It's early. It's very early. By my estimation, the second Monday of the baseball season is far too early for any extreme emotion; be it panic, joy, or anything in between. There are still more than 150 games to be played in this young season, and even starting to draw conclusions is a dangerous game. That all being said, Zach Duke and the Houston Astros sure seemed to pass each other going in opposite directions this afternoon.
On an emotional afternoon in Pittsburgh, where the Pirates opened PNC Park up for 2009 by wearing Pittsburgh Bureau of Police caps to memorialize the three officers killed in a shooting ten days ago, Duke went out and turned in his second straight good start of 2009, shutting out the Astros on just four hits over a complete game. After winning just five games in all of 2008, Duke's won his first two starts of '09 and allowed just one earned run in his first 15 1/3 innings.
Fantasy baseball draft season is coming, so you best be prepared by delving through every major player on each team. Fantasy FanHouse is here to help with a quick once-over.
Meet the ... Team who refuses to rebuild. Seriously, Drayton McLane, just keep holding out hope you can win the World Series and making your general managers deal every prospect you ever stumble across for the likes of Miguel Tejada and an overrated closer. It just keeps setting the franchise back years at a time. For now, they are solving a broken leg with a band-aid by winning 86 games and treading water.
If you're going to get "beaned," this is probably the best way to do it: I'm not sure Jeff Bennett's pitch even touched Jason Michaels, it just ripped open his jersey. Watching the replay, I'm surprised he didn't need to fetch a needle and thread at first base to sew back on a few buttons. (via, of course, Uni Watch)
Remember a few weeks ago when I wrote that want ad for the Cleveland Indians, who were looking to fill a position out in left field? Well, stop sending in your applications because apparently the Indians found someone to take the job. As a result, Jason Michaels is about to be designated for assignment.
Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro held a conference call on the team's day off Monday to announce officially what had been rumored for a few days: The team will designate veteran outfielder Jason Michaels for assignment and recall rookie Ben Francisco from Triple-A Buffalo today.
''(Francisco) is an outfielder that we felt potentially could give our club a spark. (He's) obviously got more power and has the ability to not necessarily be a platoon guy,'' Shapiro said. ''He has been a guy who has hit left- and right-handed pitching, so he gives [Indians manager] Eric [Wedge] the ability to both keep [left fielder] David Dellucci strong and healthy and also protect [right fielder] Franklin Gutierrez some as well.''
This move is one that had to be made, because while Dellucci has been giving the Tribe some production, Michaels has been terrible. In 21 games he's hit .207/.258/.276, which just doesn't cut it unless you're some kind of defensive superhero, which Michaels isn't.
Ben Francisco hasn't really done much better down in Buffalo, hitting .228/.308/.315, but he did go 2-for-6 in a brief four-game stint with the Indians a few weeks ago.
Things just keep going splendidly for the Indians this season. They can't hit, they can't get anybody out, and now they're having trouble keeping the guys that have performed well so far healthy. The latest blow hits the starting rotation, as the Indians announced today that they've placed Jake Westbrookon the disabled list with a strained left intercostal muscle.
If you're not a doctor on the side like I am(and by doctor, I mean blogger with access to Wikipedia), and don't know what the left intercostal muscle is, it's one of the muscles around your rib cage that help you do the little things like breathe.
So even though the muscle strain is on Westbrook's non-throwing side, it can't be the most pleasant injury to have, and wouldn't get any better if he tried to pitch through it. Westbrook has pitched well so far this season, though his 1-2 mark after four starts is more an indication of the lackluster Cleveland offense rather than his 2.73 ERA.
This cloud does have a silver lining for the Tribe though, as moving Westbrook to the disabled list opens up a roster spot for Ben Francisco. Francisco could be just the guy the Indians are looking for to fill that job opening they posted here on FanHouse yesterday. Francisco hit .362 for the Indians in spring training this year before being assigned to Buffalo, and though he's been struggling there so far (.208/.288/.551), he can't be much worse of an option than Jason Michaels and David Dellucci at this point.
Lofton was an Indian for nine seasons (1992-2001). He is the Indians' all-time leading base stealer and a fan favorite. Lofton, 40, is hitting .303 with seven homers and 23 RBI for the Rangers. He is making $6 million this year.
Ramirez, 22, plays for Class A Kinston in the Carolina League. He is batting.303 with 12 home runs and 62 RBI.
Even at 40, it's clear that Lofton still has the skills to be a solid leadoff man -- he's posted a .380 OBP with 21 steals so far this year. Of course, Grady Sizemore is holding down center field as well as the top of the order in Cleveland, but Lofton could still get into the lineup almost every day, perhaps shifting over into a left field platoon with Jason Michaels.
"I don't even know," Clemens said. "I don't know what's going to happen."
While on the YES network, he said, "I'm failing at retirement miserably. I'm not very good at it."
This guy never quits, does he? Unbelievable.
Two's company.
Jason Michaels, Franklin Gutierrez and Andy Marte each went for two hits in Cleveland's 10-2 win against Tampa Bay. Bonus points if you can tell me which positions these guys play, without using the Web.
It's early. It's very early. By my estimation, the second Monday of the baseball season is far too early for any extreme emotion; be it panic, joy, or anything in between. There are still more than 150 games to be played in this young season, and even starting to draw conclusions is a dangerous game. That all being said, Zach Duke and the Houston Astros sure seemed to pass each other going in opposite directions this afternoon. 
Fantasy baseball draft season is coming, so you best be prepared by delving through 
Remember a few weeks ago when I wrote 
Things just keep going splendidly for the Indians this season. They can't hit, they can't get anybody out, and now they're having trouble keeping the guys that have performed well so far healthy. The latest blow hits the starting rotation, as the Indians announced today that they've placed 
According to the 
A recap of yesterday's spring training games...
