spot.
Ben Shpigel of the New York Times reports Garcia may not have another chance to face major league hitters before the Yankees make a decision. Garcia will pitch in a minor league game Thursday. Girardi will be in attendance, but the manager admits it will be difficult to evaluate a performance in a minor league game.
Our Buster Olney says the choice will come down to more than just Grapefruit League outings:
- Doug Mittler
Who is No. 5 in the Bronx?
http://[h3]Concerns with Sherrill?[/h3]
9:54AM ET
[h5]George Sherrill | Braves [/h5]
Are the Atlanta Braves growing more concerned with the performance of reliever George Sherrill?
Sherrill squandered a 3-1 lead against Florida Wednesday for his third rocky outing in eight spring appearances. While team officials downplayed things, David O'Brien of the Atlanta JC reports "eyebrows are surely being raised" over Sherrill's struggles.
The Braves gave Sherrill a $1.2 million deal after he posted a career-worst 6.69 ERA in 65 appearances for the Dodgers last season. An Opening Day roster spot appears to be a guarantee, but the club could cut the cord at some point if Sherrill doesn't improve.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Ankiel claims CF job in DC?[/h3]
9:33AM ET
[h5]Rick Ankiel | Nationals [/h5]
The Washington Nationals apparently are poised to name Rick Ankiel as their regular center fielder, feeling he has more of an upside than Nyjer Morgan or Roger Bernadina.
Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post reports the Nats have "reached a near-final decision" on Ankiel, who is hitting just .200 this spring but has drawn praise from manager Jim Riggleman.
Kilgore says the Nats are counting on a healthy Ankiel regaining his form from 2008 when he hit 25 homers and drove in 71 runs for the Cardinals.
The Nats would then face a tough decision on Morgan, who could be on the trading block. Rumor Central's Jason A. Churchill suggests the Dodgers might be interested with Matt Kemp moving to a corner outfield spot.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Deciding on a catcher in Houston[/h3]
8:33AM ET
[h5]Houston Astros [/h5]
The http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/hou/houston-astroshttp://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/hou/houston-astrosHouston Astros are still formulating a Plan B behind the plate after learning that Jason Castro has been diagnosed with a medial meniscus tear of the right knee and may miss the season.
ESPN.com's Jayson Stark hears that the Astros would like to add a veteran catcher, but have "just about zero money to spend." An official of one club tells Stark they have "nothing going" on that front.
Castro's injury has meant more playing time for Humberto Quintero and J.R. Towles while non-roster invite Carlos Corporan also has played himself into consideration with a strong spring.
There were reports the Astros were looking at the Nats' http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=28714Jesus Flores, but MLB.com's Bill Ladson says that interest as cooled.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]The latest on Granderson[/h3]
8:01AM ET
[h5]Curtis Granderson | Yankees [/h5]
The New York Yankees will need to do some shuffling in the outfield, at least temporarily, if Curtis Granderson is forced to miss the start of the season with an oblique strain.
Granderson showed some improvement Wednesday, but his availability for the start of the season remained uncertain.
The Yankees didn't send Granderson for an MRI, which is an encouraging sign, but the center fielder could end up on the disabled list to prevent the injury from lingering all season.
If Granderson lands on the DL, Brett Gardner would move back to center field, leaving more playing time in left field to Andruw Jones. Justin Maxwell or Greg Golson also could make the Opening Day roster as a backup infielder.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Closer by committee in Atlanta[/h3]
7:47AM ET
[h5]Atlanta Braves [/h5]
All spring it's been a battle between left-hander Johnny Venters and right-hander http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=30653Craig Kimbrel for the right to close games for the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/atl/atlanta-bravesAtlanta Braves this season.
The competition will continue into the regular season after manager Fredi Gonzalez confirmed Wednesday that the relievers will share the closer duties.
Venters went another scoreless inning Wednesday and has yet to allow a run in eight frames this spring. Kimbrel, however, has rallied back from a sluggish start to make it a contest.
The dual closer format will allow Gonzalez to mix and match, depending on whether left-handed or right-handed hitters are coming up. At some stage, Gonzalez will be tempted to declare a primary closer, and our guess is Kimbrel if he can consistently throw strikes.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Emaus leads way for Mets' 2B job[/h3]
7:26AM ET
[h5]New York Mets [/h5]
The candidates for the New York Mets' second base job have been falling one by one, and the surprise winner appears to be Rule 5 draftee Brad Emaus.
Luis Castillo was released last week and Justin Turner was sent to the minor leagues Wednesday. Daniel Murphy and Luis Hernandez technically remain in the hunt, but Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com reports Emaus is the clear leader.
Murphy will make the team as a left-handed bat off the bench, but was unable to land the starting job due to his shaky defense.
Emaus has a big supporter in Mets special assistant J.P. Ricciardi, who drafted the infielder out of Tulane while general manager of the Blue Jays and was influential in the Mets selecting him in the Rule 5 draft.
The selection of Emaus would be another indication that the Mets are looking to quickly turn the page on the Omar Minaya regime. Another Rule 5 draftee, reliever Pedro Beato, is expected to land a spot on the 25-man roster.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Wilson's replacement[/h3]
7:06AM ET
[h5]Brian Wilson | Giants [/h5]
While it would be temporary, no doubt, the San Francisco Giants may need to start planning for someone else to handle the ninth inning early this season, as Brian Wilson's oblique injury isn't healing as fast as the club had hoped, tweets Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News.
At this stage, Wilson could end up starting the season on the disabled list.
The candidates include right-hander Sergio Romo and left-hander Jeremy Affeldt, with Javier Lopez and Santiago Casilla as pottential backup options. Affeldt recorded four saves a year ago and 13 in 2004 for the Kansas City Royals. Romo had a monstrous season last year in a setup role.
Wilson isn't expected to miss a lot of time, so the Giants aren't in the market for a long-term answer at this stage.
