Author: Andy Behrens

In professional sports – or at any level of any sport, really – you don’t want to be compared to a baby. If that happens, you probably aren’t being flattered. You don’t want to be accused of babying anything, or of being babied. You don’t want to be caught watching "Three Men and a Baby." You don’t want anyone to overhear you singing "Baby I’m-a Want You."

Baby = not good.

So the recent comments made to the New York Post by an unnamed member of the Mets could potentially lead to friction:

On a day [Jose] Reyes appeared in a minor league exhibition game against the
Cardinals – his most extensive action since returning last Wednesday from an overactive thyroid – one Mets player told The Post there is a prevailing feeling in the clubhouse that the shortstop is being “babied” because the organization fears a potential public relations hit should the shortstop reinjure his hamstring.

Reyes, of course, only appeared in 36 games last season due to hamstring troubles, and he was literally confined to a couch for two weeks this spring because of the thyroid issue. He’s expected to hit lead-off for the Mets, whenever they allow him to do something more than participate in minor league games at half-speed.

As the unidentified player told the Post’s Mike Puma, "You can get hurt as easily playing [a minor league exhibition] as playing on opening day."

There’s a massive difference in talent between Reyes and his understudy, Alex Cora(notes), so it’s easy to understand the frustration expressed by the mystery Met. New York is substantially more dangerous (and entertaining) with Reyes on the field. Of course he’s also a speed-dependent player, so if there’s any ongoing reason to be concerned about his hamstrings, perhaps he should be babied just a little. Out of respect to Reyes, however, we should consider using a different term.

"Indulged?"

"Mollycoddled?"

"Protected-as-if-he-were-a-$9-million-asset?"

Suggestions are encouraged, as are your projections for Reyes’ 2010 season…

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Photo via US Presswire

Other popular stories on Yahoo! Sports:
• MLB player hits mom with foul ball

• Official admits hoax in name-change story

• Tebow pops the question Heisman style

• As expected, Matt Lindstrom(notes) has officially been named Houston’s closer. Lindstrom has had an excellent spring (8.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 8 K), while Brandon Lyon(notes) has struggled with injuries (shoulder) and opposing hitters (5.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 2 K). No Astros reliever has been quite as impressive as Sammy Gervacio(notes) (11.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 14 K), so keep that name filed away, too.

JR Towles(notes) has won the position battle at catcher for Houston, edging prospect Jason Castro(notes). Both players have had solid springs (.308/.372/.513 for Towles, .313/.378/.344 for Castro), but that was a duel that really only mattered to NL-only managers.

• Ian Kinsler’s(notes) right ankle sprain is likely to force him to the 15-day disabled list to begin the season, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Details here:

Kinsler conceded that it’s looking less likely that he will be in the Opening Day lineup with only five days for him to get his legs under him and find his timing at the plate.

Playing it safe and starting the season on the disabled list makes sense to him.

"That was always a possibility," said Kinsler, who has only 10 at-bats in five spring games. "I’ll be there on Opening Day, but I just might not be in the lineup."

If you’ve recently drafted Kinsler, you really don’t get to complain. He’s been dealing with this injury for weeks, and he’s visited the DL in every year of his career.

• More unsurprising news here: Francisco Liriano(notes) has earned the fifth spot in the Twins’ rotation. He’s had a dominant spring, so the only real debate was whether he’d close games in Joe Nathan’s(notes) absence or take the mound every fifth day. Check the lefty’s exhibition stats: 20.0 IP, 2.70 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 30 Ks. Evans tried to jinx him on Monday, but even that powerful magic may not stop Liriano. He looks good; the ADP is friendly. 

• Lance Berkman(notes) is just two and a half weeks removed from arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, so it isn’t too shocking to learn that he had trouble running on Tuesday. Berkman’s knee apparently "swelled back up a good bit" after a near-workout. Details via MLB.com:

"When I tried to run, I just couldn’t do it," he said. "They’re going to back me down for a few days and see what happens."

[…]

"I was hopeful that by increasing activities that it wouldn’t irritate it, and apparently it’s going to," he said. "I need to drop down to
where I just swing a little bit. Today I took ground balls and moved around a good bit, and it didn’t respond like I wanted it to."

There’s a strong DL possibility here, too, which should lead to buying opportunities. 

Update, 9:40 am CT: Berkman has been officially DL’d by the Astros, retroactive to March 26. We’re still well within his original 2-4 week expected recovery time, so this isn’t such terrible news. If you’ve drafted him, don’t overreact. Find a one-week placeholder who isn’t Geoff Blum(notes). 

• David Freese(notes) has won the Cardinals’ third base gig, thanks to a solid spring performance: .302/.375/.444, 6 doubles, 1 HR, 10 RBIs. Freese hit 26 homers at Triple-A in 2008, so there’s enough power here to make him relevant in our game.

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Photo via US Presswire

Warning: You’re about to get roughly 1,500 words detailing another person’s fantasy draft. If that sort of thing doesn’t appeal to you, then I completely understand. You should click away right now. No hard feelings. To be totally honest, I don’t want to read about your fantasy team, either. But if you’re at all interested in the Tout Wars scene, please read on. The auctions were held on March 26 and 28 at Citi Field.

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That quote within the headline was actually lifted directly from Sunday’s Tout Wars live blog. At the time (and perhaps now), it was not an unreasonable thing to ask. The auction was only a few minutes old, and I’d already spent $218 of my $260 budget.

The exchange between chat moderators went like this:

10:00, Jason Mastrodonato: And here come the first basemen. Adrian Gonzalez(notes) $27 to Behrens, he now has $42 left.

10:01, Jason Mastrodonato: Justin Morneau(notes) $26 to Minnix.

[…]

10:01, Jonathan Norman: What the hell is Behrens doing?

10:01, Jason Mastrodonato: He’s spending. He doesn’t seem concerned.

First of all, that’s some solid live-blogging right there, given the crushingly dull nature of the event itself. It’s almost impossible to make live coverage of a fantasy auction at all interesting. Those two did not lack strong opinions.

And secondly, Jason was right. I wasn’t too concerned. I’d scripted most of my early buys and nominations – not the specific players, but the dollar amounts and positions. A few minutes later, after purchasing my third closer, I had just $27 remaining and a maximum bid of $14. If memory serves, there were owners at the table who still had more than $200 available.

But I’ll remind you: there was a plan. Not a live-blogger-approved plan, but a plan nonetheless. There had only been modest improvisation in my bidding to that point. Here’s what I’d managed to purchase in descending order of price:

$45 Hanley Ramirez(notes)
$42 Chase Utley(notes)
$30 Kevin Youkilis(notes)
$27 Adrian Gonzalez
$21 Jose Reyes
$19 Johan Santana(notes)
$17 Brian Wilson(notes)
$17 Heath Bell(notes)
$15 Carlos Marmol(notes)

Before discussing those specific buys, we should probably review the Tout settings. You can’t fairly evaluate anyone’s roster without knowing the format and the player pool. Tout Mixed is a 15-team league, and managers are required to fill 23 starting positions: two Cs, one 1B, one 2B, one 3B, one SS, one corner infielder, one middle infielder, five OFs, one utility spot and nine Ps (starters or relievers). There’s an innings minimum for your pitching staff (950), but not a max. (This obviously makes K/9 less of a concern than it would be in a Yahoo! public setup). After the auction, we hold a serpentine draft to cover four bench spots.

It’s a deep league, sure, but not excruciatingly so. If you’ve played in an 18-team or 20-team format – or you’re an AL/NL-only snob – then there’s nothing too intimidating about a 15-team mixer. The problem is that Tout, by design, is loaded with ringers. The competition is certainly tough enough to warrant a thoughtful pre-auction strategy. 

Clearly I had decided to take a stars-and-scrubs approach, though I’d spent a fair amount of time vetting the scrub population. I’ve participated in enough 14-team and 16-team industry auctions to understand what the $1 scraps look like at each roster spot. In a league where only 210 hitters will be purchased, the end-game outfielders are useful. If you’re lucky, they’re useful and they have upside. But the $1 middle infielders – and quite a few of the $10 MIs – are a powerless, speedless group.

So when the Tout bidding began, I’d long since decided that I’d be aggressive when the elite shortstops and second basemen were nominated. Same approach at third base, where I’m on record as having little interest in the middle tiers. I’d planned to sketch in my outfield for $20 or less, and the two catcher spots for a total of $10 or less. (We’ve already talked catcher pricing, here and here. The position rarely returns a profit at the high end – and Mauer is an abnormal catcher, so you can’t toss McCann or V-Mart into the discussion with him).

Pitching was somewhat more complicated. There are leagues where you can rely on the free agent acquisition process for saves, and there are others where you simply can’t. Last year, speculating on potential closers exhausted my time and my FAAB resources, and it netted me Jason Frasor(notes). You can trade for saves in theory, but in practice, it can be like trading for water in a drought. This year, I had decided to purchase respectable closers. We can all agree that I didn’t get any bargains – but again, that’s not where I intended to look for them.

Santana was really the only unplanned purchase among my first nine buys, and that was about perceived value. Lincecum had just gone for $32 and Halladay for $29. The post-surgery discount on Johan was a little too tempting. He might very well have been my best early buy (Reyes at $21 is a candidate, too), but the pre-auction plan was to shop for starters exclusively in the $3-$9 bin. That’s where guys like Oswalt ($8), Zambrano ($5), Slowey ($7), Scherzer ($9), Lilly ($5), Strasburg ($5), Kuroda ($3), Harden ($7) and Price ($6) could ultimately be found. (Non-sleepers like Nolasco, Hanson, Jimenez and Anderson went for quite a bit more).

When we hit the first beverage break, I owned nine players and had no real auction leverage. In an AL or NL-only league, this would have been a disastrous position – this is how you end up with, say, Omar Vizquel(notes) in your starting lineup. But mixed is different. Still, it was apparent that I wouldn’t be in a position to purchase anything of substance for quite a while.

This was the full extent of my buying over the next 90 minutes or so:

$2 Aubrey Huff(notes)

Yup, that’s it.

Now I happen to think Huff was a respectable purchase – he’ll begin the season as a cleanup hitter, after all. But it wasn’t particularly satisfying to sit through other people’s bidding wars, even if I didn’t need what they were buying.

During this self-imposed lull in the middle of the auction, I did manage to shape the end-game outfield pool to a certain extent. That was a small victory. I nominated a handful of lower-ceiling players who were likely to command follow-up bids. It was selective outfield pruning. You’ll see the results below. I also tossed a series of middle-tier closers and cheap-speed options on the block, as a way to price enforce and protect earlier investments without actually bidding myself.

When we hit the second beverage break, I was no longer in an unusual cash position relative to the league, and I still had 13 spots to fill. Thus I was relatively active in the final hour. Here are the results:

$5 John Danks(notes)
$5 Nick Swisher(notes)
$4 Jarrod Saltalamacchia(notes)
$2 Dexter Fowler(notes)
$1 Ramon Hernandez(notes)
$1 Mark Buehrle(notes)
$1 Ricky Romero(notes)
$1 Erik Bedard(notes)
$1 Carl Pavano(notes)
$1 Chase Headley(notes)
$1 Cameron Maybin(notes)
$1 Scott Podsednik(notes)
$1 Gaby Sanchez(notes)

My catchers are awful, of course, but that’s not a position where I’m ever likely to invest. It became imperative that I not spend $4 on the difference between Hernandez and someone like John Baker(notes). Publicly, I’m hoping for 220 games, 20 homers and a .250 combined average from Jarrod and Ramon. Secretly, I’m hoping that Saltalamacchia can finally justify the ’07 hype. 

Here’s a fun fact about Nick Swisher: He hit 21 of last year’s 29 home runs away from Yankee Stadium. If he can find a way to clear the fence in baseball’s most homer-friendly park, then he’ll get seriously interesting.

I’m thrilled with my $10 outfield, though you might disagree (vehemently, violently). Fowler was a lucky buy. I happened to be quick and loud with my $2 bid; no one else had cash and/or open roster spots. In the NL-only auction later that day, he went for $18. And so did Maybin. And Headley went for $17. If any of those players fail horribly, I’ll only have to replace an outfielder in a 15-team league. That’s not overwhelmingly hard. This year, unlike last season, I’ll have speed to deal.

My reserve draft went like this:

Mark Teahen(notes)
Adam Kennedy(notes)
Randy Wells(notes)
Desmond Jennings(notes)

The lottery ticket in that bunch is Jennings. The Rays’ prospect stole 52 bases and hit .318/.401/.487 across two minor league levels in ’09. Joe Madden has called him, "a guy who can help us at some point in the season, there’s no doubt in my mind." Teahen and Kennedy are simply roster depth, and they happen to offer multi-position eligibility. (They’re more like scratch-off tickets than Lotto tickets; you can’t win a million, but you might win $15). Wells is a placeholder while I wait (and wait) for Bedard. At various points, he and Romero and Pavano will sit in favor of two-start pitchers. It’s that sort of league.

And that, for better or worse, is what the hell Behrens was doing.

You’ll find full league rosters here, thanks to the tireless efforts of Scott Swanay. Pick a winner. Pick a steal-of-the-draft. (For me, it was clearly Carlos Gonzalez(notes) to Trachtman at $10. I tried to bid-jump. Nearly snagged him at $9, but I could go no higher. Everyone else in the room was waiting to bid on Jay Bruce(notes)). Feel free to debate various auction strategies in comments. Or you can simply look upon my $1 Maybin with awe and envy.

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Photos via AP Images

Huston Street’s(notes) shoulder has apparently not improved through rest, so he’s decided to throw through the problem according to the AP. He reportedly hopes to join the Rockies at the end of April. Franklin Morales(notes), as you already know, is expected to get the first shot at saves in Street’s absence.

An MRI failed to reveal a significant problem in Street’s shoulder, but the soreness is nonetheless there. Here’s more from the AP:

Street said after back-to-back throwing sessions on Friday and Saturday “it didn’t go any better, but we are going to stay with the throwing program, see if we work through it.”

[…]

Street was shut down briefly on Feb. 26, and then again on March 11.

“I didn’t even pick up a ball for 11 days, and we hoped the long layoff would eliminate the problem, but it didn’t,” said Street.

That late-April return date seems fairly optimistic, given Street’s obvious frustration. He’ll open the season on the DL.

Morales’ last six spring appearances (6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 5 K) went much better than his first three (5.2 IP, 11 H, 10 R, 0 K), and you’ll recall that he saved seven games for Colorado last September. He’s buried in the pre-ranks (No. 418), which helps explain why he’s only owned in 16 percent of Yahoo! leagues. Get him. Enjoy him while you can.

If Morales fails, then (and only then) we’ll have to have the Manuel Corpas(notes) discussion. But not today. Everyone’s eager to get to the refreshingly minty closing grid…

• In case you missed the news, MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian reported on Friday that Jason Frasor(notes) has the edge in Toronto’s closer battle. Jays manager Cito Gaston had this to say: "It’s still up in the air, but Frasor was my closer last year. He hasn’t really done anything to lose that opportunity." Nor has Kevin Gregg(notes) really done anything to win that opportunity. Frasor of course has been the subject of various trade rumors. Don’t get too attached.

• Were you looking for some Frank Francisco(notes) propaganda? Well, here you go. "He’s rocking the strike zone," says manager Ron Washington.

• The Twins officially formed a bullpen committee over the weekend. Details here. It’s important to note, however, that Ron Gardenhire doesn’t necessarily plan to continue that arrangement indefinitely. This from the Star-Tribune:

…look for Jon Rauch(notes), Matt Guerrier(notes), Jesse Crain and even Jose Mijares(notes) to be on the mound in the ninth inning to try to close games out.

"And we’ll figure it out," Gardenhire said. "We can go through each day until we decide on one guy."

• If the Houston closer battle were an actual fight, the ref might have stopped it on Monday. Or Brandon Lyon(notes) might have called "No mas" after allowing five hits and two runs (one earned) to the Pirates. Matt Lindstrom(notes) is still sporting a 0.00 spring ERA; he’s given up only two hits and no walks over his last seven innings.

• Andrew Bailey(notes) (tennis elbow) has returned to spring action for the A’s, and every other injured pitcher in the Oakland ‘pen also received good news on Monday, too. You’re free to continue your aggressive early drafting of Bailey (ADP 92.8).

• Matt Capps(notes) pitched his first clean inning of the spring on Sunday, lowering his ERA to 7.20. He’s made 10 appearances thus far, and has allowed at least one run in six of them. I’m quietly buying shares of Brian Bruney(notes) and Tyler Clippard(notes). 

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Photo via Getty Images

Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire finally named his closer on Sunday. Then he named another. And another. And another. 

Here are the non-details, via the Pioneer Press:

"I haven’t named a closer yet, so we’re committee
right now. If we decide to go with one guy as we go along, we’ll go with
one guy," Gardenhire said. "But we’re going to start out, and we’re
going to look at a lot of different people and see what happens. We’ve
got about three or four guys that I think could do it." 

Jon Rauch(notes), Matt Guerrier(notes), Jesse Crain(notes) and lefty Jose Mijares(notes) all remain candidates for saves. Gardenhire will presumably make his ninth inning decisions based on match-ups and availability. Or he’s corrupt and looking for kickbacks. Not sure.

Per his usual, Gardenhire refused to put an end to the Francisco Liriano(notes) closer speculation:

Asked if that means Liriano is, once and for all, out
of consideration for the closer role, Gardenhire said, "Liriano is a
starter. He’s a starter." Then he paused and, as he has done each time
the subject is broached, added, "Unless we talk to him." 

The Twins are thought to be active in the trade market, so this unwillingness to name a closer makes perfect sense. If they were to acquire, say, Heath Bell(notes), then it could be viewed as a vote of no-confidence in whichever pitcher had been initially awarded closing duties. (This way, it will simply be interpreted as a vote of no-confidence in the entire ‘pen). In the near term, Rauch and Guerrier remain the best bets for saves. Rauch has closing experience; Guerrier was the eighth-inning guy in ’09. In drafts and auctions, you’ll generally find that Rauch gets the most attention, and Guerrier is the stealth play. He hasn’t allowed an earned run this spring and he was fantastic last season (2.36 ERA, 0.97 WHIP).

Still, there’s a decent possibility that the 2010 Twins will be led in saves by a player who isn’t yet on the roster. Please stay tuned. For now, try to think of the Minnesota bullpen as a sampler platter.

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Photo via Getty Images

Atlanta’s Jason Heyward(notes) won’t turn 21 until August, and his employer has a few million reasons to keep him in the minors for a month or two. But the Braves have decided that Heyward is their right fielder of now, not simply their right fielder of the future. Baseball’s top hitting prospect will open the season in the majors, as an everyday player. 

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s David O’Brien, the conversation between Heyward and manager Bobby Cox began like this:

Cox said he told Heyward: "I’m delighted to tell you you’re on the team, Jason, simply because you make us a better team."

Heyward is batting .366 this spring with four doubles, one homer, nine walks, three steals and thousands of dollars in property damage. In 2009, he hit .323 with 17 homers and 10 stolen bases across three minor league levels. There’s clearly a lot to like here for fantasy purposes, and the Braves are unquestionably a better team with Heyward in the lineup. Cox himself has offered bold comparisons:

Cox says the ball sounds different coming off Heyward’s bat. It’s a familiar sound, but one Cox says he has not heard in a long time.

"There’s a little sound off the bat," Cox said. "His line drives are kind of like ol’ Hank Aaron’s sound."

At Heyward’s current average draft position (228.4), he’s essentially a no-risk pick. If he fails – seems unlikely, but he’s only 20 – then you’ll only need to replace an outfielder. That’s hardly an impossible task. If nothing else, Heyward is a tremendous fantasy trade chip. Ignore him at your own peril.

You need to realize, however, that Heyward is also uncommonly young for his level. When Aaron was 20, he hit .280 with 13 home runs in 509 plate appearances. Willie Mays hit .274 with 20 homers and seven steals as a 20-year-old. If Heyward can simply tread water and post league-average fantasy totals, you should be impressed.

• Ben Sheets(notes) has had a brutal spring thus far (8.2 IP, 20 H, 16 ER, 5 BB), and he wasn’t exactly dazzling against a Triple-A lineup on Thursday. He pitched six innings against Fresno, allowing three runs, nine hits and one walk. Sheets struck out only three batters, though he reportedly hit 92 mph on the gun. You shouldn’t simply ignore him in drafts, but it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to bench him during the early starts.

• Brad Lidge(notes) (knee, elbow) is not expected to make a Grapefruit League appearance this spring. He’ll apparently be limited to minor league work. Earlier this week, Lidge allowed a run and two hits in one inning against various Double-A Pirates. His four-seam fastball reportedly didn’t hit 90, but "he said that’s typical in his early spring-training outings." Ryan Madson(notes) will get early save opportunities for the Phillies while Lidge continues to search for another five or six miles per hour. 

• Reds general manager Walt Jocketty refers to Aroldis Chapman’s(notes) back spasms as "just a minor setback." But Jocketty also told the Cincinnati Enquirer that "[Chapman’s] probably not going to have time to get stretched out (by the start of the season)."

The Enquirer likes either Mike Leake(notes) or Travis Wood(notes) to begin the year as the Reds’ fifth starter. Wood is a 23-year-old lefty who delivered impressive fantasy ratios (1.77, 1.04) at Double-A and Triple-A in ’09, while striking out 135 batters in 167.2 innings. Leake, of course, is one of our pet players. The right-hander was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft, and last year’s collegiate numbers were Strasburgian: 16-1, 1.71 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 24 BB, 162 Ks, 142.0 IP. Both pitchers have posted excellent spring stats. Thus, the battle rages on.

• For a long time, I’ve known that David Brown was awesome. But I had no idea that Heath Bell(notes) was similarly awesome. Do yourself a favor and check out the latest Answer Man over at Big League Stew. Here’s a free sample:

Bell: But I definitely believe in UFOs and the government … You know in "Men in Black," how the toaster’s been patented and TVs? I do believe that’s alien technology.

DB: The toaster?

Bell: I’m just giving you an example from "Men in Black" where they say the patent from the toaster and 8-track player is from alien technology. I believe that computers are from aliens.

DB: You’re not giving us humans much credit.

Bell: We’re not very bright.

Kudos to DB for asking the tough questions, like "Do you have an opinion on Jayson Werth’s(notes) beard?" and "Do you like to break stuff?"

They also discuss Bell’s Yahoo! preseason fantasy ranking. Heath seems pleased.

• Bonus blurb, 3:55 pm CT: Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports that Jason Frasor(notes) has the edge in the Toronto closer battle. Frasor’s name has been attached to various trade rumors this spring, and this news does nothing to drive down his price. Here’s Jays manager Cito Gaston, via Bastian:

"It’s still up in the air, but Frasor was my closer last year. He hasn’t really done anything to lose that opportunity."

Kevin Gregg(notes) has followed an unimpressive 2009 (4.72 ERA, 1.31 WHIP) with an equally unimpressive spring (5.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 K). Frasor hasn’t exactly been dominant, but he’s pitched scoreless innings in five of his six spring appearances.

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Photo via Getty Images

As expected, Phil Hughes(notes) has officially won the battle to be the Yankees’ fifth starter. The 23-year-old has posted a spring ERA of 4.15 with 10 Ks in 13.0 innings.

It would also be accurate to say that the fifth starter battle was lost by Joba Chamberlain(notes), who’s been absolutely miserable. Chamberlain has allowed 10 hits, 12 runs and seven walks in just 6.2 innings. He’s not only vanished from the Yankees’ rotation plans, but from public league fantasy draft boards. It’s tough to endorse Chamberlain at this point, unless you’re involved in a custom league that counts Holds. (There, the SP eligibility makes him particularly useful). He was of course outstanding in a setup role back in ’07 and ’08.

But enough about Joba. Let’s get back to discussing Hughes, a guy who was similarly brilliant in the eighth inning for New York in ’09. Despite his difficult surroundings – pitching in a hitter’s park, versus an A.L. East schedule – I’ll take the under on that 4.15 ERA. Many projection systems will do the same. Hughes delivered a 10.05 K/9 last season (8.05 as a starter), so if he’s allowed to pitch, say, 180 innings, he could very well finish among the A.L.’s top 10 in strikeouts. According to MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch, Hughes’ innings limit will be "slightly higher" than Chamberlain’s in ’09; Joba pitched 157.1 frames during the regular season and another 6.1 in the playoffs.

At Hughes’ current average draft position (214.4), there’s basically no risk attached. We know he’ll get Ks. We can safely assume he’ll get run support. Don’t sleep on him in drafts or auctions. He’s no Kraken, clearly, but he can still be plenty useful.

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Photo via US Presswire 

• Albert Pujols(notes), the consensus No. 1 pick in fantasy drafts, has been dealing with discomfort in his lower back throughout the spring. It really didn’t seem like much of an issue initially, but in recent days he’s needed an anti-inflammatory injection and the injury has limited his playing time.

On Wednesday, however, Pujols was "swinging the bat without pain" according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. So the fantasy community can relax. There’s nothing to fear from Pujols. Unless you’re a stationary object in left field.

• Dodgers catcher Russell Martin(notes) is reportedly well ahead of schedule in his recovery from swine groin. Here’s the good news, via the Los Angeles Times:

"I was pain free," Martin said. "It feels awesome."

Martin was not ready to make any promises about opening day, but said his groin has healed to the point that he does not think it will keep him out of the lineup on April 5 in Pittsburgh.

If you’ve already drafted him, rejoice. If instead you’re drafting this weekend, then you can maybe elevate Martin to the next tier on the cheat sheet.

• Matt LaPorta(notes) is a solid candidate to be the post-hype sleeper story of the year. He’s 8-for-20 with six RBIs in spring action and, according to his manager, he’s "pretty much a lock" to make the club. This from the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

The condition of first baseman Russell Branyan’s(notes) back will go a long way toward deciding who plays first and who plays left field. Either way, it sounds as if Matt LaPorta is going to open the season in the big leagues.

"This guy is pretty much a lock on our club," said Acta, "especially taking into consideration Russell Branyan’s situation. We made it very clear from the very beginning that we were going to have this guy play every day, either here are in Triple-A."

No one’s ever really questioned LaPorta’s power potential – he’s hit 39 homers in 700 minor league at-bats since ’08. If he gets an extended opportunity this season, you’ll be happy with the results. And no, I cannot explain the Branyan signing.

• More injury-related relief: Dustin Pedroia’s(notes) wrist problem isn’t anything to fret about. The Boston Herald offers details:

The wrist is sprained, not badly, and Pedroia could be ready to play as soon as tomorrow’s game here against the Blue Jays. He thoroughly downplayed the injury yesterday morning in the clubhouse after he’d heard the X-rays results.

• Mr. Pianowski sent me a Matt Lindstrom(notes) link that I shall now pass along to you. Here it is. Lindstrom has apparently refined his slider, and the spring results have been encouraging (6.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K). Nonetheless, I’m terrified. Also, I think perhaps Scott was laying the groundwork for a Friends & Family trade offer. I’d hate to see innocent blog readers caught in the crossfire. 

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Photo via AP Images 

When discussing great plays, context is everything. We all know this. So I won’t try to convince you that the leaping, full-tilt, back-to-the-infield catch made by Ichiro(notes) on Tuesday – in a largely meaningless spring training game – was one of the all-time defensive plays. (Video here). It was similar in style to the Willie Mays catch in ’54, sure, but not similar in substance.

Mays, of course, made his spectacular grab in a tied World Series game – and he ran farther, then made a run-saving throw. Ichiro made his catch in the second inning of a Cactus League game.

But still, it was insane. If a play like that doesn’t get you in the mood for baseball, then nothing will.

Here’s Ichiro himself describing the catch to MLB.com (and sounding a little like an animal whisperer or a yoga instructor):

"You [must] have the imagery to go straight to the ball and not go around it. Once you go around from the left or the right you don’t get to that ball. When you first see it, you imagine where the ball will land. So you go straight to that point where the ball will drop and then you will see it from up top."

Seattle manager Don Wakamatsu simply said of Ichiro, "He has GPS."

After scanning the five additional links below, we encourage you to join us in comments. And please bring imagery. Do not go around the ball. 

• If you’re looking for a thorough sweep of the game’s best prospects, ranked and profiled, then Joe Posnanski has you covered. Reflecting on the ’07 MLB Draft, Joe asks an important question: "How in the heck did teams take 13 players in front of [Jason Heyward(notes)]?" Then Baseball Prospectus’ Kevin Goldstein drops in with a response. 

• More Heyward coverage: Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution explains why the top hitting prospect in baseball – a guy who’s batting .364/.523/.576 this spring – should begin the year in the minors.

• Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com checks in on Bryce Harper, the presumptive top pick in the 2010 MLB Draft. Harper presently plays for the College of Southern Nevada, but the Washington Nationals will likely employ him soon. In case you were wondering, "He is doing, as one scout put it, exactly what was expected of him."

• OK, so maybe we’re a little prospect-heavy today. Jenrry Mejia(notes) pitched another clean inning for the Mets, hitting 97 mph on the radar gun according to Tyler Kepner. The 20-year-old is thought to be in the bullpen mix for New York. He sounds fairly confident, too:

“I think I can pitch in the major leagues,” Mejia said. “That’s what I think. But whatever they do with me, that’s what I do. If they send me back to the minor leagues, I have to work hard to get to the major leagues. I have to work hard anywhere.”

• Albert Pujols(notes) is expected to return to the St. Louis lineup on Wednesday, just two days after "receiving an injection to calm recurring stiffness and discomfort in his lower back." Of course he’s been scratched from spring games before, and might be pulled at the last minute today. But it’s a relief to hear that he’s close. 

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Photo via AP Images

• The momentum in the fight for the open spot in the Yankees’ rotation appears to be with Phil Hughes(notes), despite his imperfect stat line against Philadelphia on Monday. Hughes went 4.1 innings versus the Phillies, allowing four runs on five hits (including three homers) while striking out six and walking no one. Manager Joe Girardi later offered this nugget: "Even though he gave up three homers, that was the best he’s thrown all spring." In Hughes’ previous spring start, the 23-year-old pitched four innings against Houston, giving up three hits and no runs.

Joba Chamberlain(notes) spent Monday facing his own team’s junior varsity, a group that Bill Madden of the Daily News called "The Randy Winn(notes) All-Stars." Chamberlain said, "I felt like I was back in the Florida State League." His performance was something less than dominant. This via Blogging the Bombers:

Chamberlain faced 19 batters in five separate “innings,” giving up two runs on six hits and one walk, striking out one. Chamberlain gave up three extra-base hits and recorded three double plays, throwing 75 pitches, 48 for strikes.

Alfredo Aceves(notes) was in the rotation race for a little while, but most observers feel he dropped out after yielding five runs to the Astros over the weekend. Girardi reportedly will declare in winner in the fifth starter battle on Thursday. The losers head to the bullpen, where they will immediately become relievers of interest for those of us in holds leagues.

• Also of interest to anyone in a league that uses holds: CJ Wilson(notes) may have earned a spot in the Rangers’ starting rotation. He hasn’t been overpowering this spring (4.50 ERA, 10K, 14.0 IP), but that hasn’t really been necessary, given the competition. The Texas bullpen seems a bit thin without Wilson, however. This from the Dallas Morning News:

If the Rangers move Wilson to the rotation, they are probably going to have to go with Neftali Feliz(notes), who has never pitched on back-to-back days, and Darren Oliver(notes), who at 39 has never been a true setup guy, as their eighth-inning guys in front of Frankie Francisco. They are going to have to hope that for the first time in his career, Francisco will pitch in 60 games. They are going to have to count on Darren O’Day(notes) being ready despite some inflammation (consistent with a bruise) in the back of his elbow and on Chris Ray(notes) finding his velocity and command in the final two weeks of camp.

If there are trouble spots, they might have to count on Alexi Ogando, who has never pitched in the United States, and Tanner Scheppers(notes), who has only Independent League experience.

Ideally, "fixing Chris Ray" would not be one of the pillars of your bullpen plan. 

• Aroldis Chapman(notes) was lifted from his appearance on Monday due to back spasms. He pitched only 1.2 innings on a day when he was scheduled for four. He lacked his usual triple-digit velocity, though he still managed to hit 97 mph. The plan, not surprisingly, is for Chapman to rest, receive treatment, then be reevaluated. For the moment, consider this only a small setback. 

• Mike MacDougal(notes) has been released by the Marlins after predictably struggling during the spring. He somehow saved 20 games for Washington last season (grit! toughness! closer’s mentality!), despite posting a 1.52 WHIP. Leo Nunez’s(notes) ninth inning role remains relatively safe.

• We have an update of sorts on Jose Reyes, via the New York Post:

Reyes is waiting to be cleared by doctors before he can begin exercising. He still has no idea when that time will come. He’s into the third week of Camp Shutdown, which was originally announced as a two to eight week period. He will not be given clearance until his thyroid levels return to normal. … Until doctors give him clearance, he is stuck on the couch.

So that’s not really much of an update at all. Your fourth round pick is on the couch, waiting for the Mets to call, watching some TV. New York is expected to rely on some combination of Alex Cora(notes) and Ruben Tejada(notes) – two non-factors in fantasy – to fill-in for Reyes at the beginning of the season.  

Update, noon CT: Whoa, hey. Suddenly the couch is a lonely place. This via MLB.com:

The Mets announced on Tuesday morning that their starting shortstop’s
thyroid readings have normalized and that he has been cleared to engage
in baseball activities. Reyes is expected to resume his Spring Training
upon his arrival in camp. 

Even if Reyes can’t make the opener, he apparently won’t be too far behind. This is outstanding news for those of us who recently spent 36 imaginary dollars on Reyes in NL-only dynasty leagues. (Ahem).

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Photos via US Presswire (Hughes, Joba) and Carlor (Wilson bobblehead)

Here’s the Matt Capps(notes) story in a nutshell: New uniform (pictured), same horrible pitching ratios.

Capps has made six appearances for the Nats so far this spring, and he’s allowed at least one run in five of them. This was his stat line entering Monday’s action: 6.0 IP, 9 H, 7 ER, 5 BB, 3 K. His spring ERA is 10.50, up slightly from last year’s 5.80.

Brian Bruney(notes) and Tyler Clippard(notes) are the appropriate speculative adds. Drew Storen(notes), the Nats’ closer in waiting, will be sent to Double-A Harrisburg for reprogramming; you’ll likely see him at mid-season.

Capps is arguably the scariest option you’ll find on the closing grid below. Kevin Gregg(notes) pitching in the A.L. East is a nightmare, too, but he doesn’t have the ninth inning for the Jays just yet. After the minty-fresh spreadsheet, please stick around for a few stray notes…

• Matt Lindstrom(notes) still hasn’t allowed a run this spring, although he allowed a million last season. He has six Ks and has only walked one batter thus far in spring. Brandon Lyon(notes) clearly has some catching up to do. Meanwhile, Sammy Gervacio(notes) has been fantastic. He struck out three batters in two innings against the Cardinals on Monday, allowing one hit and no walks. That’s 11 Ks and three hits in 9.0 innings for Gervacio this spring.

• According to the San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser, Andrew Bailey(notes) (tennis elbow) made 35 throws at a distance of 120 feet today. We’ve heard nothing that indicates he won’t be ready for Opening Day, but it’s an elbow issue related to overuse, so he’s not in the clear just yet.

• In case you somehow missed the Kerry Wood(notes) news, here’s a link. Here’s another. Chris Perez(notes) is the add. He’s buried in the Yahoo! ranks (No. 361), so drafters will need to dig a little.

• Baltimore’s Mike Gonzalez(notes) (back) has declared that he’s
about 95 percent right now, which means you can think of him as either John Grabow(notes) or Pedro Feliciano(notes). Your call.

• The Twins haven’t made anything official yet, and all the in-house closing candidates – Jon Rauch(notes), Matt Guerrier(notes), Francisco Liriano(notes) – are having solid springs. (Liriano is actually having a ridiculous spring, with 16 Ks and just one walk in 10 innings). Minnesota has also reportedly kicked the tires on Jason Frasor(notes) and Heath Bell(notes).

We can offer only a weak Rauch endorsement. Liriano is the most interesting play for fantasy purposes, since he’s SP-eligible and the K-rate will be excellent. Here’s some hype via the team’s Website: 

…Gardenhire continued to hint on Sunday that it’s a possibility the team could look to the left-hander as an option for the ninth inning.

"[There is] one guy that we all know that probably can be a closer," Gardenhire said in reference to Liriano. "He’s got all the closing stuff – punchout pitches, the whole package. If it’s the right thing and he wants to do it, we have to see. Let everybody stretch out and go from there."

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Photo via US Presswire

• When Minnesota drafted Joe Mauer(notes) with the top overall selection in 2001, it was considered by many to be a "signability" pick, because Mark Prior(notes) wasn’t interested in going to the Twins. Nine years later, Mauer has claimed three American League batting titles, two Gold Gloves, one MVP award and, as of Sunday, an eight-year, $184 million contract extension.

So he’s technically still signable, though the cost has increased modestly. It would be pretty awesome if the Twins signed Prior this week, too, assuming he’s relaxed his anti-Minnesota stance. They could then control both players at a total cost of roughly $184.3 million.

• By now you’re probably aware that the Nationals have sent presumptive ace Stephen Strasburg(notes) and presumptive closer Drew Storen(notes) to minor league camp. Those two are expected to open the season at Double-A. Strasburg’s spring line wasn’t too shabby: 9.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 12 K.

For a thorough review of the financial impact of Washington’s decision – and an excellent lesson in baseball econ – we refer you to Dave Sheinin over at Nationals Journal. Here’s his ETA on Strasburg:

…you may want to get your tickets now for the June 4-6 weekend series at Nationals Park against the Cincinnati Reds.

If Strasburg and Aroldis Chapman(notes) oppose each other in that series, this blog will collapse into an infinitely dense singularity. Or we’ll be forced to host a live chat. Either way, it will be a very special event.

• I’ve been routinely drafting Florida first baseman Gaby Sanchez(notes) as a late-round flier, so all these Mike Lowell(notes)-to-the-Fish rumblings are bothersome. Michael Silverman offered a fresh pile of Lowell rumors over at the Boston Herald on Sunday. Here’s the key sentence:

There are four teams to keep an eye on as possible landing spots for Lowell: the Astros, Rangers, Marlins and Twins.

You’d think the Marlins would be perfectly happy with what they’ve seen from Sanchez this spring. The 26-year-old is hitting .387/.429/.516 thus far, and he’s delivered a .302/.392/.485 career line in the minor leagues. Last year, Sanchez hit 16 homers in 318 Triple-A at-bats. He’s as ready now as he’s ever going to be. 

• If you’ve been paying attention at all during spring training, then Conor Jackson(notes) is already on your (deep league) fantasy radar. He’s hitting .394/.500/.697 with two homers and a stolen base through 13 games. The latest word from the D-backs is that Jackson is in the mix to bat leadoff in 2010. This via the Arizona Republic:

Manager A.J. Hinch sounded intrigued by the experiment after Sunday’s 4-3 loss to the Giants, in which he flipped-flopped Jackson and Stephen Drew(notes) in the top two spots in the batting order.

"It makes our lineup pretty interesting," Hinch said. "As much as (Jackson) gets on base, if I have a left-hander hitting behind him, he’s got the hole open. Conor will run. Even though he doesn’t have blazing speed he’s a very good base-runner. It’s possible."

Jackson, you’ll recall, was shelved for much of the 2009 season due to a bout with Valley Fever.

• Matt Holliday(notes) (ribs) returns to the lineup for St. Louis on Monday, but Albert Pujols(notes) is out due to continuing back issues:

A Cardinals official said Pujols was scratched from the lineup so that he could have his back examined after some stiffness this morning. Pujols missed a stretch of games with back stiffness earlier this spring, and he had several visits to a chiropractor for adjustments.

If you’re at all worried about this back situation – and I’m now speaking directly to Paul Singman – then maybe I’m willing to take Albert off your hands.

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Photo via AP Images

• OK, so this might qualify as the least surprising news of the spring: Philadelphia closer Brad Lidge(notes) (knee, elbow) has told reporters, "It doesn’t look like I’m going to be ready for the opener." However, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Lidge claims that he’ll "definitely" be ready for the Phils’ home opener against Washington on April 12. Lucky home fans. Ryan Madson(notes) should get any save opportunities in Lidge’s absence.

• Tommy Hanson(notes) is absolutely cruising through spring training (9.1 IP, 10 K, 1 BB, 2 ER), thanks in part to a few offseason improvements. This from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s David O’Brien:

After excelling with three high-quality pitches as a rookie, Tommy Hanson has improved his fourth, the changeup, to the point where he’s confident throwing it in almost any situation.

This is bad news for hitters.

“It’s a lot better pitch now, and I’m a lot more confident with it,” Hanson said after allowing one run and six hits in five innings of a 4-2 win against the Florida Marlins on Wednesday at Roger Dean Stadium.

That seems just a little unfair. The 23-year-old Hanson went 11-4 in 21 starts for Atlanta in ’09, delivering an ERA of 2.89, a WHIP of 1.18 and a K/9 of 8.18. He closed the season in completely dominant fashion, striking out 43 batters over his final 39.0 innings while posting a September/October WHIP of 1.03. And now he’s better.

Here’s the manager’s assessment of Hanson’s last spring outing:

“He was really good today,” manager Bobby Cox said after Hanson trimmed his spring training ERA to 1.93 in three starts. “He had the great changeup. He threw it a lot.

“It’s a great weapon. Any time you develop a changeup….”

• Ted Lilly(notes) (shoulder) might be able to join the Cubs’ starting rotation a bit earlier than anticipated. He threw to live, bat-wielding hitters on Thursday, and he’s scheduled to throw again on Saturday. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Lilly is "on pace for something close to a mid-April return to the rotation." Lilly is 34 and coming off a season in which he posted the most useful fantasy ratios of his career (3.10 ERA, 1.06 WHIP). He’s a terrific pick at his current Mock Draft Central ADP (182.2). 

• Carlos Beltran(notes) (knee) is hoping to return to "full baseball activities" in mid-April, according to the New York Daily News. "Every day I’m improving," he said. "I don’t feel the same way I
did last year." You might recall that he torpedoed many fantasy teams last year, so it’s nice to hear he’s feeling better. The spring propaganda has been encouraging, but with this specific player and this particular team, you should generally remain skeptical. Read this quote from the Daily News and check out the list of things Beltran isn’t yet doing:

"The big test will be when I start doing baseball activities every day,
when I start running, catching fly balls and standing out there on my
feet for a full day."

He’s telling you that "standing out there" and occasionally running will be a big test, one that he hasn’t yet passed. We all understand Beltran’s upside, and most sources seem to be forecasting an early-May return. But to me, that seems awfully optimistic. If I owned him, I’d hope to get 3.5 to four months of production, and my speed expectations would be modest. 

• In other Mets news, 20-year-old prospect Jenrry Mejia(notes) might be pitching his way into a bullpen role. After retiring three Red Sox hitters (Cameron, Reddick, Scutaro) on six pitches on Wednesday, Mejia’s spring ERA dipped to 1.08. He has eight Ks in 8.1 innings, and he’s allowed just five hits and no walks. Baseball America ranks Mejia as the Mets’ No. 1 prospect and No. 56 overall. He had a 3.14 ERA and 91 Ks in 94.2 innings in the minors last year. Watch closely; prepare to add.

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Photos via Getty Images

• By now you’ve probably heard the Huston Street(notes) news. He’s expected to open the season on the disabled list due to continuing right shoulder soreness. According to the Denver Post, manager Jim Tracy’s replacement plan looks something like this:

Tracy said Franklin Morales(notes), who converted seven saves last September, would get the first shot to replace Street, with Manuel Corpas(notes) also in the mix. Rafael Betancourt(notes), who will throw a simulated game Saturday to test his right shoulder, won’t be considered because Tracy doesn’t want to create an additional disruption.

[…]

Morales, 24, was terrific last September when Street was shelved with biceps tendinitis, converting all seven of his save attempts. He has added a cut-fastball this spring to his arsenal and has ironed out mechanical wrinkles in his last two outings.

"I will be ready to do whatever they ask," Morales said. "I have a lot more confidence now because I have done it."

Morales is the best speculative add here. His spring ERA is an alarming 11.74, but, as the Post hints, his last two appearances have gone well. (Note: I grabbed him in the Friends & Family League on Wednesday morning, then spent $7 on him in an NL-only auction later that day. It’s not as if I’m recommending someone who I’d never add myself. I prefer to confine those suggestions to video). If you’re adding Corpas, the move reeks of desperation. And it’s too early in the fantasy season to reek of anything.

Also worth noting: Colorado has apparently shown interest in Royals reliever Juan Cruz(notes).

• A’s closer Andrew Bailey(notes), the No. 6 overall RP in our preseason ranks, is dealing with elbow pain. Uh-oh. This via the team’s Website:

Bailey, expected to be down five to seven days, was diagnosed with lateral epicondylitis, a condition usually caused by overuse that involves soreness on the outside of the upper arm near the elbow.

"It’s just a little discomfort," the reigning American League Rookie of the Year said. "I felt something after my last outing [Sunday], so I figured I should have it checked out. I’ll just be doing some therapy and give it some rest."

"Lateral epicondylitis" is more commonly known as "tennis elbow." Bailey’s backhand is all messed up. He’s thinking about switching to a continental grip, but he’s a little worried about losing topspin. The A’s claim that he’s expected to be ready by Opening Day, but this is clearly a concern. Joey Devine(notes) (tendinitis), Michael Wuertz(notes) (shoulder) and Craig Breslow(notes) (tendinitis) are nursing minor injuries, too. Brad Ziegler(notes) could be the last man standing.  

• Bill Ladson offers additional details on the curious release of Elijah Dukes over at MLB.com, with several quotes from Washington general manager Mike Rizzo. Apparently the Nats attempted to deal Dukes, but found no takers. Ladson believes the team will either enter the season with a platoon in right field – longtime Pianowski favorite Willie Harris(notes) would be the main attraction in such an arrangement – or they’ll kick the tires on Jermaine Dye(notes), one of the worst defensive outfielders in baseball. (UZR check here. Yikes).

There are two important fantasy takeaways here, neither of which involves any Nats outfielder, past or present: 1) Before you cut a player who might be of interest to another owner in your league, offer a trade. Float the name out there, as Washington apparently did. You never know what you might be able to acquire.

And 2) It’s OK to own a high-maintenance player in fantasy, as long as they’re great. Chipper Jones(notes), for example, was a headache from ’05 to ’08, but the stats he gave you when he played were phenomenal, so the aggravation was acceptable. (When Chipper hits .264 with league-average power, as he did last year, then he’s tough to roster in fantasy). For the Nats, Dukes simply wasn’t good enough to justify whatever issues accompany him.

• Nothing is settled yet, but there’s an interesting position battle going on in Houston, where Jason Castro(notes) and JR Towles(notes) remain in the mix for catching duties. Both players are hitting over .400 so far this spring. While discussing the choice facing the Astros, general manager Ed Wade gave a tip of the cap to the fantasy community:

"This is not rotisserie league baseball or anything like that. We’ve got to take roster status, contractual status, service time, everything into consideration to try to make the right decision both for now and the long term," Wade said.

If we were drafting today (in a two-catcher format), I’d take Towles. He’s 11-for-20 with six extra-base hits thus far in the Grapefruit League.

• In other Houston news, closer candidate Brandon Lyon(notes) will make his official spring debut on Thursday. He threw a 21-pitch simulated game on Tuesday. Recall that Lyon is the guy being paid like a closer ($15M/3Y). Matt Lindstrom(notes) still hasn’t allowed a run this spring, however, and he’s only yielded two hits over 4.2 innings while striking out four. But he’s still Matt Lindstrom. Buyer beware.

• Bonus link: OK, it’s not baseball, but this clip is magic. Reminds me of every flight I’ve taken with Brad Evans. 

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Photos via US Presswire 

IMPORTANT NOTE: You still need to sign up for Tourney Pick’em, and nothing gives us more pleasure than crushing commenters at fantasy games. To satisfy our mutual interests, we’ve launched The Roto Arcade Invitational. Please head over to the Pick’em sign-up page, find league ID 55220, enter password "roymarble," then accept your beating. It’s really that simple.

Also, please check out Yahoo!’s Fantasy Bracket Live, Wednesday at 1 PM ET. You’re encouraged to call, email, and participate in chat. We’ll have live experts, eager to serve. Now let’s bullet…

• Under the headline, "No decision on Strasburg regarding Minors," MLB.com reports that Stephen Strasburg(notes) will very likely be sent to the minors. It should not surprise anyone if he begins the season away from the Nats, even though he’s pitched five scoreless innings so far this spring (5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 4 K). Here’s Washington general manager Mike Rizzo:

"In all probability, Stephen would benefit from going to the Minor Leagues," Rizzo said via text message. "The official decision has not been made."

[…]

"My stringent plan is, we are going to develop the player, to get the most out of him – not only for 2010, but for the long-term," Rizzo said.

Strasburg will be one of the all-time fantasy trade chips when he arrives. Of course he also has the stuff to make a Tommy Hanson(notes)-style impact. He’s certainly draft-worthy in mixed formats, though he’s a better play in head-to-head where September is much more important that April-August.

• In other (much more surprising) Nationals news, the team has unconditionally released outfielder Elijah Dukes. That’s awful news for those who’ve already drafted or bought Dukes in NL-only leagues, but it’s good news for…well, dunno. Willie Harris(notes)? Chris Duncan(notes)? Ian Desmond(notes)? We can assume there’s an interesting backstory here. Dukes presumably would have had some trade value.

UPDATE: According to Bill Ladson, "With Dukes gone, Justin Maxwell(notes) and Roger Bernadina(notes) most likely will battle for the starting job in right field." Both players have modest power and useful speed; Maxwell stole 35 bases at Triple-A in ’09, and Bernadina swiped 41 in ’08.

• In post-hype sleeper news, Cameron Maybin(notes) (groin) returns to action on Wednesday. He needs to get himself back on the field, because 20-year-old prospect Mike Stanton stubbornly won’t stop hitting (.316/.409/.842, 3 HR). 

• It’s entirely possible that the battle to be the Yankees’ fifth starter will continue indefinitely, until Joba Chamberlain(notes) does something to win it. But right now, just based on the spring stats and upside, you’d have to say the favorites are Phil Hughes(notes) and Alfredo Aceves(notes). Chamberlain is expected to pitch on Wednesday against Philadelphia. So far this spring, he’s allowed eight hits, 11 runs and six walks in just 3.2 innings.

• The initial reports that Ian Kinsler(notes) would miss only a week due to his ankle sprain are reportedly "too optimistic." Uh-oh. This from the Rangers’ website:

Kinsler is still a week away from playing in a Cactus League game and could be out longer than that.

The Rangers are still confident he will be ready for Opening Day, but he is not going to get a lot of playing time in Arizona, unless it is simply getting at-bats in "B" games and Minor League games.

"There is a realistic possibility that he is only going to play a handful of games here," assistant general manager Thad Levine said.

Kinsler has been something of a delicate flower thus far in his career. He’s done hard time on the DL in each of his four years. I couldn’t make myself pull the trigger on Kinsler with the 14/15 picks in the Friends & Family draft on Tuesday, not with both Ryan Howard(notes) and Miguel Cabrera(notes) on the board. (For those who like to stare at other men’s drafts, Pianowski, Singman, Liss, Erickson, Salfino and Del Don have all posted F&F recaps already. Because they think only of themselves, and not of you. I’ll be chatting on air with Jeff at 12:30 PM ET today, right here. Feel free to join us).

• BONUS NOTE: OK, we’re going 6U today, because the Denver Post is reporting that Colorado closer Huston Street(notes) "suffered a setback with his injured right shoulder on Tuesday," and will likely begin the season on the DL. Here’s Huston himself:

"It’s really frustrating – opening day is definitely in jeopardy," Street said this morning. "It would be the first time in six years I would not be ready to go."

Replacement options include Franklin Morales(notes) and Manuel Corpas(notes), both of whom are having rough springs, as well as Rafael Betancourt(notes), who’s dealing with shoulder issues. Ideally, you’d be able to stay away from this pileup. But if you’re in a deep league where all the closers and potential closers are owned, I’d go with Morales. (Mostly because I’ve been *torched* by Corpas and Betancourt before).

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Photo via US Presswire

Mike Lemon won his NCAA tournament pool last year. He also won yours, mine, and everyone else’s.

Mike is the defending champ of Yahoo! Tourney Pick’em, which gives him Miles Simon/Keith Smart status around here. He earned the $10,000 payday for submitting the best bracket of 2009. Mike’s winning entry is pictured below. He correctly predicted 15 of last year’s Sweet 16, then called every winner from the regional semis through the championship game. Mike claims to be a 31-year-old account executive who lives a quiet life in Kansas City, but to us he seems like a visitor from the future.

He graciously agreed to a short interview, and he offered up his 2010 Final Four. When you’re playing with house money, you apparently don’t mind sharing a few tips…

Q: Did you have a strategy when you approached your bracket last year, or were you simply picking games, looking at match-ups? It’s no easy trick to win any pool – even a small pool – when you’re picking a favorite (like North Carolina in ’09).

A: When making the picks for my fantasy bracket, I’m a firm believer that you absolutely must take it game-by-game. It’s all about the match-ups, particularly in college basketball. There are just too many variables to rely on a preconceived favorite.

I wish I could attribute my success to skill. However, anyone who has spent any amount of time around competitive athletics would tell you that in some way or another there is always luck involved. All it takes is one off night or lucky shot and your entire bracket is down the drain…maybe even a bad call. But the officials are scrutinized enough as is so we’ll leave them alone for now.

Q: Are you a college hoops junkie or more of a casual fan? From the looks of your Yahoo! fantasy profile, it appears you’re a Missouri guy. And yet you profited by picking against them.

A: College basketball has definitely risen to the top in a long list of my favorite sports to watch. I would have to say it has taken over second place, behind only the NFL. Growing up I paid far more attention to the professional sports, but this isn’t the golden age anymore. They’ve evolved into nothing more than revenue generating machines, completely devoid of anything remotely resembling loyalty or love of the game itself. I do, and always have, put a premium on loyalty. Having grown up in Missouri, I love MU, although my mother did her best to raise me Crimson and Blue (Kansas). Love you mom.

It’s funny you ask whether or not I picked against my beloved Tigers. I submitted two brackets last year…one with MU winning it all, and then of course the one that won.

Q: Is this the first time you’ve won a college hoops pool, or do you have a strong NCAA track record?

A: I’ve won several bracket pools in the past. Mostly just office pools or private games set up amongst friends. Needless to say, they were considerably smaller than Yahoo!’s, and didn’t pay off quite as well, either.

Q: Give me your Final Four this year, please.

A: OK…the Final Four. I just finished my first bracket and did it in a game-by-game, rapid-fire manor. The conclusion I have come to is Kansas, Kentucky, Pittsburgh, Villanova.

I believe that Tennessee, Marquette, Kansas St. and Baylor pose some serious threats, too. And Gonzaga would have to be my ultimate sleeper pick this year. We’ll see how things work out.

Q: And what’s your championship game? Will it make mom happy?

A: Actually I’ve got Kansas and ‘Nova. KU winning, 75-68. So we’ll see.

Q: What did you do with last year’s winnings? Did you retire? Hopefully you’re reporting the haul to the Feds. If not, they’ll be on to you now…

A: (Polite laugh). I wish I could say I invested it and I’m preparing to retire in a few months…unfortunately that’s not quite the case. I am, however, out of debt – for the most part – and have a few extravagant things to show for it all. And yes, the Feds are on to me.

Q: Any final thoughts? Smack talk? Mizzou hype?

A: There’s nothing I enjoy more than great competition, and Yahoo! has the best group out there. Good luck to everyone. I’m sure one of you will take my title this year, but you’d better believe I’m going to enjoy it while it lasts!

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Photos via Getty Images

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For many of you, the season officially began with Truck Day. For others, it was the day that pitchers and catchers reported.

But for an overwhelming majority of MLB fans, baseball isn’t really on the radar until the first installment of Closing Thoughts hits newsstands. Today is that day, gamers. Of course CT No. 1 usually sells out quickly, so you should probably just read it online. The only features from the print version that you won’t find here are the Wickman pictorial and the Urbina fan fiction.

Below you’ll find a snapshot of every team’s closing situation, with a few additional names of interest for those who need to draft holds or speculate on future saves. Please keep in mind that this is just an initial sweep. A few of the players listed here – like Phil Hughes(notes) and Sean Marshall(notes) – could very well pitch their way into starting rotations. It’s spring. Many things remain unsettled. 

For example, we don’t yet know who would close for the Twins in Joe Nathan’s(notes) absence, but we’re giving a slight edge here to Jon Rauch(notes). In Houston, Matt Lindstrom(notes) may get the first blown save if Brandon Lyon(notes) (shoulder) isn’t ready. Brad Lidge(notes) (elbow, knee) could miss the first week or two for the Phillies. Mike Gonzalez(notes) and Kerry Wood(notes) have sore backs, Octavio Dotel(notes) has an oblique issue, Huston Street(notes) has dealt with shoulder inflammation, and
Matt Capps(notes) can’t
seem to get anyone out. And the Jays could re-think this Kevin Gregg(notes) madness at any time.

So there are a few issues. If we’ve somehow disrespected your preferred RP, you may file a complaint in comments. Otherwise, please declare your favorite Nasty Boy…

(Note: Per our usual, ADP data is via Mock Draft Central). 

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• Houston first baseman Lance Berkman(notes) will have "surgery to remove loose particles from his left knee" and is expected to miss two to four weeks. He’s clearly no lock for Opening Day, so drafter beware. Luckily, first base is a ludicrously deep position. This short-term loss should not be too devastating for anyone. (Do we still call him "Fat Elvis," or is it strictly "Big Puma"? We’ll amend the headline as needed).

• Over at the Star-Tribune, Joe Christensen offers a few interesting notes about the developing closer battle in Minnesota. Please pay attention:

Asked if Francisco Liriano(notes) is a closer candidate, assuming Joe Nathan(notes) can’t do it, Gardenhire said every pitcher in camp is a candidate, aside from the team’s top four starters: Scott Baker(notes), Carl Pavano(notes), Nick Blackburn(notes) and Kevin Slowey(notes).

So that’s where they’re at. Everyone is a suspect; no one leaves this room. All of the candidates for the ninth inning role – Jon Rauch(notes), Matt Guerrier(notes), Pat Neshek(notes), Jose Mijares(notes), Liriano – currently have spring ERAs of 0.00, so it’s difficult to argue that anyone has clearly broken away from the pack.

• Mets shortstop Jose Reyes (glandular problem) is likely to open the season on the disabled list, and the team is reportedly tempted to throw Ruben Tejada into the major league lineup. Last year at Double-A, at age 19, Tejada hit .289/.351/.381 and stole 19 bases in 22 attempts. Baseball America rates him as the organization’s No. 9 overall prospect. Here’s a delightful quote about Tejada from Ike Davis(notes):

"He’s already a player, so I can’t imagine when he gets a little more ‘man-strength.’"

When I get my man-strength, look out, commenters. 

• Brian Roberts(notes) (age, achy back, malaise) has been given new anti-inflammatory medication, and will reportedly "need at least a couple more days for the medication to take effect before resuming his rehab program." Still, Roberts claims that he’s not yet concerned about missing the O’s opener.

• Ian Kinsler(notes) rolled an ankle during pregame warm-ups on Friday, but the excellent blogging team at Foul Territory reports that "the injury is not considered serious." No need to panic. This is not the annual Kinsler-to-the-DL event. It’s only a drill. 

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On Wednesday, Florida outfielder Mike Stanton hit his second Grapefruit League home run. It’s still traveling. It was a no-doubter, the sort of blast where the opposing fielders don’t move.

Stanton ranked No. 3 on Baseball America’s 2010 prospect list, so it’s hardly a surprise to see him hitting well this spring. He’s 5-for-15 with seven runs scored, five RBIs, three walks and three Ks. It was particularly nice to see him connect off Wandy Rodriguez(notes), a top-of-the-rotation starter.

Florida manager Fredi Gonzalez has been rather impressed by the organization’s top prospect. This from MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro:

The way the Marlins 20-year-old outfield slugger is performing has the Marlins considering carrying him on their Opening Day roster.

"Funnier things have happened," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "Obviously, we’ll sit down and make sure it’s the right move, the right decision. But for me to say, ‘absolutely not,’ I can’t do that right now. I can’t say that he’s not going to make the team. I can’t absolutely tell you, 100 percent that he won’t."

Still, Stanton remains a longshot for the April roster. He hit 28 home runs across two minor league levels in ’09, but he also struck out 144 times and struggled with the jump to Double-A (16 HR, .231/.311/.455 in 79 games). The Marlins will almost certainly keep him in the minors until he’s ready to be their everyday right-fielder. But it’s worth noting that Florida outfielders Cameron Maybin(notes) and Cody Ross(notes) are both sidelined by groin injuries at the moment.

If Stanton continues the spring assault…well, you never know. Like Fredi says, I can’t say that he’s not going to make the team. He belongs on your radar. We’ll re-hype him when he re-arrives.

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By now you should know the drill: Every weekday morning until Opening Day, we’ll provide five blurbs, most of which will have fantasy relevance. (OK, sometimes it will be seven blurbs. But always a prime number). Let’s get to it…

• Spring statistics really shouldn’t influence many fantasy decisions, except in cases where a player’s spring performance impacts an actual on-field MLB decision. If we know that a position battle is taking place or a player in recovering from injury, then it’s worth checking their otherwise meaningless stats. Arizona’s Conor Jackson(notes) happens to be a player whose spring performance matters quite a bit. He was a non-factor in ’09 due to a bout of Valley Fever, but he was terrific during winter league play, and he’s carried that performance into spring. Thus far, Jackson is 8-for-14 with two doubles, one homer, two walks and no strikeouts. So far, so good. Jackson is absolutely buried in the Yahoo! pre-ranks (No. 1059), but he’s worth queuing as an end-of-draft play.

• Matt Holliday(notes) apparently strained a muscle in his rib cage during a workout on Wednesday, and the injury will shelve him for a little while. "Minimum (Matt) won’t play this week, I’m sure," said Tony La Russa (via the St. Louis Post-Dispatch). Albert Pujols(notes) (lower back pain) is expected to return to spring action sooner than Holliday.

• The Twins are reportedly kicking the tires on Jason Frasor as they prepare for the likelihood of a Joe Nathan(notes)-less year. Don’t assume that the 32-year-old Frasor would inherit the ninth inning, but he does have closing experience. He saved 11 games in ’09 while posting the best ratios of his career (by far). 

• Francisco Rodriguez(notes) (pinkeye!) returned to the mound this week, now that he apparently is not contagious. (Still gross, though. Cancel all playdates with K-Rod, just to be safe). He’s reportedly eyeing Monday for his spring debut. With one of his disgusting eyes.

• Cincinnati’s Aroldis Chapman(notes) and his million-mph fastball will continue to get the screaming headlines, but dynasty owners shouldn’t let Mike Leake fall off the radar. Leake was the Reds’ top pick in the ’09 draft, and his college numbers (at ASU, against the highest-quality collegiate competition) were nearly as impressive as Stephen Strasburg’s.(notes) Leake has tossed three scoreless frames so far this spring, and he successfully navigated the top of the Angels’ order on Wednesday. Leake was impressive in the Arizona Fall League, too: 19.2 IP, 1.37 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 15 Ks, 3 BB.

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