Player Projections Blog - March 1st

Here are some press notes from the team beat writers this morning:

Tankersley's Shoulder Ailing - Florida's Closer situation wide open
Tankersley, Taylor - Fla/RP: As the Palm Beach Post reports, "Already down a starting pitcher, the Marlins opened Grapefruit League play Wednesday without a key reliever. Left-hander Taylor Tankersley, who came into camp with a realistic shot at winning the closer's job, won't throw for at least five days after he was diagnosed with shoulder tendinitis. "Opening day is realistic but I don't know if it's probable," said Tankersley, refering to Florida's first game April 2 in Washington. Tankersley's shoulder bothered him when camp opened Feb. 17 but not enough to prevent him from throwing off the mound. The pain flared during the weekend, prompting an MRI exam Monday. The exam showed no structural damage, but Tankersley won't try to throw for at least five days while he takes anti-inflammatory medicine. ... Pitching coach Rick Krantiz was optimistic Tankersley could be ready to break camp with the team next month."

Jenk's Shoulder Ailing - Says it's nothing to worry about
Jenks, Bobby - ChA/RP: As the Rocky Mountain News reports, "White Sox closer Bobby Jenks hit a batter, walked a batter and was 2-0 on Joe Koshansky when he had to come out in the fifth inning with right shoulder tightness. The injury was not deemed serious, and Jenks insisted he has had trouble with shoulder tightness the last few weeks. Poor mechanics Wednesday triggered some concern. ... Jenks said they will continue to work on stretching the area until his range of motion improves, and he plans to stay on schedule for his spring throwing program."
 

Reds Brad Salmon could step in as the team's closer role
Reds - Cin/T: The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that "Brad Salmon, the Reds' 21st-round choice in the 1999 draft, is scheduled to pitch an inning in the team's spring opener today against Pittsburgh at Bradenton, Fla. He's caught everyone's attention in camp with a fastball that tops out in the mid-90s and a nasty split-finger pitch. ... Salmon got on the Reds' radar by going 7-2 with a 2.44 ERA and five saves last year at Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville. Before last season, he had middling results. His fastball was always above average, but his breaking pitches weren't getting it done. So after 2005, when he went a combined 3-8 with a 3.34 ERA and four saves in stops at Chattanooga and Louisville, he went to Winter Ball in Puerto Rico with a plan. ... Salmon throws 93 to 96 mph - as hard as anyone in the Reds' bullpen. The pitcher on the roster he's most similar to is Todd Coffey, who went 6-7 with a 3.58 ERA and eight saves and led the Reds with 81 appearances last year."

March 1st and No Mark Prior Injury to report
Prior, Mark - ChN/P: According to the Chicago Sun-Times, "Mark Prior took another big step toward his first spring game in two years when he completed a ''two-inning'' session of throwing to hitters Wednesday, cutting loose with his fastball and showing off his breaking ball. The only scare for Prior came in the second ''inning'' when, after removing the protective screen for the round, he was nearly drilled by a line drive off the bat of catcher Jake Fox. Fox seemed more shaken afterward than Prior, who got a piece of the ball when he flung up his glove to protect himself. ... Prior will throw once more, on the side, before pitching Monday against Seattle."

Floyd recovering from off season foot surgery
Floyd, Cliff - ChN/OF: The Chicago Sun-Times reports that "Outfielder Cliff Floyd said he's ready to play, but the Cubs want to take an extra week to 10 days to allow Floyd's surgically repaired left foot to heal completely before getting their first look at him in a game. ... Floyd, who put on an impressive display in batting practice Wednesday, won't be allowed to do so much as pinch-hit or bat as the designated hitter at American League parks. ... Floyd can load up on at-bats in minor-league camp, if necessary, to get up to speed by Opening Day, and he and Piniella were confident he'll be ready by then."

Zambrano recovering quickly, could be ready by April
Zambrano, Victor - Tor/P: As the Toronto Sun reports, "Victor Zambrano, the former Mets and Devil Rays pitcher, continues to impress the Blue Jays as he battles back from reconstructive elbow surgery last May. Normally it takes a year for this kind of surgical repair to be healed enough for full-out pitching, but Zambrano has been working off a mound since December and is throwing at about 80% by his own calculation, not that much different from all the healthy pitchers in camp. The Jays originally had signed the right-hander with a mid-season target date for a return to action. They have revised that estimate and now are saying Zambrano could be ready for a major-league assignment or a triple-A stint by the end of spring training."

Eric Gagne: Sickness or Injury?
Gagne, Eric - Tex/RP: The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that "Eric Gagne missed practice again Wednesday, and Ron Washington said it was because of sickness."

Blalock recovering well from off season shoulder surgery
Blalock, Hank - Tex/3B: The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that "Ron Washington said Hank Blalock seems completely healthy after minor shoulder surgery in the off-season. When asked about Blalock's shoulder, Washington said, "I think it looks awesome. Hank is fine. He's been doing a lot of throwing. He's been taking balls from his position at every angle -- backhands, forehands, sideways, slow rollers, working the bunts. He's been doing everything. He's good." The Dallas Morning News reports that "Manager Ron Washington said he won't take any special steps to insure third baseman Hank Blalock gets extra at-bats against left-handed pitching this spring. It's all part of Washington's desire to make no special fuss over Blalock facing lefties. Last year, Blalock hit .216 against lefties and was, at one point, benched against them. Then-manager Buck Showalter quickly reversed field on that decision but often dropped Blalock in the batting order when the Rangers were facing a lefty."

Questions regarding Khalil Greene's injured finger
Greene, Khalil - SD/SS: As the San Diego Union-Tribune reports, "Shortstop Khalil Greene, who struck out twice and dropped a throw, continues to need extra time to get his left middle finger loose, the same finger Greene tore up Aug. 3. Greene's backup, utility man Geoff Blum, is still slowed by back stiffness and probably won't appear in a game before Sunday."

Wainwright solid through 2 innings of work
Wainwright, Adam - StL/P: According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, "Wednesday marked only the Cardinals' first Grapefruit League exhibition game. But three shutout innings by starting pitcher Adam Wainwright offered a glimpse of what the team's renovated rotation seeks from a pitcher last seen securing the final out of the World Series. Working on a 40-pitch limit and slowed by the remnants of a severe head cold, Wainwright needed only 30 to get nine outs in the Cardinals' 6-3 win over the Florida Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium. Wainwright, the team's closer in Jason Isringhausen's absence last October, got the nine outs with 15 strikes, while holding the Marlins hitless and walking one. ... La Russa and pitching coach Dave Duncan would have been satisfied had Wainwright thrown 40 pitches inside two innings. They instead resisted the thought of sending him out for a fourth."

The Rick Ankiel watch continues
Cardinals - StL/T: The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that "In his first competition in 17 months, outfielder Rick Ankiel struck two singles and drove in two runs, prompting another cascade of compliments from manager Tony La Russa. Ankiel, a former pitcher, has attracted the most attention of any young hitter in training camp. That doesn't mean he has a shot to make the team. ... Ankiel, who missed all of 2006 with a knee injury, was an in-game substitution in Wednesday's 6-3 victory against Florida. He had a bases-loaded single in the seventh to score two runs, reached base in his second at-bat and was thrown out at the plate both times."

Jose Guillen looking to get career back on track
Guillen, Jose - Sea/OF: According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, "Hargrove said one of the impressions from the early part of camp is that new right fielder Jose Guillen takes a back seat to no one with his batting stroke. "Guillen probably has the most pure swing of anyone in camp," the manager said. "He seems to be a man on a mission this spring." Hargrove doesn't seem put out by Guillen's bad-boy reputation." He was fine (the last) two years in Washington," Hargrove said. "All you ever heard about was what happened in Anaheim."

Bonds receiving death threats
Bonds, Barry - SF/OF: As the Contra Costa Times reports, "Barry Bonds told KGO Radio that he has received death threats, but it was unclear whether he was referring to ongoing incidents or past ones. "It's certainly unfortunate that you have to deal with something like that," Bochy said. "There's always going to be some concern. We have protection." Major League Baseball has assigned a security detail to Bonds since the 2004 season. At least one official shadows Bonds during spring training."

Durazo not done, hoping to make roster in A's camp
Durazo, Erubiel - N/A/1B: As the Contra Costa Times reports, "Erubiel Durazo is trying to crack the A's roster as a first baseman after spending all of 2006 playing at Triple-A. He was released by the Rangers, Yankees and Twins. On Wednesday, Durazo crushed a two-run homer off Lenny DiNardo in the A's second intrasquad game. Durazo's drive crashed off the scoreboard deep in right-center at Phoenix Municipal Stadium."

Kotsay to have ailing back examined
Kotsay, Mark - Oak/OF: The Contra Costa Times reports that "Mark Kotsay had an MRI on his stiff lower back Wednesday and was still walking gingerly through the clubhouse. The A's weren't planning on their center fielder being available today."

Kielty to have his knee scoped
Kielty, Bobby - Oak/OF: According to the Contra Costa Times, "Bobby Kielty arrived at spring camp looking in top physical shape, the result of a dedicated offseason spent training for the 2007 season. The outfielder's preparation got derailed Wednesday, when he learned he has a slight tear of the meniscus in his left knee, an injury likely to sideline him three to six weeks. Kielty said he'll undergo arthroscopic surgery in the next day or two. ... The injury happened Sunday while Kielty was running the bases during a rundown drill, but he didn't realize the severity of it at the time. ... Kielty, a switch hitter, entered camp looking assured of being the team's fourth or fifth outfielder, and seemed in line to get substantial at-bats against left-handers, whom he hits particularly well against. If Nick Swisher ends up playing more first base than left field, a healthy Kielty could platoon in left with Shannon Stewart, who hits right-handed pitching better."

Orlando Hernandez improving
Hernandez, Orlando - NYN/P: According to the Newark Star-Ledger, "As for Orlando Hernandez, yesterday he threw a 40-pitch bullpen session in his first turn throwing off a mound since he learned he had neck arthritis. El Duque, who also long-tossed, had a terrific session and said he was "feeling better." He's slated to have another bullpen session tomorrow."

Oliver Perez has rough fist outing
Perez, Oliver - NYN/P: As the New York Post reports, "Oliver Perez surrendered four runs in two innings yesterday. Alay Soler, who's also contending for a starting spot, pitched two scoreless frames, permitting one hit and one walk. Aaron Heilman, Jon Adkins, Lino Urdaneta and Willie Collazo each tossed a shutout frame."

Mariano Rivera working on a Change Up
Rivera, Mariano - NYA/RP: The New York Post reports that "Mariano Rivera is working on a change-up but isn't sure if he will use it in the exhibition games." I will let you know when I throw it, right now I don't know," said Rivera, who will throw a bullpen session tomorrow and make his spring debut Monday or Wednesday."

No decision on whether Lew Ford needs surgery
Ford, Lew - Min/OF: The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that "The Twins will wait a couple of days before deciding whether outfielder Lew Ford will need surgery on his right knee. Ford received a cortisone shot on Tuesday."

Weeks taking full hacks
Weeks, Rickie - Mil/2B: According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, "For the first time since getting an injection in his surgically repaired wrist last week, second baseman Rickie Weeks was allowed to take full swings in batting practice. Yost had not received word from the medical staff and was stunned when he saw Weeks taking full cuts. ... Weeks said the wrist responded well but Yost said he doesn't plan to let him take full swings in the exhibition opener today against Oakland. Yost said he would bat Weeks eighth and have him bunt in the only at-bat he'll probably get."

Teahen ready for transition to OF
Teahen, Mark - KC/OF: As the Kansas City Star reports, "Today's game marks the start to Mark Teahen's transition from third base to right field. He has never played any defensive position other than third base in his five previous professional seasons."I'm still anxious to see that,"Bell said. "The only way you're going to get better is to experience it. Mark is going to have some issues out in the outfield. In Arizona, it's a high sky. With the glare, it's not easy to pick the ball up."So if he can get it done down here, he shouldn't really have any problem in any ballpark in the American League or the National League."

Javy Lopez loses some ground
Lopez, Javy - Col/C: The Denver Post reports that "The White Sox challenged Rockies catcher Javy Lopez, stealing three bases in six innings."

Floyd is the early favorite for the Sox' #5 Rotation slot
Floyd, Gavin - ChA/P: As the Arizona Daily Star reports, "Manager Ozzie Guillen said right-hander Gavin Floyd, a favorite to be the No. 5 starter, is still scheduled to pitch Friday after spraining his right ankle during Monday's intrasquad game. "We can skip him and give him one more day or a couple more days to be ready," Guillen said. "I want him to be ready to go."

Bartolo Colon could be ready by May
Colon, Bartolo - LAA/P: The Los Angeles Times reports that "Scioscia has been so encouraged by Bartolo Colon's progress in his rehabilitation from a rotator-cuff tear that he believes the right-hander will "be on a mound possibly by the end of spring training." Colon will probably remain in extended spring training in Arizona when the season starts."