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**StarDust Bum** · 02-18-2016, 03:06 AM

Miller looks forward to Chapman pitching
February 17, 2016

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Andrew Miller can't wait to watch Aroldis Chapman on a mound up close.

Acquired from the Cincinnati Reds in December, Chapman is taking over from Miller as the New York Yankees closer this season. The left-hander routinely surpasses 100 mph with his fastball.

''I'm just curious to see him pitch,'' Miller said Wednesday after working out at the Yankees' minor league complex. ''I'm looking to see it first hand. I'm looking forward to just kind of standing behind the bullpen or something and seeing what it looks like.''

With Chapman closing, Miller will join Dellin Betances in a set-up role. Miller was 36 for 38 in save chances with a 2.04 ERA last year in his first season with the Yankees. Betances had a 1.50 ERA in a career-high 74 games.

''On paper we look pretty good, but that doesn't really mean anything,'' Miller said.

Yankees pitchers and catchers report for spring training on Thursday.

BIG-TIME HELP

Hall of Famers Reggie Jackson and Rich Gossage are among the guest instructors at Yankees' camp .

Among those scheduled to join the pair are Ron Guidry, Orlando Hernandez, Hideki Matsui, Lee Mazzilli, Stump Merrill and Willie Randolph.

Andy Pettitte, who spoke to a group of minor leaguers Monday, said he likely will make an appearance as a guest instructor. Pettitte, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada have had short stints as instructors in the past.

**StarDust Bum** · 02-18-2016, 03:07 AM

LeMahieu gets $7.8M, 2yr deal from Rockies
February 17, 2016

PHOENIX (AP) All-Star second baseman DJ LeMahieu and the Colorado Rockies agreed to a $7.8 million, two-year contract ahead of their scheduled salary arbitration hearing Wednesday, leaving players with a final record of 3-1 this year in cases decided by three-person panels.

LeMahieu gets $3 million this year and $4.8 million in 2017.

Players had their first winning record in arbitration since they went 2-1 in 2011. Management has a 302-224 advantage since arbitration started in 1974, including an 8-6 record last year, the most hearings since 2001.

While 156 players filed for arbitration on Jan. 12, just four failed to settle. Three pitchers won their hearings: Toronto's Jesse Chavez ($4 million), Tampa Bay's Drew Smyly ($3.75 million) and Cincinnati's J.J. Hoover ($1.4 million). Astros catcher Jason Castro ($5 million) lost.

A Gold Glove winner in 2014, LeMahieu set career bests last year with a .301 average and 61 RBIs, hitting six home runs. He became an All-Star for the first time.

When the sides exchanged proposed arbitration salaries last month, LeMahieu had asked for a raise from $517,500 to $3.3 million, and the Rockies had offered $2.8 million.

**StarDust Bum** · 02-18-2016, 03:09 AM

Greinke, Dbacks optimistic as work begins
February 17, 2016

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) After signing one of baseball's best pitchers in Zack Greinke, the Arizona Diamondbacks begin spring training with justifiable optimism.

Manager Chip Hale could see the difference during informal workouts in recent weeks.

''What I've noticed out on the field is just a little more intensity,'' he said, ''just in their eyes, the way they've been going about the bullpens the guys have been throwing, some of the BPs (batting practices) we've watched. There's a real seriousness to it. I think they feel something special.''

Now the preparation officially begins.

Pitchers and catchers reported on Wednesday, and Hale said pretty much all the position players have arrived, too.

There will some competition.

Greinke, newcomer Shelby Miller and Patrick Corbin have the first three spots in the rotation. Incumbent starters Rubby De La Rosa and Robbie Ray are most likely for the other two starting jobs, but Hale listed Zack Godley and Archie Bradley as contenders.

Godley went 5-1 with a 3.19 ERA in 10 starts last season for the Diamondbacks, his first experience in the majors.

Bradley, who has been one of baseball's top pitching prospects, made the roster out of spring training last year and was off to a strong start before getting hit in the face with a line drive. His effectiveness suffered and he was sent down to the minors before shoulder inflammation ended his season.

Hale said no one has been working more in the offseason than Bradley.

''There's no reason, the way he's throwing the ball out there right now, that he shouldn't be in the mix,'' Hale said.

Corbin's workload was kept down last season, when the left-hander was coming back from Tommy John surgery.

''We talked about having the training wheels on, almost to the point where he was frustrated at times,'' Hale said. ''This year, we'll let him go.''

The late-inning jobs in the bullpen are set, with Brad Ziegler back as closer. Daniel Hudson and newly signed Tyler Clippard will work the seventh and eighth innings, although their precise roles are to be determined. Josh Collmenter returns as the long reliever, with Randall Delgado and left-hander Andrew Chafin likely to fill bullpen positions.

That would mean only one reliever job is open. Hale said he'd like to enter the season with 12 pitchers and 13 position players.

Among position players, David Peralta will switch from left field to right, swapping with Yasmany Tomas.

''As long as I play, I don't care,'' Peralta said. ''It's not going to be a big difference.''

There will be competition in the infield, particularly at second base. Chris Owings returns, as does Phil Gosselin and Brandon Drury. Jean Segura, acquired in a trade with Milwaukee, will see some action at second but the Diamondbacks see him more as a shortstop. That job was held last season by slick-fielding, light-hitting Nick Ahmed.

''I'm always coming into camp looking to earn a job and not expecting anything to be handed to me,'' Ahmed said, ''so it doesn't really affect how I prepare or go about my business day to day.''

Hale said Jake Lamb is ahead at third base, where Drury also can play.

Center fielder A.J. Pollock, coming off a breakout season, opens spring training as the leadoff hitter following the trade of Ender Inciarte to Atlanta in the deal that brought Miller to Arizona.

''But if somebody (else) could fill that hole,'' Hale said, ''boy, that would be great to be able to hit A.J. second and Paul (Goldschmidt) third, or A.J. third and Paul fourth. So we'll experiment and play around with it and see if anybody grabs that leadoff spot.''

Hale said his preference is to keep Goldschmidt batting third with Peralta fourth.

Hale said he believes the Diamondbacks could have the soundest fundamentals in baseball.

''So if we play that type of baseball,'' he said, ''with the talent that we have, the wins should come.''

**StarDust Bum** · 02-18-2016, 03:11 AM

Astros, Gattis agree to $3.4 million deal
February 16, 2016

PHOENIX (AP) Injured Houston designated hitter Evan Gattis and the Astros have avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a $3.4 million, one-year contract.

The deal was reached before a scheduled hearing Tuesday. It calls for a $3.3 million salary this year and includes a $5.2 million club option for 2017 with a $100,000 buyout.

When the sides exchanged proposed arbitration salaries last month, Gattis asked for a raise from $526,500 to $3.85 million and the Astros offered $3 million.

Gattis had surgery Feb. 10 to repair a sports hernia, and the Astros said then he would be sidelined four to six weeks.

Acquired from Atlanta in January 2015, Gattis hit .246 and led the Astros with 27 homers and 88 RBIs, both career highs.

Colorado second baseman DJ LeMahieu is the last player scheduled for a hearing. Players are 3-1, and Gattis' agreement ensures players' first winning record in arbitration since they went 2-1 in 2011.

Three pitchers won their hearings: Toronto's Jesse Chavez ($4 million), Tampa Bay's Drew Smyly ($3.75 million) and Cincinnati's J.J. Hoover ($1.4 million). Astros catcher Jason Castro ($5 million) lost.

**StarDust Bum** · 02-18-2016, 03:13 AM

O's focus on pitching at spring training
February 16, 2016

BALTIMORE (AP) The Baltimore Orioles spent millions during the offseason to fortify their offense and keep intact a bullpen that shined in 2015.

Unfortunately, the starting rotation remains uncertain as the team prepares to open spring training camp in Florida this week.

Baltimore's most notable move this winter was to retain free agent slugger Chris Davis, the major league's reigning home run king, at a price of $161 million over seven years.

''When you make an investment like the Orioles have in Chris Davis, obviously it's a commitment by the ownership ... to field a competitive team year in and year out,'' executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette said.

Duquette also re-signed setup man Darren O'Day, traded for hard-hitting outfielder Mark Trumbo and added free agent Hyun-Soo Kim, a standout in South Korea. In addition, catcher Matt Wieters returns after accepting the club's qualifying offer.

That might not be good enough to enable the Orioles to rebound from an 81-81 finish last season - a poor encore to their appearance in the AL Championship Series in 2014.

''The biggest thing we have to do is get better in starting pitching,'' manager Buck Showalter said. ''That was the biggest difference in the two seasons, in a nutshell.''

Baltimore lost free agent lefty Wei-Yin Chen and has not garnered a noteworthy replacement, although Duquette is still reportedly in pursuit of free agent Yovani Gallardo.

---

Some things to know about the Orioles before their first spring training workout Friday:

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE: The players appreciate management's readiness to spend big money for a run at a playoff berth. Davis received the richest contract in franchise history, and the payroll is up substantially from last year.

''The doom and gloom that was predicted coming into the offseason, with none of these free agents coming back, it's definitely encouraging to see ownership is willing to do whatever it takes to win,'' reliever Brad Brach said.

Center fielder Adam Jones said, ''It shows that the team cares.''

IMPROVEMENT NEEDED: Showalter's most important task this spring is to have his starting staff ready to roll for the April 4 opener against the Twins.

At this point, he's counting on returnees Chris Tillman (11-11 in 2015), Miguel Gonzalez (9-12), Ubaldo Jimenez (12-10) and up-and-coming Kevin Gausman (4-7).

''Chris has got to revert to form, Miguel has got to revert to form,'' Showalter said. ''Gaus has got to pop when we take the governors off, and we've got to find somebody to take Chen's place.''

HARDY RETURNS: Hindered by a torn labrum for much of 2015, shortstop J.J. Hardy is ready for a bounce-back season after hitting .219 with eight homers and 37 RBIs.

''It was always there,'' he said of the pain. ''It wasn't terrible, so I could play through it, But it wasn't good either.''

Rest and rehabilitation appeared to have solved the issue.

''Got started working out earlier this year than I ever have,'' Hardy said. ''Feeling strong. Everything's good.''

WELCOME ABOARD: It might be well into March before Showalter decides where to put Kim and Trumbo in the starting lineup.

Kim has the potential to be a leadoff hitter, and the Orioles can only hope Trumbo can show the power that enabled him to hit 95 homers with the Angels from 2011-13.

''I've played against him,'' Jones said. ''I've chased a few balls down, and I've had to stop on a few that already went out of the ballpark.''

YOUTH SERVED: Before Davis signed, the Orioles were willing to try prospects Christian Walker and Trey Mancini as backups to Trumbo at first base.

The youngsters probably won't make the team, but each will get plenty of playing time this spring.

''They're going to make sure they've got their gray pants (for road games),'' Showalter said. ''Trey and Christian will get all the at-bats they want.''

**StarDust Bum** · 02-18-2016, 03:15 AM

On spring training's eve, Rockies uncertain of Reyes' status
February 17, 2016

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) While most of the Colorado Rockies already are at their spring training facility, shortstop Jose Reyes is a notable exception.

Contact with Reyes has been limited since his Oct. 31 arrest in Hawaii on a domestic violence charge that could lead to discipline under Major League Baseball's new domestic violence policy. Reyes pleaded not guilty to allegations of abusing his wife, and baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says he hopes to have a decision on possible sanctions by opening day.

''I hope everything works out for Jose,'' manager Walt Weiss said Wednesday. ''He brings a certain energy to our club that was nice to see last year. But I've got to coach and manage the guys that are here.''

Weiss, whose team is coming off its fifth straight losing season, said he was last in touch with Reyes through text messages around the December holidays. Weiss said if Reyes is out for a significant time, Trevor Story would get a chance to make the opening-day roster.

''It's kind of a tough situation with the legal implications and everything,'' Weiss said.

All-Star second-baseman DJ LeMahieu won't move to shortstop.

''DJ is entrenched on the other side of the base,'' Weiss said.

Troy Tulowitzki spent nearly a decade at shortstop for the Rockies, earning five All-Star selections and two Gold Gloves. He was sent to Toronto in the July deal that brought Reyes, a four-time All-Star who hit only .259 in 47 games in Colorado.

Reyes, due $22 million in each of the next two seasons, is slated for a trial starting April 4, the day the Rockies open the season at Arizona

''I'm sure the guys upstairs feel the same way: We've got to work with who's here,'' Weiss said. ''The guys that are here are something that we're going to focus on.''

The 23-year-old Story reached Triple-A last season, and the Rockies seem unconcerned with the possibility they might not push his free agent eligibility back a year, until after the 2022 season, if he makes the roster coming out of spring training and doesn't go back to the minor leagues.

''There will be some open competition, if Jose is not here,'' Weiss said. ''That's a good thing. That's always a good thing. But as far as the service-time stuff, I don't think that's going to play into it.''

Utility infielder Daniel Descalso and 24-year-old Cristhian Adames also are possibilities if Reyes is unavailable.

NOTES: Among newly acquired Jake McGee, Jason Motte and Chad Qualls, who will leave spring training as the closer? Maybe no one. ''I'm not sure as I sit here today if we're going to break camp and I'm going to name a closer,'' Weiss said. . Pitchers and catchers will undergo physicals Thursday. The first workout is Friday, and the emphasis will be throwing strikes. The Rockies' bullpen allowed a major league-high 249 walks last season. ''Really drive that point home, just going after hitters and attacking,'' Weiss said. ... LeMahieu agreed to a $7.8 million, two-year contract ahead of his scheduled salary arbitration hearing Wednesday. He gets $3 million this year and $4.8 million in 2017.

**StarDust Bum** · 02-18-2016, 03:18 AM

Toronto Blue Jays can slug, but can they pitch?
February 16, 2016

TORONTO (AP) Once again, the Blue Jays are built to slug.

The core of the offense that topped baseball with 891 runs last season is back in 2016, a batting order led by AL MVP Josh Donaldson, Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion. Behind that powerful trio are slugging shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and catcher Russell Martin.

Yet while Toronto's lineup looks sturdy, the starting rotation is another matter. Left-hander David Price, who went 9-1 in 11 starts after joining the Blue Jays last July, was allowed to leave as a free agent and joined AL East rival Boston. Left-hander Mark Buehrle also departed, leaving knuckleballer R.A. Dickey as the only Blue Jays pitcher with a 200-innings season.

The presumptive ace is right-hander Marcus Stroman, who missed most of 2015 while recovering from a knee injury but returned to go 4-0 in four September starts. Behind him will be righty Marco Estrada, who signed a $26 million, two-year deal to stay with Toronto after a career-best 13 wins last season. The Blue Jays have high hopes for J.A. Happ, who signed a $36 million, three-year contract after going 7-2 in 11 starts for playoff-bound Pittsburgh.

Only 24, Stroman is set to be a star for years to come. Still, if Toronto's other starters can't deliver, it won't matter how many home runs their slugging lineup hits.

Here are some other things to watch as the Blue Jays get set for spring training:

FIGHT FOR FIFTH STARTER'S SPOT: Candidates for the fifth spot include right-hander Aaron Sanchez, who began 2015 in the rotation but returned to the bullpen following a midseason muscle strain; right-hander Jesse Chavez, another former Blue Jay who was acquired from Oakland last November; oft-injured righty Gavin Floyd; and right-hander Drew Hutchison, Toronto's opening-day starter in 2015.

NEW DEALS FOR SLUGGING DUO?: Bautista and Encarnacion both have one year remaining on their contracts before becoming eligible for free agency. The new executive team of president Mark Shapiro and general manager Ross Atkins have held preliminary talks with Bautista (35) and Encarnacion (33) about new deals, and more substantive talks are possible during spring training. At the winter meetings, Encarnacion's agent said his client would cease negotiations once the regular season begins.

WHO'LL HANDLE THE NINTH? Roberto Osuna rose from Class A to the major leagues after a strong showing at spring training in 2015. By late June, the unflappable rookie had emerged as Toronto's closer, saving 20 of 23 chances with a 2.58 ERA. But the January trade that saw reliever Drew Storen join the Blue Jays has created competition for the ninth-inning role. In early February, Atkins said Toronto likely will use at least half of spring training, and maybe more, to decide whether Osuna or Storen will be the go-to guy in save situations.

LOOKING FOR NEW LEADOFF MAN: To acquire Storen from Washington, the Blue Jays gave up speedy outfielder Ben Revere, who served as Toronto's leadoff hitter throughout the playoffs. Before Revere moved to the top of the order, Tulowitzki briefly batted in the leadoff spot after his trade from Colorado. Manager John Gibbons has indicated he'd rather not have Tulo reclaim the role. With second baseman Devon Travis (left shoulder surgery) set to begin the season on the disabled list, the job could be won by center fielder Kevin Pillar, one of several Blue Jays players who arrived early at spring training for extra work.

ALL-CANADIAN CONTEST: Revere's departure created Toronto's only position battle, with Canadians Michael Saunders and Dalton Pompey set to compete for the left-field job. Saunders sustained a knee injury in spring training last year and never fully healed, playing just nine games. Pompey (23) spent much of the season at Triple-A but saw action as a pinch-runner in the postseason, stealing four bases.

**StarDust Bum** · 02-18-2016, 03:20 AM

Cast removed on Cards' Yadier Molina
February 16, 2016

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina has had the cast removed from his surgically repaired left thumb.

St. Louis said the cast was removed recently but did not provide the exact date.

The seven-time All-Star and eight-time Gold Glove winner is among several players already at spring training ahead of St. Louis' first workout on Thursday. He hopes to be ready for opening day.

Molina was hampered in the postseason by the injury sustained making a tag on Sept. 20. The 33-year-old had two operations after the NL Central champions were eliminated by the Cubs in the Division Series.

St. Louis signed a backup catcher with plenty of starting experience, Brayan Pena, who could open the season as the starter, if necessary.

Molina hit .270 last season with four homers and 61 RBIs.

**StarDust Bum** · 02-18-2016, 03:23 AM

Angels make few changes around Trout, Pujols heading to 2016
February 16, 2016

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) Although the Los Angeles Angels made a few tweaks up and down their roster, they're headed into spring hoping for better results from largely the same players.

After going 85-77 and finishing one game out of the second AL wild card last fall, the Angels' offseason was defined more by what they didn't do.

Owner Arte Moreno and new general manager Billy Eppler declined to make an exorbitant financial commitment to fill the Angels' gaping hole in left field, and they saved their money when looking at big-ticket opportunities to bolster their rotation. Moreno has shown he isn't afraid to spend his vast fortune on the Angels over the years, but the club elected to keep its already lavish payroll below the luxury tax threshold.

So Los Angeles will head into the upcoming season with only a few new names around key contributors Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, Kole Calhoun, Garrett Richards and Huston Street. The Angels made no major additions to the offense that declined sharply in production after being the majors' best in 2014, and the deep rotation with just one 10-game winner will return with the same potential members.

Other things to know about Mike Scioscia's 17th season in charge of the Angels:

DEFENSIVE WHIZ: The Angels' most exciting change was made at shortstop, where the club traded veteran starter Erick Aybar and its top two minor-league prospects to acquire Andrelton Simmons from Atlanta. Simmons' static offense in recent years has tempered enthusiasm about his ceiling, but he remains among the best defensive players in baseball, with athleticism and smarts that could transform the way Los Angeles plays the game.

BORN ON THIRD: The Angels declined to write a big free-agent check to David Freese in the offseason, instead giving up promising young reliever Trevor Gott in a deal for veteran third baseman Yunel Escobar. The Angels are the fifth team in six seasons for the Cuban slugger, who batted .314 with 56 RBIs in Washington last year. Third base has been an underperforming position for Los Angeles for several years, and Escobar is the latest to get a shot at fixing it.

OUT OF LEFT FIELD: Still smarting from paying Josh Hamilton over $100 million for two terrible seasons, Moreno decided not to empty his wallet for Justin Upton, Jason Heyward, Yoenis Cespedes or another top free-agent outfielder, even though the Angels' left fielders had the worst production in the majors last season. Eppler's current solution is a platoon patch with veterans Craig Gentry and Daniel Nava, who both struggled last year with other teams. The position could remain a major problem for a sputtering offense.

NIGHTMARE WEAVER: Jered Weaver has been a stalwart in the rotation since 2006, but the right-hander is coming off the worst season of his career at 7-12 with a 4.64 ERA. Weaver's fastball velocity has declined in recent years, and he thrived only occasionally last season with deception and location. Scioscia remains confident his longtime ace can still get outs, but unless Weaver regains some measure of his formerly dominant form, this could be a costly farewell: Weaver will make $20 million this summer in the final year of his contract.

ALL ABOUT TROUT: The Angels' middling offseason keeps much of the burden for their success on the shoulders of Trout, who will reach the back half of his 20s this summer without a postseason victory in his transcendent career. Trout posted a career-best .991 OPS last year in his fourth consecutive MVP-caliber season, but the Angels have yet to put together a roster good enough to boost him to October success. The center fielder's burden could be even bigger in April if Albert Pujols is slow to return from offseason foot surgery, but Trout seems capable of handling anything.

**StarDust Bum** · 02-22-2016, 02:05 AM

Nats' Baker sees plenty of tough decisions
February 21, 2016

VIERA, Fla. (AP) Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and Jonathan Papelbon all throwing on mounds a few feet apart made for an impressive scene at Washington Nationals spring training on Sunday. But it was the sight of a lot of other pitchers throwing that caught manager Dusty Baker's attention.

Baker watched as old stalwart Bronson Arroyo, top prospect Lucas Giolito, left-hander Felipe Rivero and right-handers Trevor Gott and Blake Treinen let it fly and came away almost in awe.

''Man, we got some tough decisions to make,'' Baker said Sunday afternoon. ''But you'd rather have those then not enough decisions. We have some dynamite looking arms - old, young and in the middle - with some good bodies. We have some big old stud pitchers, and we also have a couple Chihuahuas that throw the heck out of the ball.''

It's still the beginning of spring training, and those tough decisions are weeks away. But they extend to the back of the starting rotation, the bullpen, the shortstop position and the lineup.

Even though Baker is new to the Nationals, any manager in this spot would have to make some important calls. There's a competition between Trea Turner and Danny Espinosa to be the starting shortstop, between Tanner Roark, Arroyo and others to be the No. 5 starter and among plenty of relievers to earn bullpen roles.

Look no further than Baker's conversation with Arroyo, whom he managed in Cincinnati, to understand just how fluid the Nationals' roster could be. When the soon-to-be 39-year-old debated signing with the Reds or joining the Nationals, even Baker - one of his biggest supporters - couldn't guarantee anything.

''I said, `If you think I'm going to come into this locker room and have no shot at making the club, just let me know,''' said Arroyo, who missed the 2015 season following Tommy John surgery. ''He said, `Honestly, I haven't had my eyes on a lot of the guys here, so I don't know specifically what we're going to get, but I think if you come and you're healthy and pitch like you always pitch, you'll have no problem making the club.'''

After a trying year back and forth between the rotation and the bullpen that included a 4.38 ERA, Roark expects to start and is preparing to start. But with Joe Ross the front-runner to be the fourth starter behind Max Scherzer, Gonzalez and Strasburg, Baker and pitching coach Mike Maddux will have plenty to watch for in workouts and spring training games.

That includes Arroyo.

''Bronson knows what to do,'' Baker said. ''I didn't make any promises to Bronson, and he didn't make any promises to us. Nobody has to tell a pro if he still has it or if he doesn't have it. He's an honest guy.''

Washington GM Mike Rizzo brought in a couple of other honest veterans on minor league deals that included spring training invites. As if the bullpen picture wasn't crowded enough with Treinen, Gott, Rivero, Shawn Kelley, Yusmeiro Petit and Oliver Perez, the Nationals also brought in righties Matt Belisle and Burke Badenhop to compete for spots.

''They wouldn't be here if they didn't have a real shot,'' Baker said. ''We didn't just sign them for insurance.''

In the field, Turner vs. Espinosa bears watching at shortstop. But no matter who wins that job, Baker has to figure out what to do with his lineup, especially after the offseason signings of second baseman Daniel Murphy and outfielder Ben Revere.

Baker would like to split up his two best-hitting lefties, NL MVP Bryce Harper and Murphy, but beyond that he's an open scorebook.

''I don't know where (Jayson) Werth's going to hit, and a lot of it depends on the health of the other guys,'' Baker said. ''I've written out probably like about 12 lineups.''

One decision that should be easy enough is the Nationals' opening day starter. Even though Scherzer laughed off the possibility of throwing back-to-back no-hitters six months apart, it's a good bet Scherzer gets the ball April 4 at Atlanta as long as he's healthy.

''We haven't really discussed it,'' Baker said. ''But it lines up where Scherzer I think is pitching first. I've got to talk to Maddux after that.''

**StarDust Bum** · 02-22-2016, 02:07 AM

Twins' Molitor looking forward to 2016
February 21, 2016

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) On Tuesday night, Twins manager Paul Molitor caught Bruce Springsteen's concert across the state in Sunrise, Florida.

Molitor and the Boss have developed, if not a friendship, a mutual respect since meeting at Yankee Stadium in 1998, Molitor's final season as player, wrapping up his 21-year career.

The pair of Hall of Famers in their respective careers chatted before the show.

It gave Molitor a chance to be in what his wife calls one of his happier places. There are precious few opportunities for a major league manager for those kinds of leisurely nights from now until the end of the season.

But, with Twins pitchers and catchers reporting Monday, Molitor hopes his second season as a manager will lead him to another one of those happier places - the postseason.

The Twins narrowly missed out last season, finishing 83-79 in second place in the American League Central, three games out of a wild-card spot. They were in the hunt until the final weekend.

A respectable finish, but not the one he wanted.

''It kind of left a bad taste in my mouth,'' Molitor said. ''But I'm looking at the new year as a new challenge. I understand that there are some things that can carry over, especially as experience is gained by staff and players.

''But I certainly don't assume that you just are naturally going to improve, because every year kind of stands on its own.''

Molitor, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004, had never managed at any level before taking over the Twins last season.

''I had a lot of fun,'' he said. ''And I mention that because I think until you do something you're not sure how well it's going to fit, either how you think or how it's going to be challenging and how you're going to handle the day-to-day expectations that come with the position.

''So I enjoyed it. It was educational. I think that you kind of develop a newfound respect for people who have done it, especially people who have done it for a long time.

''There's different things you need to know in this role that you didn't need to know in other roles. And sometimes you feel humbled.''

Molitor, who grew up in St. Paul and was drafted out of the University of Minnesota by the Brewers with the third overall pick in 1977, played the final three years of his career with the Twins.

He began his coaching career in 2001 with the Twins as bench coach for Tom Kelly. He had also been a scout and a special assistant, a roving coach for the organization's minor league teams, and a coach for Ron Gardenhire, the man he replaced last season.

General manager Terry Ryan had no qualms handing the manager's job to Molitor and has watched him grow into the role.

''The main piece to this thing is he's been around for about a decade in our minor leagues,'' Ryan said.

''So it wasn't all that difficult to think with his baseball history and his experience as a player and his experience as a hitting coach and a minor league rover and his knowledge of the market and living in Minnesota - he knows all about us. It fit pretty well obviously and he did a heckuva job.

''He's about as good a baseball man as I've ever been around.''

It didn't take the GM long to know he had made the right decision. The Twins struggled early last season, going 1-7 before three consecutive wins.

''Nobody really cracked,'' Ryan said. ''That was a pretty good sign that he had control, `Listen, don't panic. We're in the first week to 10 days of the season.' He was calm and he was patient and he had a plan and approach and all the stuff that comes with leadership.''

Now, with a year of experience, Molitor is looking forward to getting the season started.

''I would like us to set a goal of playing extended baseball in the fall,'' he said. ''I'm looking forward to the challenge that we have now that we have a little bit more expectations on our team at least from our fan base and people in our organization.

''I still see that we're not picked to do very well by a lot of people. But I'm looking forward to the challenge of trying to push us to the next level.''

Early Sunday morning, one of Molitor's coaches poked his head into the manager's office.

''Hi, boss,'' he said.

For now, that's Molitor's title. The other guy will have to wait.

**StarDust Bum** · 02-22-2016, 02:08 AM

Crawford giving Phils a glimpse of future
February 21, 2016

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) J.P. Crawford turned 21 last month, meaning he was 13 when Philadelphia won the World Series in 2008.

The sight of Crawford taking batting practice at spring training, hitting balls over the wall with his smooth left-handed swing, is an indication of just how much has changed in the last few years for the Phillies.

Now firmly invested in a youth movement, the Phillies are counting on players like Crawford to help them return to contention - maybe not this year, but sometime in the not-too-distant future. Crawford is one of several Philadelphia prospects in camp as non-roster invitees.

''I'm real high on J.P. Crawford,'' manager Pete Mackanin said Sunday. ''I haven't seen him a lot, but I know that he's highly touted.''

Crawford was a first-round draft pick by the Phillies in 2013, and he hit .288 in 107 minor league games last year with Class A Clearwater and Double-A Reading. The 6-foot-2 shortstop now has a chance to spend some time around players who are already in the majors.

''Just picking some of the big leaguers' brains,'' Crawford said. ''I've been taking groundballs with (Andres) Blanco. He's helped me a lot.''

The Phillies have not finished above .500 since winning the NL East every year from 2007-2011. Although Ryan Howard and Carlos Ruiz are still around, the roster looks nothing like it did back then. Instead, younger players like third baseman Maikel Franco and outfielder Odubel Herrera received extensive playing time last season.

More help could be on the way soon. The Phillies have five of the game's top 100 prospects, according to Baseball America. That group includes Crawford (No. 6), outfielder Nick Williams (27), right-hander Jake Thompson (75), outfielder Cornelius Randolph (88) and catcher Andrew Knapp (96). All except Randolph were invited to major league camp this year, and so was right-hander Mark Appel, a former No. 1 overall draft pick who came to the Phillies in an offseason trade with Houston.

Crawford, Williams, Thompson and Knapp played together at Reading last year, and if all goes well, they could be seeing plenty of each other in Philadelphia over the next several seasons.

''We're all close, so it's great,'' Crawford said. ''We have a good bond out here. It's going to be fun.''

Blanco had just turned 20 when he made his big league debut in 2004 for Kansas City. After bouncing around the majors a bit, he played a career-high 106 games for the Phillies last season. In other words, he's someone who can certainly offer some mentorship to a player like Crawford.

''He looks good out there,'' Blanco said. ''When you are young, you try to impress, try and do too much. It's normal. I just try to let him know that there's not any pressure.''

The Phillies aren't expected to contend this year, and they still have Freddy Galvis penciled in to play shortstop. They can afford to be patient with Crawford, who hit .265 in 86 games at Reading in 2015.

''I want to concentrate on our big league guys,'' Mackanin said. ''If everybody's playing like we hope they can, then that gives us more time for the Crawfords and the Williamses and so on and so forth, to develop and not have to rush them.''

But it's hard to blame Phillies fans if they keep an eye on the minor leagues this season, since so much of the organization's future may depend on the progress players like Crawford make in the coming years.

''Great kid, he's got talent,'' Blanco said. ''The reason, probably, they have him right here is to learn how we do everything - how the big league guys do things.''

NOTES: After trading both Jonathan Papelbon and Ken Giles over the last year, the Phillies will have a new closer this season. Mackanin said he's talked to several potential candidates. ''Without naming names, one guy said that he would probably be more comfortable as a seventh- or eighth-inning guy,'' Mackanin said. ''So that tells you right there, that might eliminate him.''

**StarDust Bum** · 02-22-2016, 02:10 AM

SS Alexei Ramirez reports to Padres
February 21, 2016

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) New Padres shortstop Alexei Ramirez reported to spring training on Sunday, ready to anchor San Diego's infield at age 34.

Ramirez signed a $4 million, one-year contract with a mutual option for 2017. He spent the previous eight seasons with the Chicago White Sox, who declined a $10 million team option.

''I'm grateful for the opportunity here,'' Ramirez said through an interpreter.

Although his offensive numbers fell off last year, the Padres point out he played at least 154 games in each of the last six seasons and they liked his second-half play.

''Even though he struggled in the first half of the year, he came back and had a good second half,'' general manager A.J. Preller said. ''He still has a youthful body and he's still motivated to play shortstop.''

Preller and manager Andy Green said Ramirez had offers from other teams, possibly for more money, to be more of a utility player.

''He wanted to play everyday shortstop, so we thought it was a pretty good fit,'' Preller said.

''It's very much the preparation you do and taking care of yourself in the offseason,'' Ramirez said. ''That's what I've done every year. That's what maintains my strength and health throughout the entire season.''

An All-Star in 2014, Ramirez saw his numbers drop to.249 at the plate with 10 homers and 62 RBIs last season. He's a career .273 hitter with 109 homers and 542 RBIs.

''That's just how baseball works,'' he said. ''Sometimes you'll have ups and downs, and you have to prepare yourself for the changes that happen. That's what happened. Something changed in the middle of the season.''

Said Green: ''His second half finish was right in line with what he's done throughout his career. It was a very good finish.

''Say whatever you want about an aging curve, he's still very athletic,'' the rookie skipper added. ''He's played 150-plus games for every year of his career, so he's durable. We're going to lean heavily on him to anchor our infield.''

San Diego had been looking to upgrade at shortstop, where super-utility player Alexi Amarista made 78 starts and Clint Barmes made 51.

Green met with Ramirez at the winter meetings in December.

''There was a hunger in him to prove himself,'' Green said. ''What stood out to me more than anything is I asked him in the middle of it: `Are you willing to be coached? Like if I have something for you, like if I've seen something, you want to know what I know about you?' And he said, `Yes.' In that moment everybody's going to answer politically correct because you're trying to get a job on a team.

''But the first time I saw him after that, when we had signed him, he came up to me and said, `What do you have for me? What do you want to teach me,''' Green said. ''I said, `I don't have anything for you right now, but I guarantee you we will have stuff for you.' I just wanted to check who he was, his pulse, if he was hungry to learn.''

Also Sunday, reliever Jose Torres and catcher Christian Bethancourt reported after having visa problems.

**StarDust Bum** · 02-22-2016, 02:11 AM

A's catcher Vogt progressing from surgery
February 21, 2016

MESA, Ariz. (AP) Stephen Vogt is shagging balls in the outfield, catching bullpens again and looking mobile running through agility drills on the side in a delightful mood as usual.

Not many signs that he is limited as spring training began Sunday for the Athletics.

Vogt is pushing the pace in his rehab from elbow surgery last month, and that comes as no surprise to anyone who knows the Oakland catcher and how much he loves to be on the field.

''I feel really good, three weeks out,'' Vogt said when pitchers and catchers reported to A's spring training Saturday at Hohokam Stadium. ''I'd say I'm right on pace for where I should be right now.''

While he is catching bullpens - without the throwing part back to the pitcher yet - he also hopes to begin hitting off a tee soon as he rehabs from arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow.

Manager Bob Melvin said that Vogt would likely begin to get in Cactus League games by the second week or so, while making sure he is fresh for opening day.

''I didn't expect him to be swinging a bat at this point. He's going to do all the drills. He's going to catch bullpens and so forth,'' Melvin said Sunday. ''We'll be able to move him along but really there's no rush with him. Last year he was quite a bit behind and had a great first half. We're not too concerned with him.''

Vogt had the procedure Jan. 29 in San Francisco to have dead tissue removed from the elbow joint as well as a bone chip. While the elbow issue didn't restrict him from doing his offseason program, when he began throwing in the winter it was more an aggravation and ''a little uncomfortable,'' something he initially figured it was just wear and tear after a long year. On full-speed swings was when he felt the most pain.

''Any time you finish a season you feel banged up and you have a lot of different things you feel,'' Vogt said. ''I thought it would just go away. I didn't know what it was. When I ramped up baseball activity the pain was right there again. Fortunately we were able to get it checked out in time to not miss any time. This is my first elbow surgery, just add it to the list. It was very non-invasive. I feel great.''

A first-time All-Star last season, Vogt batted .261 with 18 home runs and 71 RBIs in 136 games for the last-place A's.

Vogt caught bullpens all of the past week, including new relievers Liam Hendriks and Ryan Madson, and he has been taking dry swings with the hopes of hitting off the tee in the coming days. On Sunday, he caught closer Sean Doolittle and new reliever Marc Rzepczynski.

Vogt is following orders from the medical staff each day.

''I'm trying not to ask any questions,'' he said. ''I do better when I show up and they tell me what I'm going to do that day. I feel like I'm back to full range of motion three weeks out. It already feels better than it did going into surgery.''

NOTES: Ace Sonny Gray threw his first bullpen session Sunday. He said he has learned some things about how to approach camp as he approaches his fourth season. ''Take it easier early and get a feel for yourself on the mound again. You don't have to come out full bullets Day 1,'' Gray said. ''In 2012, 2013, even 2014 a little bit, came out and was still trying to prove myself ... trying to fight for that opening day spot.'' . LHP closer Sean Doolittle has no restrictions after he was limited to 12 outings and 13 2-3 innings in 2015 - going 1-0 with a 3.95 ERA and four saves - because of a shoulder strain. ''No training wheels,'' he said. Melvin, on having Doolittle and brother Ryan together in camp: ''I think I can distinguish between the two. I'm glad that one throws right-handed and the other throws left-handed. It is cool. ... My guess is we'll see one with the other following him quite a bit.''... RHP Henderson Alvarez, who underwent season-ending shoulder surgery last July with Miami, is playing catch from 130 feet and could get off a mound in March but is unlikely to pitch for the A's until May.

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The Bum's MLB 2016 Spring Training News-Exhibition Picks-Trades-Gossips Etc. !!

The Bum's MLB 2016 Spring Training News-Exhibition Picks-Trades-Gossips Etc. !!

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