Kuzul

Last year, the San Francisco Giants experienced several problems that hampered their quest to defend their 2010 World Series title. Notably, some devastating injuries prevented the team from even returning to the playoffs, highlighted by the collision heard ‘round the Bay—the mowing of Buster Posey last May.

As a result of the play, the Giants’ star catcher was knocked out for the remainder of the season. By itself, Posey’s absence would hobble any roster, but he was not the only player who suffered significant injury in 2011. In fact, Posey’s broken ankle and three torn ligaments is the least worrisome for San Francisco. Going into spring training, the Giants were confident that Posey would be able to bounce back from the horrific setback and would ultimately regain the form that led him to the 2010 National League Rookie of the Year selection.

In actuality, the more troublesome road to recovery is being driven by second baseman Freddy Sanchez, who sustained his own grotesque injury while diving for a ball last June. The result of the play was a torn labrum and capsule in his right shoulder, which ultimately required surgery performed last August.

Like Posey, Sanchez did not see action for the rest of the 2011 campaign. Unlike Posey, Sanchez has not been able to demonstrate during this spring training that he can perform at a high level. While Posey has seen action at his projected position of catcher, Sanchez has yet to take the field at second base, instead opting to work on his hitting while appearing as the team’s designated hitter in six games. Incidentally, he is batting .278 with a double and three runs scored so far this spring.

But the Giants, as we all know, are not an American League team; thus, no matter if Sanchez bats .923 for the rest of March, it won’t mean a heap of anything if he can’t take the field. As of Monday, Sanchez recognized that he is further away from complete health than he and the Giants would have liked and hoped for. According to CSNBayArea.com, Sanchez the likelihood of being ready to man second base on Opening Day is shrinking.

“We’re getting late,” Sanchez admitted. “It’s got to be in all of our minds, whether, ‘Hey, will I be out there or not?’”

The main issue in his defense is his ability to turn the double play. Obviously, handling the pivot requires some timing, agility and, above all, arm strength. Additionally, the torque that is used in throwing across the body can be extreme, especially when concerned with a shoulder injury. Recovery from such surgeries takes some time, and Sanchez is realizing that it might be a bit longer before he is able to play the field.

What would happen, then, if Sanchez is deemed not ready in time for Opening Day?

It’s probable that Sanchez will have to start the season on the disabled list. Until he is fully recovered, there’s no need for him to occupy a roster spot, especially since the team already has a couple serviceable middle infielders in veterans Ryan Theriot and Mike Fontenot. The question from there will be how soon will Sanchez get back to 100 percent health?

Make no mistake—Sanchez is a very important cog to the Giants’ defense and offense. He makes solid plays in the field and handles the bat well at the plate. It would be devastating for the Sanchez and the team if he continues ailing in his recovery. Posey and all of the other Giants who are coming back from off seasons or minor injuries will undoubtedly find their footing. But it’s Sanchez’ revival that means a lot to the balance of the Giants lineup.

As long as Sanchez is unable to play the field, San Francisco’s chances to win the NL West will be thrown out the window.

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Spring training statistics are nothing to swear by, but it has been hard to ignore the impressive numbers Cincinnati Reds prospect Todd Frazier has been posting this preseason.

Through 25 plate appearances, the 26-year-old third baseman is leading Cincinnati in batting average (.280), home runs (three), RBI (eight), runs (eight) and stolen bases (two).

The question remains, however, where exactly does Frazier fit in the Reds’ plans for 2012? While it is safe to assume that veteran Scott Rolen has locked up the everyday third base job, the rest of the third base depth chart is a bit blurry, with both Frazier and slugger Juan Francisco vying for playing time.

While Francisco looks to be next in line, manager Dusty Baker and the rest of the Cincinnati coaching staff have expressed concerns regarding his durability and lack of physical conditioning.

Could those worries potentially open up a roster spot for the surging Frazier?

That still remains unclear.

As for now, Frazier appears to be floating somewhere between Triple-A ball and an infield utility role with the big league club. While he’s likely to start the regular season in Louisville, however, the Reds may not have a choice but to call him up should he continue to fill up the stat sheet.

With the overload at third, don’t be surprised to hear either Francisco or Frazier come up in trade talks as the season progresses. Given Cincinnati’s high expectations for 2012, the Reds may be in position to make a roster-bolstering move come playoff time and both prospects could generate some serious interest.

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Andy Pettitte is one of the most popular players of the Joe Torre era that netted the Yankee franchise four World Series rings and six trips to the October classic. 

His return was met with far more excitement than skepticism; after all, Pettitte won’t be 40 until June and even though he hasn’t pitched since 2010, he managed to amass an 11-3 record and a 3.28 ERA in what was assumed to be his final season as a major league pitcher. 

Of course, all that changed yesterday when it was announced that Pettitte was returning to New York to don pinstripes and give it another go. 

It’s safe to assume that nearly every Yankee fan will be rooting for Pettitte’s success. One has to wonder if when Pettitte’s people contacted the Yankees, someone in the Yankee front office said to themselves, “Thanks a lot, Andy; you couldn’t have let us know about this three months ago?”

That’s because in the last three months, the Yankees have made some major moves that one would have to think might not have happened had the team known that Andy Pettitte was thinking about returning. 

The most significant of those moves was the trade made back in December in which the Yankees sent Jesus Montero and Hector Noesi to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Michael Pineda and Jose Campos. 

It was a major trade in Yankee-land because Montero was arguably the best offensive Yankee prospect since the turn of the century. They got a pretty good player in return as well by acquiring Michael Pineda from the Mariners. Pineda was coming off a fantastic rookie season in which he made the All-Star team and finished fifth in the Rookie of the Year voting. 

The problem is that while Montero has amassed an OPS of .936 along with a home run and a .304 batting average this spring, Pineda has been hampered by a drop in velocity, which has people speculating that he could start the season in the minors. Those struggles coupled with some weight issues had people speculating about him starting the season in the minors before Andy Pettitte even announced his return.

Had the Yankees been aware of Pettitte’s potential return, it’s worth wondering if that trade of Montero for Pineda ever would have happened in the first place? Maybe the Yanks wouldn’t have signed Hiroki Kuroda, or maybe Raul Ibanez would be playing elsewhere since Montero’s bat probably would have made the need to add a bat far less urgent to Yankee brass.

It’s impossible to say for sure what would have happened had Pettitte voiced his thoughts about a potential return to pinstripes a few months ago.

One has to assume that Pettitte has returned to the Yankees both to satisfy his own individual competitive desires as well as to return the Yankees to glory in October, but his team might have been in a better position to do that had Pettitte been a little more forthcoming in his decision-making process a few months ago.

Regardless of how effective and what type of impact Pettitte will have on this year’s Yankee team, his timing may have had a major impact on the team’s fortunes going forward. Montero could be a major offensive star; the Yankees resisted numerous offers to deal him for years in hopes that they could find other ways to fill out their rotation while retaining Montero. Once it became apparent that they could not, they pulled the trigger on the deal for Pineda.

MIchael Pineda may bounce back from his shaky spring and have a great season, or he could struggle this season and still go on to have a great career. If that’s the case, then the Yankees won’t think twice about having made the deal, but if Pineda struggles and if Montero continues to show off his offensive abilities, then not only will the Yankees have made a bad trade, but it’s one they might not have had to make in the first place.  

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In a move that shocked nearly everyone in the baseball world, Andy Pettitte and the New York Yankees agreed on a one-year deal, this morning, worth $2.5 million, effectively ending Pettitte’s retirement.

The deal is a minor league pact with an invitation to the Major League Spring Training.

Pettitte retired after an 11-3 season with a 3.28 ERA in 2010, leaving many fans wanting more. He was an All-Star that season, and many believed that he had retired too soon.

He was in camp as a Yankees instructor, which may have given him the itch to put on the pinstripes once more. Whatever his reasoning is, it was a smart decision for him to return.

It will likely take him a little extra time to get ready, as we’re already halfway through Spring Training, but all signs point to him being an effective starter when he returns.

Here are my bold predictions for Andy Pettitte’s comeback season in 2012.

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I had to laugh when I read this article about Brad Lidge claiming that the 2012 Washington Nationals are the most talented team he has ever played on.

Seriously?

I have absolutely nothing against the Washington Nationals. In fact, if you follow me on Twitter, you might remember that I tweeted a while back that I think that the Washington Nationals will make the playoffs this year. They are talented.

However, Lidge has played on four teams that were arguably more talented than this year’s Washington Nationals. I hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane.

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Despite Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez’s statement upon the arrival of pitchers and catchers that the final spot in the rotation was wide open, Mike Minor had to be considered the incumbent fifth starter entering spring camp.

It appears that his grasp on the final rotation spot has become even more secure after his initial few Spring Training appearances.

Including his most recent start on Tuesday, Minor has thrown nine innings of scoreless baseball.

He has struck out seven batters and even though he has walked four, his command was better on Tuesday, allowing only one batter to reach base via a free pass.

With that last spot in the rotation virtually Minor’s to lose at this point, how will that affect the remainder of the pitching staff?

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The Rockies beat the Dodgers by a score of 5-2 on Tuesday, in large part to the two perfect innings tossed by their No. 2 prospect, left hander Drew Pomeranz.

Unfortunately for Pomeranz, he was forced to leave after the second inning after experiencing tightness in his right hip.

“My hip’s a little tight,” he said after his departure. “It was tight in warm-ups, too. I was seeing if it was going to warm up at all. It’s just an annoying little thing I felt. I could have still pitched, but there’s no point in pushing it.”

This hip tightness is the same discomfort that he experienced in prior Cactus League starts, and it’s a good sign for the Rockies that he notified the team of the tightness prior to the start.

The team trainer and pitching coach Bob Apodaca were aware of the discomfort felt by Pomeranz, and he was mature enough to keep the team notified of his status.

Thankfully, the discomfort seems to have had no effect on his pitching.

Pomeranz was perfect in his two innings of work on Tuesday, striking out two. He was expected to go four frames but the discomfort obviously led to his early departure.  

So far this spring, Pomeranz has pitched seven innings, allowing no runs on three hits. He has walked two and struck out seven.

Rockies fans should not be worried about this injury. Although it seems to be a recurring thing for Pomeranz, he seems to be well of aware of its effect on him this spring.

“I knew what it was—it’s not like something that came out of nowhere,” he said. “It’s been getting a little tight after starts. Usually I feel it the next day. I don’t know if it’s just getting back into the swing of things or what. Usually the next day it’s a little tight and goes away. It’s nothing I’m worried about.”

Pomeranz figures to be a member of the team’s rotation when the regular season gets under way.

Despite being drafted in 2010—he was the first-round pick of the Indians—Pomeranz saw time in the Rockies rotation last September.

In four starts (18 1/3 innings), he posted a 2-1 record with a 5.40 ERA. He struck out 13 while walking five.

The Rockies will obviously be keeping a close eye on Pomeranz this spring, but this hip tightness shouldn’t be something that continues to bother him as the spring progresses.

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Gerardo Parra should have a secure position in Major League Baseball. As a 24-year-old last season, he posted a very solid stat line with a .292 batting average, eight home runs, 46 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases. While these are definitely not elite numbers, they are definitely respectable. On top of that, he won a Gold Glove as a left fielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He hasn’t even reached his prime yet, but he is already putting up good numbers with the potential for more.

You would think that production like that from a player his age would be rewarded with playing time the following season. However, Arizona signed Jason Kubel over the winter, which has created a bottleneck in the outfield. Justin Upton will obviously remain in right field, Chris Young will return to center field, and the newly acquired Kubel will take over in left field.

Parra is the odd man out. He will probably spend most of 2012 on the bench as a utility outfielder who will play all three of those positions.

But doesn’t that kind of seem like a waste?

If Parra truly does tend 2012 on the bench, his value will surely drop. The Diamondbacks will not have a place for him in next year’s outfield either, so his trade value might drop even more.

Right now, he is coming off of a very strong season where he demonstrated a solid all-around game at a young age. Since it appears that Arizona does not have any immediate vacancies in their outfield, they should try to trade him now.

Even though General Manager Kevin Towers says that no discussions have taken place, they probably should start soon. If they are ever going to sell, now would be the time.

It would be better for the Diamondbacks, and it would be better for Parra. They would be able to do use his trade value to reinforce a weakness, and he will be able to find the starting position that he has earned by his solid play last season.

Whether you think I know everything or nothing about Major League Baseball, you should follow me on Twitter and keep in touch. I love hearing what you all have to say!

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Bryce Harper hopes to be back in the lineup for the Washington Nationals Tuesday after missing nearly a week with a tight left calf. He may already have watched his chance of making the Opening Day roster go by the boards, but Harper will join the Nationals fairly early in the season, and his spring training performance has set high expectations.

All around the league, prospects in league with Harper are vying for roster spots, looking to make an impression and fighting for major recognition. Some of the biggest names in baseball this spring have belonged to men yet to establish themselves as MLB players.

Here is a roundup of the most notable such players in spring camps and an update of the impressions they have made thus far.

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Is there more wasted energy at this time of year than spring training? Other than an an IRS appeal, I mean.

For six torturous weeks, hundreds of well-conditioned athletes go through the motions in 30-something games that mean absolutely zero, and their greatest challenge is to…stay awake?

As one Pittsburgh Pirates player told me last spring, “The game isn’t like it was decades ago. We have our own workout programs in the off-season, and almost all of us are in good physical condition when we get here.”

In other words, if spring training was lopped in half, only the local bean-counters would know the difference.

“It doesn’t take position players more than a couple weeks to get their rhythm and timing down,” the player went on to say. “If you’re a pitcher, you may need another week or two to stretch out your arm. But five weeks? That’s way too much.”

That’s not the only reason why spring training is the silly season.

Here’s the short list:

15. Hope spring’s eternal in training camp. Yeah, right. The truth is, about three of every four teams have been eliminated from World Series contention already.

14. Can you think of anything that quickens the pulse like a split-squad game? Me, neither.

13. Players, managers and general managers who make predictions for their teams that are miles from reality.

12. Manny Ramirez is there. Again.

11. A lot of time is spent on fundamentals, but when the regular season starts and all you see are missed bunts, botched pickoffs and 20-second rundowns. Then there’s Pirates pitcher A.J. Burnett, who will be sidelined for two months after he fouled a pitch off his face.

10. People travel hundreds and even thousands of miles to see their teams get beat by the New York Yankees, something they can witness back home in a few more weeks.

9. Remember when position battles were a reason to follow spring training? Because of long term contracts, they’re all but extinct now.

8. Players with football numbers on their backs. Seriously, I’ll have beers with Megan Fox before they make an Opening Day roster.

7. The Astros invited 61 players to training camp this spring. There would have been more, of course, but Joaquin Andujar and Tuffy Rhodes had previous engagements.

6. The games are more bor-r-r-r-r-ing than an intentional walk. (My solution: Have Ozzie Guillen manage every one. The Miami Marlins skipper actually got the heave-ho on Monday afternoon.)

5. Parking. In most cases, space is limited and prices are outrageous. The funny thing is, if you wait a few weeks, they’ll pay you to park there for a minor league game.

4. Concession prices. They’re worse than the parking costs.

3. Ticket prices. They’re worse than the concession prices. According to SeatGeek, the average ticket for a Red Sox game will set you back 58 big ones.

The Blue Jays, Rays and Yankees will soak you for even more. And you’re lucky if the regulars play five innings.

2. Individual statistics don’t mean squat. A guy can hit .960 and not improve his chances to head north with the team.

Even managers and general managers will tell you that they pay more attention to the, uh, scenery than the numbers because of the quality of competition or lack thereof.

1. Team records mean very little, if anything. Of the 11 teams that won at least 55 percent of their games, guess how many went on to earn playoff berths?

Exactly three.

The team with the best Grapefruit League record of all? It was none other than Twins, who were so prepared, so jacked up for the regular season that they lost only 99 games.

Kind of makes you wonder how many games they would have lost without spring training, doesn’t it?

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