RHP Park has first workout with Yankees
February 28, 2010
TAMPA, Fla. (AP)—South Korean right-hander Chan Ho Park(notes) took part in his firstworkout with the New York Yankees on Sunday.
The 36-year-old agreed to terms last week on a $1.2 million, one-year dealwith an additional $300,000 in incentives.
“He’s a guy we’ve noticed the past few years, how he plays up out of thebullpen,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. “I think our bullpen isa strength, to be honest. When Chan Ho Park was still on the (free agent) boardthis late and the ability to get him at $1.2 million, I thought that there wasreal value there. He makes us deeper.”
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Park went 3-3 with a 4.43 ERA in 45 games with the NL champion PhiladelphiaPhillies last season. He worked 3 1-3 scoreless innings against the Yankees inthe World Series.
“He got big outs for Philly,” Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez(notes) said.“Had a great year last year. He was a great weapon and hopefully can be thesame for us.”
Park threw to hitters at home before leaving for the United States and saidhe will be “ready” for the start of the regular season. The veteran pitchersaid it was tough to leave Philadelphia.
“It’s an honor to be with the Yankees,” Park said. “It wasn’t an easydecision. A lot of teams (inquired). I had fun last year. Good memories. Thatmakes me sad.”
Park threw on flat ground and will join closer Mariano Rivera(notes) in working offa bullpen mound on Monday.
Also, Joba Chamberlain(notes) and Phil Hughes(notes)—the front-runners for the fifthstarter spot—both had their second batting practice session.
“They’re both great young pitchers,” Rodriguez said. “It’s a great luxuryfor us to have. You can throw balls up in the air and whoever comes down, theYankees are the winner. A good problem to have.”
Hughes and Chamberlain are scheduled to pitch Friday against Tampa Bay. Theother pitchers in the fifth starter mix, Chad Gaudin(notes), Alfredo Aceves(notes) and SergioMitre(notes) will take the hill in Wednesday’s Grapefruit League opener withPittsburgh.
Expected opening day starter CC Sabathia(notes) threw BP for the first time. Theleft-hander makes his first spring training start Thursday against Roy Halladay(notes)in the right-hander’s Phillies’ debut.
“None,” Sabathia said about any added significance facing Halladay inspring training. “He’s a great pitcher. If I face him in the season, I’llprobably be more concerned because I’ll probably have to hit.”
NOTES: Rodriguez faced Hughes in BP and hit a pair of hard shots to thewall. … To make room for Park on the 40-man roster, RHP Edwar Ramirez(notes) wasdesignated for assignment. … Cashman said he is not monitoring any othermajor-league free agents.
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Bucs hope for big things from McCutchen
February 28, 2010
BRADENTON, Fla. (AP)—A few days ago, a sleepy morning in the PittsburghPirates’ clubhouse was brightened when Andrew McCutchen(notes) walked into the room.
McCutchen was laughing, as usual, and soon other players were, too. Everyoneseemed to perk up as McCutchen quickly changed into his workout gear and headedonto the field.
At just 23 years old and with only 123 days of major league experience,McCutchen already is emerging as the team leader.
“Andrew carries himself with a maturity well beyond his years,” generalmanager Neal Huntington said.
“He’s got confidence,” manager John Russell said. “He’s been in thelimelight for years without even being there (in the majors). He’s the type ofguy who relaxes and has fun. That helps him play the game the way he does.”
A first-round draft pick in 2005, McCutchen for years was the lone brightspot in the Pirates’ minor league system. He nearly made the team out of springtraining in 2007, but former general manager Dave Littlefield wisely chose togive him more time to develop.
The past two years, McCutchen was among the final, tough cuts in springtraining camp.
“He went back to Instructional League in 2008, when he thought he probablyshould’ve been called up, and handled it better than anyone could’ve imagined,”Huntington said. “And he handled it well when he was sent out again last year.What we thought (would happen) toward the end of the summer instead happened in(June) and he hit the ground running.”
McCutchen made his debut June 4, the day after center fielder Nate McLouth(notes)was traded to the Atlanta Braves, and singled in his first at-bat. McCutchenwound up batting .286 with nine triples, 12 home runs and 54 RBIs out of theleadoff spot.
Baseball America named McCutchen its major league rookie of the year. Hefinished fourth in voting among baseball writers for the Rookie of the Yearaward.
This year, McCutchen’s spot on the roster is assured. He smiled when askedwhat he can do for an encore.
“Try to have an even better year,” he said. “Shoot high, work hard andhope for the best. I prepared myself well this offseason, so I want to have aneven better year.”
McCutchen started 108 of the team’s final 109 games. Yet, unaccustomed tothe grind of a major league season, McCutchen wore down by September.
“He geared his offseason workouts to make sure he’s a little stronger inhis legs,” Russell said. “He still has some things we think he can improve on:his throwing; his first step in the outfield; constant adjustments in hitting.He wants to be more aggressive on the bases, maybe steal a few more this year.He’s got a very good outlook this year.”
NOTES: Relievers Octavio Dotel(notes) (oblique) and Joel Hanrahan(notes) (elbow) are ontrack to begin their throwing programs by mid-week. … Tuesday, the Pirateswill play a charity game against the State College of Florida. Bryan Morris andDonnie Veal(notes) are among seven Pirates pitchers slated to work one inning apiece.… Paul Maholm(notes) and Ross Ohlendorf(notes) each will pitch one inning Wednesday in theGrapefruit League opener against the New York Yankees. Virgil Vasquez(notes), D.J.Carrasco(notes), Chris Jakubauskas(notes) and Brian Bass(notes) also are slated to pitch.
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Outfield could again hold key for Cubs
February 28, 2010
MESA, Ariz. (AP)—With Milton Bradley(notes) moping, Alfonso Soriano(notes) limping andKosuke Fukudome(notes) whiffing, the 2009 Chicago Cubs were done in by their $214million outfield.
Bobby Scales(notes) was called up after 10 1/2 years in the minors and asked to savethe day. Jake Fox(notes) was all-hit, no field. Sam Fuld(notes) was all-field, no-power. Firstbaseman Micah Hoffpauir(notes), thrown into the outfield to supply offense, batted.239.
What a mess.
Had Lou Piniella known last spring that Scales, Fox, Fuld and Hoffpauirwould combine to play 135 games in the outfield—and that Bradley would createmore havoc in the clubhouse than runs on the diamond—the Cubs manager wouldhave known his team would have had no chance to win a third consecutive NLCentral title.
One year later, the song remains the same: As the outfield goes, so goes theCubs’ offense. And this season, hitting will be even more important because thepitching is unsettled.
Bradley has been replaced by Marlon Byrd(notes), who is being asked to be the studcenter fielder the Cubs have lacked for decades. The signing of Byrd—comingoff a career year of 20 homers and 89 RBIs for Texas—lets Fukudome move fromcenter to right, where he is more comfortable.
Left fielder Soriano, limited to 116 games, 20 homers and 55 RBIs in hisworst season ever, says his surgically repaired left knee feels so good he nolonger has to ice it.
“We’d like to see his power numbers and RBI production go up,” Piniellasaid Sunday. “We’ve got to get that 20 into the 30s and those 50s into the 80s.Those numbers are very doable for a player of his caliber.”
Xavier Nady(notes) was signed to back up all three positions. Nearly fullyrecovered from a second Tommy John surgery, he could challenge for significantplaying time in right if new hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo can’t fix Fukudome’sswing.
“There’s no reason for ‘The Fook’ to hit in the .250s. He’s better thanthat. He should be hitting .285 or .290, driving in more runs,” Piniella said.“He’s made a couple of minor changes, so we’ll see.”
Fukudome did have a .375 on-base percentage and could be the leadoff hitternow that Soriano has been dropped to No. 6.
“With the guys in front of me, I should get a lot more RBIs,” Sorianosaid. Of his importance to the team, he said: “It’s not basketball, where oneguy makes a lot of difference. Everybody has to stay healthy.”
That includes Nady. The Cubs got next to nothing from fourth outfielder ReedJohnson(notes) last season, a big reason Scales, Fox, Fuld and Hoffpauir played somuch.
Nady, who batted .305 with 25 homers and 97 RBIs with the Pirates andYankees in 2008 before blowing out his right elbow last April 14, said he feelsfine hitting. He’s bringing his arm around slowly because, he said, “It’s yourcareer you’re playing with.”
He accepted Chicago’s $3.3 million contract offer because he likes theteam’s talent and because he loves Wrigley Field, where he has a .304 lifetimeaverage.
“The bleacher fans always ragged me when I was with Pittsburgh,” he said.“I’ll be excited to be on the other side instead of getting heckled for 3 1/2 hours.”
Of course, Cubs fans are infamous for turning on their own if players don’tproduce. Bradley was booed mercilessly, and Soriano also has been an object ofscorn.
If the outfielders do well in 2010, they’ll be cheered—and the Cubs willbenefit.
“Look, we’re not asking our guys to be superheroes,” Piniella said.“We’re just asking them to do what they were brought here to do.”
NOTES: RHP Angel Guzman(notes), who has been bothered by shoulder and kneeinjuries, threw 25 to 30 times from 45 feet Sunday and is scheduled to pitch offthe mound Monday. … Piniella said five pitchers would work in Thursday’sexhibition opener: starter Randy Wells(notes), followed by Sean Marshall(notes), J.R. Mathes,Mike Parisi(notes) and Esmailin Caridad(notes).
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Blue Jays won’t rush RHP McGowan
February 28, 2010
DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP)—Dustin McGowan(notes) was pitching to major league hitters onSunday for the first time in more than a year and a half.
Making Toronto’s opening-day roster is not a priority for the Blue Jays—and shouldn’t be for McGowan either.
“We’ve talked to him about it. That date is non-existent for us with him,”general manager Alex Anthopoulos said. “If it happens to fall on that date,great. If it happens a week later, that’s fine as well, even three month afterthat.
“This is a young guy who certainly has a great chance to be part of thisorganization for a long time and we want to make sure we get it right and nottake any chances.”
The 27-year-old last pitched on July 8, 2008, removed early in a gameagainst Baltimore with a sore right shoulder. Two days later he went on thedisabled list and underwent surgery July 31 to repair fraying of the labrum. Itfinished him for that season and last year’s as well. Then on July 9, 2009, hehad surgery to repair damaged cartilage in his right knee, delaying hisrehabilitation by about six weeks.
McGowan was scheduled to throw only in the bullpen on Sunday, without facingbatters, “but I talked with (pitching coach) Bruce Walton,” Anthopoulos said,“and our trainer signed off on it, and Dustin felt good and wanted to throw tohitters. We didn’t have a problem with it.”
McGowan said he threw 25-30 pitches in the bullpen and about 20 to batters.
“Actually, to tell you the truth, I was a little nervous all last night,”he said. “I didn’t know what to expect. But we didn’t call any inside pitches.I was just trying to get a feel for pitching again and just finding the plate.
“The important thing is that I got to do it and everything felt good. Ienjoyed it, having fun again.”
A couple of batters made McGowan look good, but he shrugged that off,saying, “They didn’t swing too much. That’s not their job right now.”
Manager Cito Gaston said getting McGowan back on the mound against hitterswas an important step.
“Big time, Gaston said. “He was one of the guys I really wanted to go overand watch. … So far, man, good. It would be really great if he could break(camp) with us. If he can’t, say a week or two later, whatever, we want him notto rush himself, but we want him to know how bad we want him.
“He’s a kid I’ve been pulling for, hard,” Gaston added. “You’d love tosee this kid have a career and not end it by having a bad arm. He’s someone Ithink of often as far as hoping he’ll get back, not so much for this team ormyself as for himself and his family.”
NOTES: OF Vernon Wells(notes) gets a check today for $8.5 million, the final thirdof the $25.5 million signing bonus the Blue Jays gave him in December 2006 whenhe agreed to a seven-year $126 million contract extension. … INF/DH RandyRuiz(notes), who wore No. 3 when he was a late-season call-up in 2009, gave the numberto 11-year veteran newcomer Alex Gonzalez, who wore it with the Red Sox lastyear. Ruiz now has No. 21.
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Verlander not focused on big contract
February 28, 2010
LAKELAND, Fla. (AP)—Justin Verlander(notes) says Tigers manager Jim Leyland can relaxif he is worried about his ace trying to do too much to justify his bigcontract.
“I can’t give any more than I’ve been giving,” Verlander said Sunday.
He has a point.
The 27-year-old right-hander led the major leagues in games started (35),innings pitched (240), strikeouts (269) and total pitches (3,937). He tied forthe lead in wins (19) last season before signing a five-year, $80 millioncontract.
The heavy workload comes with the kind of pitcher he is, Verlanderexplained.
“Being a power pitcher, you get more foul balls, more swings and misses. Ihave no problem with that and I feel like I’ve conditioned myself for that,” hesaid. “I’ve worked hard since I got here to be a workhorse, to go out there andthrow 130 (pitches) and still be able to come back and feel fresh.
“I don’t make a big deal over pitch counts; that didn’t start coming arounduntil recently, the last 10 years,” Verlander said. “Before that, you’d pitchuntil you weren’t getting guys out anymore.”
Leyland said he would have a chat with Verlander about avoiding thementality that may have affected him in 2008, when he had an off-year.
“He made a long commitment to us, we made a long commitment to him,”Leyland said. “The expectations are no different from if he had a one-yearcontract. I don’t want him to put an extra burden on himself now that he’s madethe commitment.
Verlander blamed his problems in 2008 on bad habits that he has sincecorrected.
“It’s a game of adjustments and I’ve talked about it before—in ’08 I wasstill trying to adjust to different things,” he said. “It didn’t work and itled to some bad habits so I nixed that, and I felt like last year was a programthat worked good for me, so I’ll stick with that.”
The contract, signed on Feb. 4, locks up Verlander through 2014. Thelong-term security won’t change anything on the field, Verlander insists.
“Every fifth day I’m on the mound, and it doesn’t matter whether I’m makingone cent or a billion dollars,” he said. “It’s not going to change the way Iam.”
Entering his fifth major league season, Verlander says the thought ofpitching his entire career with the Tigers appeals to him.
“I figure that’s something that doesn’t happen very often in this day andage in baseball,” he said. “The likelihood of me sticking around Detroit forthe rest of my career is slim, but you never know, and the first step is stayingthere for a little while longer than (the first years of eligibility for) freeagency. So we’ve got that under the belt, and we’ll see what happens.”
NOTES: Phil Coke(notes) will start for the Tigers in Tuesday’s exhibition openeragainst Florida Southern College at Marchant Stadium. Eddie Bonine(notes), EnriqueGonlaez, Cody Satterwhite, Fu-Te Ni(notes) and Joel Zumaya(notes) will also face the Mocs. …Jeremy Bonderman(notes) will pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays in Dunedin onWednesday, followed by Nate Robertson(notes), Armando Galarraga(notes), Ryan Perry(notes), BradThomas(notes) and Daniel Schlereth(notes). … Rick Porcello(notes) is scheduled to pitch against theBlue Jays in Lakeland, followed by Max Scherzer(notes), Dontrelle Willis(notes), AlfedoFigaro, Phil Dumatrait(notes) and Jose Valverde(notes).
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Romero, Lidge hope to be ready by opener
February 28, 2010
CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP)—J.C. Romero(notes) was throwing off of a mound for the firsttime since undergoing elbow surgery in October, and Brad Lidge(notes) was tossing hisslider for the first time as two of the Phillies’ top relievers try to getthemselves ready by Opening Day.
On Sunday, Romero was delivering 23 pitches—all fastballs—while Lidge,who is recovering from surgeries on both his elbow and his knee, was hurling 35of his own in just his third bullpen session of the spring—including sixsliders.
Both pitchers are maintaining their goal is to be on the Opening Day roster,but both said they didn’t want to rush anything, saying it would be OK if theyneeded a week or more of extended spring training.
The duo are an integral part of the Phillies’ bullpen, and were two keyingredients during the team’s march to the 2008 World Series title.
However, they both endured rocky 2009 seasons filled with injuries andsuspensions and suffered through the worst years of their respective careers.The Phillies hope the two can return to form in an effort to get the Phillies tobecome the first National League team in more than 60 years to reach the WorldSeries in three consecutive seasons.
After a perfect 2008 in which he converted each of his 48 saveopportunities, the 33-year-old Lidge had a miserable 2009. He was 0-8 with a7.21 ERA, allowed 11 home runs and led the majors with 11 blown saves.
As for Romero, also 33, he missed the first 50 games of the 2009 seasonafter a supplement he bought over the counter at a New Jersey GNC store wasdeemed to have a banned substance, androstendione, that Romero maintains heinjested unknowingly.
He followed that with an injury-riddled season that saw him throw just 16.2innings as he dealt with a torn flexor tendon that needed to be repaired atseason’s end.
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Rangers’ Borbon has lead for CF job
February 28, 2010
SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP)—Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington said the centerfield and leadoff starting jobs are Julio Borbon’s(notes) to lose.
“For me, Borbon is in the same position that (shortstop) Elvis Andrus(notes) waslast year,” Washington said Sunday. “It’s up to us to keep him relaxed and lethim be who he is.”
Borbon made his debut with the Rangers last season as a substitute for aninjured Josh Hamilton(notes) and hit .312 in 46 games. The 23-year-old entered thisspring as the leading candidate to replace Marlon Byrd(notes), who signed with theChicago Cubs in the offseason.
“We miss Marlon but we’re getting something in there to pick it up,”Washington said.
One distinct difference in the way Borbon will be used is that Washingtonplans to play Borbon every day, versus both right-handers and left-handers. Lastseason, Borbon was a meager 2-for-15 against lefties in the limitedopportunities he was given.
“I feel comfortable against lefties,” Borbon said. “I’ve never had anydoubts hitting versus righties or lefties. It’s a matter of coming back out anddoing it consistently.”
Flanked by Nelson Cruz(notes) and Josh Hamilton, with David Murphy(notes) and VladimirGuerrero(notes) also present, Borbon will have considerable help to rely on if needed.
“There are going to be days when things may not go right but he’s a youngkid who wants to learn,” Washington said. “He has a support group.”
NOTES: Rain washed out the scheduled workouts as well as the team’s “FanFest” scheduled in conjunction with their Surprise Recreation Complexneighbors, the Kansas City Royals. Pitchers slated to throw live battingpractice instead threw in the cages, hitters also moved into the cages andfielding drills were canceled. … On Monday, the Rangers play the first of twointrasquad games on the main practice field. Washington said Monday’s game willlast eight innings and Tuesday’s “five or six. It’s all for the pitchers.” …RHP Warner Madrigal(notes) has not thrown since feeling tightness in his right forearmon Friday. … LHP Derek Holland(notes) emerged from Saturday’s lengthy bullpen sessionwithout any pain in his right knee, which he sprained on Feb. 20. … RHP OmarPoveda will have Tommy John ligament replacement surgery on Wednesday.
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Reyes met with FBI about accused doctor
February 28, 2010
PORT ST. LUCIE, Florida (AP)—Mets shortstop Jose Reyes said Sunday he met withfederal investigators last week regarding a Canadian doctor accused of sellingan unapproved drug.
Dr. Anthony Galea is facing four charges in his country related to theunapproved drug known as Actovegin, which is extracted from calf’s blood andused for healing. His assistant also has been charged in the U.S. for having HGHand another drug while crossing the border in September.
Galea is known for using a blood-spinning technique—platelet-rich plasmatherapy—that is designed to speed recovery from injuries. Besides Reyes, hehas also treated Tiger Woods and several other professional athletes.
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“They just asked me basically how I met the guy and stuff like that andwhat he put in my body,” Reyes said. “I explained to them what he (was) doing.… I don’t worry about anything because I didn’t do anything wrong.”
SI.com reported Saturday night that federal officials have told severalathletes to expect grand jury subpoenas in the case. The Web site cited threeanonymous sources familiar with the investigation.
The New York Times reported in December, citing anonymous sources, that theFBI opened an investigation into Galea based in part on medical records found onhis computer relating to several professional athletes.
Reyes said he met with investigators for about 45 minutes at the Mets’spring facility after they contacted him Thursday morning. One of his agents,Chris Leible, also was present.
The Daily News of New York was the first to report Reyes had met withinvestigators.
Reyes, who missed much of last season with right leg problems, said he spentfive days in Toronto in September and was treated by Galea three times. Theshortstop was asked by investigators if he used HGH.
“They asked me if he injected me with that. I say ‘No,”’ Reyes said.“What we do there, basically, he took my blood out, put it in some machines,spin it out and put it back in my leg. So I explained to them that.”
Reyes said he felt better for a while after the treatment but his leg stilldidn’t respond when he tried to push it. He had surgery in October to clean upsome scar tissue remaining from a torn hamstring tendon behind his right knee.
Galea was arrested Oct. 15 after a search warrant was executed at theInstitute of Sports Medicine Health and Wellness Centre near Toronto. He ischarged with selling Actovegin, conspiracy to import an unapproved drug,conspiracy to export a drug and smuggling goods into Canada.
Galea’s lawyer, Brian H. Greenspan, has said his client has denied anywrongdoing. Greenspan also has said Galea has used HGH himself and prescribed itto non-athlete patients over the age of 40 to improve their quality of life, butsaid he has never given it to athletes.
The Times also reported in December that Galea visited Woods’ home inFlorida at least four times in February and March to provide the platelettherapy. Woods was recovering from June 2008 knee surgery.
During his public apology for cheating on his wife, Woods said anyallegations that he used performance-enhancing drugs were “completely andutterly false.” Greenspan has said the golfer is in no way linked to thecharges against Galea.
The investigation into Galea began when his assistant, who often drove thedoctor around, was stopped attempting to enter the United States from Canada.
Vials and ampules containing human growth hormone and Actovegin were foundin a car driven by Mary Anne Catalano, according to the Royal Canadian MountedPolice and U.S. federal court documents.
Catalano, a Canadian, told American authorities at the border in Buffalo,New York, that she knew the drugs were illegal and that she was transportingthem for her employer. According to an affidavit, Catalano also told authoritiesthat her boss instructed her to say she was coming to a medical conference ifshe were questioned about the purpose of her trip and also to say that none ofthe equipment was for treating patients.
Dr. Gary Wadler said in December that the International Olympic Committeebecame concerned about Actovegin in 2000 after it appeared during that year’sTour de France. The drug was placed on the banned list, then removed a yearlater because more evidence was needed as to whether it wasperformance-enhancing or damaging to athletes’ health, said Wadler, who leadsthe committee that determines the World Anti-Doping Agency’s banned-substanceslist.
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Ruiz, 32, hopes to stick with Blue Jays
February 27, 2010
DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP)—Randy Ruiz(notes) had bounced around the minors for 10 yearsbefore getting his first taste of the majors. This year he hopes to stick withone club: the Toronto Blue Jays.
He knows from experience, though, not to get his hopes up too high.
“I put no pressure on myself,” Ruiz said Saturday. “I would love to be upthere with the club but right now I’m just going to have fun and try to do whatI can do.”
Beginning in 1999, Ruiz was signed and released by the Reds, Orioles,Cardinals, Phillies (twice), Royals, Yankees and Giants before latching on withthe Minnesota Twins after the 2007 season.
In 2008 he got his first taste of the big leagues, if only for 22 games.
In 11 minor league seasons he batted .304, averaged 73 RBIs and was afour-time batting champion, two-time All-Star, International League Rookie ofthe Year at age 30 in 2008 and Pacific Coast Player of the Year last season.
“Everywhere I’ve been I’ve done well but it was a matter of being in thewrong place at the wrong time,” Ruiz said. “I was behind (Cincinnati’s) BenBroussard(notes) at one point when he was a big prospect. I was behind (Philadelphia’s)Ryan Howard(notes). When I was with the Yankees they had Jason Giambi(notes).
“These guys are superstars making multimillion dollars,” he added. “Allyou can do is sit and wait and not worry about what happens up there.”
By then, Ruiz finally learned a lesson that might have served him well: stayput.
“I was a free agent every year, and when I didn’t get promoted to the nextlevel I felt like I had to try somewhere else,” he said. “But I learned thatit’s always good to stay in one organization because they know who you are, theyknow what kind of person you are, know what kind of player.”
He spent most of 2008 at Triple-A Rochester before the Twins summoned him onAug. 1, and released him on Dec. 5. Twelve days later Toronto signed him. He hit.320 with 43 doubles, 15 home runs and 106 at Triple-A Las Vegas before beingcalled up by the Blue Jays, with whom he hit .313 with 10 homers in 33 games.
“I think he deserves a chance,” Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said. “Thekid’s hit everywhere he’s went. You put him in there day in and day out, DH himday and day out, I believe he’d hit you over 20 home runs. I think he’d driveyou in close to 80-90 runs and hit .280 or so in the big leagues.”
As before, Ruiz may have to wait his turn. For starters, he’s in competitionwith Brian Dopirak(notes) for a roster spot. And ahead of them on the roster are firstbaseman Lyle Overbay(notes), in the final year of his contract, and DH Adam Lind(notes).
“I like playing the field. I feel like I’m into the game that way,” Ruizsaid of his preference for first base. “But if it’s DH or (as a pinch-hitter)off the bench, that’s just as good. Right now I’m just happy to have a uniformon.”
NOTES: Rain washed out Saturday’s outdoor workouts. The Blue Jays spent theday in the batting cages and in meetings. … The Phillies and Blue Jays willplay two B games this spring, Friday at Clearwater and March 10 in Dunedin.
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Lots of rotation questions for Mets
February 27, 2010
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP)—The top of the New York Mets’ rotation is in goodhands again, with Johan Santana(notes) looking healthy this spring after season-endingelbow surgery last year.
After Santana, well, there’s a lot of ifs, maybes and question marks.
Mike Pelfrey(notes) regressed last year after a promising 2008 season. John Maine(notes)has struggled to stay on the field. Oliver Perez(notes) was so disappointing lastseason he was sent to the bullpen for a stretch. The top candidate for the finalspot in the rotation is coming off surgery to repair a torn right hamstring.
And the consensus is this group could be the biggest key to New York’sseason.
“The other four of us need to step it up,” Maine said before the Metsworked out Saturday. “We all need to go out there, we need to be healthy, weneed to be consistent.”
Health was a big issue last year, when 11 pitchers started at least fivegames. Maine missed much of the year with a balky right shoulder. Santanafinished the season on the DL after undergoing an operation to remove bone chipsfrom his left elbow. Perez was shelved following right knee surgery September 1.
Pelfrey made 31 starts, but slipped to 10-12 with a 5.03 ERA after winning13 games with a 3.72 ERA in 2008. The 6-foot-7 right-hander acknowledged all theinjuries played a part in him trying to do too much.
“You felt like you need to do more, you need to pick it up,” he said. “Ithink I did that, tried to go out there and do more than I was capable of attimes. You know, it didn’t work out, it didn’t work out that way. Havingeverybody healthy, ready to go, we’re going to be fine.”
The biggest enigma is Perez, who has dominant stuff when he’s on but hasstruggled to find the plate throughout his career. The 6-3 lefty averages 4.95walks per nine innings—the worst rate for an active pitcher with at least1,000 innings.
Perez agreed to a $36 million, three-year contract after he closed 2008 witha flourish under new pitching coach Dan Warthen, going 5-3 with a 3.77 ERA inhis last 20 starts. But last season was a disaster from start to finish.
He left Mets camp during spring training to compete for Mexico in the WorldBaseball Classic, but didn’t get much work and was way behind when he returned.He struggled with his motion because of knee problems, finishing with a 3-4record and a 6.82 ERA in 14 starts.
Now healthy, Perez’s mound sessions have been the hit of camp, and Warthenis cautiously optimistic about his prospects for a comeback season.
“This year, he has worked hard all winter long,” Warthen said. “He’sgetting the front foot open and the ball is coming out of his hand. It’s good tosee the life back on the fastball better than he had at any time last year.”
Maine also is feeling good after he was limited to 15 starts in 2009 due toshoulder discomfort, which frustrated him all season. He thought he would beback quickly after going on the DL in June but wasn’t able to return until Sept.13.
Maine had surgery in September 2008 to remove a lesion from the back of hisright shoulder socket, and he thinks last year’s problems stemmed from overworkfollowing the operation.
“I felt that I had to make up the time I missed by doing more sooner andharder and faster,” he said. “I didn’t know. I mean I just didn’t healproperly. I didn’t know any better and I learned and I modified things thiswinter.”
Jonathon Niese(notes) and Fernando Nieve(notes) are the top candidates in a crowded fieldfor the No. 5 job. Niese was regarded as one of New York’s top pitchingprospects before he injured his hamstring covering first base against St. Louison Aug. 5.
The 23-year-old lefty rehabbed over the winter, and Warthen also has beenimpressed with his bullpen sessions this spring.
“Everybody came in great shape,” Warthen said. “They’re looking like theyhave a mission in their eyes. I think Pelfrey, Perez, Maine are all throwing theball extremely well. I think there’s a great competition for the No. 5starter.”
NOTES: Manager Jerry Manuel said he doesn’t think RHP Kelvim Escobar(notes)(shoulder weakness) will be ready to contribute in any capacity at the start ofthe season. Escobar was being looked at as a possible eighth-inning setup guy.… Both of closer Francisco Rodriguez’s(notes) eyes looked puffy when he slipped intocamp for his workout. The right-hander is trying to stay away from his teammateswhile he recovers from conjunctivitis, also called pink eye. “It hasn’t goneaway at all,” he said. “Supposed to be seeing the doctor on Monday.” … TheMets tweaked their pitching probables for their first two spring games. RHPsBobby Parnell(notes) and Elmer Dessens(notes), and LHP Hisanori Takahashi were added to thelist for Tuesday’s opener against Atlanta. LHPs Pat Misch(notes) and Pedro Feliciano(notes)are scheduled to pitch Wednesday against the Braves, with Nieve moving back tolater in the week. RHPs R.A. Dickey(notes) and Tobi Stoner(notes) were posted for Thursdayagainst St. Louis.
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