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Spring training: Florida0 / 7
- Blue Jays training camp (AP)
If a lesson a day keeps the editor at bay, I should be set. Highlights from my recent eight-day journey through the Grapefruit League:
DAY 1: Dunedin and the Toronto Blue Jays
Brett Lawrie wants to help his country. While Mike Trout, Bryce Harper and who knows how many others have opted out of representing the U.S. in the World Baseball Classic, Lawrie was quick to join Team Canada.
„“““It’s something I’ve always done,““““ he said about playing for his homeland. „“““It’s a situation where my country more or less needs me. Canada is where all this started for me. When I get a chance to give back and be around some Canadian guys that I haven’t been around, it’s a good thing for me.““““
WITRADO: Postcard from the Cactus League camps
Plus: Spring training scoreboard | Fantasy Source baseball Start Slideshow
- Prince Fielder (AP)
An offseason rule change might be abused. With many teams adding an assistant hitting coach to their staffs, they will be allowed to dress out an additional coach during games this season.
Tigers manager Jim Leyland has nothing against the addition but cautions the change could be abused.
Leyland said that when the rule was six coaches in uniform, many teams had seven.
„“““I hope that seven doesn’t mean eight,““““ he said.
– Tigers 2013: news | Schedule | Roster | Fantasy
Next
- Freddie Freeman (AP)
Tim Hudson isn’t near done. Hudson turns 38 in July and is entering the final year of a three-year, $28 million contract, but he isn’t contemplating retirement.
„“““I still feel fine physically and still love competing, still love the game,““““ he said. „“““I see me playing for a while.““““
His performance isn’t declining. In three seasons since returning from Tommy John surgery, Hudson has averaged more than 31 starts and 16 wins a season with a 3.19 ERA.
– Braves 2013: news | Schedule | Roster | Fantasy
Next
- Corey Brown (AP)
Jayson Werth’s left wrist still is an issue. Doctors told Werth he would need 18 months to regain all the strength in his left wrist after breaking it last May. At his spring training physical, he was told it might take two years.
Either way, Werth said the wrist is feeling much stronger than even a month ago.
Werth hit .312 after he returned last August but managed only two homers in 54 games. If Werth’s power isn’t all the way back, manager Davey Johnson has an easy decision to hit him second and put 20-year-old Bryce Harper in the three-hole.
– Nationals 2013: news | Schedule | Roster | Fantasy
Next
- Jeremy Hellickson (AP)
Shelley Duncan wonders, too. In the past two years, first his mom and then his younger brother have surgeries to remove malignant brain tumors. So, of course, Shelley thinks about the possibility that he could be next.
„“““It’s hard not to be paranoid,““““ he said as he reached out to find some wood in his locker.
Shelley reported that mom Jeanine and brother Chris are doing well in their fights http://fanscircles.net/. This is a family that has fought an incredibly difficult ordeal with remarkable courage and candor. Chris, in fact, recently returned to his job as a sports talk-show host in St. Louis (where he has become a star) MLB jerseys for sale.
Shelley is in camp on a minor league contract, trying to make the club as a righthanded DH and backup outfielder.
– Rays 2013: news | Schedule | Roster | Fantasy
Next
- Dustin Pedroia (AP)
Felix Doubront should listen to his mentor. The Red Sox weren’t thrilled that their 25-year-old lefthander showed up overweight and with a sore arm, but they believe they have the right man to help him find the right way.
Pedro Martinez, newly hired as a special assistant to general manager Ben Cherington, has been assigned to work with Doubront this spring. And the youngster can expect to get an earful.
„“““I believe he just doesn’t know. He hasn’t been taught that he’s going to be held accountable for his performance out there,““““ Martinez said. „“““You have to take that into consideration and be patient with him, and at the same time guide him through it.““““
– Red Sox 2013: news | Schedule | Roster | Fantasy
Next
- Mark Teixeira (AP)
Their bullpen is deeper. Mariano Rivera is reporting no problems, David Robertson and Joba Chamberlain are looking good and an under-the-radar signing they made about this time last year is ready to pay off.
That would be the two-year deal for righthander David Aardsma, the former Seattle Mariners closer. Aardsma says he is healthy-finally-and enjoyed a normal offseason. He made one appearance last September after missing more than two years because of Tommy John and hip surgeries.
– Yankees 2013: news | Schedule | Roster | Fantasy
Next
- Roy Halladay (AP)
Chase Utley looks great, for now. Manager Charlie Manuel praised Utley for working hard this winter to be ready to play in spring training games for the first time since 2010. But I’ve always thought the root of Utley’s right knee problems was that he worked too hard.
For the past two years, Utley essentially spent the first half preparing to play the second half. Now that he is set for the first half this year, I’m already wondering about the second half. But that will be a lesson for later, not spring training.
– Phillies 2013: news | Schedule | Roster | Fantasy
If a lesson a day keeps the editor at bay, I should be set. Highlights from my recent eight-day journey through the Grapefruit League:
DAY 1: Dunedin and the Toronto Blue Jays
Brett Lawrie wants to help his country. While Mike Trout, Bryce Harper and who knows how many others have opted out of representing the U.S. in the World Baseball Classic, Lawrie was quick to join Team Canada.
„“““It’s something I’ve always done,““““ he said about playing for his homeland. „“““It’s a situation where my country more or less needs me. Canada is where all this started for me. When I get a chance to give back and be around some Canadian guys that I haven’t been around, it’s a good thing for me.““““
WITRADO: Postcard from the Cactus League camps
Plus: Spring training scoreboard | Fantasy Source baseball Start Slideshow
An offseason rule change might be abused. With many teams adding an assistant hitting coach to their staffs, they will be allowed to dress out an additional coach during games this season.
Tigers manager Jim Leyland has nothing against the addition but cautions the change could be abused.
Leyland said that when the rule was six coaches in uniform, many teams had seven.
„“““I hope that seven doesn’t mean eight,““““ he said.
– Tigers 2013: news | Schedule | Roster | Fantasy
Next
Tim Hudson isn’t near done. Hudson turns 38 in July and is entering the final year of a three-year, $28 million contract, but he isn’t contemplating retirement.
„“““I still feel fine physically and still love competing, still love the game,““““ he said. „“““I see me playing for a while.““““
His performance isn’t declining. In three seasons since returning from Tommy John surgery, Hudson has averaged more than 31 starts and 16 wins a season with a 3.19 ERA.
– Braves 2013: news | Schedule | Roster | Fantasy
Next
Jayson Werth’s left wrist still is an issue. Doctors told Werth he would need 18 months to regain all the strength in his left wrist after breaking it last May. At his spring training physical, he was told it might take two years.
Either way, Werth said the wrist is feeling much stronger than even a month ago.
Werth hit .312 after he returned last August but managed only two homers in 54 games. If Werth’s power isn’t all the way back, manager Davey Johnson has an easy decision to hit him second and put 20-year-old Bryce Harper in the three-hole.
– Nationals 2013: news | Schedule | Roster | Fantasy
Next
Shelley Duncan wonders, too. In the past two years, first his mom and then his younger brother have surgeries to remove malignant brain tumors. So, of course, Shelley thinks about the possibility that he could be next.
„“““It’s hard not to be paranoid,““““ he said as he reached out to find some wood in his locker.
Shelley reported that mom Jeanine and brother Chris are doing well in their fights http://fanscircles.net/. This is a family that has fought an incredibly difficult ordeal with remarkable courage and candor. Chris, in fact, recently returned to his job as a sports talk-show host in St. Louis (where he has become a star) MLB jerseys for sale.
Shelley is in camp on a minor league contract, trying to make the club as a righthanded DH and backup outfielder.
– Rays 2013: news | Schedule | Roster | Fantasy
Next
Felix Doubront should listen to his mentor. The Red Sox weren’t thrilled that their 25-year-old lefthander showed up overweight and with a sore arm, but they believe they have the right man to help him find the right way.
Pedro Martinez, newly hired as a special assistant to general manager Ben Cherington, has been assigned to work with Doubront this spring. And the youngster can expect to get an earful.
„“““I believe he just doesn’t know. He hasn’t been taught that he’s going to be held accountable for his performance out there,““““ Martinez said. „“““You have to take that into consideration and be patient with him, and at the same time guide him through it.““““
– Red Sox 2013: news | Schedule | Roster | Fantasy
Next
Their bullpen is deeper. Mariano Rivera is reporting no problems, David Robertson and Joba Chamberlain are looking good and an under-the-radar signing they made about this time last year is ready to pay off.
That would be the two-year deal for righthander David Aardsma, the former Seattle Mariners closer. Aardsma says he is healthy-finally-and enjoyed a normal offseason. He made one appearance last September after missing more than two years because of Tommy John and hip surgeries.
– Yankees 2013: news | Schedule | Roster | Fantasy
Next
Chase Utley looks great, for now. Manager Charlie Manuel praised Utley for working hard this winter to be ready to play in spring training games for the first time since 2010. But I’ve always thought the root of Utley’s right knee problems was that he worked too hard.
For the past two years, Utley essentially spent the first half preparing to play the second half. Now that he is set for the first half this year, I’m already wondering about the second half. But that will be a lesson for later, not spring training.
– Phillies 2013: news | Schedule | Roster | Fantasy
