Probably not much news the next month or so, but this one is worth reading. AJ and Jiffer, check this out. Classy move by the Red Sox. https://sports.yahoo.com/red-soxs-classy-gesture-leaves-cardinals-manager-beaming-201755998.html
Astros having a pretty good spring so far, they did lose Yuli Gurriel our Cuban exile first baseman hurt his hand and had to have surgery and will miss the next 6 weeks. We do have some options there so it shouldn't be a killer for the team. The thing I'll be most interested in this Spring is how our pitching is shaping up, esp the the new guy from the Pirates.
Astros mgr A. J. Hinch named Justin Verlander as our opening day starter, a position that previously had been Dallas Keuchel's spot. Also I noted Cards phenom Paul DeJong (SS) to a 6 year extension worth 26 million dollars. That seems to lock him in a long time. It sounds a lot like the deal Jose Altuve signed awhile ago that locked him and makes him a very underpaid player right now. DeJong will be 30 when that deal is up and possibly on the downside of a SS career, maybe won't ever get a big contract.
I haven't really paid much attention to Spring, but the Yankee's are having a pretty good Spring to say the least. If they get pitching going to go with all the power they have in that lineup....could be trouble for the Red Sox.
:idea: :arrow: The Dodgers return almost everybody from what was one of the greatest teams in baseball history. Among the missing are two pitchers who signed with the Cubs: Brandon Morrow and Yu Darvish. We won't miss Darvish and don't get me started on the front office decision to sign him instead of Verlander. I'll be pissed off about that one until the day I go to the Big Dodger in the sky. Morrow, on the other hand, will be missed dearly. Every Dodger player and coach has talked bout how valuable he is. His fastball was clocked as the fastest in all of MLB last year at an average of 99mph. He's not shy about throwing strikes and he was one of the most popular players in the clubhouse. The Cubbies may have bought themselves a pennant with that guy. He is sorely missed here. -Joc Pederson almost ate his way out of baseball last season. He lost his centerfield job, but he has lost over 20 lbs; got married, and looks improved as he fights for a spot in leftfield. He could be trade bait. - Speaking of trade bait, Matt Kemp has shocked every one. Rather than sit around waiting to be dumped, he showed up in camp more than 30 lbs lighter and in the greatest shape of his life. He's staying out of the night clubs in Hollywood and he's competing for the leftfield job so well, that it may force the team to sell some of the youngsters. Who would have thunk it? - The most loaded position is catcher. Yasmani Grandal was probably the 3rd best catcher in the NL, but he got BEAT OUT for the starting position by Austin Barnes. The #3 catcher is Kyle Farmer, who may be the best hitter of this bunch and he can play short stop. There are THREE more super catchers in the minors and the best is a kid named Ruiz who is only 19... Everything is once again spinning in gregious grooves at Dodgertown...
Astros break camp this weekend and head home for the final 2 games of the Spring vs the Brewers at Minute Maid, then it's off to Arlington for a 4 games opening series vs the Rangers, home opener is vs the Orioles at Minute Maid. Justin Verlander will start vs the Rangers and Charlie Morton will start the Home opener vs the Orioles. Astros had a very successful Spring, only lost one guy to injury..Yulie Gurriel. So there is competition and no starter named yet for his 1b job. Jose Altuve got paid this last week and should be an Astro fixture maybe for his whole career. On other teams, the Yankee's look loaded and there is an ESPN article on how loaded they are and how much talent they have in the minors ready to move up. That Japanese dual position pitcher/OF, I haven't read anything on him and the Angels spring record isn't bad or great. Same for the Dodgers. But Spring records aren't necessarily very predictive of anything. Play Ball!