MLB - NEWS & NOTES

Not entirely true. This is true for free agent contracts, not entry level contracts. Cole is still on his entry level contract so the Pirates could cut him at the end of any season and not pay him a dime. They have "club control," the player has no control until 6 years ML service.

 

i know the phillies draw a ton of people for spring training. they run trips out of philly for it and many people retired in Clearwater. they have a nice new stadium and many of my friends go every march.

 

BREAKING... Utley has two-game suspension overturned on appeal

Chase Utley's two-game suspension for a slide in last year's National League Division Series has been overturned on appeal.

Word of the appeal being overturned was initially reported by the Los Angeles Times, though Utley refused to address the report early Sunday morning.
"I don't want to comment until something is official," he said.
MLB.com has confirmed the report.
The Dodgers infielder was suspended two games for his aggressive Game 2 takeout slide of Mets shortstop Ruben Tejeda, who suffered a broken left leg when he turned his back to the runner and was upended by Utley trying to break up a double play. The suspension was issued by MLB the day after on-field umpires ruled the play legal.

He immediately appealed the suspension, but did not appear in either of the two games in New York -- where the Dodgers had a beefed up security detail at their hotel and Citi Field.

"The most important thing is that the rule was changed," Mets GM Sandy Alderson said when asked about the report.

Last month, MLB and the Players Association agreed that "slides on potential double plays will require runners to make a bona fide attempt to reach and remain on the base. Runners may still initiate contact with the fielder as a consequence of an otherwise permissible slide. A runner will be specifically prohibited from changing his pathway to the base or utilizing a 'roll block' for the purpose of initiating contact with the fielder."
Potential violations are reviewable by instant replay, as are "neighborhood play" calls, which previously were not reviewable.

"I imagine the rule probably is a little more clear and specific about what is allowed and not allowed," Utley said last month. "It's been all I've known for a while, so I imagine there will be a little part of adjustment -- not only for infielders but baserunners and umpires. It's like the plate rule and batter's box rule [changes], it takes a while to get comfortable."

A free agent during the offseason, Utley re-signed with the Dodgers for one year and $7 million to play second base and third base. His anticipated playing time, however, is expected to diminish after the unexpected re-signing of second baseman Howie Kendrick.
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Well, isnt that interesting... What do you think?

 

happy mlb changed the rule, but it was late and dirty and he should've been out on the play and tossed out of the game...

 

Cards' Peralta could miss season's first 2 months

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) ? St. Louis shortstop Jhonny Peralta injured his left thumb and could miss the first two months of the season.

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said Peralta is expected to return to St. Louis for a second opinion of what he said may be a damaged ulnar collateral ligament.

"We did take an image of it and it does look like it's been torn," Mozeliak said Monday "The severity of that is still something that is being discussed, but the initial read is not positive."

Peralta hurt his glove hand while fielding a ground ball during Saturday's exhibition game against Miami. Mozeliak said Peralta felt pain, but wasn't too worried. Peralta didn't play Sunday and left the Cardinals' complex before Monday's game against the New York Mets.

"He felt some discomfort, but he certainly didn't think it would be to this level," Mozeliak said.

Since signing with the Cardinals two years ago, Peralta has played in 312 of 324 regular-season games, hitting 38 homers and driving in 146 runs.

 

Good thing we traded for Gyorko.

 

Baltimore Orioles Agree to Terms with 1B Pedro Alvarez on One-year Deal

Alvarez will receive $5.75M from #Orioles with about $1.5M available in performance bonuses

 

The Second collaborative Mock Draft is getting started on the football boards. Come join the fun and rep/GM your team.

Tell em, Will sent ya

 

those guys are really into this and super smart. way smarter than my dumb ass! they do seem to enjoy it.

 

For that year? Yes he should! *YES*

 

And I don't follow college ball Will......I look at all the mocks to get a read on the top players......

 

So who is the starting day pitcher? Lariano or Cole? Lariano was last year. The 1st pitch this year gets thrown on Sunday Night Baseball in Pitt against the Cards.......It used to be Cincinnati every year.....Must of changed their minds this year as Cincy blew up their team....

Edit: I heard 3 months for Perraulta but he wants a 2nd opinion.......

 

I've semi boycotted all things draft related, still too pissed at the league.

 

The Reds get the parade on Monday and the 1st pitch of the first full day of baseball. They are making the day before a national event though with a triple header. Also, if you notice, that Cards/Pirates game is at 1:05 eastern time.

 

Pirates openers always start in the afternoon Mut......

 

i used to go to opening day for the phils but for years it was always terrible weather. either rain or freezing cold. sat through 3 innings in a downpour to see the phils losing to the cards like 12-0. pujols had a HR and scott rolen had 2 hrs, including a grandslam! ouch. at least i walked home afterwards and had beer!

now i watch on tv as i don't live within walking distance of the stadium anymore.

 

Cardinals Peralta undergoes surgery for thumb injury

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) ? St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Jhonny Peralta had surgery Thursday to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb and likely will be sidelined for about 10-to-12 weeks.

Manager Mike Matheny anticipated Peralta will return in a few days to the team's spring training site in Jupiter, Florida. The surgery took place in St. Louis after Peralta got a second opinion.

The Cardinals will consult with the surgeon, Dr. Charlie Goldfarb, to find out when Peralta can return to action.

General manager John Mozeliak said Peralta likely will be in a cast for four-to-six weeks.

"After that, it will be just gaining flexibility and strength," Mozeliak said. "After that, we'll see how quickly he can hit."

Matheny also said catcher Yadier Molina checked out fine a day after playing three innings behind the plate in his spring training debut. Molina, who had a pair of offseason operations, could play again Friday, catching Carlos Martinez, but won't bat for about a week.

Goldfarb also did both of the Molina surgeries, the second one a reconstruction.

Offseason acquisition Jedd Gyorko is likely to get the first chance to fill in at shortstop. The Cardinals also have utilityman Greg Garcia and prospect Aledmys Diaz in camp.

Mozeliak said the Cardinals aren't interested in a deal right now.

"You know, there's been some activity on that but as you can imagine, in this line of work, it's sort of referred to as ambulance chasing," the GM said. "For us, it's again, let's understand what we have."

Mozeliak said there might be a perception the Cardinals are "in panic mode ? and we're not."

Diaz started on Thursday, a day after Gyorko got the nod. Matheny said Garcia, who appeared in 49 games last year and started at third base on Thursday, likely will play a lot in later innings of games. Earlier in the week, Diaz had a four-hit game.

"We've seen Garcia out there and have a pretty good idea. Haven't seen much of Diaz and haven't seen much of Gyorko," Matheny said. "We need to see for ourselves."

Gyorko was a college shortstop and played 28 games at shortstop last year with San Diego. Like Peralta, Gyorko is a power hitter with perhaps less range than prototypical shortstops. He had 16 homers and 57 RBIs last year; Peralta had 17 homers and 71 RBIs.

Matheny said the Cardinals have analyzed data on Gyorko but isn't that enamored with metrics like range factor. He wants to see for himself.

"I'd like to say it holds a lot of water, but the most recent experience I have is we picked up Jhonny Peralta and everybody told us what he could not do at shortstop," Matheny said. "We've been very happy with what Jhonny has been able to do and everybody told us we shouldn't expect much."

 

Gossage critical of Bautista and Cespedes

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) ? Hall of Famer Goose Gossage has criticized Toronto star Jose Bautista and New York Mets slugger Yoenis Cespedes for the way the pair celebrated home runs during the playoffs last year.

Gossage called Bautista a "disgrace to the game" during a profanity-laced interview in Tampa on Thursday.

"He's embarrassing to all the Latin players, whoever played before him," Gossage told ESPN. "Throwing his bat and acting like a fool, like all those guys in Toronto. Cespedes, same thing."

Bautista memorably flipped his bat after hitting a three-run homer that gave the Blue Jays the lead in the seventh inning in Game 5 of the AL Division Series against Texas.

"He's entitled to his opinion," Bautista said. "I don't agree with him whatsoever. I've never talked to him. I don't know him. Whatever reason or agenda he's on is fine with me. I'm not going to start picking a fight, let alone with a Hall of Famer."

Gossage, a guest spring training instructor for the Yankees, made his comments before the Yankees played Toronto.

Bautista said he had no plans to reach out to Gossage.

"I don't think it's my job," Bautista said. "I'm just going about my work. Showing up here to do my job, and help this team win ballgames."

Cespedes added his own highlight bat flip after a home run during the Game 3 of the NL Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"Like I said before, whenever a pitcher strikes someone out they get to celebrate, too," Cespedes said through a translator in Port St. Lucie. "They get their moment, revel in it. Why can't the batters get to enjoy their success too? I'm not too worried about what anyone says about me. I just go out there and do my job. That's all I'm going to focus on."

Cespedes added he did not know who Gossage was, but guessed he was a pitcher based on the comments.

Mets manager Terry Collins said Cespedes and Bautista aren't the only ones who flip their bats.

"The old-timers, that's something that wasn't approved of years ago," Collins said. "Today it's different."

 

good for you goose. i said the same thing last year. it wasn't just the bat flip, it was how he did it and the stare afterwards. you're a pro ballplayer who hit many hrs - act like you hit one bf you jackass.