FLB: Spring Training Notebook 2/26
• It's been three full days since you've gotten your Carl Pavano Ridiculous Injury Watch update, so I'll put ol' Carl up here at the top. Pavano was hit on the bottom of his left foot by a batted ball while pitching batting practice. The Associated Press reports that the foot "feels stiff," which is nicer than actually calling Pavano a stiff. This isn't supposed to be a serious injury, but please, please, please stay away from Pavano this year.
• Steve Finley signed a minor-league deal with the Colorado Rockies this weekend, and invited him to spring training. He'll be 42 this year, and could make the team as a reserve outfielder, but Colorado had better hope Finley doesn't end up a regular, because he's come down a long way from his 36-homer season in 2004. Last year in San Francisco (.714 OPS, six HR, 40 RBI) was disastrous.
• Angels manager Mike Scioscia told reporters he hasn't decided who'd be the leadoff hitter between Chone Figgins and Gary Matthews Jr.. A look at their respective career numbers as leadoff men (Figgins: .720 OPS, .342 OBP, 112 SB; Matthews Jr.: .801 OPS, .350 OBP, 18 SB) would tend to make you think Matthews Jr. would be the best table-setter available, especially because if Figgins hits ninth, he can run in front of Matthews (instead of in front of, say, Vladimir Guerrero). This is very much worth keeping an eye on.
• The Cincinnati Post reports that Reds manager Jerry Narron expects David Weathers and Mike Stanton to share the team's closer's role at the beginning of the regular season. That may be, but considering Stanton's record lately against right-handed hitters (1.48 WHIP in '06, 2.00 WHIP in '05), letting him close would be a decision of Marge-Schott-esque brilliance. There's a small chance someone like Todd Coffey or Bill Bray shakes things up, but for the moment, you have to assume Weathers gets April's save chances.
• Jamie Walker took a far worse hit than Pavano in a batting-practice session. Nick Markakis blasted a line drive right back up the middle, and Walker (who according to the Baltimore Sun wasn't using a pitching screen) was struck in the back of his head. Fortunately, Walker escaped with only a mild concussion.
• The Toronto Globe and Mail reports that Roy Halladay told reporters that he'll throw fewer cutters in 2007. "(L)ater in the year," Halladay said, "I had the most discomfort ... throwing that pitch." Considering Halladay was shut down early with forearm troubles that haven't necessarily completely cleared up headed into '07, this is significant. It could mean better health for Doc throughout this year, but it also begs the question: how much has Halladay needed the cutter to get batters out? Presumably, this will be a delicate balance all season.
• Grady Little (man, he's fun) told the L.A. Times that Wilson Betemit won't be platooned with Andy LaRoche or anyone else at third base this year. Betemit posted a .574 OPS in 74 right-handed AB last year (compared to .849 hitting lefty), but Grady says, "He hits balls like David Ortiz and they travel in any direction." Mm-hm. Well, it's been a little while since Grady managed Big Papi, so we'll forgive the memory lapse. Meantime, LaRoche has practiced in the outfield a bit, too, and will try and hook on with the big-league club as a backup option at a couple positions. Still, keep an eye on LaRoche once the spring training games start; if he's as good as he'll eventually be, he could change the Dodgers' mind.
• The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports Jason Isringhausen threw 34 pitches in a bullpen session on Saturday. Dave Duncan told the paper, "there were only four pitches where his delivery was not ... right." Izzy underwent hip surgery this offseason and missed the Cardinals' run to the '06 World Series, but the Redbirds are still counting on him to close, leaving Adam Wainwright in the rotation.
• Eric Wedge told the media that Grady Sizemore won't play in all 162 games this year, as he did in '06. Truthfully, that's probably good news for Sizemore's fantasy owners; while the young centerfielder still hit very well in September (.983 OPS), and thus obviously didn't wear down last season, there's no reason to go all Ripken in Cleveland. In the long term, streaks like that break a guy down. There's no way in the world Wedge rests Sizemore more than, say, a couple times a month.
• In other Indians news, as I discussed a couple weeks back, Wedge said he'd begin the year with platoons in left field, right field and first base, and that he might stay that way well into the season. This isn't tremendous news for owners of any of the players involved, except Casey Blake, who's likely to play first base against righties and right field against lefties. Dave Dellucci and Trot Nixon will man the outfield against right-handers, while Jason Michaels and Ryan Garko should see time against southpaws. The wrench in these particular works is Nixon's health; he told reporters this weekend he "didn't expect" to begin the year on the disabled list, but give him time.
• The Kansas City Star reported on Sunday that the Royals' first four hitters to begin the season in April will be David DeJesus, Mark Grudzielanek, Mark Teahen and Mike Sweeney (for as long as his back doesn't look like a bendy straw). Manager Buddy Bell said he was leaning toward first baseman Ryan Shealy fifth. Presumably Alex Gordon would hit sixth, at least until Sweeney gets hurt.
• Wade Miller's velocity still isn't any higher than it was in 2006, which isn't good. Lou Piniella told the Chicago Sun-Times that "Velocity's not the name of the game with Wade," but that's whistling past the graveyard. The Cubs have to be hoping with all their heart and soul that Mark Prior wins the fifth spot in the rotation; it's hard to imagine Miller improving too much on the 1.57 and 1.71 WHIPs he's posted in Boston and Chicago over the past two years, respectively.
• From the south side of town, the Sun-Times also reports that White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said, "I believe if Brian Anderson doesn't make the team, he should be playing at Triple-A to get his at-bats." This, too, is subject to change, but Guillen definitely made it sound as though Anderson gets first, second and third crack at winning the centerfielder's job, while Scott Podsednik tries to get healthy after sports hernia surgery and Darin Erstad tries out his infielder's mitt. If Anderson hits better this spring than he did last year (when he posted an awful .649 OPS in 365 big-league AB), he could be a decent late-round AL-only gamble.
Christopher Harris covers fantasy baseball, football and NASCAR for ESPN.com. You can e-mail him here.
