AL Appetizers
Travis Hafner’s renewed wallop (three homers in his first four games) has been overshadowed by Cleveland’s miserable 1-6 start. The Indians remain optimistic, but since 1974 only one team opening the season that poorly (2007 Phillies) reached the postseason.
The heightened expectations that accompany signing a four-year, $38 million contract have not deterred Royals pitcher Zach Greinke. The ace-in-waiting was victorious in his first two starts, striking out 16 batters in 11 innings.
Alex Rodriguez laced up the cleats on April 13, engaging in some light fielding and taking some swings. Odds are he’ll rejoin the Yanks lineup by the end of the month.
The wait may be over for Nick Markakis’ breakout season. Through his first seven contests, the Baltimore outfielder was batting a sizzling .370 with a homer, nine RBI and 10 runs.
Jed Lowrie’s plans to claim the Red Sox starting shortstop job were dealt a blow when he injured his wrist and landed on the 15-day DL. The damage is severe enough that it may require surgery.
Eric Chavez’s days as Oakland’s starting third baseman are numbered due to persistent shoulder pain. Nomar Garciaparra started five of the A’s first seven games at the hot corner. Chavez last clubbed 20 home runs in 2006 and hit just two during an injury-riddled 2008 season.
B.J. Ryan remains Toronto’s closer but is far from his former dominating self. Observers say his velocity is down, suggesting Ryan’s surgically repaired shoulder is ailing. Veteran middle reliever Scott Downs, who notched five saves last season, would likely replace him.
The Yankees’ decision to sign Nick Swisher is paying major dividends. Almost forgotten after a pitiful 2008 season with the White Sox (.219 BA, 135 strikeouts), Swisher is finding redemption in New York. He hit his third homer and (to help out the Yankees beleaguered bullpen) pitched a scoreless inning of relief on April 13. Swisher already has four homers and 11 RBI on the young season, and should continue accruing at bats even with Mark Teixeira hogging first base.
The Red Sox announced April 15th that starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka was being placed on the 15-day DL with what is being described as arm fatigue. Clay Buchholz will rejoin the rotation in his absence.
NL Nuggets
The rumor mill already has third baseman Garret Atkins on a fast track out of Colorado. Atkins is among those Rockies who has benefited from the “Coors effect,” hitting substantially better there than elsewhere (.337 career home BA, just .258 away), complicating Colorado’s ability to gain fair value in a trade.
San Francisco’s Pablo Sandoval hit a scorching .345 during a 2008 late season trial and was virtually handed the starting third base job this season. It’s early, but the hits aren’t dropping. In his initial 26 at bats, Sandoval was below the Mendoza line (.192 BA) with no HR’s or RBI.
It’s surprising Washington didn’t show greater patience with prospect extraordinaire Lastings Milledge, whom they demoted to Triple-A on April 14. Any team starting 0-7 can’t be taken seriously with talk of juggling the lineup in order to win now. Milledge should regain his batting stroke in the minors and rejoin the Nationals within a month.
Back-to-back poor outings have left the Mets Mike Pelfrey sporting an ugly 8.10 ERA and searching for answers. There doesn’t seem to be anything physically wrong but club sources indicate Pelfrey has not looked comfortable on the mound since early in spring training.
Two major contributors to Milwaukee’s disappointing 2-5 start are Ryan Braun (.192, no home runs) and Prince Fielder (.208, one homer).
Those predicting a return to the elite ranks of NL hurlers for the Cards Chris Carpenter may have been premature. He was pulled after three innings April 14 with a strained rib cage and will likely end up on the DL.
With the exception of Hunter Pence (.308, 2 HR’s), the Astros bats are MIA. For a team that relies heavily on the long ball to power their offense, a modest seven homers in their first seven games is an ominous sign. Manager Cecil Cooper may be unemployed if things don’t improve quickly.
Milton Bradley of the Cubs is resting a sore groin and is not expected to play until April 18. The oft-injured Bradley has accumulated 500 at bats just once during his 10-year ML career.
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