Matt Carpenter hasn’t swung a bat this spring due to a back injury, and won’t swing for nine more days.
Cam Bedrosian is likely to open the season as the Angels closer. Huston Street is out for at least another three weeks with a strained lat and Andrew Bailey just stinks.
Lance Lynn should be drafted, and he will start getting drafted a whole bunch more since people are catching on. Expect his ADP to continue rising through the last draft. If you draft today you will get him a whole lot cheaper.
We forget how good a player is when out for a season. Lynn averaged a 3.37 ERA. and 189 innings per season for four seasons prior to 2016 He’s pitching in a contract year.
Lynn threw 55 pitches Thursday, 42 of them were strikes. He allowed a run, but looked like he could’ve gone more innings
- retired each of the six batters he faced in his spring debut yesterday
- First time he has pitched in a game since Aug. 2,
- Two perfect innings – 24 pitches
- 3K, two on his power curveball and one on his new changeup.
- fastball topped out at 96 mph
A.J. Hinch says that Alex Bregman is the leading candidate to bat second in the lineup but also mentioned not to rule out Josh Reddick batting in that spot.
J.T. Realmuto was surprised at the advice of Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench gave him this spring.
“He told me — which is probably not great advice for everybody — to make sure in batting practice you take at least one round (of swings) and try to hit home runs,” Realmuto said.
In my opinion, if you don’t practice it, you’re never going to be able to do it. So make sure you take one round and try to go deep, every single pitch, no matter where it’s at. Try to go deep.Johnny Bench to Realmuto
Right now we’re looking at a platoon of Ezequiel Carrera and Melvin Upton Jr. playing left firld in Toronto.
The platoon can be very beneficial. Melvin has always hit left handers really well and that’s what he did when we brought him over. And Carrera, we like what Zeke’s doing. He’s kind of had some crazy splits – he’s actually been better against lefties, but when he gets in here, he can hit righties. That’s kind of what we are looking at right now. The amount of time (he) gets in the lineup is up to the player
It is easy to overlook Michael Saunders after he hit .178 with a .638 OPS in the second half last season. He will play everyday in Philly. A full season of at bats should net 25 home runs.
I was reminded this morning that Saunders is the king of solo home runs, which is probably the reason his RBI totals suck. Although, is it really his fault that nobody gets on base in front of him or can he just not hit with runners in scoring position?
Anibal Sanchez 3IP, 6H, 4ER, 2K, 2 HRA
Matt Boyd allowed one run on three hits and struck out four in three innings. He came in to pitch the top of the sixth and stayed in to finish the game. He stayed ahead of hitters and in the zone with most of his pitches.
The Red Sox are considering batting Andrew Benintendi third to break up Boston’s other top four right-handed bats. They could also bat him second but they still would be left with three right-handed hitters behind Benintendi Xander Bogaerts, Mookie Betts and Hanley Ramirez
Luis Giolito had his second shaky outing in three spring starts, behind in the count to most batters but the good news is the organization is patient with him. Giolito credited the defense around him, particularly catcher Kevan Smith, who blocked several pitches that landed in the dirt.
Yoan Moncada is struggling. Manager Rick Renteria says Moncada is likely going to start in the minor leagues — if only to help get him going.
Sonny Gray has been shut down with what the club is terming a “moderate” lat strain. He will open the year on the disabled list and may not pitch until late April. Gray was declined insurance to play in the World Baseball Classic two weeks ago so this injury is probably not new.
Sonny Gray has a moderate lat strain and won’t throw for three weeks. Takes him out of Opening Day mix.
— Jane Lee (@JaneMLB) March 9, 2017
According to Phillies Matt Klentak, having two established middle infielders in Freddy Galvis and Cesar Hernandez allows the team to avoid rushing shortstop J.P. Crawford, who no Fantasy Baseballer should be excited about anyway.
Albert Pujols played in his first game since foot surgery, going 0-for-2 with a walk
Logan Forsythe had an AVG/SLG of .235/.343 with one home run every 61 plate appearances in four seasons before becoming the Rays every day second baseman In two seasons as the Rays’ everyday second baseman, Forsythe had an AVG?SLG of .273/.444 with a home run every 32 plate appearances.
Tyler Naquin could lose playing time to Austin Jackson or Gregg Allen.
Jon Grey has looked good both starts -Thursday he pitched three innings, faced the minimum nine batters, struck out two and picked off a runner at first.
When the count reached two strikes he threw his curve, unlike last year when he relied on fastball or a slider.
- He averaged 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings last year with a 1.262 WHIP
- Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa and Carlos Beltran, Yadier Molina and Javier Baez, all failed to get hits Thursday
I find out more stuff about myself with these games, I found out the curveball is going to be a weapon. I’ve used it twice now as a strikeout pitch. I didn’t do that at all last year. I’m making strides to develop a full arsenal. I want some options. I want to be unpredictableJon Gr
Michael Brantley played in his third simulated game in four days Friday.
On Thursday:
- Made hard contact against both pitches, each time he swings the bat with more and more authority.
On Friday:
- Had three at-bats and played the outfield for three innings
- grounded out sharply to the middle of the infield, struck out and singled.
It was a very good day for Brantley, I’m guessing he’ll have another sim game, but it won’t be tomorrow
Greg Holland pitched one inning in a “B” game against Arizona on a backfield at Salt River – he was swarmed by scouts and general managers and radar guns. Everyone seemed impressed.
- His fastball topped at 93 mph and sat consistently at 91-92, close to what it was prior to his having Tommy John surgery
- In November. his velocity reached into the mid-to-upper 80s, leading to several teams shrugging their shoulders.
- The Rockies signed him to an incentive-heavy one-year contract worth at least $7 mil
- when he pitched for Royals’ and had a 1.21 and 1.44 ERA in 2013 and 2014.
The Left field spot in San Francisco is Jarrett Parker’s to lose, since he’s out of minor league options and Mac Williamson can be sent to Triple-A Sacramento without being exposed to waivers
- 0-0 with a 1.93 earned run average in three spring outings – 4 2/3 innings, one start
- Allowed six hits and two walks along with five strikeouts
- 2016 season was one of extremes: he
- 2-1 with a 1.95 ERA in his first 11 starts at Class AA Biloxi
- 1-7 with a 5.22 ERA in 14 starts at Class AAA Colorado Springs in the second half
- Looks to get a feel for his changeup, a pitch that would help round out an already impressive repertoire
Share this Post