Around the Horn: March 3, 2010

(1) Phil Hughes in battle with Joba Chamberlain, Chad Gaudin and Alfredo Aceves for Yanks 5th starters spot.

(2) Jason Heyward greatest player of all-time. Just ask around

(3) Tim Hudson and Jeremy Bonderman throw two shutout innings apiece.

(4) Brad Lidge continues to show improvement with knee/elbow.

(6) Jair Jurrjens shoulder showing improvement.

(7) Lance Berkman’s knee not that bad. Should be fine.

(8) Aaron Harang named Reds’ Opening Day starter.

By Ray Flowers

Down the Stretch

Heading into the weekend of the regular season I thought I would take a quick look around the league and throw out there some interesting tidbits of knowledge, factoids if you will, that would be interesting to read. At least that is the plan.

Jeremy Bonderman was suspended for three games for intentionally throwing at the Twin’s Delmon Young. This is hardly a surprise given the current landscape of the game. However, what was surprising is that the Twins’Jose Mijares, the man who escalated the confrontation between the teams by throwing behind Adam Everett, was only fined. “I don’t know how the person who starts it doesn’t get some sort of penalty too,” Tigers’ GM Dave Dombrowski said. “I’ve expressed that to people in the commissioner’s office.” (1) This is totally ridiculous. If Bonderman is suspended, so must be Mijares. (2) Can you imagine how many times that Bob Gibson would have been sidelined by suspension if he had pitched today? Face it. The game is filled to the brim with wussy’s of all kinds. Yeah, that’s right, I said it. Sometimes guys get hit, that’s the game, and if some moron like Mijares does something inflammatory than the “baseball code” dictates a retaliation. Bonderman did that, and he did it properly by throwing his pitch off of Young’s knee and not at his noggin’. Hell, the Twins even understood what was going on. “Trust me, Delmon wasn’t at all upset with the Tigers,” Denard Span said Thursday. “He knew what was going to happen, and he was angry at our teammate.” So, what good does this suspension do? Exactly – it does nothing. Once again baseball screwed something up. What a shock.

Eric Byrnes and Chris Young both had four hits on Friday. Byrnes went deep twice and had five RBI while Young had four runs scored. Too bad it took six months for the D’backs to get a game like this from both of these guys. Too little too late guys, but still a nice outing for those that took a chance on having either one active. At least Young is hitting .287 with six homers over his last 26 games.

You know the Twins new ballpark, scheduled to be ready to go for the start of next season, is an outdoor stadium right? Yes, they are going with an outdoor stadium in Minnesota. I’m no weather man, but that cannot be a good thing can it? It certainly isn’t if you ask Mike Cameron. “Why in the world would they build an outdoor stadium? That will be the worst new park in the league. They’re going to get no players there.” Too bad the Twins didn’t consult Mr. Cameron because I can’t think there are many players who are going to disagree with that sentiment.

Adam Dunn says that he uses a 34.5 inch, 34 ounce bat most of the year, but inexplicably, when others are moving to lighter bats as their bodies grow weary, he goes to a heavier 35 ounce bat late in the year. “Don’t ask me why…It just feels better going up.” Dunn needs to hit two homers this weekend for 40, a total he has reached exactly in each of the past four seasons. Hopefully that bigger stick ‘o lumber will help.

Anyone out there realize that David Ortiz is, rather remarkably, just two homers and three RBIs away from a 30-100 season? If he is able to reach both marks this weekend it will mark the sixth time in six seasons with the Red Sox that he will be part of that club. For a guy who had one homer run and 18 RBI in his first 46 games, that’s more than a quarter of the season folks, that’s a pretty impressive effort

I was watching Jake Peavy’s start against the Tigers on Friday and I had a thought – how does anyone hit him, ever? When you can rush it up there 92-93 with that much movement on your fastball, I just don’t see how anyone squares it up. Add in 2-3 mph that he has when healthy, and count me as one of those people who is shocked when anyone hits a line drive off him.

By Ray Flowers

Don't Forget Mother's Day

The weekend is nearly upon us, and before you jump in the shower to make yourself beautiful or handsome for your significant other, here are some of my thoughts revolving around the diamond as we head into a wonderful weekend of baseball. Oh, one other thing. Don’t be a bum and remember it’s Mother’s Day this Sunday. You don’t have to go and buy something fancy for your mama, but at least get her a card and write something heartfelt in it – they love that more than a new coffee machine anyway.

Jeremy Bonderman, out while working on strengthening his shoulder, is apparently hitting 90-91 mph with regularity on his fastball as he nears a minor league rehab assignment. Still just 26 years old which is pretty amazing, Bonderman was once an up and coming star who struck out 202 batters while winning 14 games in 2006. Since then it has been one physical setback after another. I wouldn’t put too much stock in his rehab until he takes the hill and we can see how he responds in actual game situations. He could end up being a fine AL-only addition, but I say you need to make him prove he is worth it before you blindly throw out a big FAAB bid on a guy who is coming off a terrible season (5.55 K/9, 1.22 K/BB, 1.56 WHIP in just 71.1 innings) despite a somewhat decent ERA of 4.29.

Chris Coghlan seems to have the Marlins in a bit of an excited phase – kind of like a college kid at the thought of a drunken party on Saturday night where there will be about 25 single gals looking for a good time. Coghlan, a second baseman who could also see time at third base if Emilio “I was great for two weeks but now I’m awful” Bonifacio doesn’t start hitting soon. Coghlan was simply tearing up Triple-A this season hitting .348 with a .990 OPS and 22 RBI in 24 games, and he figures to get a real shot at some substantial playing time which should pique the ears of NL-only participants. In 483 ABs last season at Double-A Chris hit .298-7-75-83 with 34 steals, showing that he could be highly productive. Still, he only has 24 games played above Double-A, so it would be wise to avoid blowing your FAAB budget on him.

I think ESPN only spent 25% of Sportscenter today talking about Brett Favre. What an improvement in their coverage the world of sports. What is that tagline of their, the Leader in World Wide Sports Coverage or something like that?

Ryan Freel is the newest member of the Cubs after being brought over in a deal with the Orioles. Freel will take over the roster spot vacated by Joey Gathright and basically supply the same skill set with the added ability to play multiple positions. Freel has always been a personal favorite for his 100% at all times spirit, and after a big spring training there was some hope that he might provide some value in a league specific scenario this season. Unfortunately Freel started slowly this year hitting .133 in 15 ABs before incurring a head injury, and though his speed isn’t what it once was he is still capable of stealing a bag and he did hit .298 last season in 131 at-bats with the Reds.

Adam Kennedy was sent from the Rays to the A’s on Friday. I know the guy has fallen out of favor but dude still hit .280 last season, slightly above his career .276 mark, and it just seems odd to me that he can’t find a backup job on someone’s squad. He has no fantasy value at the moment, though with the A’s motley collection of aging/injury prone infielders perhaps he can work his way into AL-only relevance by the time the season is complete (he could even see a fair amount of playing time at second over the next month until Mark Ellis returns from injury).

Wait. Did you hear that Manny Ramirez was suspended? How did I miss that? Oh wait, I didn’t. I think ESPN spent 25% of Sportscenter talking about it so when you add that to their coverage of Favre, that leaves the world of sports and the 3,000 or so other professional athlete’s in the States the could be covering received 50% of the show. If you sense a bit of sarcasm give yourself a little happy face stamp like your kindergarten teacher used to give you when you spelled beautiful right. Speaking of that, I sent to a current flame asking her to spend the weekend with me. Do you think that the happy face she sent back to me signaled ‘all systems go big boy’ or ‘you’ve got to be kidding you moron.’ For some reason I think it’s option number two.

Alex Rodriguez has been activated from the DL hopefully putting an end to the Cody Ransom and Angel Berroa era at third base. Of course, now they have the steroid using, whining, wife cheating, celebrity dating phase of the plan back in order. I’m not sure that is any better.