The top prospect in a Marlins organization now brimming with them, Jeremy Hermida, 22, is set to start in right field. He comes equipped with a heady, all-around game highlighted by what Marlins scouting director Stan Meek terms a "natural, gifted swing. To me it's that classic, fluid, easy-fast swing," Meek said. "When a guy doesn't have to grunt and groan to get the bat through the zone as fast as he does, it gives you a much better chance to see the ball and keep your head still, make the bat adjust within the strike zone and stay on breaking pitches.”  Hermida is one of my leading candidates for ROY this year, I think he's a shoe-in as a 20/20 guy, and has the potential to be a 30/30 guy if they let him loose. This is what we said about Hermida in September and it still holds: "He’s one of the best position-player prospects in baseball, and at just 22 years old has a very unique and outstanding set of skills.  Hermida drew an amazing 111 walks in 118 games at Triple-A, and he also added in a .293 batting average, 18 homers, 39 total extra-base hits, and 23 stolen bases in 25 attempts.  It doesn’t get a whole lot better or more complete than that, and Hermida’s .457 on-base percentage at Triple-A is really a thing of beauty."

If nothing else, SS Cristian Guzman looks better and sees better this spring. At the team's urging, he dropped eight pounds over the winter in his native Dominican Republic, and he underwent laser eye surgery shortly after the season ended in October, which has improved his vision even beyond what contact lenses were doing for him. Asked if he thinks his vision was one of the problems behind his performance last year, Guzman said, "I think so, yeah. Now, on this first day of [batting practice] here, I see the ball very good." We'll likely see an improvement in his production this year, but he's marginal in almost any fantasy format.

Jeff Bagwell is to make his much-anticipated arrival at Houston Astros' training camp on Friday, the day of the team's first full-squad workout. The four-time All-Star first baseman wants to play at least one more season, but the Astros argue that he's too hurt to play and filed an insurance claim in January. Bagwell is guaranteed $17 million this season. By filing the claim, the Astros can recoup $15.6 million if he retires or is deemed disabled. This may become a hairy situation. Even if healthy, the Astros will never see 17 million dollars worth of play from the aging Bags. Additionally the Astros were likely hoping to use the insurance money to sign Clemens to the May roster.

Jeff Kent who had wrist surgery six weeks ago reported on Wednesday that it was an extensive procedure. According to the LA Times, Kent had elective surgery Jan. 9, which the Dodgers said was done to clean scar tissue from his right wrist. However, Kent said doctors also "fixed a small ligament tear." Kent also added that he is "on track" Kent was later seen driving his motorcycle down Scottsdale Boulevard popping wheelies (joke).

RHP Pedro Martinez (NYM) threw again yesterday and remains on schedule to perhaps throw off the base of the mound this weekend. "Hopefully during the weekend I'll be able to," he said. "I'm going to start doing it on my own, getting off the slope of the mound and seeing how the ground feels. On the grass is not the same as the ground. Grass is tough. The mound is different." Wearing yet another different shoe, the Met ace appeared in good spirits and said his toe is progressing. "Yeah, it is improving," he said. "We're working hard on it. Even though you guys don't see it, we're working inside and we're doing whatever it takes to be ready for the next day." I typically do not downgrade players on speculative injuries this early in camp, however Pedro's cartilage damage in the toe is the same injury that hampered him late in the 2004 and '05 seasons. We are going to shave the equivalent of 2 starts from his projections until we see improvement later this spring.

RHP Ben Sheets (MILW) is on the same throwing program as the rest of the pitchers in camp, and has not experienced any setbacks in his rehabilitation from a torn muscle behind his right shoulder. Sheets threw a five-minute side session and 10 minutes of batting practice on Wednesday and is "right on schedule," manager Ned Yost said. The Brewers' ace finished 2005 on the disabled list because of a torn latissimus dorsi muscle. If Sheets is fully recovered we could be in store for a special season. A 17 Win season is certainly a possibility.

Pitching Coach Jim Colborn (PGH) has been working on delivery adjustments for starters Oliver Perez and Kip Wells. For Perez, it has been keeping the back leg steady. For Wells, it has been straightening his general posture. "I think you have one bullet," he said. "You'd better figure out what one thing you're going to say, and that's it. When we start shopping around, we get the pitcher confused." Perez pitched in his native country this winter, however it was not a very good Mexican League stat line: 0-4 with a 4.68 ERA, 24 strikeouts and 12 walks in 25 innings. The good news is that he did add 8 pounds of muscle and the Pirates are very excited about  his conditioning.  Perez was one of the players we flagged last preseason based on the increase in his workload from the 2003 season to the 2004 season. Frequently these (dead arm) pitchers bounce back the following season. We'll keep close tabs on Perez during his spring appearances.
 

Pitching Coach Dave Duncan (STL) got a close-up comparison of the two top candidates for the fifth starter job on Wednesday. In succession, right-handers Sidney Ponson and Anthony Reyes threw live batting practice to the same group of hitters. It's safe to say that the scheduling was not by accident.  In addition to Duncan, much of the team's front office looked on -- including general manager Walt Jocketty.  Although Ponson was smitten with bad luck last year based on his .346 Balls hit successfully into Play percentage (remember the average is about .295), Reyes is the prize here. Reyes who is considered by many (including us) to be a top 10 pitching prospect, had a solid season in AAA last year where he finished with a 1.09 WHIP and a 1.06 K/Inning ratio (outstanding). However this really didn't translate into success as he only finished with 7 Wins and a 3.64 ERA. An indication of a pitcher who needs some mental prep during critical situations (and Dave Duncan is a master here). Reyes is a stud in the making and should be swallowed up as a Keeper league prospect. 12-14 Wins are well within his potential in 2006.

Manager Bob Melvin (ARI) reiterated that Conor Jackson will begin the year as the starting first baseman with Tony Clark serving in a backup role. "He's put up big numbers in the Minor Leagues and as an organization, we feel like he's got nothing left to prove," Melvin said of Jackson. "And for a guy like him, he needs to play." Eric Byrnes figures to get the majority of the playing time in center at the beginning of the season, but Melvin said switch-hitter Jeff DaVanon will see his share of playing time against right-handers. Wow, Clark hits 30 HRs and drives in 87 RBIs for a sub .500 team in only 349 ABs and still finds himself on the bench! I like Conor Jackson, but if batting .200 in 85 big league at bats leaves him with nothing to prove, then Diamondback fans are in for another long season. Without a semi-full time gig, Clark's playing time and stat line gets downgraded.

Although RHP Chris Young (SD) said venue is irrelevant to him, he now will pitch his home games in a cooler, DH-less climate, in a ballpark that is the majors' friendliest for pitchers. “I'm extremely happy that I'm here,” Young said. “On multiple levels, it is probably the best thing that could happen to me at this point of my career. Now it's up to me to make the most of it.” Young is an up and coming potential All Star. Although I was disappointed by his second half last year (5.53 ERA, 1.39 WHIP), I do feel that the move to Petco will aid him tremendously. Look for him to be especially effective early on.

American League

If there is any doubt how advanced Devil Rays top prospect Delmon Young's (TBB) knowledge of hitting is, consider this: LF Carl Crawford, a veteran of 3 & 1/2 seasons and an All-Star Game, called him this winter for batting tips. "You sit down and talk to him about hitting, and you'll be amazed," Crawford said. "His mental approach is what separates him from anybody his age. His IQ of baseball is at another level for a kid his age." The expectation is that Young will spend most of the season in AAA this year, however you can't help but wonder if he won't be called up around the all star break. We're going to increase his projected number of ABs to 260 and extrapolate his other projections as well.

According to manager Ozzie Guillen (ChW), DH Jim Thome will hit third in the order in front of 1B Paul Konerko. Guillen wants to take advantage of Thome's high on-base percentage in the three-hole, and he wants to alternate left-handed and right-handed hitters at the top of the order. I'd be hard pressed to project anything more than 500 ABs for Thome this year, however if Thome is healthy there is no reason to believe that he won't drive 30 into the bleachers this season along with 100 RBIs.

While he didn't seem to be pushing off the rubber and exploding to the target with sizzling fastballs the way Jonathan Papelbon and Josh Beckett were doing on either side of him, veteran RHP Curt Schilling insisted his surgically repaired right ankle is not an issue. "I'm very comfortable with my footwork," said Schilling. "I'm not concerned. I'm just tuning up my pitches." Schilling's stamina certainly isn't an issue. He threw for 19 minutes, about five minutes or so longer than those in his group. 

Newcomer Kelly Shoppach (Clev) was given the edge to win the backup catcher job after being traded from Boston last month. But manager Eric Wedge said Wednesday that Shoppach's inclusion on the roster isn't a done deal, and that Einar Diaz remains in the picture. Fantasy Indifference.

DH Mike Sweeney (KC) cruised into the clubhouse on Wednesday morning, dispensing smiles and hugs all around.  "I'm at 220 or 222 [pounds]," he said. "Last spring, I checked in at 238, so I'm down about 15 pounds." He believes that a lighter weight will lessen the possibility of the back sprains that have dogged him in recent seasons. Last year was the first season in 3 years that Sweeney surpassed 411 ABs, certainly good news for those who are willing to take a gamble.

After being sick throughout the offseason before the 2005 season, getting hit in the head in April and batting only .239 with 22 homers and 79 RBI last season, 1B Justin Morneau (Minn) is on a mission this spring. "I have a lot more to prove this year than last year," he said. "I like that." Morneau's Slugging Percentage was abysmal in the second half of last season (.396), thus I am fully buying into the injury factor here. We are projecting a 27/97/.263 line from Justin this season.

Manager Ken Macha (OAK) watched RHP Rich Harden throw a 40-pitch bullpen session and liked what he saw. Harden is recovering from offseason surgery on his left shoulder and Macha said Harden's throwing motion was more "aggressive" Wednesday. SS Bobby Crosby spent the first two months of last season on the disabled list with cracked ribs, then went on the DL again late in the year with a broken ankle. The ribs and ankle are 100 percent, he said Wednesday, but he can't say the same about his right shoulder. It tightened up on him a couple of months ago when he started throwing for the first time in the offseason, and he's been getting therapy on it ever since. We'll continue to monitor Harden, we downgraded him last week and are currently projecting 170 innings from him this year.

Closer Francisco Cordero (TEX) felt a twinge in his right (throwing) shoulder this week and is only throwing from flat ground instead of a mound. That delay places Cordero's participation in the World Baseball Classic further in doubt. He was already wavering as to whether he would pitch for the Dominican Republic, but this could push him out of the tournament. No reason to panic just yet, but we'll downgrade Cordero if he does improve within the next 2 weeks.

Manager Jim Leyland announced Wednesday that LHP Kenny Rogers would start the season opener and RHP Jeremy Bonderman the home opener. Upon hearing the news, Kenny Rogers celebrated by knocking down 2 camera men and wrapping the mike wire around the neck of a nearby beat reporter. On a more serious note, Rogers at 41, had an great season last year. A feat he's unlikely to repeat. His 3.46 ERA was almost a full point less than his 3 year average. Looking at his splits, he posted a 4.47 ERA in the second half of last year....pass.