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Kung Fat Panda loses his 3B starting job to Travis Shaw. http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/15...val-third-base
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Joey Votto has a hot Spring.
He walked and singled today. The first baseman reached base in 18 of his 20 spring games, hitting safely in 14 of them.
Hopefully it rubs off on the other players.Comment -
Kung Fat Panda loses his 3B starting job to Travis Shaw. http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/15...val-third-base
grossComment -
Good to see he's in mid season form.Kung Fat Panda loses his 3B starting job to Travis Shaw. http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/15...val-third-base
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Waste of some money it seems.
Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap News in Korea reports that Hyun-soo Kim has refused a minor league assignment by the Orioles.
Yoo says that Kim's agency in Seoul informed the media in Korea of the decision. Meanwhile, Roch Kubatko says that the O's are still trying to convince Kim to accept the assignment, so perhaps this isn't over yet. Baltimore is in a tough spot here if Kim stands his ground, as they would either be forced to keep him on the 25-man roster or release him and eat his entire $7 million salary.Comment -
Orioles outfielder Hyun Soo Kim will not accept a minor league assignment from the club, according to an announcement from his Korea-based agency (via Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap News Agency and Daniel Kim of KBO Sports; Twitter links). His contract includes language preventing the organization from sending him down without his approval.
“Kim would like to see his contract honored and executed faithfully,” the agency said in a statement (link via Yoo). “He also hopes to receive fair opportunities to continue his career as a major leaguer with Baltimore.”
There had been some suggestion that Kim would consider opening the year at Triple-A, where he might gain some seasoning and ready himself for the majors. That now appears to be a long shot, however.
Kim, whom the Orioles signed to a two-year, $7MM deal during the offseason, is in this position because of a highly disappointing spring. The 28-year-old hit an ugly .182/.229/.182 with one walk and no extra base hits in 44 plate appearances. Kim’s offense isn’t the only concern, though, as a scout told Dan Connolly of BaltimoreBaseball.com that his defense also leaves much to be desired (Twitter link).
Offensively, the numbers Kim has amassed this spring are a far cry from the stats Kim compiled in the offensively charged Korea Baseball Organization, where he slashed .318/.406/.488 in nine seasons and accrued a career-best 28 home runs last year. One reason for Kim’s success in Korea was his outstanding plate discipline, and he was supposed to use that to serve as a high-OBP presence in Baltimore’s lineup. Kim’s inability to get on base this spring opened the door for Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard, who parlayed a .390/.463/.576 line into a big league roster spot. Despite their vastly different springs, general manager Dan Duqette called the move to carry Rickard over Kim “a razor thin roster call” (Twitter link via Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com).
Given their decision, the Duquette-led O’s are now in a tough spot. If Kim won’t relent and accept a place in the minors, the choices are limited. The team seems to have decided Kim’s not major league-ready, with Duquette saying that “the player needs more at-bats to prepare for the season.” Baltimore could next follow the route that got them out from under the failed contract of fellow Korean Suk-min Yoon by finding a KBO club to pick up some or all of the Kim’s contract. But it’s not clear whether there is sufficient interest in this case, and Kim expressed a desire earlier this week to continue his career in North America, as Roch Kubatko of MASN.com reported. Otherwise, the O’s would presumably have no choice but to eat the entire contract. Duquette, of course, hopes it doesn’t come to that and expressed optimism about Kim’s future with the Orioles.Comment -
fat fat fatComment -
It looks like the snow will stay away for the Opener here on Sunday.
However, it will be around 40 degrees and could be quite windy at times...
Wainwright and Liriano are the scheduled starters.
I don't know if I'll be able to sleep Saturday night!
I can't wait! I love this stuff!Comment -
That was a horrific contract the day it was signed. He was never that good to begin with.Kung Fat Panda loses his 3B starting job to Travis Shaw. http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/15...val-third-base
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Spring training stats are meaningless. Dbacks Rickie Weekes is hitting like .450 and we all know he is a K-machine and can't hang in the bigs any more.Comment -
For my man, El Nino"~`' (or however the hell you do that!)
Spring Batting Average Leaders:
1. 
Arenado, N COL .544 2. 
Segura, J ARI .476 3. 
Escobar, Y LAA .453 4. 
Votto, J CIN .442 5. 
Taylor, M WSH .440 Comment -
May God Continue To Bless, El Nino!
Let's Kill It This Year!
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Diamondbacks center fielder A.J. Pollock will undergo surgery for a fractured right elbow, the club announced. Pollock suffered the injury sliding into home in tonight’s spring action.
Pollock has emerged as one of the game’s least-known premium performers, and his loss represents an enormous blow to the organization’s hopes to challenge for a division title in 2016. It’s unclear how long he’ll be out, but any significant stretch would be nothing short of devastating for a club that had pushed in its chips but still needed some things to go its way to contend.
The 28-year-old had already dealt with some elbow issues this spring, but seemed to be on track for Opening Day. But the injury is all the more concerning given that Pollock missed all of 2010 with a fractured growth plate in the same elbow, back when he was still a rising prospect.
Pollock had a short but highly promising 2014 season, and followed up with an outstanding campaign last year. He ended the season with a .315/.367/.498 slash over 673 plate appearances while contributing twenty home runs and 39 steals. And Pollock also rated as a top-notch defender, making for an overall package — valued last year at 7.4 rWAR and 6.6 fWAR — that is all but impossible to replace, particularly with the season set to begin in a matter of days.
Even as the D-Backs set out to re-make their rotation this winter, they understandably remained entirely unwilling to part with Pollock. Instead, the club explored long-term extension talks before ultimately settling on a two-year, $10.25MM pact. He is still controllable for one more season after that contract concludes.
While the club held onto Pollock, it parted with the emergent Ender Inciarte (and other notable assets) to acquire Shelby Miller. Certainly, Inciarte would be an invaluable depth option to have on hand now, though the club does have interesting youngster in Socrates Brito on hand. He had already challenged for a roster spot and looked to be an option if Yasmany Tomas does not take a step forward, but may need to take on a bigger role while Pollock recovers.
Other options for playing time include young slugger Peter O’Brien and even infielder Chris Owings — who slid into the corner outfield for some action tonight. Utilityman Rickie Weeks and backup catcher/outfielder Chris Herrmann could also help carry the load. Of course, none of those players look like options in center, and Tomas is already stretched in the corner outfield. Presumptive left fielder David Peralta has played in 15 MLB games up the middle over the last two years, though he was almost exclusively a corner option in the minors; he could conceivably take over if the team isn’t confident enough in Brito, or at least make some starts there in some kind of timeshare.Comment -
Same to you
Segura is in the same boat. Guy is a .230 hitter. The local talk is giving Weeks a starting spot based off of his spring training #'s. The Pollock injury doesn't help. The Dbacks are going to struggle early. Miller has gotten rocked and looked shaky.
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Here is a piece that is quite pessimistic on Nacasio, as well as on some other Spring Training wonders...
Four Spring Training FlukesComment -
Pollock a huge loss for the D-Backs, very good player.Comment -
who can replace him in the sterting rotstion ?
hell no they ara thin as it isComment -
I'm so bummed that the Reds are not playing Sunday.It looks like the snow will stay away for the Opener here on Sunday.
However, it will be around 40 degrees and could be quite windy at times...
Wainwright and Liriano are the scheduled starters.
I don't know if I'll be able to sleep Saturday night!
I can't wait! I love this stuff!
But, the Pirates taking on the Cards is a nice alternative.!!!
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The Blue Jays have signed left-hander Franklin Morales to a one-year, $2MM non-guaranteed contract, the club announced in a press release. The deal also contains incentives. Ryan Tepera was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.
Morales, 30, was released by the Brewers earlier this week after signing a minor league deal with the team. Milwaukee had a few veterans in camp as non-roster invites and instead opted for Chris Capuano as left-handed help out of the bullpen.
With Aaron Loup beginning the season on the DL with forearm tightness, the Blue Jays were thin on southpaw relievers, as Brett Cecil was the only other lefty in Toronto’s eight-man bullpen. The Jays signed Randy Choate to a minor league deal but released the veteran LOOGY in camp, while other minor league options include Wade LeBlanc, Colt Hynes or switch-pitcher Pat Venditte.
Morales earned a World Series ring last year as an important member of the Royals bullpen, posting a 3.18 ERA, 2.93 K/BB rate, 49.5% grounder rate and 5.9 K/9 over 62 1/3 innings. He has pronounced career splits (left-handed batters have a .613 OPS against him, right-handed batters an .837 OPS) but teams have been hesitant to use Morales as a pure situational lefty since he has a durable arm. Forty-seven of his 300 career appearances have been starts, and he even made 22 starts in 2014 when pressed into extended fill-in duty with the Rockies. Since Toronto already has Gavin Floyd and Jesse Chavez available for long relief stints, Morales could be used in a more traditional LOOGY role if he cracks the bullpen.Comment -
Can't wait!!!!!!!Comment -
Only a couple hours until the season starts for real.
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Let the games begin....oops already started.Comment -
David Freese batting 3rd? Is that gonna be the norm for the Pirates?Comment -
Happy Opening Day 2016!!!Comment -
Monday is going to fun with games all day
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