Who is this year's Ross Gload

Last spring, there was a lot of gloom on the pending roster and the undoubted inclusion of Ross Gload on it.  It looked like the Royals were so committed to Gload that nothing would stop them from bringing him back.  Then as spring training wound up, the Royals traded him for a player to be named later.  This year there are at least two places where they will probably have to trade or lose someone.  In the outfield, unless someone gets injured, one person will have to go (I am already assuming Brian Anderson starts in Triple A).  Of Podsednik, DeJesus, Ankiel, Guillen,  and Maiers, it looked like Maiers was the odd man out going into the spring.  He happens to be playing great; is out of options; and I will be totally torqued if he is cut or traded.  Any chance any of the others could be traded?

At infield, Callaspo, Bloomquist, and Fields are fighting for a spot.  That assumes that Aviles starts the year on the disabled list and that Gordon might start the year in Triple A on a rehab assignment.  Until Aviles comes back, Betancourt will have a job (I think), Getz is the second baseman and Butler the 1st baseman.  Oh and I forgot Kila who is also out of options and hitting well.  Somebody's got to go.  Fields might make it through waivers.  Callaspo probably has the highest value of the guys the Royals would trade - though it would tick off the fan base to trade the second best hitter last year.

Personally I am hoping Guillen gets traded for cash; Getz plays shortstop while Aviles starts the year at second; Betancourt gets traded for PTBNL; Fields gets through waivers; Gordon starts at Triple A.  Even with all that, I don't see how they can keep Kila, which bums me out (unless they traded Callaspo for someone good and Gordon could play opening day at third).  In any case, it seems to me that the Royals have more good players to give away than they have in the recent past.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.royalsreview.com/2010/3/20/1382625/who-is-this-years-ross-gload

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SB Nation Survey + Chance to donate $500 to a
charity of this community's choice

Ed. note: One of the main reasons they do this survey is to better tailor our content with you readers out there. If you have a second, click through and take the survey. It may also help get rid of the more annoying ads on here and replace them with stuff you might actually care about. Like monkeys. If we can get enough people on here to win the charity prize, I'm thinking about donating it to the Sunshine Kids, though I'm open to other suggestions.

>> Take SB Nation Survey

Hello sports fans! We're always striving to provide you with the best experience possible and it's been quite some time since we checked in with you.

So we're rolling out this survey to learn more about you and your sports world. It should only take about 10 minutes to complete.

We really appreciate your time and this is also going to help make a donation to a good cause.

By next Thursday (3/25) at 11:59pm PST the site that has the highest percentage of their community filling out the attached survey about their sports interests and consumption will win $500 to donate to a charity of their choice. We will leave it up to the discretion of the community manager(s) of the winning blog to decide how to choose the particular charity.

You can take the survey HERE

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WYR2WQT

Thanks for your support!

Read The Full Article:
http://www.crawfishboxes.com/2010/3/19/1381806/sb-nation-survey-+-chance-to

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Camelback Ranch – March 30th 7 PM PDT

Read The Full Article:
http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2010/03/camelback-ranch-march-30th-7-pm-pdt/

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Camelback Ranch – March 20th 7 PM PDT

Read The Full Article:
http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2010/03/camelback-ranch-march-30th-7-pm-pdt/

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Rockies 11, Angels 10: Rockies rally in ninth to
win

More photos » Ed Andrieski - AP

"Ryan, did you know that Purple Row turned your nickname into a verb that means 'to love?'"

Browse more photos »

You've probably read all the recaps of this game already, but to rehash all of it:

1. Eric Young Jr.--clutch. We still spilly Spilly. Wilin Rosario hits homers.
2. Jeff Francis had less-than-desired results during the first couple of innings.
3. The Rockies won.

Anything else?

Read The Full Article:
http://www.purplerow.com/2010/3/20/1383030/rockies-11-angels-10-rockies-rally

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3/20 Demolition Update (more pics added)

This first group of photos comes from Flickr member yankeefan1959 (hat-tip to Demolition of Yankee Stadium). As you will see, the entire upper deck behind home plate is now gone.



(click image to enlarge)

The next three come from Bobby Jackson:

(click image to enlarge)

And this final batch is a few days older and comes from WCBS880's Tom Kaminski. To see all of his fantastic galleries, click here.




Images used with permission from WCBS880.com.

(click image to enlarge)

For the main demolition page click here.

Read The Full Article:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SlidingIntoHome/~3/7khS5loHr7U/320-demolition-upda
te.html

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David Robertson: Setup Man

From Andy McCullough:

That baby-faced 24-year-old, Yankees manager Joe Girardi says, might pitch the eighth inning this year. Of course, this is the spring. Of course, this could be just the manager talking. And of course, the team still needs to hammer out it?s starting rotation and see where pitchers like Alfredo Aceves and Joba Chamberlain land.

But Girardi says he has enough confidence in Robertson ? four runs in 3 2/3 innings this spring ? to use him as a ?guy who can pitch for us anywhere now.?

Robertson gained respect last October, when he threw 5 1/3 scoreless innings and earned a pair of extra-innings victories. When the team narrowed its roster for each series, Robertson was always on the cusp of sitting out. But as Chamberlain and Phil Hughes faltered, Girardi discovered he could turn to Robertson.

?I came to camp expecting him to be one of our guys,? Girardi said.

One thing I've noticed this spring is that it's not just Joe Girardi whose confidence in Robertson is growing. From announcers to writers to bloggers and fans, people's confidence in Robertson is on the rise across the board. Probably more so than anyone else on the roster. Mike Silva even asked if he should be the one people look at when thinking about the next Yankees closer, which is certainly a possibility down the road, especially if you believe that the Yankees plan to make both Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes starters (I do).
While it was happening I think a lot of people overlooked what Robertson did last year as he turned himself into a valuable reliever on a world champion team while racking up a sick 12.98 K/9. He was overshadowed by Hughes' emergence as a force in the pen, and probably never got the credit he deserved for what he did in 2009. At least not until getting out of that bases loaded nobody out jam in game 2 of the ALDS. Now, after an offseason to reflect, people are really starting to take notice.
On top of all the good he did last year, this year he's joined Phil Hughes and A.J. Burnett, and is working on his changeup. With his fastball and curve it's not a pitch he needs, but it's certainly a pitch he could use.

His only issue last year, and the only thing holding him back from being a lights-out reliever, were the walks, the 4.74 BB/9 to be exact. It's something that's plagued him throughout his career in the minors and now in the big league. Command, though, comes with experience and it's something he can definitely cut down. And if he does then maybe setting up or even closing isn't such a far fetched idea. It probably won't happen this season, but down the road expect big things from D-Rob in the Yankees pen.

Read The Full Article:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SlidingIntoHome/~3/vTGuhiDTeok/david-robertson-set
up-man.html

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Aceves' First Bump In the Road Could Be Costly

FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E NY Yankees012100011
6161Houston00024002X
8111
WP: B. Myers (3-0)
LP: A. Aceves (1-1)

If Alfredo Aceves was ever actually the lead for the fifth starter spot (I honestly don't think he ever was) today's performance against the Astros probably changed that. This afternoon in Kissimmee, Aceves got knocked around for five runs on five hits in 4.1 innings pitched. For a guy coming in to today with an ERA under 1 it was obviously his worst outing of the spring. With decision time coming soon for Girardi, this couldn't have come at a worse time for Aceves.

By pitching like he did Aceves was making it impossible for the Yankees to keep him out of the fifth starter discussion, but now that he's had a bad game it will be easy for the Yankees to focus their attention to the real candidates, Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes. While the Yankees have been saying this is a five-man race, the reality is that they want Joba or Hughes in the rotation. They haven't groomed these guys to be middle relievers.

In the fight for the last spot in the pen, Boone Logan continued to make his case throwing a scoreless inning. He allowed one single, struck out one, and lowered his ERA to 2.57. Royce Ring has only given up one hit this spring, so I have to believe he's still in the race too. I'm guessing he'll pitch tomorrow.

Alex Rodriguez had a big day for the Yanks offensively, going 2-for-3, with 2 doubles and 2 RBI. He's now hitting .320 this spring. Brett Gardner also had a good day, picking up two hits including a triple, and scoring a run. Robinson Cano hit his first home run of the spring, a solo shot off Brett Myers in the 2nd. Mike Rivera, Eduardo Nunez and Colin Curtis each had RBIs.


ABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVGGardner, CF3120001.281 Vazquez, Jo, 3B2020000.222 3-Corona, PR-3B0000000.211Johnson, N, DH1100200.333 a-Hoffmann, PH-DH1000001.130Teixeira, 1B2010112.308 1-Golson, PR-CF2010001.316Rodriguez, A, 3B3022002.320 2-Winfree, PR-1B2110012.294Cano, 2B3111023.387 Russo, 2B-SS2010001.368Thames, LF3000022.107 Curtis, LF1001003.500Weber, J, RF3010010.550 Cervelli, C2010013.471Pena, R, SS3110011.214 Gorecki, RF2110001.143Rivera, Mi, C3011011.125 Nunez, E, 2B0001000.217Totals38616631024

a-Batted for Johnson, N in the 6th.
1-Ran for Teixeira in the 5th. 2-Ran for Rodriguez, A in the 5th. 3-Ran for Vazquez, Jo in the 8th.
BATTING
2B: Rodriguez, A 2 (3, Myers, Myers), Pena, R (1, Myers), Rivera, Mi (2, Myers), Vazquez, Jo (3, Daigle).
3B: Gardner (2, Myers), Gorecki (1, Daigle).
HR: Cano (1, 2nd inning off Myers, 0 on, 0 out).
TB: Gardner 4; Vazquez, Jo 3; Teixeira; Golson; Rodriguez, A 4; Winfree; Cano 4; Russo; Weber, J; Cervelli; Pena, R 2; Gorecki 3; Rivera, Mi 2.
RBI: Cano (4), Rodriguez, A 2 (6), Rivera, Mi (2), Nunez, E (3), Curtis (8).
2-out RBI: Rodriguez, A 2; Rivera, Mi.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cano; Gardner; Thames 2; Cervelli 2; Golson.
SF: Nunez, E; Curtis.
GIDP: Rodriguez, A.
Team RISP: 3-for-15.
Team LOB: 11.

BASERUNNING
PO: Gardner (1st base by Quintero, H).

FIELDING
E: Russo (2, throw).
DP: 2 (Pena, R-Cano-Teixeira, Russo-Nunez, E-Winfree).



IPHRERBBSOHRERAAceves, A (L, 1-1)4.15551203.77Melancon (BS, 1)0.22110102.84Logan1.01000102.57Moseley2.03220119.95
Tomorrow's Game

A nice pitching matchup tomorrow as A.J. Burnett and Justin Verlander square off as the Yankees take on the Tigers in Tampa. The game will be on YES and first pitch is 1:05 p.m.

Read The Full Article:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SlidingIntoHome/~3/4t5FqbwopLo/aceves-first-bump-i
n-road.html

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Castro and Snyder Cut from Big League Camp

The Cubs made their fourth round of roster cuts following Saturday's split-squad games. Starlin Castro was assigned to minor league camp ... along with Brad Snyder.

Lou Piniella said Starlin Castro "had a phenomenal spring."

Read The Full Article:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Chicagocubsonlinecom/~3/rQ4h95NaDAo/cubsnews032010
.php

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Cubs Zplit a Pair - Cubs 4 A's 7 - Cubs 4 Royals
0

Game Seventeen - Cubs (ss) 4 A's (ss) 7
WP - Ben Sheets (1-2) LP - Tom Gorzelanny (0-1) Save - None

Game Eighteen - Cubs (ss) 4 Royals (ss) 0
WP - Carlos Zambrano (1-1) LP - Edgar Osuna (0-1) Save - None

Sometimes the Cubs win, sometimes the Cubs lose ... on Saturday Lou Piniella's crew did both. Carlos Zambrano beat the Royals in Mesa while Tom Gorzelanny lost to the A's in Phoenix.

Carlos Zambrano pitched five scoreless innings and Ryan Theriot knocked in three with a double in the second. The story for the Cubs against the A's was all of the bases on balls. Gorzelanny struck out five but walked five in 3 2/3 innings ... four Cubs' pitchers walked nine batters and hit another on Saturday afternoon in Phoenix.

Read The Full Article:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Chicagocubsonlinecom/~3/w8ootcl-aqo/2010springame1
7.php

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