Day 1: Spring Starts Late Around Here: Padres 14,
Cubs 4

post from 6-4-2 ? an Angels/Dodgers double play blog on 19 March 2011 11:04:09 PM. © 6-4-2 ? an Angels/Dodgers double play blog

We arrived in Tempe yesterday surprisingly early yesterday, around 8:00 PM local time. That was pretty good considering we left home sometime between 12:00 and 12:30. The weather this time is warm, but not punishingly so; the 100+°F we routinely saw some years back in the Year Without Spring isn't in town, thankfully.

The Cubs played reasonably well this time — for maybe one inning in nine, but the rest of the time largely stank it up, Jeff Samardjia notwithstanding. The big offseason acquisition from the Rays, Matt Garza, turned out to be something of a catastrophe who only lasted three innings and gave up as many runs. But that was nothing next to Braden Looper's two-inning career burial that resulted in an earth-shattering eight runs in two innings, including a grand slam to nowhere-near-that-bitchin' Pads third baseman Chase Headley. My bet is that Looper, apparently off Tommy John repair, may yet have some miles in him, but they are not close to the majors, and Headley, who may yet start for the Pad People, is not the slugger he evinced today.

So spring. Al Yellon has more for the Northside faithful.

MLB recap

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Zito strong in Giants' 3-1 win over Royals

post from 22gigantes on 19 March 2011 11:03:55 PM. © 22gigantes

San Francisco Giants starter Barry Zito had another strong spring outing, giving up a run and two hits in six innings as a San Francisco Giants split squad beat the Kansas City Royals 3-1 in front of 12,216 sun-soaked fans at Scottsdale Stadium on Saturday.

Zito threw well and had good command for most of the game, throwing strikes and getting out of several jams. He definitely looks like he's ready for the start of the season.

The left-hander got all the support he needed with solo home runs by Cody Ross, Buster Posey and Aubrey Huff.

Ross hit his third homer of the spring off left-hander Bruce Chen in the second inning. Posey hit his third in the fourth, and Huff connected for his fourth in the sixth.

Earlier this month, Bruce Jenkins of the San Francisco Chronicle took a lock of flack from fans and bloggers alike after reporting that Zito?s spot on the Giants? roster wasn?t guaranteed. Giants manager Bruce Bochy immediately denied truth to the report.

Other notes:

The Giants have not lost two consecutive games all spring.
Prior to the game, closer Brian Wilson underwent an MRI which revealed a strained oblique muscle. He will rest this weekend and be re-evaluated on Monday.
Mark DeRosa has missed the past couple of days. Team doctors have ordered him to rest his surgically-repaired wrist in an effort to prevent tendinitis.
Bochy said he was going to try to get Huff more time in left field before the team breaks camp. Huff started 97 games at first base last season, 33 in right field and 24 in left field. Bochy?s decision could mean the team is considering keeping rookie first baseman Brandon Belt on the opening-day roster.
Second baseman Freddy Sanchez increased his hitting streak to six games
Darren Ford stole his ninth base of the spring.

GAME SUMMARY
Final score:SF 3, KC 1 [view box score]Winning pitcher: Zito (2-0) Losing pitcher: Chen (1-1) Save: S.Casilla (1)Game ball: Zito (6 IP, 2 H, 4 BB, 2 K, 1 ER)Top play: Ross' solo homer in the second put the Giants on the board firstGiant homers: Ross (3), Posey (3), Huff (4)Giants' record: 18-6Streak: Won 1Next up: OAK (ss) at SF (ss), Sunday, 1:05 p.m. PST [download press pass]
SF (ss) at CHC , Sunday, 1:05 p.m. PST [download press pass]TV/Radio/Web: vs. A's: none
vs. Cubs: KNBR Starters: vs. A's: Brandon McCarthy (0-0, 3.29) vs. Madison Bumgarner (1-2, 3.60)
vs. Cubs: Randy Wells (1-1, 1.29) vs. Marc Kroon (1-0, 3.00) Venue: vs. A's: Scottsdale Stadium
vs. Cubs: Mesa

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Team doctors tell DeRosa to rest

post from 22gigantes on 19 March 2011 11:03:55 PM. © 22gigantes

According to Hank Schulman (SF Chronicle), San Francisco Giants infielder/outfielder Mark DeRosa said team doctors have advised him not to play for a few days as a precaution against tendinitis in his surgically repaired wrist.

DeRosa, 36, insists there's no pain, claiming that the medical staff is just concerned about how many at-bats he's had so far this spring.

He was signed to a two-year, $12 million contract by the Giants last winter but missed most of the 2010 season after it was determined that the surgery he had after the 2009 season was "a total failure." DeRosa was batting just .196 with one homer in 93 at bats before he went on the disabled list on May 17.

It's the second bit of injury news that was delivered today by the Giants. This morning, closer Brian Wilson had an MRI taken on his left oblique which revealed a mild strain. He could miss Opening Day.

While the time off for DeRosa is being labeled "cautionary," don't be surprised if we hear more and more about DeRosa's wrist problems as the 2011 season progresses.

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Brian Wilson may miss Opening Day with strained
oblique

post from 22gigantes on 19 March 2011 11:03:55 PM. © 22gigantes

An MRI on Saturday revealed that San Francisco Giants All-Star closer Brian Wilson has a strained left oblique. Wilson will be shut down until at least Monday, when he will be reevaluated.

Wilson isn't expressing much concern, though.

"They know I'll be ready [for Opening Day]," said Wilson, who had missed time earlier this spring while dealing with a sore back.

That sound you just heard was the first major bubble bursting for the defending World Champs. Earlier this month, Matt Cain dodged a bullet when he experienced inflammation in his throwing elbow. A hearty dose of rest was all he needed to get back in the saddle.

Problem is, oblique strains can take a long time to heal and Wilson has only thrown five innings this spring

With Opening Day less than two weeks away, Giants skipper Bruce Bochy admitted that the injury is a setback for the club.

The good news is, the oblique is not torn. Wilson said he felt sore after his last outing on Thursday when he pitched one scoreless inning. Guess those green cleats weren't so lucky after all.

Jeremy Affeldt and Sergio Romo are next in line as closer candidates should Wilson be out for any extended amount of time. Bochy also mentioned Javier Lopez (sssh, don't tell my fellow bloggers who rely solely on sabermetrics to base their analysis).

RELATED: Is DeRosa hurt too?

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Prospect Prospectus: The Battery

post from Zell's Pinstripe Blog on 19 March 2011 10:24:35 PM. © Zell's Pinstripe Blog

As we head into the homestretch of Spring Training, many fans are wondering which of the Yankees highly touted prospects will make the team. My best guess is that only two will be on the Opening Day roster ? and one won’t be the guy everyone seems to think. Here’s a quick run-down, beginning with [...]

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Guillen: Peavy on track to start season (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 19 March 2011 10:15:28 PM. © MLB News Blog

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen thinks Jake Peavy is on track to start the season in the big leagues. Peavy, in his fourth start following shoulder surgery in July, had his longest outing of spring training, pitching into the sixth inning of the White Sox’s 8-3 loss to Oakland Athletics on Saturday.

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High & Inside: 3/19/11

post from Beyond the Box Score on 19 March 2011 10:04:23 PM. © Beyond the Box Score

Links from around the baseball blogosphere...My Mother's Basement | Joe PosnanskiBy now, you've probably read this. I'll leave it here for those that haven't yet. People's instincts are better than just the facts | Tom TangoPeople are better at[...]

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Wilson out with strained oblique

post from 22gigantes on 19 March 2011 10:04:08 PM. © 22gigantes

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Garcia Open to a Relief Role and a Few More Notes
From Today

From Chad Jennings:

Just 24 hours after a series of injuries left some mild concerns about the state of the Yankees bullpen, the Yankees relievers came through with flying colors today. And Freddy Garcia said he wouldn?t be opposed to joining them.

?If I can pitch in the bullpen, I pitch in the bullpen,? Garcia said. ?The goal is to make the team, but that?s not in my hands. Try to do my best. I don?t pitch the way I want to pitch (today), but that?s the way it is.?

If he doesn't make the rotation it might be a good idea to keep the guy around as some insurance.

In other news:

- Andrew Brackman and Dellin Betances were assigned to minor league camp.

- Joba Chamberlain threw a max effort bullpen session earlier today and said he felt no discomfort.

?I feel great, and I?d rather have this happen at this time instead of this time next week,? he said. ?There would be no question (if it happened next week) that I wouldn?t be able to make the season. I want to head north with these guys.?

- Pedro Feiliciano threw a light BP session and is one more BP session away from returning to game action and says he'll be ready for opening day.

- Manny Banuelos will make an appearance on Monday following Bartolo Colon's start. This could be his final big league outing of the spring.

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Rangers face dilemma with RHP Feliz (AP)

Starter or reliever? Nolan Ryan and the Texas Rangers are going to have a difficult decision to make when it comes to Neftali Feliz’s role this season. Perez made his fifth start this spring in his attempt to move into the rotation after setting a rookie record for saves last year, but the Rangers’ bullpen [...]

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