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 03/26/2015 MLB Note - Boston Red Sox Napoli, Mike
1B Mike Napoli did not play March 19-25 due to a sore right ankle.
He might be ready to return to action during the final weekend of
March. Napoli's 2014 season ended in September due to finger, back
and toe injuries before he underwent painful facial surgery over the
winter to fix a sleep disorder.
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MLB Note - Boston Red Sox Castillo, Rusney
OF Rusney Castillo returned from his oblique injury March 20 and
homered in his first spring at-bat. He was 3-for-8 through his first
three spring games.
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MLB Note - Boston Red Sox Vazquez, Christian
C Christian Vazquez was batting only while recovering from a sore
right elbow. He had caught some innings in minor league games and
was closing in on a return to big league games behind the plate as
of March 25.
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MLB Note - Boston Red Sox Ortiz, David
DH David Ortiz was stepping up his conditioning after a battle with
dehydration. "I'm feeling pretty good," said Ortiz, who was
approaching a return to game action after sitting out March 17-25.
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MLB Note - Boston Red Sox Paulino, Felipe
RHP Felipe Paulino was held back from a minor league start due to a
biceps strain that was not believed to be serious. Paulino had a
2.25 ERA in four spring appearances through March 25.
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MLB Note - Boston Red Sox Craig, Allen
OF/1B Allen Craig was still with the team amid talk he will be with
the Red Sox on Opening Day. He hit a three-run double March 24.
Craig is a .349 lifetime hitter with a .970 OPS with runners in
scoring position. "Typically, I can drive the ball in that
situation," he said. "That's what I do when I'm locked in, and it
feels like I'm getting there." Added manager John Farrell, "He's
always had a knack for the RBI situation. Good to see him drive a
baseball with men on. A marked improvement from last year." Craig,
hitting .278 through March 24, said, "I think that you have to just
focus on the present and not worry about trades and that type of
stuff. Any time you get too far looking ahead or wondering what's
going to happen, I feel like you take for granted where you're at.
I'm excited to be here, and I'm not going to take that for granted
being on a really good team with a chance to win."
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MLB Note - Boston Red Sox Johnson, Brian
LHP Brian Johnson, 13-3 on two minor league levels last season, was
outpitching a prized prospect, LHP Henry Owens, and appeared to be
well ahead when it comes to the first need for a young pitcher early
in the season. "I thought he threw as good as his previous outings,"
Farrell said after Johnson's 3 2/3 innings March 24, which came on
the same day Owens fell to 0-3 in the spring with a poor outing. "He
shows three very good pitches that he can throw for strikes,"
Farrell said of Johnson, who counted Giancarlo Stanton among his
five strikeouts, "His curve continues to show sharpness and depth to
it. A solid outing."
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MLB Note - Boston Red Sox Moncada, Yoan
INF Yoan Moncada, the Cuban import recently signed to a huge
contract, worked out for 12 days and then saw his first minor league
action at second base.
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MLB Note - Boston Red Sox Uehara, Koji
RHP Koji Uehara, about to turn 40, was battling a hamstring injury
that left his availability for Opening Day in doubt. "With each
passing day that he's not in a game, there's growing concern,"
manager John Farrell said March 24. "Will he be ready for April 6?
We're working through that. It's important for all of us to see him
in games and for Koji as well, to evaluate his stuff and what he has
when he goes to the mound."
If Uehara has to be disabled, the stay on the shelf is likely to be
a short one.
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MLB Note - New York Yankees Betances, Dellin
RHP Dellin Betances frequently threw fastballs clocked at 97, 98 and
99 mph last season but so far that velocity has been slightly below
95. Betances has a 6.75 ERA in six appearances but is not concerned
about the lack of velocity. . "I know that the velocity will come.
Same thing last year in spring training; last year I just trusted it
and this year I'm trying to do a little extra with whatever I have
instead of just trusting it."
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MLB Note - New York Yankees Tanaka, Masahiro
RHP Masahiro Tanaka appears in line to start the season opener. He
made his latest start Wednesday and increased his pitch count to 60
while allowing three runs (two earned) and four hits in 4 2/3
innings. Tanaka struck out seven and has 10 strikeouts in 12 1/3
innings.
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MLB Note - New York Yankees Sabathia, CC
LHP CC Sabathia has started nine straight season openers, six for
the New York Yankees and three for the Cleveland Indians. It appears
that this year will mark the first time since 2005 he does not start
a season opener. That year he missed the first two weeks on the DL
but this time it's not injury related. Sabathia has only made two
starts and by pitching Saturday on five days rest, he would have to
make his last spring start on short rest. Sabathia has an 11.57 ERA
in two starts and has allowed six runs and nine hits in 4 2/3
innings.
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MLB Note - New York Yankees Rodriguez, Alex
3B Alex Rodriguez spent time at first base during fielding drills on
Tuesday and was working on cutoff and relay throws. He is expected
to get at least one game at first base and manager Joe Girardi said
that he wants Rodriguez to be capable of playing the position in the
event 1B Mark Teixeira and 1B/OF Garrett Jones get injured. Last
year when the Yankees were without Teixeira, they used 3B Chase
Headley and C Brian McCann and they would prefer not to this season.
"We're not asking him to go out there every day, but just to have
somewhat of an understanding of the position," Girardi said. "I
don't really think that fielding a ground ball is going to be an
issue. I don't think throwing the ball is going to be an issue. It's
where to be on cuts, where to be on bunt plays those sort of
things."
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MLB Note - New York Yankees Ellsbury, Jacoby
CF Jacoby Ellsbury tested his strained right oblique by resuming
some on-field activities on Tuesday. He ran sprints in the outfield
before the game against the Detroit Tigers and Monday, Ellsbury
swung a broomstick lightly. Ellsbury also is working out with a
medicine ball in the gym. Ellsbury has not played since getting hurt
March 15 while throwing in the outfield and manager Joe Girardi
thinks he will be ready for the season opener if he can get into a
game by next Tuesday. "I guess all I can tell you is just how I feel
each and every day," Ellsbury said. "But until I swing a bat, until
I throw, until I do really explosive stuff -- that will be the real
test. But it does feel better each and every day."
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MLB Note - New York Yankees Pirela, Jose
2B Jose Pirela said he is feeling better but still is experiencing
some dizziness from the concussion he sustained Sunday crashing into
the center field wall in Port St. Luice, Fla. He was seen by a team
doctor Tuesday and will start some exercises shortly. This is
Pirela's second concussion. The other was April 11, 2012 when he was
playing for Double-A Trenton and was hit in the head by current
teammate LHP Chris Martin's fastball. He missed over a month,
experienced constant headaches and vomiting but this time Pirela
said none of those symptoms have persisted.
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MLB Note - New York Yankees Warren, Adam
RHP Adam Warren is the leading candidate to fill the spot expected
to be occupied by left-hander Chris Capuano when he returns from a
groin strain and eventually by Ivan Nova returning from Tommy John
surgery.
Those indications are based on comments made by general manager
Brian Cashman before Wednesday's exhibition game with the New York
Mets.
"There is a Secretariat in the field," Cashman said. "Right now,
Warren's got a big lead in this but we don't have to make that
decision right now. As of right now if we made the call today, it
would be Warren."
Warren will make his fifth start Thursday and so far has a 2.77 ERA
in 13 innings. Last year, the 27-year-old was 3-6 with a 2.96 ERA in
69 appearances and he has 104 major league appearances, including a
few spot starts.
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MLB Note - Baltimore Orioles Jimenez, Ubaldo
RHP Ubaldo Jimenez is making his case to return to the starting
rotation. He pitched well again in his last start, giving up four
hits in five scoreless innings in Tuesday's 9-2 victory over the
Pirates. He struck out three and didn't walk a batter.
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MLB Note - Baltimore Orioles Machado, Manny
3B Manny Machado has been having some unusual problems recently in
spring training -- defense. He committed his fourth error of the
spring in Wednesday's 5-2 loss to the Blue Jays. Machado made those
four errors in just 13 games.
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MLB Note - Baltimore Orioles Schoop, Jonathan
2B Jonathan Schoop (wisdom teeth, dental problems) is going to miss
some time. The Baltimore Sun reported that manager Buck Showalter
said Schoop needs all four wisdom teeth taken out plus the
extraction of two more teeth.
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MLB Note - Baltimore Orioles Wieters, Matt
C Matt Wieters likely will not be back for Opening Day. The team was
hoping Wieters could recover from his Tommy John surgery last June
in time to be ready at the start of 2015, but since that's not going
to happen due to right elbow tendinitis, the question now is when
does the All-Star catcher return.
Wieters won't be eligible to come off the disabled list until April
11, the day the Orioles would play their fifth game of the season.
With Wieters out at the start, it appears that Caleb Joseph has the
inside track at filling in for him after a very strong defensive
season as a rookie last year.
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MLB Note - Toronto Blue Jays Santiago, Ramon
INF Ramon Santiago (fractured left collarbone) was injured making a
diving catch March 14 while playing second base. He is out until at
least late May.
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MLB Note - Washington Nationals Rendon, Anthony
3B Anthony Rendon is not progressing quickly from a sprained left
knee, and he is likely to start the season on the disabled list.
Rendon was injured when he dived for a ball March 9. He was still
experiencing soreness in late March and had yet to return to
Grapefruit League action. A second MRI exam March 24 did not show
the expected healing, according to manager Matt Williams.
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MLB Note - Detroit Tigers Cabrera, Miguel
1B Miguel Cabrera played in the field March 25 for the first time
this spring. He is making good progress in his recovery from right
ankle surgery performed in October.
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MLB Note - Tampa Bay Rays Forsythe, Logan
INF/OF Logan Forsythe is expected to get the majority of playing
time at second base in the opening weeks of the season while 2B Nick
Franklin spends time on the disabled list with a strained left
oblique muscle. The Rays' original plan was to use Forsythe as the
right-handed-hitting half of a platoon with Franklin. Even when
Franklin returns, Forsythe figures to receive quite a bit of playing
time as a super utility player. He has played every positon but
pitcher, catcher and center fielder in his four-year career.
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MLB Note - Tampa Bay Rays Franklin, Nick
2B Nick Franklin will begin the season on the disabled list with a
strained left oblique muscle. Franklin was injured during his final
swing of batting practice March 23 and the Rays don't yet have a
timetable for how long he might be out.
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MLB Note - Tampa Bay Rays Cobb, Alex
RHP Alex Cobb says the pain in his strained right forearm has
subsided. He is expected to begin throwing by the end of the week.
Cobb was removed from his March 17 start against Philadelphia in an
exhibition game. He will begin the season on the disabled list and
has been scratched for his scheduled Opening Day start against
Baltimore on April 6. However, the Rays feel he will miss only one
or two starts.
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MLB Note - Tampa Bay Rays Smyly, Drew
LHP Drew Smyly, out all spring with left shoulder tendinitis, threw
a 30-pitch bullpen session March 23. It was the first time he threw
off the mound this spring. However, Smyly was making such good
progress that the Rays were optimistic he would miss no more than
two regular-season starts.
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MLB Note - Tampa Bay Rays Colome, Alex
RHP Alex Colome threw a 20-pitch bullpen session Monday, his first
time off the mound since contracting pneumonia. Colome will start
the season on the disabled list but the Rays are hopeful he will be
able to be activated by mid-April. Colome was competing for a spot
in the starting rotation but might be shifted to the bullpen.
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MLB Note - Tampa Bay Rays McGee, Jake
LHP Jake McGee, who will start the season on the disabled list, is
scheduled for his second bullpen session Friday as he continues his
recovery from arthroscopic left elbow surgery performed last
September. McGee threw his first bullpen Tuesday and he said he
threw curveballs along with fastballs at about 75 percent his normal
effort. He is scheduled for six bullpens before throwing live
batting practice. The Rays are hopeful he will be able to join their
bullpen around May 1.
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MLB Note - Tampa Bay Rays Belisario, Ronald
RHP Ronald Belisario, in camp on a minor league contract, began
playing catch March 20. He reported to camp with a broken right
shoulder.
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MLB Note - Toronto Blue Jays Cecil, Brett
LHP Brett Cecil (inflammation of rotator cuff) returned from a sore
shoulder and will open the season as the closer. He felt comfortable
after making 15 pitches in a minor league game March 21, his first
game action since appearing in an intrasquad game March 2 and
manager John Gibbons confirmed Cecil's role the next day. RHP Aaron
Sanchez was a candidate as closer but is needed in the starting
rotation to fill the vacancy created by a season-ending knee injury
to RHP Marcus Stroman. "Right now, it would be Cecil," Gibbons said
when asked about the closer's role. "Earlier in the spring it could
have been Sanchez, but that's probably not going to happen now."
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MLB Note - Toronto Blue Jays Hynes, Colt
LHP Colt Hynes has impressed during Grapefruit League games,
allowing two hits and no walks while striking out even in 7 2/3
innings over eight outings. The 29-year-old was claimed off waivers
when he was designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
With LHP Brett Cecil opening the season as closer, the Blue Jays
might want to have another left-handed reliever to work with LHP
Aaron Loup. Hynes has not pitched in the majors since 2013 when he
was with the San Diego Padres.
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MLB Note - Toronto Blue Jays Izturis, Maicer
INF Maicer Izturis (strained groin) left the March 20 game in the
third inning and his injury left the starting spot at second base to
either INF Ryan Goins, INF Devon Travis or INF Steve Tolleson. An
MRI revealed a groin strain that will render Izturis inactive for
about 10 days and will probably put him out for the opening of the
season. Travis, acquired in an offseason deal that sent OF Anthony
Gose to the Detroit Tigers, was making a strong case to win the job
with his bat and glove. Goins plays well defensively at second and
shortstop and could win a utility role. Tolleson also is in the mix
and is out of option so would need to clear waivers before he could
be demoted. "It came back, strain in there, no activity for 10 days
and then kind of just see where he's at," manager John Gibbons said
of the MRI on Izturis. "It's hard to say, it might take more than 10
days to begin with. We don't know yet ... but I don't see how he's
going to be ready for Opening Day. ... When Santiago went down, we
were kind of looking at him for a utility role. Izzy going down,
that cleans some things up for the other guys possibly. We're still
undecided." Goins has an advantage because he can play shortstop and
the plan is to give SS Jose Reyes, a below-average fielder, days off
during the season.
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MLB Note - Toronto Blue Jays Travis, Devon
INF Devon Travis is making a strong bid to make the jump from
Double-A, where he played last season, to the majors as the Blue
Jays second baseman. He was acquired in the offseason in a trade
that sent OF Anthony Gose to the Detroit Tigers. After a slow start
to spring training at the plate, he was batting .400/.442/.550 after
16 games. "I love everything I've seen about him," manager John
Gibbons said. Travis is considered a better hitter than a fielder
but Gibbons likes his defense, too. "That was kind of the rap on him
that his defense was average," Gibbons said. "I've seen better than
that."
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MLB Note - Toronto Blue Jays Osuna, Roberto
RHP Roberto Osuna took advantage of a start March 22 by pitching 3
2/3 innings in a 3-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. He was replacing
RHP Marco Estrada, who missed the start because of an ankle injury.
"I'm very happy, man, I can't describe it," Osuna said. "It's a
great experience. It's what everybody dreams. It feels pretty good.
... I've learned more confidence from today, facing those guys, and
I feel pretty good." Osuna missed most of last season as he
rehabilitated from Tommy John surgery. Not on the 40-man roster, the
20-year-old from Mexico appears to be destined to be a starter in
the minors to open the season but could be used as a reliever during
the season at the major league level. His fastball is timed between
92 and 96, he has a plus changeup and has a slider that also could
become a plus pitch. He shows considerable polish for a young
pitcher.
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MLB Note - Toronto Blue Jays Jenkins, Chad
RHP Chad Jenkins was sent to minor league camp on option on March
25, which could open a spot in the bullpen for rookie RHP Miguel
Castro, who has been a sensation so far in spring training. Jenkins
has been a starter most of his career but has been used in Toronto
mostly in relief. He will continue to work on a cutter to give to
use against left-handed hitters. He has a good sinker and a slider.
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MLB Note - Toronto Blue Jays Norris, Daniel
LHP Daniel Norris appeared to have won the fifth spot in the
starting rotation based on his first five Grapefruit League outings.
He is only one of a group of rookie pitchers to have opened eyes at
spring training. Others include RHP Miguel Castro and RHP Roberto
Osuna. He held the Baltimore Orioles to three hits and one run while
striking out seven with no walks in six innings in a 5-2 in on March
25. He also hit a batter. He is 2-0 with a 2.41 ERA. He used a new
changeup in the start, one that sinks away from right-handed
hitters. He also has a cut change that moves away from left-handed
hitters. His fastball is clocked at 91-95 miles an hour with
explosive late action and a slider. "I've been working on it for
about a week," Norris said. "(Pitching coach) Pete Walker showed it
to me. I grip the ball a little looser with the sink-changeup. I
still used the cut changeup a couple of times."
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MLB Note - Toronto Blue Jays Encarnacion, Edwin
1B Edwin Encarnacion (sore back) played in minor league games March
24 and 25 and was expected to return to Grapefruit League action on
March 26 as designated hitter. He had not played in game since March
8 when he developed the sore back. "It feels good, now he's just
building up," manager John Gibbons said. "He's basically getting
back in the swing of it."
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MLB Note - Toronto Blue Jays Pillar, Kevin
OF Kevin Pillar (right oblique strain) returned to Grapefruit League
action March 25, his first Grapefruit League game since March 14. He
started in center field against the Orioles. Pillar hit a two-run
homer in the 5-2 win. "It felt like the first day of spring
training, I was nervous out there," Pillar said. He suffered the
injury on a sneeze. He has since worked on a program to work on
keeping his back loose and said he will reconsider his offseason
program that involves some heavy lifting.
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MLB Note - Toronto Blue Jays Estrada, Marco
RHP Marco Estrada (ankle) injured his ankle during fielding drills
and was unable to start March 22. He could pitch in relief on March
26 and then start on March 28. "It's still barking a little bit,"
manager John Gibbons said. The injury means that LHP Daniel Norris,
who has been impressive at spring training, has solidified a spot in
the starting rotation and that would put Estrada in the bullpen.
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MLB Note - Colorado Rockies Kahnle, Tommy
RHP Tommy Kahnle, who made the Rockies last year after being taken
from the Yankees in the Rule 5 draft, was optioned to Triple-A
Albuquerque on March 25. He had one save and a 2.05 ERA in five
Cactus League appearances this spring, but the Rockies want him to
gain more experience in the minors. Kahnle appeared in 54 games as a
rookie last year and went 2-1 with a 4.19 ERA, allowing 51 hits in
68 2/3 innings while averaging 4.1 walks and 8.3 strikeouts per nine
innings.
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MLB Note - Miami Marlins Cosart, Jarred
RHP Jarred Cosart is under investigation by Major League Baseball
regarding possible gambling. The probe stems from an exchange
between Cosart and an apparent gambling expert on Twitter, the Miami
New Times reported March 25. Based on screen grabs of private
messages between Cosart and the gambler, Cosart seemingly was
soliciting advice on the NCAA Tournament. After the gambler made the
messages public, Cosart deleted his Twitter account, the New Times
reported. MLB forbids gambling on baseball but allows it for other
sports. Cosart, 24, went 13-11 with a 3.77 ERA last season with the
Astros and the Marlins, who acquired him in a trade at midseason.
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MLB Note - Kansas City Royals Ventura, Yordano
RHP Yordano Ventura will start the Opening Day game against the
Chicago White Sox in Kauffman Stadium, manager Ned Yost announced
March 25. The hard-throwing 23-year-old started 30 games last year
and posted a 14-10 record with a 3.20 ERA and 159 strikeouts in 183
innings. The Royals are looking to the young pitcher as their ace
this season after losing James Shields during the winter in free
agency.
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MLB Note - Chicago White Sox Samardzija, Jeff
RHP Jeff Samardzija will get the Opening Day starting assignment
against the Royals, manager Robin Ventura announced March 25. The
30-year-old is in his first year with the White Sox after arriving
from the A's in a six-player trade in December. Last season in 33
starts with the Cubs and A's, Samardzija posted a 7-13 record with a
2.99 ERA. He became a full-time starter with the Cubs in 2012 and
has a 36-48 record with a 3.87 ERA in 99 career starts and 222
games.
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MLB Note - Chicago White Sox Sale, Chris
LHP Chris Sale likely would have started in the opener for the third
consecutive year, but a fracture in his right foot that he suffered
in February is expected to sideline him through the opening week of
the season. His projected debut is April 12 against the Twins.
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