TIDBITS OF INFO, FROM AROUND THE LEAGUE

All the news (and, well, speculation) that's fit to print....

PLACED ON THE DISABLED LIST JUST PRIOR TO OPENING DAY:

Casselton RHP John Lackey, Las Vegas RHP Ervin Santana, Texas RHP Hiroki Kiroda, Texas OF Ichiro Suzuki, Worcester C Joe Mauer

The Black Mesa Anomalies have to be concerned about their rotation. None of their five projected starters pitched a shutout last year, and three of the team's four complete games were logged by one of the loop's hardest-hit hurlers (Kevin Millwood, 9-10, 5.07). At least they have the makings of a solid bullpen, with Jonathan Papelbon, Scott Linebrink and (if recovered from injuries) Takashi Saito....a serious battle for playing time seems likely between 2B Ian Kinsler and Dustin Pedroia, not to mention the extra OF (Reed Johnson, Ryan Church, Franklin Guttierrez, Scott Hairston) who seem unlikely to get at-bats. Not a good recipe for team chemistry!

The Brooklyn Moabs have decided that Fausto Carmona's solid spring did not overshadow his troubled 2008 campaign, and have moved him to the bullpen. The Moabs are excited by their 'Big 3' of Roy Oswalt, Jon Lester and James Shields, each of whom logged a 'quality start' in nearly two-thirds of their outings, and these guys seem untouchable in trade talks. If Carmona is to reemerge, a youngster like Ubaldo Jiminez or Chris Volstad (both slated for the rotation) would have to stumble . . .Could there be trouble at the hot corner? Mega-bat but not so much the glove, Miguel Cabrera will be asked to man third base much of the time in the early going, but insiders indicated that Jed Lowrie will also be tried there in some lineups. But, with Cabrera mainly a stick, Mark Teahen on the bench and both Brandon Wood and Ty Wigginton in AAA as insurance, this may be a short-lived experiment . . .

The Casselton Horned Toads are easily the loop's most-improved squad based on spring training. Despite a tough loss on Opening Day, LHP Johann Santana is one of the best pitchers in the world and leads a significant rotation upgrade that includes LHP John Danks, LHP Joe Saunders and RHP Ricky Nolasco. How improved? Last year's Opening Day starter (Aaron Harang) is in the fifth spot, and might be trade bait when the injured John Lackey returns from the DL. RHP Dave Bush, another holdover from last year's staff, is probably already on the block . . . Orlando Hudson's a slick fielder and a team leader. Rickie Weeks, the 'leadoff hitter of the future', is on his fourth team but has lots of offensive potential. But neither is slated to start at 2B for the Toads, who have given the starting nod (and, in some cases, a prime spot in the lineup) to free-agent signee Jose Lopez . . .

The Darwin Finches, not surprisingly, have been in no hurry to promote highly-touted youngsters Clayton Kershaw or Max Scherzer to a rotation spot. The Unnatural Selections have the most pitching depth they have ever had, and expect to add veteran John Smoltz back to the mix sometime this summer, at which point they will have to make some moves. LHP Oliver Perez is likely trade bait, and both Franklin Morales and Jonathan Sanchez have been reassigned to the minors. Now, if the club can only add some outfield help: with Josh Hamilton and Milton Bradley limping this spring, and the club talking about getting Ryan Doumit some playing time in right, it's becoming clear that this is a team weakness....The Finches kept SS Khalil Greene and IF Mark Loretta on the roster primarily as bench strength, while keeping minor-league free agents Aki Iwamura and Brendan Harris down on the farm.

The Fresno Regulators (or as some may remember fondly, the Lexington Rebels) will be trotting out five arms that averaged 15 wins apiece last year in the 'majors', a feat unmatched by any other BARB club and which does not include the emerging talent of Mike Pelfrey (13-11, 3.72), and Nick Blackburn (11-11, 4.05), much less veteran insurance policy Andy Pettite (14-14, 4.54). Plenty to like in the rotation, but what's up with the bullpen? Will the erratic Brian Wilson's 41 saves trump the efficiency of Mike Gonzalez and Francisco Cordero? Will Huston Street continue to get save opportunities? Most importantly from the standpoint of rival GM's, which arms are likely to go on the market? . . . A position battle is shaping up between incumbent Jhonny Peralta and recently-drafted overachiever Marcos Scutaro. Peralta has been uneven this spring and only won the starting job by default when the club lost last year's starter (J.J. Hardy) in the Draft.

The Frostbite Falls Flying Squirrels are apparently committed to bringing back Ben Sheets as a fourth or fifth starter as soon as the oft-injured righty is able to go, but the strength of their rotation is clearly going to be the young arms of Tim Lincecum, Cole Hamels and Felix Hernandez. LHP Paul Maholm, a surprise hero in the playoffs after being signed as an unsung free agent, has been re-inked to a one-year deal to compete with Sheets and rookie Armando Gallaraga for the bottom of rotation . . . The defending world champs have, without a doubt, the loop's deepest bench, so much so that insiders worry about team harmony. According to this school of thought, proud veterans like Michael Young, J.J. Hardy, Victor Martinez and Edwin Encarnacion are going to have very tough time accepting part-time or platoon roles . . .

The Las Vegas Luchadores continue to take it on the chin, losing projected #1 starter Ervin Santana to a late spring training injury. With no draft haul due to mismanagement and no roster depth, they will no doubt dip into their league-mandated pool of free agents right away, starting with LHP Scott Olsen. With their thin roster, it is likely that middle reliever Aaron Heilman may be stretched out early in the season with the goal of converting him into a starter . . . The signing of Scott Rolen as a free agent will help only if the mercurial third baseman stays healthy, but it's a must with Alex Gordon out for months, if not the rest of the season. The club's lack of depth is especially painful in the infield, with no proven backup at short and a cast of converted outfielders (Kelly Johnson, Alfonso Soriano, Chris Burke) at first call to play second . . .

The Los Angeles PF Flyers seem likely to improve on last season's bullpen collapse. Brad Lidge (41 saves) is well-supported by relievers Octavio Dotel, Scot Shields and Juan Cruz, who combined for 193 appearances last season totaling 182 innings. They may need that depth, given the aches and pains that seemed to hold back starters Daisuke Matsuzaka, Justin Duscherer and (especially) Jeff Francis this spring . . . Andy LaRoche and Matt Tuiasusopo both were sent back to minor-league camp for reassignment, as neither seriously challenged veteran Mike Lowell at 3B. Veteran IF Orlando Cabrera and Mark Ellis are in position battles with younger players (Stephen Drew and Howie Kendrick), and one or both could be traded.

The Pottsylvania Creepers have assembled what is, beyond doubt, their best pitching staff ever. Cliff Lee and Mark Buerhle are among the best southpaws in baseball, and journeymen Kyle Lohse, Todd Wellemeyer and Braden Looper resurrected their careers last year, combining for 40 Cardinal-flavored victories. Youngster Yovanni Gallardo has shown much promise to push these veterans, and waiting in the wings (albeit without a contract) is veteran RHP Pedro Martinez. The club's franchise player is making nearly $10 million a year, a drag on the Creepers payroll, but one they would have to eat, anyway. With Pedro not taking up a roster spot at present, it makes sense for the Creepers to hang on to Martinez for a few months and see if he can regain his form . . . Ryan Theriot, a utility man last year, has won the starting job at 2B and should partner with Jose Reyes to form one of the better defensive infields in the league.

The St. Francis Friars have told LHP George Sherrill that he is slated for a setup role, despite 31 saves in the majors last year. Little-used RHP Frank Francisco will get first shot at the closer's job over Sherrill and fellow Oriole hurler Chris Ray, himself coming back from shoulder surgery. The Friars can ill afford, however, any injuries to the bullpen. Utilityman Ben Zobrist made a big impression in the season opener, hitting a pinch-hit home run and making a spectacular catch at the fence of a long drive by Carlos Pena. A big (6'3") kid who outgrew the shortstop position, Zobrist still has the athleticism to play all over the diamond and may get more playing time if this keeps up: in his last 281 at-bats, 'Big Z' has drilled 19 HR and driven in 49 runs . . . The Holy Rollers have assigned IF Alexi Ramirez and C Taylor Teagarden to AAA for more minor-league seasoning, guaranteeing playing time for veteran IF Cesar Izturis and Nick Punto.

The Texas Tornados have to be glad they acquired RHP Matt Garza in trade, as he is the only starter on their roster with a winning (11-9, 3.70) record in the majors last year. The other projected members of the rotation? Javier Vazquez, Zach Duke, Colin Balester and Andrew Miller were a combined 26-47 in 2008, so the organization will be holding their breath for RHP Hideki Kiroda . . . Attendance is probably going to tank early in the season with the club's two best offensive players (3B Alex Rodriguez and OF Ichiro Suzuki) set to miss much of the first month of play.


The Worcester Eliminators have dropped injury-plagued RHP Chris Young from their starting rotation in favor of Joba Chamberlain (a surprise for Opening Day), Eric Bedard, Jeremy Guthrie, Adam Wainwright and Ryan Dempster. That quintet combined for 48 wins last year in 'reality' but clearly has the potential to do a lot more than that. Still, Young is now slated for a 'garbage time' role, a bit of a surprise. Meanwhile, Heath Bell has for now lost the battle for the closer's spot in Worcester to Brandon Morrow, but things could change rapidly here.

The Yuma Firebirds have a rotation that combined for 22 complete games last year, tops in BARB, and the five (Halladay, Sabathia, Peavy, Zambrano, Cain) averaged nearly 14 wins apiece, so there's plenty to like here. But there's no denying the fact that RHP Kevin Slowey, sent back to AAA, has moved ahead of Edinson Volquez and Johnny Cueto for the time being in the club's depth chart. Insiders are pretty firm that the less-celebrated Slowey will be the first pitcher to be called up should one of Yuma's 'Big 5' go down.....