Fantasy Camp Notes: Cards' Reyes starts strong
With spring training games getting into full swing, there's a lot more news to sift through. Here are some of the items from around spring training that caught our eye, and what they mean from a fantasy point of view:
• Anthony Reyes made a strong statement as he begins his bid for a spot in the St. Louis Cardinals rotation. He pitched three scoreless innings against a Mets lineup that included six "regulars" in the Cards' 7-0 victory. The team's Web site reports that both Mark Mulder and Matt Clement are unlikely to be ready for Opening Day. So somebody is going to have to be the fourth man in the rotation, and Reyes made a good initial impression as he competes with Todd Wellemeyer and Brad Thompson to be that guy.
• With Johan Santana ready to make his Grapefruit League debut for the New York Mets on Friday, perhaps nobody will have noticed John Maine's less-than-stellar outing on Thursday. Maine threw 45 pitches, allowed four hits and a walk and gave up three runs without being able to get out of the second inning. It's nothing to be concerned with yet by any means, but after a few more outings like this one, perhaps we'll be singing a different tune.
What everyone did notice, according to the Daily News, was that Duaner Sanchez was scratched from today's trip with what the Mets called "normal soreness." Manager Willie Randolph says there's no reason to be alarmed. "Sometimes you're a little sore or whatever," Randolph said. "It's early in the spring. Just pushed back a day. He'll be ready to go tomorrow. ... It's nothing to be concerned about." Forgive us if we're a little wary about Sanchez and his surgically repaired shoulder. If there's no Sanchez again on Friday, Randolph will have to be a world-class spin doctor to convince us not to worry.
• The battle for Pittsburgh's center field spot rages on. Nate McLouth and Nyjer Morgan both played on Thursday, with Morgan in left field. Although both contenders went 1-for-4, McLouth's hit was more memorable: a three-run blast off the Phillies' 2007 first-round draft pick Joe Savery. Round 1 to Nate, who is off to a better spring than pitcher Tom Gorzelanny. The left-hander was scratched from his scheduled start due to some minor irritation in his pitching shoulder, according to the Pirates' Web site. "I don't need to be a hero in Spring Training," he said. Although the team is downplaying the scratch, with pitching coach Jeff Andrews saying he could have pitched if necessary, Gorzelanny will nevertheless take the next three days off.
• Following up on what my colleague Tristan Cockroft said yesterday, it does appear that Joe Torre is putting his money where his mouth is when it comes to third base. In Thursday's spring training game, Torre started what the team's official Web site hinted may have been a sneak preview of his Opening Day lineup. Juan Pierre led off, followed by Rafael Furcal, Russell Martin, Jeff Kent, Andruw Jones and James Loney. In the seventh slot, there was Nomar Garciaparra and not Andy LaRoche. That left Matt Kemp to hit eighth, and he impressed, with a double and a single in three at-bats. Still, Torre made sure he had some wiggle room and emphasized that nothing is written in stone. "Opening Day lineups are noteworthy," Torre said, "but you can change it the second day."
• Many people have already declared Cameron Maybin to be the winner of the Marlins' center field battle, but his competition isn't going down without a fight. After going 0-for-3 on Wednesday, Maybin had two doubles yesterday in Florida's 15-3 win over Baltimore. But Cody Ross drilled a three-run home run in the fourth and Alejandro De Aza did him one better, blasting a grand slam off of Esteban Yan in the ninth. It is so on!
• Marlins starter Sergio Mitre lasted only three batters without recording an out before being lifted due to right elbow tightness, according to the Marlins' Web site. "I wouldn't say there was pain. It was stiff, real stiff. ... I went through my [pregame] bullpen just fine. It came out of nowhere," said Mitre. It's off to the doctor again for Sergio, who in 2007 went on the disabled list with a blister, suffered a pulled hamstring and then was shut down for the season due to fatigue. He's projected to be one of Florida's top three starters if he's healthy. If.
• The Associated Press reports that Yankees closer Mariano Rivera is scheduled to throw off a bullpen mound Friday and is not expected to make his first spring training appearance until Wednesday at the earliest. "There's no rush for Mariano, just like every spring," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Thursday. "Mo knows exactly what he's doing with his body. No one knows his body better than he does. He just takes it slow." This is part of the annual ritual for the 38-year-old Rivera, so there's no cause for alarm. It would be different if he were trying to come back from an injury, like Randy Johnson of the Diamondbacks. Johnson threw for the fourth time this spring on Thursday, throwing approximately 55 pitches with no setbacks, according to Jason Grey of ESPN.com Fantasy. "I'm not really going to push it by just throwing batting practice," said Johnson, who threw mostly fastballs. "What I got out of it was extending my pitch count, and I saw hitters in the batter's box. We'll see how I feel tomorrow and go from there." A fully recovered Randy Johnson would be a great gift for any fantasy pitching staff, though he'd probably use up a lot of wrapping paper.
• The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports that Bill Hall went to a local Phoenix hospital, and X-rays were negative on his injured right ring finger, which was hit while he fielded grounders in the morning workout. The early diagnosis was a lacerated nail bed, but it didn't seem to have any negative effects on Hall's play. In the first inning of the Brewers' game with Oakland, Hall made a diving catch on a line drive from Daric Barton, then got up and doubled off Mark Ellis at second. Just yesterday Jonah Keri of ESPN The Magazine reported that Ned Yost predicted better glove work from Hall, now that he has moved to third base. I think I'd like to know what numbers Ned Yost is playing in tonight's lottery drawing.
• If you're playing in a fantasy league where you get credit for extra-base hits, you might want to bench players facing the Kansas City Royals. Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com reports that Mark Teahen, who tied Jermaine Dye's club record with 17 outfield assists after moving to right field last season, will now bring that arm of his to left field, allowing for Jose Guillen to play in right field. "I was a little bitter at first,'' Teahen said, laughing. "Then I saw [Guillen's] arm and I was like, 'What can you do?' I feel like I can throw with anybody, but his is real easy. I have to get behind it and get my legs in there.'' With Teahen, Guillen and David DeJesus -- and their combined 31 outfield assists -- it will be the brave soul who attempts to stretch any single into a double against the Royals.
A.J. Mass is a fantasy football, baseball and college basketball analyst for ESPN.com. You can e-mail him here.
