Blue Jays’ Romero wants to start opener
February 26, 2010
DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP)—Ricky Romero(notes) wants to be Toronto’s opening day starter.
But if he’s going to get that honor, Romero is going to have to convinceBlue Jays manager Cito Gaston that he’s ready.
As a 24-year-old rookie left-hander last year, Romero earned the No. 4 spotin the Blue Jays’ rotation. After April 19, his third start and second win, hepulled an oblique muscle and was sidelined until May 26.
Romero finished the season 13-9 with a 4.30 ERA over 178 innings, second onthe team to ace Roy Halladay(notes), and 141 strikeouts. Now with Halladay traded toPhiladelphia, the opening day starter is wide open.
Fantasy Baseball registration is now open. Join today!
Francoeur set for full season with Mets
February 26, 2010
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP)—Jeff Francoeur(notes) smiled as he bounced through the NewYork Mets’ clubhouse Friday morning, stopping to joke around with teammates ashe prepared for the club’s second full-squad workout.
The good times continued on the field, with Francoeur kidding around withhitting coach Howard Johnson between impressive batting practice sessions.
Yes, the former Atlanta Braves star definitely seems at ease in his firstspring camp with New York, and eager to see what he can do in a full season withthe Mets.
In this photo taken on Thursda… AP – Feb 26, 3:12 pm EST In this photo taken on Thursda… AP – Feb 26, 3:11 pm EST YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index = 1; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_lazy_images = [http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100226/capt.fbe82d0fef54452fa8fe44c74ff04311.mets_francoeur_spring_baseball_ny151.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=78&yc=1&wc=255&hc=283&q=70&sig=DPendToyBuEgXqtuYJnHbg--]; YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(window,load,YAHOO.Sports.articleLazyLoadCarousel.init); 1 of 2 MLB Gallery function prev_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index > 0) { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index – 1); } else { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index); }}function next_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index 0) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next); }*/}function goto_photo(p) { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { for(i = 0; i < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos.length; i++) { if (i == p) { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, ); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, none); } } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page) { YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page.innerHTML =(p + 1); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = p; } } update_buttons();}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init = function () { YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_prev, click, prev_photo); YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_next, click, next_photo); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = 0; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page = YAHOO.util.Dom.get(carousel_page); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos = YAHOO.util.Dom.getElementsByClassName(item, div, leadphoto); if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { goto_photo(0); }}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init();
“I’m ready to start and go through a whole year,” Francoeur said. “Not tomention, I’m ready to be on a team that was the Mets of the last three yearsbefore last year.”
One of the few bright spots during New York’s dismal 2009 season was theplay of Francoeur, who found his form at the plate after he was acquired fromAtlanta in July. At the very beginning of spring training, he looks as if he’sready to pick up where he left off last year.
“It looks like he’s swinging the bat as well as I’ve seen him swingthroughout his career, and that was even early,” manager Jerry Manuel said. “Imean he swung the bat very well for us last season toward the end. But he reallylooks impressive now.”
Francoeur looked lost toward the end of his time in his hometown. Theaffable right fielder slumped badly in 2008 and was demoted to Double-AMississippi for three games, a move that he found embarrassing. He was benchedfor a three-game stretch right before the Braves agreed to send him to New Yorkfor outfielder Ryan Church(notes).
After consecutive seasons with 100-plus RBIs from 2006-07, Francoeur had tostart over—with one of Atlanta’s biggest rivals, no less.
“It was weird,” he said. “You know the thing that was nice probably morethan anything is I played a couple games at home and then we started on the roadfor 10 days. It gave me kind of a chance to get acclimated to the guys, theprogram, so when we got back home I kind of knew what was going on.”
Manuel and Johnson went slowly with Francoeur at first, careful not to makeany major changes with the notorious free swinger in the middle of the season.He responded quickly to their tutelage and the change of scenery, hitting .311with 10 homers and 41 RBIs in 75 games with New York after a mediocre start withAtlanta.
“Some new voices sometimes can take you a long way,” Francoeur said. “Forme, that was a huge deal, being able to come over, kind of get back to where Iwanted to be and then really improve. I drove the ball those three months betterthan I have driven the ball in a long time, so I was very pleased.”
That only ramped up Francoeur’s excitement for this season, and histeammates also are anxious to see what the 26-year-old slugger can do now thathe’s fully adjusted to his new home.
“Obviously, having Jeff here for a full year is going to help things out,”third baseman David Wright(notes) said.
Everything has gone well during the first few days of camp. Francoeur’ssurgically repaired left thumb is feeling fine, and he continues to work withJohnson on his swing.
“Just trying to get ready, trying to get loaded back a little bit, whichwill help me see the ball,” Francoeur said. “They don’t want to take away myaggressiveness. My aggressiveness is one thing that makes me who I am. But, atthe same time, it would be nice to be able to maybe get into some better hittercounts, recognize stuff better.”
NOTES: All-Star closer Francisco Rodriguez(notes) slipped into camp to play catchbut stayed away from the team as he recovers from conjunctivitis, also calledpink eye. … RHPs Jack Egbert(notes), Clint Everts(notes), Tobi Stoner(notes), R.A. Dickey(notes) andJenrry Mejia(notes), and LHPs Jonathon Niese(notes) and Travis Blackley(notes) are expected to pitchduring the Mets’ intrasquad game on Monday. RHP Nelson Figueroa(notes) is scheduled tostart the exhibition opener Tuesday against Atlanta, followed by RHP FernandoNieve(notes) on Wednesday against the Braves.
Fantasy Baseball registration is now open. Join today!
New union head Weiner makes rounds
February 26, 2010
NEW YORK (AP)—New baseball players’ union head Michael Weiner may speak withmanagement officials during spring training to discuss possible changes to thepostseason schedule.
Following criticism by Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia and otherslast fall, baseball commissioner Bud Selig said he would like to tighten theschedule. Four extra days off were added in 2007 at the request of baseball’stelevision broadcasters.
“I expect that we’ll have discussions at some point during the month onthat,” Weiner said by telephone Friday after meeting with the ArizonaDiamondbacks and Colorado Rockies, the start of his first spring training toursince replacing Donald Fehr in December.
Weiner said there was a small amount of discussion about baseball’s drugpolicy. A rugby player was suspended for two years Monday by after the UnitedKingdom Anti-Doping authority said he tested positive for using human growthhormone.
Weiner said the players’ association and management must consult with theirscience advisers to determine whether the testing community accepts the validityof the HGH blood test that was used.
“I think we’re probably still at that stage,” he said.
Only after that would the sides bargain with each other over potential bloodtesting for major leaguers. Urine testing has been in place since 2003.
Weiner also spoke with players about collective bargaining, playerrepresentative elections scheduled for June and the need to form a negotiatingcommittee. Baseball’s labor contract, along with its drug agreement, is due toexpire in December 2011.
“It’s time to talk about preparation for bargaining in terms of playerssetting priorities and thinking through what’s important to them,” he said.
Weiner was hired by Fehr as a union staff lawyer in 1988, five years afterFehr became union head. Fehr retired in December.
Fantasy Baseball registration is now open. Join today!
Barry Bonds’ wife files for divorce
February 26, 2010
LOS ANGELES (AP)—Court records show Barry Bonds’(notes) wife of 12 years has filedfor divorce in Los Angeles.
Liz Watson filed to end the couple’s marriage on Thursday. She citedirreconcilable differences, and documents state the couple have already reacheda settlement agreement.
Details of the agreement were not included in the initial filing. Attemptsto locate Bonds’ attorney Friday were unsuccessful.
Watson withdrew a separation petition that was filed in June.
She is seeking joint custody of the couple’s 11-year-old daughter.
The former Pittsburgh and San Francisco slugger and Watson were married in1998.
Bonds’ first marriage to Susann Margreth Branco ended in a highly publicizeddivorce in 1994.
Fantasy Baseball registration is now open. Join today!
Morneau to be more open to resting
February 26, 2010
Justin Morneau(notes) knows how much the Minnesota Twins depend on him, which iswhy he has long believed that he could not afford to take a day off of work oncespring training started in late February.
After a back injury forced him to watch his teammates rally for the ALCentral division title without him in the final month of last season, Morneaumay have finally come to the realization that he can’t afford not to.
“I’m finally going to let myself relax and realize that spring trainingdoesn’t matter,” Morneau said in January at TwinsFest. “It’s just aboutgetting ready for the season. It doesn’t matter how many hits you get in springtraining. I’m going to be playing first base. I don’t need to be fully ready toplay that first game of spring training, I need to be fully ready to play thefirst game of the season.”
For years, Morneau has been one of the first Twins to report to springtraining in Fort Myers, Fla. The former AL MVP is famous among his teammates forhis 7 a.m. daily hitting drills in the batting cages, a ritual he uses to gethis powerful swing ready for the regular season.
Once the real games begin, he almost never sits out. He played all 163 gamesin 2008 and it finally started catching up to him last year. He missed the final19 games last season because of a back injury.
The Twins could tell that Morneau was overworked, so they couldn’t behappier that he was one of the last players to report to spring training thisyear. He finally showed up at Hammond Stadium on Friday, one day before theteam’s first full-squad workout.
“He knows he’s got a long spring training and a long season. It’s good thathe’s taking his time,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Friday in Fort Myers.
With the Twins behind in the division race in August, Morneau refused totake a day off to rest. As the season wore on, his body wore down.
He hit .220 with just three homers in 22 games in August, then batted .077with one home run in 11 games in September before being placed on the disabledlist with a stress fracture in his lower back on Sept. 15.
So he had to watch his teammates mount yet another thrilling charge to thecrown.
The injury didn’t require surgery, just plenty of rest for a player who hasalways viewed that as a four-letter word.
“To not be able to run out there with them when they were doing so well,it’s one of the hardest things I’ll ever do,” Morneau said.
He sat on the bench grinding his teeth and begging Gardenhire to insert himas a pinch hitter in key moments.
“Morneau grabbed his bat in the last two weeks and looked at me and said,‘I can do this’ at least three or four times,” Gardenhire said. “‘I could takethis swing Gardy.’ At least three or four times.
“I said, ‘Sit down. Put the bat down.’ He was chomping at the bit. Thatlast game, I looked at his face, you could see it on the bench. That was hard.That was really hard.”
Somehow, without their cleanup hitter, the Twins still managed to overtakeDetroit for the division title. But they were swept by the heavy-hitting Yankeesin the playoffs, and Morneau went into the offseason knowing that the team can’tcontend for the big prize without him.
“I think he’s going to listen to me now,” Gardenhire said. “I think weall see. I learned a little bit from it and I think he has too. We’ll have totake of ourselves a little bit. Lou Gehrig is safe. His record is safe. Don’thave to worry about that.”
Right fielder Michael Cuddyer(notes) filled in capably at first base for the finalmonth last year, and the Twins signed Jim Thome(notes) in the offseason, so they have afew more options now when the big guy needs a breather.
“It’s tough. The time when you can take days off is April, May and Junewhen your body feels good,” Morneau said. “So it’s hard. You feel good and youdon’t need a day off. But those are the days that you take off early and it willhelp you late.”
He will also cut out some of those early morning batting drills in springtraining as well in hopes of saving his energy for when it counts.
“I think Justin probably sees a little where he’s at,” Gardenhire said.“All these swings he takes per day, early morning, all that cage stuff. He’sfigured it out he’s got to limit himself with how beat up he’s gotten toward theend.”
AP freelance writer David Dorsey in Fort Myers, Fla., contributed to thisreport.
Fantasy Baseball registration is now open. Join today!
White Sox’s Konerko in last year of deal
February 26, 2010
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP)—Paul Konerko’s(notes) long run with the Chicago White Soxentered its 12th season Friday and the question he expected was waiting for himas he arrived at spring training: could it be his last?
Konerko’s five-year, $60 million contract signed in the offseason after theWhite Sox won the 2005 World Series will expire after this season. Konerkodoesn’t need to look farther than his own locker room to see the realities ofthe game and how it shifts.
Two of his middle-of-the-order mates of the last four years, Jermaine Dye(notes)and Jim Thome(notes), are no longer around. Thome spent the final month of last seasonwith the Dodgers and wanted to return. But when the White Sox decided to using arotating DH this season, he signed with the Twins. Dye, the World Series MVPfive years ago, slumped in the second half last season and has still not signedas a free agent.
Konerko, who will turn 34 next month, remains one of the franchise’s mostrecognizable players. He’s the guy who pulled out the baseball from the finalout of the World Series and gave it to a stunned and emotional owner JerryReinsdorf during a downtown celebration.
“This is who I am,” said Konerko, a three-time All-Star whose first seasonwith the White Sox was in 1999.
“People gave me a chance to play and from there I took it and ran and herewe are. I’m very lucky, whether it ends at the end of this year or a year fromnow or two years from now. Who knows what? … It’s been a great run. I’ve got aWorld Series at the very least out of it.”
Konerko wants to return, make no mistake. But he says, as many players dowhen they reach the final year of a deal, that it’s basically out of his controland it’s the White Sox’s move.
Last time he was playing on the final year of a deal, he hit 40 homers with100 RBIs.
He’d prefer not to have to address the topic after spring training ends.And, as he pointed out Friday, things worked out fine last time his contract ranout. If the phone rings with an offer of an extension, he’d pick it up atanytime—spring training or regular season.
“It really shouldn’t be a distraction. Let’s face it, this is what you dofor a living, you want to have that one contract where it sets you up and youdon’t have to worry about things,” he said.
“Well, I’ve had that, so you always want more on and off the field, but atthe same time I have everything in perspective—what’s important and whatisn’t.”
Konerko has long had a strong relationship with manager Ozzie Guillen, whonamed him captain. Guillen said he’s sure playing out a contract won’t botherKonerko.
“This isn’t the first time the situation came up to him and he played realwell when the first one did. That’s up to the organization, but I don’t think heis the type of player that will carry it with him,” Guillen said.
“I hope that situation doesn’t happen, I hope I can manage him next year,but that’s part of the game,” Guillen added.
Konerko batted .277 with 28 homers and 88 RBIs last season. With the WhiteSox, he’s a .280 career hitter with 319 homers. He said last year he was able tostay healthy and appeared in 152 games, calling it one of his most satisfyingindividual seasons. He appreciates the time frame players have.
“When you get to be 45, 50, you can’t re-create this atmosphere,” Konerkosaid.
“It’s a balance of that and the main thing is your play on the fieldusually dictates that. I say that only because it’s been crazy with a lot ofguys having really decent, solid years and having a hard time finding jobs oflate. So you never know that, but I can’t control that. I have to just go outand do what I can do and it starts today.”
Without Dye and Thome, the White Sox are expected to manufacture more runsthis season. Konerko won’t be swinging for the fences to compensate for theabsence of other power hitters.
“It’s a different lineup. I think we’ll hit a good number of home runs,probably more than people think,” Konerko said. “It might be more 15-to-25with a bunch of guys and we can still win games.”
Fantasy Baseball registration is now open. Join today!
Cubs’ Lilly may not be ready for opener
February 26, 2010
MESA, Ariz. (AP)—After yet another setback in what has been a rough offseason,Ted Lilly(notes) goes into the final year of his contract not knowing exactly whenhe’ll be ready to pitch for the Chicago Cubs.
Already recovering from shoulder surgery and a knee injury, Lilly missedmost of this week with a 103-degree fever and flulike symptoms.
“I haven’t been on my feet much at all in the last five days,” theleft-hander said Friday, when he returned to camp and did some light throwing.“I was in bed for 18 hours a day.”
FILE – In this Sept. 2, 2009 f… AP – Feb 19, 1:31 pm EST MLB Gallery function prev_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index > 0) { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index – 1); } else { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index); }}function next_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index 0) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next); }*/}function goto_photo(p) { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { for(i = 0; i < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos.length; i++) { if (i == p) { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, ); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, none); } } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page) { YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page.innerHTML =(p + 1); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = p; } } update_buttons();}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init = function () { YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_prev, click, prev_photo); YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_next, click, next_photo); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = 0; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page = YAHOO.util.Dom.get(carousel_page); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos = YAHOO.util.Dom.getElementsByClassName(item, div, leadphoto); if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { goto_photo(0); }}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init();
Manager Lou Piniella and GM Jim Hendry had been saying Lilly would miss theseason’s first few weeks. Lilly had hoped to prove them wrong, insisting hecould be ready by opening day, but he now realizes that’s unlikely.
“I’m just going to get back as soon as I can. I don’t know what that day isgoing to be,” he said. “I don’t want to start the season on the disabled list.I don’t feel good about that. I don’t like being on that list or associated withit in any way, shape or form.”
Lilly, the team’s lone All-Star last season, went on the DL last July withshoulder inflammation and had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee while he wasout. He returned to pitch the final six weeks and finished 12-9 with acareer-best 3.10 ERA.
He had arthroscopic shoulder surgery Nov. 3. He repeatedly said he wasprogressing well, but he was set back when he hurt his right knee early in camp.At the time, he said he might have been favoring his left knee.
Then came his illness. Lilly said his wife, Natasha, who is eight monthspregnant with their first child, nursed him back to health.
“Flu. Body aches. Head. Stomach. A little bit of everything,” he said.“Just standing feels good, being on my feet, being out of bed. It makes youreally appreciate your health when it’s taken away.
“We’ll work to get back as soon as possible. I would have liked to havebeen (ready for opening day), but even just five days makes it tough. Being outis going to cost me more than that.”
Lilly, who signed a four-year, $40 million contract before the 2007 season,has a 40-26 record and 3.70 ERA with the Cubs. He and two big-money teammates,Derrek Lee(notes) and Aramis Ramirez(notes), could become free agents after this season.
Though the Cubs still are trying to fill the rotation spot vacated by RichHarden(notes), who wasn’t re-signed after 2009, Piniella said he won’t rush Lilly.
“We’re going to take it easy with him,” Piniella said. “When we get himon the mound, it’s because he’s ready to go. He’s a hard worker, so we’ll gethim going in the program he was on.”
Right-handers Jeff Samardzija(notes) and Carlos Silva(notes) and lefties Sean Marshall(notes) andTom Gorzelanny(notes) are vying for the two open rotation spots.
“We’ll have a nice offense,” Piniella said. “We’ve got some work to dowith our pitching, though, we really do.”
NOTE: With veterans Kevin Millar(notes) and Chad Tracy(notes) available to strengthen thebench, Piniella said he probably won’t have to use pitcher Carlos Zambrano(notes) as apinch-hitter this season. Zambrano, who holds the team record for pitchers with20 home runs, went 1 for 7 as a pinch-hitter last season.
Fantasy Baseball registration is now open. Join today!
Weiner: Premature to discuss HGH testing
February 26, 2010
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP)—New major league baseball union chief Michael Weiner saidFriday that it’s premature to discuss the possibility of HGH testing forplayers.
Weiner said not enough is known yet about the testing.
Weiner made the comments after meeting with the Arizona Diamondbacks andColorado Rockies on the first leg of a 10-day visit to Arizona.
This is Weiner’s first spring training as the executive director of theplayers association after succeeding longtime union head Donald Fehr.
Fantasy Baseball registration is now open. Join today!
Webb feels good after throwing session
February 25, 2010
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP)—Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Webb(notes) feels good afterhis latest throwing session.
The former Cy Young winner is coming back from surgery on his right shoulderlast August. He threw 45 pitches on Thursday and calls it another step forwardin his recovery.
Webb expects to be ready to start the Diamondbacks’ third game of theregular season. Dan Haren(notes) will pitch the opener, followed by Edwin Jackson(notes).
Fantasy Baseball registration is now open. Join today!
Green Monster at new Red Sox spring home
February 25, 2010
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP)—The future spring training home of the Boston Red Soxwill have a replica Green Monster and duplicate the dimensions of Fenway Park.
The Red Sox, Lee County and Populous released preliminary renderingsThursday of the 11,000-capacity, $75 million ballpark, which is scheduled toopen in 2012 about 10 miles from the current stadium. Five practice fields willbe outside the main stadium, combining training camp for the Red Sox into onefacility from the current two.
The Green Monster will have a manual scoreboard and seats atop the wall,which will be 310 feet from home plate down the line. The right-field fence willbe 302 feet from the plate, and the bullpens will be beyond the fence inright-center, just as they are at Fenway.
Fantasy Baseball registration is now open. Join today!
