Nearly a week after being diagnosed with a stress reaction in his left fibula last week, Joe Mauer caught for three pain-free innings on Wednesday and went 2-for-3 with a double and a home run. It's unclear whether Mauer's injury will shift him to designated hitter a few times a month or not, though it's an encouraging sign that he can get behind the plate. The plan is for Mauer to take part in another Minor League game Thursday.
Source: MLB.com
Against left-handed pitchers this season, Pudge Rodriguez will be the Tigers' leadoff hitter. Manager Jim Leyland made that announcement before the Tigers' game against the Cleveland Indians on Thursday night at Marchant Stadium. Curtis Granderson will lead off against right-handers as he did last year.
Source: The Detroit News
Joe Mauer has been diagnosed with a stress reaction in his left fibula that will sideline him for at least a few days. The ailment is considered to be a precursor to a stress fracture. The Twins reacted to the news with optimism that the condition was diagnosed early enough to keep it from becoming a serious long-term problem. The team's glass-half-full approach notwithstanding, this isn't the first injury for the 2006 American League batting champion. In Mauer's rookie season in '04, the 23-year-old tore the meniscus in his left knee. Until there's more information on the extent of the injury, hold off on drafting him as the top catcher.
Source: MLB.com
Reds C David Ross went 3-for-3 with one run and one RBI in Sunday's spring game against the Braves. He is now 7-for-29 (.241) with one run, two doubles and four RBI in 12 spring games. Ross will get his first chance in 2007 to open the season as a starter. Ross was third among NL catchers in 2006 with 21 homers. Consider Ross a sleeper at the position because of his pop, home hitter's park and potential for full-time at-bats for the first time.
Source: CBS SportsLine.com
Braves C Brian McCann hit his second spring homer Sunday against the Tigers. He is now 9-for-32 (.281) with six runs, two doubles and three RBI in 11 spring games. McCann is an excellent Fantasy option at perhaps the thinnest position in all of Fantasy. He is among the top three Fantasy options at catcher and will be an early round pick on Draft Day.
Source: CBS SportsLine.com
The Rockies released Javy Lopez, clearing the path for Chris Iannetta to begin the season as the Rockies' starting catcher. Lopez had been seen as Iannetta's main competition for playing time, and with him out of the picture, career .249/.310/.397 Yorvit Torrealba is his only competition. The rookie has a spectacular .303/.410/.517 line and 128:160 BB:K ratio in 749 minor league at-bats, but temper your expectations as he gets accustomed to major league pitching.
Source: RotoWire.com
Kansas City Royals
Candidates:
John Buck
Jason LaRue
Edge: John Buck--Buck has the edge because he's younger, stronger, and been in the organization longer. However, the 32-year-old LaRue started a lot of games for the Reds over the years and is healthy following a disappointing season.
Los Angeles Angels
Candidates:
Mike Napoli
Jose Molina
Jeff Mathis
Edge: Mike Napoli--The early bets are on Napoli and Molina sticking with the big club and Mathis heading back to Triple-A. Napoli brings good pop and a suspect batting average, Molina doesn't do anything at the plate (but is good defensively), and Mathis has the tools to help out a lineup. We have Napoli as our highest-rated fantasy guy at the moment.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Candidates:
Miguel Montero
Chris Snyder
Edge: None--Montero, 23, is a left-handed hitter and the backstop of the future. Snyder, 26, is a right-handed hitter and has been up with the big club each of the past two years. We're smelling a platoon to open to the season, which is sad because both guys can do a bit of damage with the bat.
Colorado Rockies
Candidates:
Chris Iannetta
Yorvit Torrealba
Javy Lopez
Edge: None--Chris Iannetta is the 23-year-old rookie and the backstop of the future, but the team isn't going to simply hand him the job. Yorvit Torrealba held the starting gig until a shoulder injury sidelined him last year, and Javy Lopez is in camp and trying to revive his fading career. Our feeling is that the Rockies will open April with Iannetta and one of the two veterans, and the duo will split time. We like Iannetta in the long run, but the Rockies aren't going to rush him.
Philadelphia Phillies
Candidates:
Rod Barajas
Carlos Ruiz
Chris Coste
Edge: Rod Barajas--Barajas, 34, signed a one-year deal this winter, and we expect him to share duties with Carlos Ruiz, who made his big league debut last season. Chris Coste is also in the mix, but he's the third catcher and a backup at a few other spots. Barajas appears to be the best bet to start on Opening Day, but Ruiz should see plenty of action and is the long-term answer.
Cincinnati Reds
Candidates:
David Ross
Javier Valentin
Chad Moeller
Edge: David Ross--Ross swatted 21 homers over 247 at-bats. The problem is that Ross also batted only .203 after the All-Star break. A year ago at this time, fantasy owners were talking big about Javier Valentin, who hit .281-14-50 over 221 at-bats in 2005. Valentin is still around, and the Reds could platoon the two backstops throughout the season. Chad Moeller is also in the mix, but we don't envision him climbing the depth chart this spring.
Source: Fanball.com
Dropping hints about Russell Martin's offensive potential, Dodgers manager Grady Little said the second-year catcher would likely move up to the No. 6 spot in the batting order. Little believes Martin has the potential to produce 15-20 homers with a healthy share of RBIs. As a rookie in 2006, Martin drove in 65 runs over 415 at-bats after getting called up from Triple-A on May 5. "He moves the ball and with a lot of authority," Little said. "He could also hit second, but right now the plan is to hit sixth, the way the club is made up."
Source: MLB.com
Tigers catcher Ivan Rodriguez is preparing for his 17th season in the big leagues.
Most catchers with that much mileage on the odometer are playing on borrowed time, but the 35-year-old Rodriguez seems to be running on some kind of super-efficient energy source. Indeed, there’s been virtually no sign of declining skills, other than a Comerica-induced drop in power in recent seasons. Pudge obviously will slow down as he draws closer to 40, but there’s no reason to think he’ll deliver anything other than his usual solid contributions in all five major categories in ’07.
Source: MLB.com
