Tuesday MLB Standouts

Tuesday, April 3, 2007 - MLB Standouts

Vladimir Guerrero - OF - Angels
Vladimir Guerrero went 4-for-4 with a homer and a walk as the Angels defeated the Rangers 8-3 on Wednesday night. The top three men in the order -- Gary Matthews Jr., Orlando Cabrera and Guerrero -- combined to go 8-for-12 with three walks in the game. With only Garret Anderson and Shea Hillenbrand hitting behind him, Guerrero should be looking at a lot of intentional walks when he's hot like he is now. He's still capable of an MVP-type season, but he's going to have a hard time putting up monster run and RBI numbers while being surrounded by little more than average regulars.

Ian Kinsler - 2B - Rangers
Ian Kinsler homered and walked twice as the Rangers' No. 9 hitter on Tuesday night. He also homered in Monday's opener. Kinsler won't keep batting ninth versus righties if he remains hot. He's already expected to bat second versus lefties.

Richie Sexson - 1B - Mariners
Richie Sexson homered for the second straight day to help the Mariners beat the A's 8-4 on Tuesday night. Sexson had a two-run shot off Joe Blanton in the second inning. The homers are his only hits through two games, but they've accounted for five RBI.

Orlando Hernandez - SP - Mets
Orlando Hernandez limited the Cardinals to one run in seven innings and had a two-run double to earn a victory on Tuesday night. El Duque had two RBI in 68 career at-bats before his double off Kip Wells tonight. Hernandez got the win despite not striking out a single batter. He fanned 164 in 162 1/3 innings last year, so it was probably a fluke.

Boof Bonser - SP - Twins
Boof Bonser yielded two runs and three hits in six innings Tuesday in the Twins' 3-2 win over the Orioles. Unfortunately, Bonser would have needed to last one more inning to get the win, which went to Pat Neshek. Bonser threw 100 pitches in six innings, so he wasn't coming back out. He allowed three hits, walked three and struck out six.

Daniel Cabrera - SP - Orioles
Daniel Cabrera gave up three runs in seven innings and struck out nine Tuesday in a loss to the Twins. Cabrera is starting to figure out the whole pitching thing, but the rest of his game still needs work. The Twins were 4-for-4 attempting steals against him and Alberto Castillo (5-for-5 in all), and Cabrera also hurt himself on defense, something that's not unusual for him. One still has to like the strikeouts, and if he gives up three runs in seven innings every time out, he'll win plenty of games.

Xavier Nady - OF - Pirates
Xavier Nady had a solo home run and a go-ahead RBP single in the top of the eighth as the Pirates edged the Astros 3-2 on Tuesday. After recovering from an intestinal infection, Nady didn't have an extra-base hit in 36 at-bats this spring. He's started the regular season with two homers in two games, both coming off quality righties. Since he's a career .245/.294/.409 hitter against right-handers, there's a good argument to be made that he shouldn't be playing regularly. However, the Pirates have every intention of giving him 500+ at-bats this year.

Ian Snell - SP - Pirates
Ian Snell fanned 11 while allowing two runs in six innings Tuesday against the Astros. What's especially impressive is that Snell needed just 86 pitches to get the 11 strikeouts. He might have gone another inning, but the Pirates were down by a run and had a man on base when he was due up in the top of the seventh.

Salomon Torres - RP - Pirates
Salomon Torres picked up his second save in two days with a perfect ninth Tuesday against the Astros. Torres and setup man Matt Capps combined to give up 18 runs in 16 2/3 innings this spring, but they've pitched four scoreless innings through two games. Capps' performance on Monday earned him a win.

Jason Jennings - SP - Astros
Jason Jennings allowed one run in six innings and struck out seven against the Pirates on Tuesday. Two very good starts and two losses for the Astros. The team can at least be pleased about Jennings' effort tonight after he gave up nine runs and 18 hits in 14 innings this spring.

Russell Martin - C - Dodgers
Russell Martin went 3-for-5 with a homer and a double in Tuesday's loss to the Brewers. Martin, who is batting second with Rafael Furcal sidelined, drove in the Dodgers' first run, scored the second and did both for the third in the 4-3 loss. There's a better chance of Tommy Lasorda winning the New York Marathon this year, but the Dodgers would benefit from leaving Martin in the second spot after Furcal returns and batting Juan Pierre eighth.

Josh Willingham - OF - Marlins
Josh Willingham went 3-for-5 with two RBI against the Nationals on Tuesday night. Willingham had a tough spring and was about the only Marlin not to have fun during Monday's 9-2 rout, going 0-for-5 in that one. He originally figured to hit cleanup -- as he did most of last year -- but he's instead batting fifth behind Mike Jacobs, even though Jacobs also hit under .200 during March. Willingham is more likely to be a $15-$16 player this year if he resumes batting immediately behind Miguel Cabrera. He likely will do so against left-handers.

Jake Peavy - SP - Padres
Jake Peavy struck out six in six innings and combined with two relievers on a shutout of the Giants on Tuesday. Peavy allowed three hits, all singles. The first was a check-swing grounder by Barry Bonds against the shift, and the next was a little dribbler down the first-base line by Dave Roberts. Only Ray Durham's liner to center in the sixth was fairly well hit. Peavy was removed after 98 pitches. Cla Meredith and Heath Bell finished the shutout.

Josh Bard - C - Padres
Josh Bard went 4-for-5 with a double and two runs scored Tuesday against the Giants. Picking up right where he left off last year. The Padres had Bard hitting fifth today despite the great springs enjoyed by Khalil Greene and Kevin Kouzmanoff. He should eventually drop a spot or two, but he'll enjoy solid run and RBI numbers for as long as he remains in the heart of the order.