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 03/02/2015 MLB Note - St. Louis Cardinals Wainwright, Adam
RHP Adam Wainwright threw a bullpen session Monday in Jupiter, Fla.,
less than a week removed from a health scare that led to him
returning to Missouri for an exam. He made approximately 40 pitches,
not throwing at full strength and focusing on his curveball,
according to media reports. Wainwright was diagnosed Thursday with a
minor abdominal strain. "It was good. It was exactly where I wanted
to be," he said. "My arm feels great."
Manager Mike Matheny said Wainwright would need to be cleared to
resume light running before he is permitted to throw to batters. The
timetable for Wainwright's first Grapefruit League appearance is
uncertain, but it remains possible that Wainwright will be ready to
start the season opener, April 5 against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
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MLB Note - New York Yankees Rodriguez, Alex
3B Alex Rodriguez was in the lineup for a March 2 intrasquad
scrimmage in Tampa, Fla. Rodriguez went 0-for-2 with a flyout and a
groundout, hitting against a pitching machine. He was not expected
to play in the Yankees' Grapefruit League opener March 3 against the
Philadelphia Phillies.
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MLB Note - Pittsburgh Pirates Hart, Corey
1B Corey Hart battled knee injuries over the past few seasons, but
the injury sustained March 1 probably was a first. According to
multiple reports, the 32-year-old veteran injured his foot on a hot
tub at the team's spring training complex. Manager Clint Hurdle said
Hart needed three stitches and he would be sidelined for a few days.
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MLB Note - Houston Astros Velasquez, Vincent
RHP Vincent Velasquez strained his right lat and will be sidelined
for 2-3 weeks. RHP Asher Wojciechowski suffered the same injury last
year during spring training and it cost him an opportunity to earn a
spot in the starting rotation. According to MLB.com, Velasquez is
ranked as the Astros' seventh-best prospect, fourth among
right-handed pitchers.
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MLB Note - Houston Astros McHugh, Collin
RHP Collin McHugh has been tabbed to start the spring training
opener on Thursday against the Philadelphia Phillies. LHPs Brett
Oberholtzer and Dallas Keuchel will start on Friday and Saturday
while RHPs Scott Feldman (home) and Dan Straily (road) will handle
split-squad duties Sunday. McHugh enjoyed a breakout season in 2014
after joining the club as an offseason waiver claim, finishing 11-9
with a 2.73 ERA to earn club Rookie of the Year honors.
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MLB Note - Houston Astros Cruz, Luis L.
LHP Luis Cruz was shut down over the weekend after injuring his
pitching hand attempting to field a grounder last Friday. Cruz
missed throwing a live bullpen session but was able to play catch
and was experiencing an improvement in his condition. Cruz is
unlikely to earn a spot in the bullpen given that LHPs Tony Sipp and
Kevin Chapman are incumbents and far more viable candidates to break
camp with the team.
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MLB Note - Oakland Athletics Crisp, Coco
CF Coco Crisp (pinkeye) sat out the A's intrasquad scrimmages Feb.
28 and March 1, and wasn't expected to be in the lineup for the
exhibition opener against the San Francisco Giants on March 3. The
condition was remedied within two days, and Crisp was expected to
make his exhibition debut by the end of the week.
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MLB Note - Los Angeles Dodgers Kershaw, Clayton
LHP Clayton Kershaw will be the Dodgers' Opening Day starter against
the San Diego Padres on April 6 at Dodger Stadium, manager Don
Mattingly confirmed March 2. Kershaw, a three-time Cy Young Award
winner, will be making his fifth consecutive Opening Day start. "I
was prepared for it, but you never know. We've got a lot of good
pitchers here," Kershaw said. "Now, I've got a goal date: April 6."
Kershaw and the Dodgers opened last season in Australia. Kershaw
said he was unaware last season counted as an Opening Day. When he
found out that it did count, Kershaw said, "Nice. The streak's
intact."
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MLB Note - Cincinnati Reds Votto, Joey
1B Joey Votto, who missed 100 games last season because of a left
knee injury, will sit out the Reds' spring training opener on March
3. Josh Satin will get the start against the Indians, manager Bryan
Price said March 2 because Votto is not up to "game speed." Price
said he doesn't think Votto will miss significant time as he
recuperates and plays himself back in shape.
Despite the manager's announcement, Votto said, "I feel really,
really good. I'm surprised at how good I feel this early. I feel
like I'm trending toward being able to play games here in the not
too distant future."
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MLB Note - Chicago Cubs Lester, Jon
LHP Jon Lester will be the Cubs' Opening Night starter against the
St. Louis Cardinals, manager Joe Maddon announced March 2. The Cubs
signed Lester to a six-year, $155 million contract in December.
Lester, who will be starting on Opening Day for the fifth straight
season, began last season with the Red Sox before he was traded to
the A's. Lester is scheduled to make his spring training debut March
6 against the Reds.
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MLB Note - Oakland Athletics Doolittle, Sean
LHP Sean Doolittle (strained left shoulder) passed a strength test
on Feb. 28, clearing the way for him to start throwing before the
middle of March. The closer candidate remains questionable for
Opening Day in April.
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MLB Note - Oakland Athletics Zobrist, Ben
2B Ben Zobrist was penciled into the No. 3 spot in the A's batting
order for their exhibition opener against the San Francisco Giants.
There aren't a whole lot of second basemen batting third in the
major leagues, but the Oakland newcomer demonstrated Sunday why he
might warrant that distinction this season. In the second of two
intrasquad scrimmages over the weekend, Zobrist belted a two-run
home run in the first inning to provide one of the day's offensive
highlights. Alas, it's possible Zobrist won't be a second baseman
if/when he bats third for the A's this season. He also saw time in
left field in the scrimmages.
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MLB Note - Oakland Athletics Butler, Billy
DH Billy Butler has been made to feel right at home with the A's
even before the exhibition season started, thanks to the generosity
of OF Josh Reddick. Reddick gave his No. 16 to Butler, allowing the
veteran to have the number he's worn ever since Little League.
Reddick, who received a new X-Box in the transaction, will don No.
22 this season.
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MLB Note - Oakland Athletics Smith, Chad
RHP Chad Smith was claimed off waivers from the Detroit Tigers on
Feb. 26. The 25-year-old reliever struck out nine in 11 2/3 innings
for the Tigers last season. He appeared in 10 games, compiling a
5.40 ERA.
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MLB Note - Oakland Athletics Hassan, Alex
OF Alex Hassan was claimed off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles on
Feb. 27. He can play both corner outfield positions as well as first
base, giving him the type of versatility A's manager Bob Melvin
covets. Hassan walked in his first two at-bats in the A's intrasquad
scrimmage March 1, prompting Melvin to joke, "Fits right in here."
The right-handed hitter made his major-league debut for the Boston
Red Sox last season, going 1-for-8. He had a .287 average in the
minor leagues last year.
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MLB Note - Seattle Mariners Hernandez, Felix
RHP Felix Hernandez has shed 15 pounds from his frame and checked
into camp at 210. Hernandez, 28, has already logged more than 2,000
innings during his major league career.
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MLB Note - Seattle Mariners Guaipe, Mayckol
RHP Mayckol Guaipe, a 24-year-old former starter, is being converted
to a reliever. Guaipe was added to the 40-man roster this offseason
to prevent him from being taken in the Rule 5 draft.
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MLB Note - Seattle Mariners Jackson, Austin
CF Austin Jackson added several pounds of muscle, mostly to his
upper body, in an effort to have more stamina down the stretch of
the regular season. The 28-year-old Jackson has admitted that his
body wore down last year, resulting in a .229 batting average and
.267 on-base percentage during his 54 games with the Mariners after
the trade deadline.
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MLB Note - Seattle Mariners Paxton, James
LHP James Paxton began throwing this week and is scheduled to make a
bullpen session late in the week. His spring debut is being delayed
by bruised forearms Paxton suffered on a fall during a pre-spring
workout.
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MLB Note - Seattle Mariners Walker, Taijuan
RHP Taijuan Walker was named the starter for Wednesday's
spring-training opener, a somewhat significant decision considering
what a big camp this is for the 22-year-old top prospect. Walker has
been inconsistent in previous call-ups but is being given a
legitimate shot at being a part of the Opening Day rotation.
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MLB Note - Texas Rangers Choo, Shin-Soo
OF Shin-Soo Choo will be the everyday right fielder for the Rangers.
Choo made 63 starts in left for Texas last year but will slide to
right, which is where he played for the majority of his career. The
Rangers have several options in left field, including rookie Ryan
Rua and veteran Ryan Ludwick.
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MLB Note - Texas Rangers Holland, Derek
LHP Derek Holland is expected to throw a bullpen later in the week
of March 2-8. Holland was slated to start the March 1 intrasquad
game but was scratched because of a sore left shoulder. He played
catch March 2 and had no issues.
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MLB Note - Texas Rangers Darvish, Yu
RHP Yu Darvish did something he hasn't done in his three years with
the Rangers on March 1. Darvish conducted an interview in English
with the American beat writers. It was the first time Darvish took
questions in English and answered them in English without the use of
an interpreter.
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MLB Note - Texas Rangers Lewis, Colby
RHP Colby Lewis will start the Rangers' Cactus League opener on
March 4, and RHP Yu Darvish will start March 5. Manager Jeff
Banister said not to read too much into the rotation and that no
plans were made regarding an Opening Day starter.
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MLB Note - Washington Nationals Werth, Jayson
LF Jayson Werth, who underwent right shoulder surgery in January,
hopes to be ready by Opening Day, though that may not happen. He is
in camp, and he told reporters in late February that things were
going well with his recovery. If he is not on the Opening Day
roster, Michael A. Taylor would have a better shot at making the
team. Taylor turned heads with his defense in spring training last
year and then made his major league debut in August. Werth played in
147 games last year and hit .292 with 16 homers. He will move from
right field to left this year with Bryce Harper taking over in
right.
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MLB Note - Washington Nationals Escobar, Yunel
2B Yunel Escobar is making the adjustment to second base after
playing mostly shortstop during his big league career. He was
acquired in a trade with Oakland in February. He did not come cheap
-- the Nationals traded two-time All-Star RHP Tyler Clippard to the
A's. Washington GM Mike Rizzo said Clippard was one of the best
setup guys in baseball history -- and that was after the deal was
announced.
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