What's the Buzz? 3/21/06
two weeks and counting.....
The season is almost upon us. Spring Training is fully under way as the World Baseball Classic closes it's inaugural season. Again, congratulations to Team Japan. Some kinks will need to be ironed out, but hey...they've got atleast 4 years to try and improve on it.
In Spring Training news...
After tossing four shutout innings in a minor league game, Angels starter John Lackey declared his shoulder fully healed. Monitor this through the rest of the spring. If he remains fine he could be a solid middle to late round pick again this year.
The Pirates continue to shop Craig Wilson with the Braves being the latest rumored to be interested. If he goes to Atlanta, his stock will rise as he will join some youngsters in the outfield and possibly spell Brian McCann behind the plate.
The Cubs and Orioles are re-visiting the Todd Walker for Luis Matos trade talks. I can't express my displeasure enough if the Orioles make this bonehead move. I hate to repeat all this so here...
Who's playing center field for the Tigers this year? Manager Jim Leyland says that if the season started today it would be Curtis Granderson. Bad news for the speedy Nook Logan.
Brewer's 2B Rickie Weeks is still struggling in his recovery from a strained oblique. It was reported that he probably won't return to game action until next week. This could impact his draft appeal, so if you can steal him cheap, try it out.
And speaking of strained obliques...Twins OF Michael Cuddyer strained his today. He was all set , finally winning the right field job and now this. Watch for Lew Ford and Jason Kubel to take full advantage of Cuddyer's injury.
Another possible "door opening" injury in St. Louis as the apparent explanation for 2B Junior Spivey's horrendous spring is a Mysterious shoulder condition. This could be interesting to watch as former Rockie Aaron Miles waits in the wings of AAA.
Mets closer Billy Wagner won't pitch until the wekend due to an irritation on the middle finger of his pitching hand. It doesn't look like anything to worry about as he had the same thing 2 years ago and he was fine. Look for him to remain one of the top closers in the league.
And the Reds continue to trade off pitchers as they send righty Bobby Basham to the Padres for catcher Dave Ross. Not really sure about this as the Reds already platoon Javier Valentin and Jason LaRue. Basham will probably start the year in AA so there's no need to concern yourself.
Pitcher Carl Pavano continues to show the Yankees why they made a mistake on him as now he may not even be ready by April 15 when the Yanks need a fifth starter. If you haven't seen this rant yet, then see what you've been missing...
Cubs manager Dusty Baker says that Kerry Wood could be back by late April....we'll see about that one. He still hasn't faced live hitters yet, but he has thrown from the mound.
Apparently it was the wisdom teeth that were inhibiting Pirates SS Jack Wilson this spring as he is now hitting .400 since their removal. Look for Wilson to pretty much give you what his 3 year averages show....stress the word "average".
Indians OF and leadoff hitter Grady Sizemore continues his torrid spring....I know the stats really don't count for much, but wow...this guy is, so far, living up to the hype.
If the Devil Rays go with Aubrey Huff at third this season, then it looks like Joey Gathright will start in right field...problem is that he's having a little trouble on the bases as he is 5-9 in steals with one pick off at first. He'll right that ship, so if he does get the Opening Day nod, he is going to be a great source of SBs.
2B Josh Barfield continues to impress with his .469 average this spring. He will be the Padres' opening day second baseman. He should hit around .270 with 10 or 12 HRs. However, if he starts off real slow, the team has Mark Bellhorn ready to step in.
Ben Sheets will be starting the season on the DL. Doug Davis gets the Opening Day start this year. Keep your eye on the Sheets situation....his shoulder concerns are already knocking him down on a lot of people's draft boards. I wouldn't take the chance on him though.....but again that's just me.
The Pirates gave the Opening Day start to Oliver Perez. He will be followed by Zach Duke, Paul Maholm and Ian Snell. Guess the Pirates aren't concerned about Perez' velocity which was reportedly down in the WBC. I would be...
The Alfonso Soriano saga continued in perfect he said/she said fashion as Soriano says he had no knowledge that he was in yesterday's lineup. Apparently there were two lineup cards made and the one without him in the lineup was the one posted. I heard from a friend of Jose Vidro that he said that Soriano said that he would pass a note to Frank Robinson after study hall next period to find out if he was really being put on the restricted list. "AM I GOING ON THE RESTRICTED LIST? PLEASE CIRCLE ONE: YES NO". Oh boy, does this sound like it's going to be fun for fantasy owners or what? Soriano remains a top option at second base, but be careful....root for a trade if he's already on your team.
1B Jeff Bagwell was removed from the game today with pain in his surgically repaired shoulder. Really....do I have to even say it?
And lastly, in the wake of the Wily Mo Pena deal, former slugger Juan Gonzalez has opted out of his contract with the Red Sox and will sign a minor league deal with the Oakland Athletics. He'll definitely start the year in AAA, but can you imagine that...? Juan Gonzalez and Frank Thomas together? How fast can you say "clubhouse chaos"?
Thanks for checking in.
Catch you next time...
The season is almost upon us. Spring Training is fully under way as the World Baseball Classic closes it's inaugural season. Again, congratulations to Team Japan. Some kinks will need to be ironed out, but hey...they've got atleast 4 years to try and improve on it.
In Spring Training news...
After tossing four shutout innings in a minor league game, Angels starter John Lackey declared his shoulder fully healed. Monitor this through the rest of the spring. If he remains fine he could be a solid middle to late round pick again this year.
The Pirates continue to shop Craig Wilson with the Braves being the latest rumored to be interested. If he goes to Atlanta, his stock will rise as he will join some youngsters in the outfield and possibly spell Brian McCann behind the plate.
The Cubs and Orioles are re-visiting the Todd Walker for Luis Matos trade talks. I can't express my displeasure enough if the Orioles make this bonehead move. I hate to repeat all this so here...
Who's playing center field for the Tigers this year? Manager Jim Leyland says that if the season started today it would be Curtis Granderson. Bad news for the speedy Nook Logan.
Brewer's 2B Rickie Weeks is still struggling in his recovery from a strained oblique. It was reported that he probably won't return to game action until next week. This could impact his draft appeal, so if you can steal him cheap, try it out.
And speaking of strained obliques...Twins OF Michael Cuddyer strained his today. He was all set , finally winning the right field job and now this. Watch for Lew Ford and Jason Kubel to take full advantage of Cuddyer's injury.
Another possible "door opening" injury in St. Louis as the apparent explanation for 2B Junior Spivey's horrendous spring is a Mysterious shoulder condition. This could be interesting to watch as former Rockie Aaron Miles waits in the wings of AAA.
Mets closer Billy Wagner won't pitch until the wekend due to an irritation on the middle finger of his pitching hand. It doesn't look like anything to worry about as he had the same thing 2 years ago and he was fine. Look for him to remain one of the top closers in the league.
And the Reds continue to trade off pitchers as they send righty Bobby Basham to the Padres for catcher Dave Ross. Not really sure about this as the Reds already platoon Javier Valentin and Jason LaRue. Basham will probably start the year in AA so there's no need to concern yourself.
Pitcher Carl Pavano continues to show the Yankees why they made a mistake on him as now he may not even be ready by April 15 when the Yanks need a fifth starter. If you haven't seen this rant yet, then see what you've been missing...
Cubs manager Dusty Baker says that Kerry Wood could be back by late April....we'll see about that one. He still hasn't faced live hitters yet, but he has thrown from the mound.
Apparently it was the wisdom teeth that were inhibiting Pirates SS Jack Wilson this spring as he is now hitting .400 since their removal. Look for Wilson to pretty much give you what his 3 year averages show....stress the word "average".
Indians OF and leadoff hitter Grady Sizemore continues his torrid spring....I know the stats really don't count for much, but wow...this guy is, so far, living up to the hype.
If the Devil Rays go with Aubrey Huff at third this season, then it looks like Joey Gathright will start in right field...problem is that he's having a little trouble on the bases as he is 5-9 in steals with one pick off at first. He'll right that ship, so if he does get the Opening Day nod, he is going to be a great source of SBs.
2B Josh Barfield continues to impress with his .469 average this spring. He will be the Padres' opening day second baseman. He should hit around .270 with 10 or 12 HRs. However, if he starts off real slow, the team has Mark Bellhorn ready to step in.
Ben Sheets will be starting the season on the DL. Doug Davis gets the Opening Day start this year. Keep your eye on the Sheets situation....his shoulder concerns are already knocking him down on a lot of people's draft boards. I wouldn't take the chance on him though.....but again that's just me.
The Pirates gave the Opening Day start to Oliver Perez. He will be followed by Zach Duke, Paul Maholm and Ian Snell. Guess the Pirates aren't concerned about Perez' velocity which was reportedly down in the WBC. I would be...
The Alfonso Soriano saga continued in perfect he said/she said fashion as Soriano says he had no knowledge that he was in yesterday's lineup. Apparently there were two lineup cards made and the one without him in the lineup was the one posted. I heard from a friend of Jose Vidro that he said that Soriano said that he would pass a note to Frank Robinson after study hall next period to find out if he was really being put on the restricted list. "AM I GOING ON THE RESTRICTED LIST? PLEASE CIRCLE ONE: YES NO". Oh boy, does this sound like it's going to be fun for fantasy owners or what? Soriano remains a top option at second base, but be careful....root for a trade if he's already on your team.
1B Jeff Bagwell was removed from the game today with pain in his surgically repaired shoulder. Really....do I have to even say it?
And lastly, in the wake of the Wily Mo Pena deal, former slugger Juan Gonzalez has opted out of his contract with the Red Sox and will sign a minor league deal with the Oakland Athletics. He'll definitely start the year in AAA, but can you imagine that...? Juan Gonzalez and Frank Thomas together? How fast can you say "clubhouse chaos"?
Thanks for checking in.
Catch you next time...
posted by Howard Bender at
10:48 PM
