Here’s what’s making news around the league this Friday morning:
- While not too important in mixed leagues, NL-only managers should pay attention to Arizona’s rotation battle. Billy Buckner has the inside track for the fourth spot leaving Rodrigo Lopez and Kevin Mulvey to battle for the fifth spot.
- Atlana’s Chipper Jones hit a gargantuan homerun yesterday and feels he is distancing himself from last year’s struggles.
- Baltimore’s Nick Markakis has been tearing it up this spring, batting .370 and slugging .667 with two homeruns. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, it’s still only March.
- For those of you in deep leagues or formats that count holds, Cubs setup man Angel Guzman is out indefinitely after deciding to have surgery to repair a torn ligament in his shoulder. Guzman finished 2009 T-18th in holds with 17.
- For what it’s worth, White Sox slugger Carlos Quentin has vowed to be a better, more complete hitter.
- Looking to solidify a starting spot in left field, Cincinnati’s Jonny Gomes hit his third homerun of the spring on Thursday. He’s slugging .741.
- Colorado’s Jason Hammel lowered his spring ERA to 1.93 in 14 IP. He has 12 strikeouts and 0 BB this spring. Statistically, he was one of 20 pitchers whose 2009 performance indicated a potential breakout in the near future.
- After two years in Detroit’s starting rotation, Armando Galarraga has been optioned to Triple-A.
- Brandon Lyon, Houston’s likely closer, felt fine after making his spring debut on Thursday.
- One of the spring’s most interesting position battles appears to be resolved. While no official statement has been made, it seems Joe Torre will make Blake DeWitt his everyday second baseman in Los Angeles.
- Manny Parra had another setback in his bid for a rotation spot.
- Minnesota’s starting third base job still appears to be wide open.
- While it isn’t Citi Field, Jason Bay has been hitting the cover off the ball.
- Oakland speedster Rajai Davis will be sidelined for three days with a sore abdominal muscle.
- Brad Lidge says he’s behind schedule to be ready for the season opener on April 5.
- Cardinals starter Rich Hill walked five batters in three innings Thursday. With these control issues, it’s tough to imagine Hill getting a rotation spot.
- The Rangers’ Matt Harrison continued his stellar spring, striking out eight batters in four innings.
- Toronto hasn’t decided whether or not top-prospect Travis Snider will get a starting job, but Snider is doing everything he can to earn it.
- The typical fantasy manager probably doesn’t care who the Nationals’ fifth starter is, but the battle is intense anyway. Six pitchers reportedly have a shot.
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