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 03/08/2015 MLB Note - Philadelphia Phillies Lee, Cliff
LHP Cliff Lee has been temporarily shut down after the team
announced he is dealing with discomfort in his pitching elbow.
The Phillies said Sunday that Lee underwent an MRI on Friday. The
MRI showed mild inflammation but did not indicate any ligament
damage. The Phillies have scratched Lee from his next scheduled
spring start Tuesday.
Lee, who started only 13 games last season due to an elbow strain,
will likely resume throwing Monday, and he "will progress his
throwing program as tolerated."
The Phillies remain cautious as the former Cy Young Award winner
missed the final two months of last season with elbow issues.
"Any time it's the elbow, you have to be concerned," Phillies
general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "We have to be concerned
because it's the area he felt something before. We don't think it's
acute, but we have to be cautious."
The Phillies said they have sent the MRI results to renowned surgeon
Dr. James Andrews for a second opinion.
Lee, 36, went 4-5 with a 3.65 ERA last year in 81 1/3 innings after
pitching at least 200 innings in eight of the previous nine seasons.
He made his spring training debut last Thursday, allowing two hits
in two innings. Lee said he felt "normal" after throwing 22 pitches.
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MLB Note - St. Louis Cardinals Lynn, Lance
RHP Lance Lynn left the March 8 spring training game against the
Marlins in the second inning with a left hip flexor strain, the club
announced. Lynn was making his first start in spring training, and
he retired the side in order in the first inning.
Lynn will be re-evaluated March 9 to determine the extent of injury,
but he did not seem particularly concerned afterward. "Hopefully, we
can get it stretched out the way we need to and I'll be able to go
next time," said Lynn, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
"Two days from now, I expect to throw my bullpen (session) and I
expect to make my next start."
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MLB Note - New York Yankees Rodriguez, Alex
3B/DH Alex Rodriguez returned to third base for the Yankees on March
8, starting at his old position for the first time in a live game
since Sept. 10, 2013. Rodriguez, who is coming off a yearlong
suspension for performance-enhancing drug use, only got one chance
at third against the Nationals, fielding a grounder to end the third
inning. The 39-year-old veteran batted twice before being replaced
to start the sixth inning. He blooped a ground-rule double to right
field in the second inning and struck out in the fourth. Rodriguez,
who is 2-for-6 this spring, had served as a designated hitter in his
first two games.
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MLB Note - Oakland Athletics Nolin, Sean
LHP Sean Nolin (sports hernia surgery in November 2014) resumed
throwing off flat ground March 8, but he had yet to pitch from a
mound this spring.
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MLB Note - San Francisco Giants Lopez, Javier
LHP Javier Lopez (biceps tendinitis) had a pain-free bullpen session
March 7 after having been shut down for almost a full week and
pronounced himself ready to make his spring game debut.
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MLB Note - San Francisco Giants Romo, Sergio
RHP Sergio Romo (sore shoulder) experienced no pain in his throwing
shoulder during a full-throttle bullpen session March 7. He was
scheduled to face live hitters March 10 and was in line to make his
spring debut in relief later in the week.
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MLB Note - San Francisco Giants Cain, Matt
RHP Matt Cain (elbow, ankle surgery) has experienced no setbacks in
camp and was scheduled to make his spring debut as the starter March
9 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The veteran has been tentatively
placed No. 3 behind LHP Madison Bumgarner and RHP Jake Peavy in the
Giants' season-opening starting rotation.
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MLB Note - San Francisco Giants Pence, Hunter
RF Hunter Pence (broken arm) suffered the injury in his non-throwing
arm when hit by a pitch in an exhibition game against the Chicago
Cubs on March 5. He is expected to miss 6-8 weeks, which means he
almost surely will start the regular season on the disabled list.
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MLB Note - San Francisco Giants Crawford, Brandon
SS Brandon Crawford (sore shoulder) reported no pain in his throwing
shoulder March 8 and was scheduled to take infield practice March 10
before making a start at shortstop a day later. He often served as
the Giants' designated hitter -- when available -- over the first
week and a half of the exhibition slate.
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MLB Note - San Francisco Giants Sanchez, Hector
C Hector Sanchez (sprained thumb) has been told to take 2-4 days off
from catching after suffering the injury while behind the plate in
the club's split-squad game against Arizona on March 8. He was
expected to be able to return to catching by the end of the week.
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MLB Note - San Diego Padres Despaigne, Odrisamer
RHP Odrisamer Despaigne and 1B Yonder Alonso have a connection
beyond being teammates. The fathers of the Padres were battery-mates
with Industriales of Cuba in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Francisco Despaigne was a right-handed reliever and Luis Alonso
caught.
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MLB Note - San Diego Padres Solarte, Yangervis
INF Yangervis Solarte started Saturday's exhibition against the
Giants at first base. Solarte is battling Will Middlebrooks for the
starting third-base job. But if Middlebrooks wins, Solarte could
make the Opening Day roster as a utility player because he can play
third, second, first and the corner outfield spots. Plus, Solarte is
a switch-hitter.
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MLB Note - San Diego Padres Shields, James
RHP James Shields made his first outing of the spring with a
scoreless inning against the Giants Saturday. "It's my routine to
pitch one inning in my first outing," said Shields, who allowed one
hit. "This is the program he likes to follow," said Padres manager
Bud Black.
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MLB Note - San Diego Padres Alonso, Yonder
1B Yonder Alonso and RHP Odrisamer Despaigne have a connection
beyond being teammates. The fathers of the Padres were battery-mates
with Industriales of Cuba in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Francisco Despaigne was a right-handed reliever and Luis Alonso
caught.
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MLB Note - Seattle Mariners Choi, Ji-Man
1B Ji-Man Choi, who broke his right fibula in a March 4 Cactus
League game, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Tacoma
on March 7. He leaped for a high throw and was hurt when he landed,
and he underwent surgery March 6. Choi, 23, hit a combined
.282/.386/.403 with six homers and 35 RBIs in 74 games between
Double-A and Triple-A last year.
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MLB Note - Toronto Blue Jays Aquino, Jayson
LHP Jayson Aquino was optioned to Double-A New Hampshire on March 7.
The Blue Jays acquired Aquino from the Rockies in a Feb. 4 trade
that sent LHP Tyler Ybarra to Colorado. Aquino, 22, went a combined
5-10 with a 5.13 ERA in 18 starts in high Class A and Double-A last
year.
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MLB Note - Atlanta Braves Johnson, Chris
3B Chris Johnson developed a sore left wrist that prevented him from
playing in spring games March 7-8. Johnson had some discomfort while
taking extra batting practice March 6. Johnson ranked second among
all National League players with a .321 batting average during the
2013 season, but he struggled for most of 2014, hitting .263.
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MLB Note - Oakland Athletics Reddick, Josh
RF Josh Reddick is out with an right oblique strain and could miss
Opening Day, manager Bob Melvin said March 7. Reddick sustained the
injury during defensive drills March 6. He will not be allowed to
take part in baseball activities for at least two weeks and could be
miss four to six weeks.
"After I got the MRI, they were telling me that it could be two
months," Reddick said March 7. "So to hear this morning that it's
just four to six weeks is actually comforting, something of a
relief."
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MLB Note - Philadelphia Phillies Lee, Cliff
LHP Cliff Lee was temporarily shut down, was the Phillies announced
that the veteran is dealing with discomfort in his pitching elbow.
The Phillies said March 8 that Lee underwent an MRI exam two days
earlier that showed mild inflammation but did not indicate any
ligament damage. The team scratched Lee from his next scheduled
spring start, which was to be March 10.
Lee, who started only 13 games last season due to an elbow strain,
likely will resume throwing March 9, and the team said he would
"progress his throwing program as tolerated." The Phillies remain
cautious as the former Cy Young Award winner missed the final two
months of last season with elbow issues. "Any time it's the elbow,
you have to be concerned," Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said.
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MLB Note - Colorado Rockies Blackmon, Charlie
CF Charlie Blackmon seized the chance to play regularly in 2014 and
had a breakout season as the Rockies' leadoff hitter. He hit
.288/.335/.440 with 19 homers and 72 RBIs and was successful on 28
of 38 stolen base attempts. In reality, Blackmon began the season
with six torrid weeks followed by ordinary numbers the rest of the
way. In his first 37 games through May 10, Blackmon hit
.355/.388/.603. In his final 117 games, Blackmon hit .268/.318/.389.
Manager Walt Weiss said Blackmon is the rare player who can impact a
game with his power and speed, using the latter to both steal bases
and play all three outfield positions well. Blackmon realizes he
must be more consistent than last year and to that end, has a goal
in mind.
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MLB Note - Colorado Rockies De La Rosa, Jorge
LHP Jorge De La Rosa had his first spring start pushed back to left
groin tightness. He was scheduled to pitch March 7 but is now
scheduled to make his spring debut March 12. De La Rosa said
skipping a start was "a precaution" and not something he expected to
linger and impede his spring. "It's not serious, just a little groin
tightness that he's experienced several other times this time of
year," manager Walt Weiss said. "So, nothing major, but we're always
cautious at this time of year."
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MLB Note - Colorado Rockies Logan, Boone
LHP Boone Logan threw one scoreless inning in an intrasquad game
March 3 and then made his Cactus League debut four days later,
allowing one run in one inning. Those were good signs as he attempts
to rebound from a hugely disappointing 2014 season and prove he can
give the Rockies a return on his three-year, $16.5 million contract
-- the most the most the Rockies have ever spent on a free agent
reliever. "If he's healthy and right," manager Walt Weiss said, "it
changes the complexion of our bullpen."
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MLB Note - Colorado Rockies Axford, John
RHP Jon Axford came to camp on a minor-league contract. But his
status soon changed when the Rockies selected his contract March 1
to add him to their 40-man roster. To make room for Axford, RHP
Tyler Chatwood was placed on the 60-day disabled list. He is
recovering from Tommy John surgery on July 24. Axford will receive
$2.6 million in salary with the chance to earn an additional $1.1
million in incentives -- $50,000 each for 35, 40, 45 and 50 games
pitched; $100,000 each for 55, 60 and 65 games pitched; and $100,000
each for 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 and 55 games finished.
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MLB Note - Kansas City Royals Severino, Atahualpa
LHP Athaualpa Severino arrived from the Dominican Republic on
Tuesday after obtaining a visa and threw a bullpen session
Wednesday. Severino, 30, was invited to spring training as a
non-roster player. His only major-league experience consists of six
relief appearances covering 4 2/3 innings in 2011 for the Washington
Nationals, where he went 1-0 with a 3.86 earned-run average.
Severino participated in the Atlanta Braves' camp last year before
they sent him to Triple-A Gwinnett (International League).
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MLB Note - Los Angeles Angels Richards, Garrett
RHP Garrett Richards continues to progress quickly from knee
surgery. Richards began light fielding drills last week and faced
hitters for the first time Saturday. He used his entire repertoire
while facing two right-handed hitters and one left-hander, and said
he felt good after throwing 30 pitches. The right-hander will throw
40 pitches in another batting-practice session Tuesday, and will
take a break between batters to simulate two innings. Richards had a
13-4 record and a 2.61 earned-run average, the fifth best in the
American League, when he tore the patellar tendon in his left knee
Aug. 20 as he was covering first base in a game against the Boston
Red Sox. Normal prognosis for recovery is between six and nine
months.
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MLB Note - Los Angeles Angels Navarro, Efren
1B Efren Navarro hopes to insert himself into the discussion as Josh
Hamilton's replacement in left field. Navarro, who played 23 of his
64 games last year in left field, concentrated on improving his
outfield defense during the offseason. "I did a lot of work on my
first jump, taking more reads off the ball and seeing different
angles," Navarro said. "I want to be able to close my eyes and have
that feel for handling different balls -- line drives, balls over my
head." In his first extended major-league season, Navarro batted
.245 last year as a left-handed hitter off the bench.
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MLB Note - New York Yankees Aceves, Alfredo
RHP Alfredo Aceves signed a minor-league deal with the Giants on
March 7 and will be given a shot at earning a spot in what appears
already to be an overcrowded bullpen. Aceves, 30, compiled a 6.52
ERA in 10 relief appearances (19 1/3 innings) for the New York
Yankees last season. He has a 3.83 ERA over his seven-year career.
Aceves will duel RHP Jean Machi and RHP Hunter Strickland for one,
maybe two bullpen spots that bridge the long relievers and the
late-inning specialists.
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MLB Note - San Francisco Giants Bumgarner, Madison
LHP Madison Bumgarner progressed from being angry to being happy
over the course of his first two spring starts, neither of which was
all that impressive statistically. Bumgarner was bombed for four
runs in 1 2/3 innings by the Oakland Athletics in the Giants'
exhibition opener March 3, an effort he labeled as unacceptable
afterward. The World Series hero was better in his second start
March 7 against San Diego, although he did surrender two runs on
four hits. "I felt really, really good," Bumgarner reported.
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MLB Note - San Francisco Giants Petit, Yusmeiro
RHP Yusmeiro Petit had hoped to be considered for a spot in the
Giants' starting rotation after stellar work as a part-time starter
last year. But when manager Bruce Bochy announced that RHP Tim
Lincecum would begin the spring as the No. 5 starter, and with
veteran RHP Ryan Vogelsong in the mix, Petit quickly has accepted
the long-relief role in which he has excelled in recent seasons.
Petit retired six straight batters in his spring debut March 6.
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MLB Note - Los Angeles Dodgers Kershaw, Clayton
LHP Clayton Kershaw is lined up to be the Dodgers' Opening Day
starter. "That's our plan," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. This
will be Kershaw's fifth consecutive season-opening start. He is 3-0
with just one run allowed on 15 hits in 25 2/3 innings in season
openers.
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MLB Note - Los Angeles Dodgers Rollins, Jimmy
SS Jimmy Rollins said he had a two-hour talk with OF Yasiel Puig
when camp opened just to get to know the Dodgers' dynamic
outfielder. Puig has been a disruptive force in the Dodgers'
clubhouse at times the past two seasons and Rollins is expected to
be a leader on the 2015 team.
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MLB Note - Los Angeles Dodgers Guerrero, Alex
INF-OF Alex Guerrero said he will not accept a demotion to the minor
leagues this season. Guerrero's contract requires that the Dodgers
receive his permission before they can send him to the minors this
season. He has seen action in left field and third base early in
camp and had six hits in his first nine at-bats in Cactus League
action.
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MLB Note - Arizona Diamondbacks Lopez, Yoan
RHP Yoan Lopez made his professional debut in a spring training game
March 8, giving up six hits and four runs in 1 2/3 innings against
San Francisco. "I was definitely a little bit anxious because of my
debut," said Lopez, 22, through interpreter Hatuey Mendoza.
"Breaking the ice was the most important thing. Life continues. This
is just the beginning of my career." Lopez, a Cuban emigre who
signed for an $8.25 million bonus in January, had command issues,
with the Giants takes advantage of balls up in the strike zone.
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MLB Note - Arizona Diamondbacks Hudson, Daniel
RHP Daniel Hudson hit 94 mph and gave up only an infield single that
could have been ruled an error in two innings Sunday, his spring
debut. He threw 35 pitches, 23 strikes, and struck out Giants 1B
Brandon Belt to end an eight-pitch at-bat for the final out of the
first inning. The D-backs plan to stretch out Hudson as a starter
this spring while monitoring his arm daily. He had Tommy John
surgeries in 2012 and 2013 before returning to the mound for three
relief appearances last September. "He's that special guy," D-backs
manager Chip Hale said. "He's got dominating stuff. As long as he is
healthy, we know he is going to be a key part of this team. He has
the ability to throw a fastball that people don't square up. If his
secondary stuff is on, he's one of those guys who has a chance to be
dominant every time out."
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MLB Note - Arizona Diamondbacks Collmenter, Josh
RHP Josh Collmenter was named to start the D-backs' opener April 6
against San Francisco, and has a good track record against the
Giants, going 5-2 with a 3.17 ERA in 18 career appearances against
them, seven starts. "To be the one to toe the rubber the first time
is pretty special, especially in my career, just bouncing back and
forth between starter and the 'pen," Collmenter said. Collmenter
recorded his first major league victory in relief against the Giants
in April, 2011, was 1-1 with a 1.38 ERA in six appearances against
them last season. He beat them in June and made two quality starts
against them in September.
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MLB Note - Kansas City Royals Medlen, Kris
RHP Kris Medlen, who signed a two-year, $8.5 million deal with the
Royals on Dec. 18, went on the 60-day disabled list March 7. Medlen
sat out the 2014 season while recovering from his second Tommy John
elbow ligament replacement surgery, and he isn't expected to pitch
for the Royals before midseason.
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MLB Note - Kansas City Royals Young, Chris
RHP Chris Young, a free agent, signed a one-year major league deal
with the Royals on March 7. The contract is for $675,000, with up to
$5,325,000 in incentive bonuses, according to the Kansas City Star.
He might battle for a job as a spot starter or long reliever. Young,
35, went 12-9 with a 3.65 ERA for Seattle last season. He has a
65-52 record and a 3.77 ERA over 10 seasons with the Rangers,
Padres, the Mets and Mariners.
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MLB Note - Arizona Diamondbacks Stites, Matt
RHP Matt Stites (shoulder soreness) has not thrown off a mound since
feeling tenderness in a pre-camp throwing session. Tests showed no
structural damage, but his return date is unknown.
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MLB Note - Arizona Diamondbacks Owings, Chris
2B/SS Chris Owings (left shoulder surgery in October 2014) faced
live pitching for the first time in spring training March 6, and
D-backs manager Chip Hale said he hopes to get Owings into a spring
training game the following weekend. The D-backs expect him to be
ready for the start of the season.
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MLB Note - Oakland Athletics Crisp, Coco
CF Coco Crisp (sore right elbow) left the March 8 game. He already
was scheduled to sit out March 9, so he will be re-evaluated March
10.
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MLB Note - San Francisco Giants Hudson, Tim
RHP Tim Hudson (ankle surgery) threw well in live batting practice
March 8 and was deemed ready to make his first start March 11
against Milwaukee. Giants manager Bruce Bochy lists Hudson as his
starter for Game 4 of the regular season against the Padres.
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MLB Note - San Diego Padres Venable, Will
OF Will Venable appears to be a lock for the No. 4 outfield job,
although his chances of winning a starting spot in center seems to
be fading with Wil Myers' spring-training play in center. There were
thoughts before spring that Venable and Cameron Maybin might platoon
in center if Myers had trouble there and had to be moved to first.
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MLB Note - Colorado Rockies Descalso, Daniel
INF Daniel Descalso, a free agent whom the Rockies signed to a
two-year, $3.6 million contract, will give his new team a veteran
infielder they can bring off the bench, something that was lacking
last year. The versatile Descalso, 28, has played 200 career games,
including 91 starts, at third base, 174 games (110 starts) at second
base and 114 games (88 starts) at shortstop.
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