FanHouse DennysReyes

Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action, with a quick nod to what is ahead.

You Oughta Know...
The Rangers have scored at least eight runs in their first three games of the season, the first team to do that since the 2003 Yankees. Those Yankees won the pennant. The Rangers are 3-0 for the first time since 1996, when they won the division.

"You couldn't be more excited right now coming off this first series, playing with energy and passion," pitcher Brandon McCarthy said. "The team chemistry in here is second to none, and right now it's a special team to be part of."

While that bodes well for the Rangers, it doesn't look so good for the Indians, who have been on the wrong end of these beatings. When your top three starters get hit like that, look out.

As we left Spring Training, everyone was sure Jason Motte was going to be the closer for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2009. He was dominant in the spring, Chris Perez was headed to the minors, and Tony LaRussa even named him the closer. After four games, we already have reason to be skeptical.

Motte got his first big-league save opportunity on Opening Day, but he promptly blew it ... to the Pirates. After a Freddy Sanchez double, he got two consecutive outs before completely unraveling. Single, double, hit by pitch and double, and you have 4 runs on 4 hits -- and a blown save.

FanHouse continues its 2009 MLB Preview with a look at the Minnesota Twins.

Last year was supposed to be the season in which the Minnesota Twins finally had to deal with reality. They traded Johan Santana to the Mets because they couldn't afford him any longer, and the heart and soul of the team, Torii Hunter, left for the glitz and glamor of Los Angeles. Then the Twins went out and won 88 games and were one run shy of making the playoffs after losing to the White Sox in a one-game playoff for the Central title. This is just what the Twins do. They defy everyone's expectations but their own, and odds are they're going to do it again this season.

All in all, 24 players were offered arbitration by last night's midnight deadline, including 15 Type A free agents and nine Type B. Players are classified using a rating system created by Elias Sports Bureau to determine the level of compensation a team receives if a player refuses arbitration and signs elsewhere.

Most of the time, Type A free agents are elite players who are all but certain to refuse the offer in anticipation of receiving multiyear offers on the open market. This year's Type A free agents to receive offers include: A.J. Burnett, Orlando Cabrera, Juan Cruz, Brian Fuentes, Orlando Hudson, Raul Ibanez, Derek Lowe, Darren Oliver, Oliver Perez, Manny Ramirez, Francisco Rodriguez, CC Sabathia, Ben Sheets, Mark Teixeira and Jason Varitek.

If any of those players refuse arbitration to sign elsewhere, their new teams will have to cough up two draft picks as compensation. That said, most of them are so talented that the prospect of losing a draft pick or two won't intimidate interested suitors. In other words, if you're favorite team is committed to signing Manny, losing a measly draft pick or two won't stop it. But for older players who only have one or two productive seasons left (Oliver, Varitek: I'm looking at you), losing draft picks is something worth thinking twice about.

After receiving a contract extension from the White Sox this spring, White Sox starter Javier Vazquez is going to have to pitch with a lot of pressure on his shoulders, especially with the rough start Chicago starters have had this season. With a dominant performance on Saturday afternoon, he went a long way to relieve himself of that pressure against the Twins.

Pitching in blustery conditions--a wind chill of 15 degrees--Javier went 6.2 innings giving up only one hit and no runs while striking out five, as the White Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 3-0. He did run into some control issues early, walking four, but Minnesota helped him out of a few jams.

In the second inning Minnesota had the bases loaded with one out. Jason Tyner then hit a shallow fly ball into left centerfield that was caught by Juan Uribe. Then in the first instance of the Twins beating themselves in this game, Michael Cuddyer was doubled off of third when he forgot the number of outs and never tagged up.

From then on Vazquez cruised through the seventh until he hit Cuddyer with a pitch. He then walked Justin Morneau before inducing a double play by Torii Hunter. Andrew Sisco then came on and struck out Jeff Cirillo to end the threat.

Minnesota's bullpen didn't help matters in the eigth inning when Dennys Reyes gave up a lead off solo shot to Juan Uribe. The home run was then followed up with a bunt single by Scott Podsednik that was misplayed by Reyes. After Erstad bunted Podsednik over to second, Reyes hurried a pick off throw that ended up in centerfield, and Podsednik came all the way around from second to score.

The insurance was nice for Chicago, but unneccesary after Bobby Jenks came in and closed things out in the ninth inning, working through the heart of the Twins order.


Previously at the Fanhouse:
The White Sox Are Actually Going To Keep One Of Their Starters