Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners started and ended strong in his start on Friday, but he struggled in the middle. Hernandez retired the first six and the last six batters of his outing in order but allowed four runs on six hits in the third and fourth innings. Hernandez is poised to have a breakout year and is projected to win 16 games while posting an earned run average of 3.51, a WHIP of 1.27 and strike out 207 batters in 210 innings. The Mariners also announced that Hernandez will start opening day against the Oakland athletics on April 2, making him the youngest opening-day starter in Seattle Mariners history (20 years old).
Before the Chicago Cubs acquired Cesar Izturis, Ronny Cedeno was believed to be the shortstop of the future. Just one year later, Cedeno is fighting to make the roster. Although Cedeno has lost his starting spot he is putting up a good fight to make the roster. On Friday Cedeno went one for three with a three run homer and two runs scored. So far this spring Cedeno is batting .311 with two homeruns, six RBIs and has a few defensive gems. Lou Piniella is running out of time to decide whether or not he wants an extra outfielder or an extra middle infielder. With Cedeno's improved play he should make the team as a backup shortstop. However, if Jim Hendry still believes Cedeno is the shortstop of the future he may decide it is more beneficial for Cedeno to play every day, which would result in him being optioned to Triple-A Iowa.
Kerry Wood of the Chicago Cubs made his first spring training outing since March 11 on Friday and he cruised through one inning. After the game Kerry Wood said that he felt great and he would be looking forward to his next three outings in spring training in order to prepare for opening day. Wood will be scheduled to pitch Monday Wednesday and Friday of next week. If everything goes as planned, the right-hander should be in the bullpen for the beginning of the season.
There was more good news out of the Chicago Cubs camp on Friday. Mark Prior was coming off of his best outing of spring by far on Thursday, but everyone held their breath as they waited to hear how he felt on Friday. The good news is that he felt fine and he is scheduled to make his next start on Wednesday of next week. The Cubs reported that Prior topped out at 89 mph on Thursday, but Comcast Sports Net Chicago showed 93 miles an hour. Either way it is encouraging to see his velocity increase. It is believed that Prior may have thrown himself back into consideration for the number five spot in the rotation. The Cubs plan to stretch Prior out to 100 pitches in his next outing which will come against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday.
Chien Ming Wang of the New York Yankees appeared to have pulled his hamstring during conditioning drills on Friday. But manager Joe Torre reported that it was only a cramp and that no further medical tests have been done at this point. Wang appears to be the front runner to start opening day for the Yankees.
Andy Pettitte of the New York Yankees experienced back spasms while doing squats on Monday but he reported that he feels much better on Friday. Pettitte said that the most important thing is that he leaves to head north with the team on April 1. Pettitte said he will make a minor league start, if necessary, but Tampa is not where he wants to be after April 1.
Gary Sheffield of the Detroit Tigers appears to have fully recovered from his wrist injury in 2006. In an interview on Friday with Jim Mollony of MLB.com Sheffield said, "that the only time he thinks about the risk is when someone asks him about the rest,"and that is how he knows he has fully recovered. Sheffield is projected to bat .280 with 24 homeruns and 85 RBIs. But if he is truly healthy he could easily surpass those numbers.
Chone Figgins of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim is expected to miss five to six weeks due to two broken fingers in his right hand. Figgins will have his rightexamined again by team doctors in three weeks. Figgins was expected to be the Angels starting third baseman this season. Figgins is projected to bat .283, hit nine home runs, drive-ins 61 runs and steal 51 bases.
Livan Hernandez of the Arizona Diamondbacks had a rough outing on Friday. Hernandez allowed four runs on four hits and hit two batters in the first inning. After that the game was rained out. Hernandez has had a rough spring posting an ERA of 13.06 after his first three outings. However, the right-hander is a workhorse and he is guaranteed to get his 200 plus innings (he has collected 199 2/3 plus innings in nine consecutive seasons) and has a career earned run average of 4.18. Hernandez is projected to win 15 games and throw 238 innings.
Tony Pena Jr. was traded from the Atlanta Braves to the Kansas City Royals on Friday. Pena Jr. is an up-and-coming player who has little experience at the big league level but is believed to be ready to be an everyday shortstop at the major league level. Dayton More, general manager, of the Kansas City Royals said that they believe Tony Pena Jr. is ready to be an everyday shortstop without any doubt on Friday. Pena is a career .252 hitter in the minor leagues and has a .227 batting average in 40 games at the major league level. Pena was projected to bat .262 with 141 at bats this year with the Atlanta Braves, but it appears he will certainly play more with the Royals and those numbers will increase.
Derek Lowe of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitched very well again on Friday. Lowe has been very consistent all spring training, and with the addition of Jason Schmidt to the Dodgers rotation they look like a force to be reckoned with in the National League West this year. Lowe threw 5 2/3 innings on Friday allowing two runs on two hits and one walk. Lowe is projected to post a 3.82 earned run average, while winning 14 games this season.
Orlando Hernandez of the New York Mets pitched very well on Friday afternoon. Hernandez threw six innings against the St. Louis Cardinals allowing one unearned run on three hits and three walks while striking out five. The Mets were reportedly very happy with Hernandez's outing and said that this put him right in line with their other starting pitchers at this point. El Duque is scheduled to start game two of the season against the St. Louis Cardinals on April 3.
Ben Sheets of the Milwaukee Brewers is in line to make his first start of the season on opening day (April 2). However, in a report on the Brewers website on Friday, they acknowledged that he was in line to make the start on opening day, but said that there had been no official announcement confirming that at this point. Sheets threw 6 2/3 innings against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim's AAA minor leaguers on Friday allowing two runs (two solo home runs) on five hits. Sheets is coming off of an injury plagued 2006 season, but he is poised to have a big season if the young and talented Brewers can live up to expectations.
The Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel announced on Friday that Brett Myers will get the ball on opening day against the Atlanta Braves and John Smoltz on April 2 in Philadelphia. Myers is projected to have a big season winning 15 games, posting a 3.84 earned run average and striking out more than a batter per inning over 200 plus.
It is hard to believe that Carlos Lee of the Houston Astros has flown under the radar this spring training, but I believe that exactly that has happened. With all of the hoopla aimed at the Cubs spending spree and Barry Bonds in the National League. Little has been said about Carlos Lee joining the Houston Astros. Lee could have a monstrous year with the short porch in leftfield. Lee is projected to post career highs in homeruns and runs batted in with 38 and 118. Lee has been hitting the ball very well this spring batting .444.
Ken Griffey Jr. of the Cincinnati Reds is apparently still injured or at least too injured to make his first appearance in spring training even though he will be moving to a new position for the first time in his career. The 10 time, gold glove winner in centerfield has been reluctant to discuss the position change or give any specific time frame for when he will make his first appearance this spring saying, "When I feel I can go out there, I'll go out there." (ESPN). Griffey Jr. is projected to bat .245 with 28 home runs and 75 runs batted in.
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