ST | Intrasquad Game 4

According to the box score (courtesy "From the Corner of Edgar and Dave") it was rather a mixed bag today. Another hitting barrage (19 total) but, an equally impressive amount of strikeouts (17) for the pitchers (Trayvon and Carlos P contributing 3 each - yikes!).

The final score was 5-3 but, seems many thoughts were still on Guti ...
How quickly can he heal?  How long will it take for him to get back in playing shape and who will take Guti's place until he is ready?

As I mentioned yesterday, Saunders seems to have the attitude down, now is certainly his chance to shine.

%*&$*# !!!!

So apparently...
.
Guti has been diagnosed with a partial tear of the right pectoral muscle and will be out AT LEAST 4 weeks. The good news, if there is such a thing in this circumstance, is that it will be treated non-surgically.

I can't imagine how frustrated he must feel.
After all the hard work he put in during the off-season to regain muscle weight and deal with his IBS.
And, now this.  I guess it's better now than in mid-season but, still...

HEAL FAST AND WELL, GUTI!!
(and maybe get with Tarvaris Jackson for some pointers on healing/rehabbing pec injury)

and, in the meantime...
go, Saunders and Wells, et al!!!

ST | Intrasquad Game 3, and some other stuff

From the looks of the boxscore (courtesy "From the Corner of Edgar and Dave) looks like offense was the name of the game today...

a total of 20 hits and 9 runs 

So much for the pitchers being ahead of the hitters at this point (though they did only give up 3 walks)

• Iwakuma had a rough "debut" - cruising through his first inning but unable to get out of the 2nd
• Kelley's line looks pretty messy too, thanks to Michael Saunders and his 3-run jack (also had a triple)
• Vargas seems to be the furthest along, facing 12 batters through 3 full innings (4H - 1ER - 1K)

Besides Saunders' really good day, other hitters who posted multiple hits: Catricala, Figgins and Chavez

Speaking of Saunders, apparently he had a REALLY good off-season and is REALLY motivated for the upcoming season.  Hard to listen to this podcast and not be encouraged and excited about the possibilities.

oh - and, Jesus had his first hit in "game action" of the spring - a ringing double off the LF fence!

Bad, bad news of the day revolves around Guti's pec muscle (or there-abouts)
The first I heard of it was via this tweet from Shannon ...

shannondrayer

Looking for more info on Gutierrez, everything I am hearing sounds like shoulder. Attempted 2 throws from of to 3rd with nothing on them

My reaction was audible for anyone who happened to be walking by my cube at the time.
Then there were reports of Franklin returning but, awaiting results of an MRI.
Here's the latest from Greg Johns | MLB.com.  Here's hoping we get encouraging news tomorrow...

On a lighter note, look who's back....

Larry Stone | Seattle Times

ST | Intrasquad Game 2

First pitch is at 11:45am PT, just wish we could see it (or at least HEAR it)

Felix vs. Jesus!

courtesy "from the corner of Edgar and Dave"

Post Game UPDATE

box score

Montero went 0-2 with a walk...

pop up vs. Felix, K vs. League, BB vs. Grube

Guti went nuts! 

3-3 including a lead-off homer ovs. Felix

Ackley celebrated his 24th birthday in style...

with a 2-run shot off Josh Kinney for a total day of 2H - 2R - 2RBI

Aside from those already mentioned, other hitters with multi-hit days...

Smoak, Catricala, Rodriguez and Moore

the following hitters had multi-run days....

Saunders, Figgins, Ackley

the following hitters had multi-RBI days...

Rodriguez and Ackley

M*A*S*H...

Brendon Ryan fouled off a pitch from League and is day-to-day with a contusion (but the good news is, he is close to 100% with the shoulder that has side-lined him much of the time so far)

Josh Kinney seemed to be the only pitcher that really struggled but (as Larry Stone pointed out) the only one of 17 pitchers who worked an inning with NO base runners was Sean Henn

The Good, The Surprising and The Hopeful ~ such is Spring...

bad, bad, blogger.

No real excuses for the lack of content, just busy with life.  And, maybe a bit depressed now that the realization has set in that I won't be traveling southwest to watch our beloved M's prepare for the season in the intimate setting that is the Peoria Sports Complex.  I have only been to 'Zona three times for that purpose, the first was in 2004 - I vow right here, right now, that next season will be the first of an annual trek to the dessert in March.

Anyhoo ~

Some of the news from Peoria so far has been really good, some has been surprising and most, like spring itself, has been full of hope...

• Guti is not only feeling 100% and successfully managing his condition,  he's apparently put on enough muscle for a teammate (I forget who - I think it was either Brendon or Casper) to refer to him as a "monster"

• Going the other way on the scale is Smoak and expectations for him are high as he looking quite svelte and reportedly, not only learning to like vegetables but, turning down any form of carbohydrate he is offered in the clubhouse or out

• The up and coming (fast!) "big 3" are impressing early and often - that would be: Hultzen, Paxton and Walker, of course

• Montero is getting to know everyone and is reportedly showing some competence behind the plate

• Sounds like Munenori Kawasaki is the Japanese version of Brendon Ryan, at least as far as energy level is concerned 

• There are some "new vets" in camp and Millwood is one who could make an impact on and off the field

And then, there's the biggest news so far Figgins to bat lead-off and Ichiro to hit third...  

I admit that Figgins is one of very few M's for which I not only have no love lost for, but have, at times, had outright contempt for.  It was teh whole falderal with Wak that killed it for me - whether that's fair or not (I don't think we know the whole story and maybe never will) the perception was one of a player who gave up even trying and was insubordinate to his manager when he was called on it.

But, I eventually forgave Freddy Garcia for turning his back on Dan Wilson, so, I guess I can give Figgy one last chance to redeem himself as a player and a person.  While I'm quite certain most fans won't even cry crocodile tears, let alone real ones, for him - it is not out of the realm of possibility that various circumstances (position switches, line-up slot change, injuries, manager change, not to mention going from a perennial contender to a perennial loser and the whole "big contract pressure" gig) all bundled together over the past couple seasons could be legitimate factors in his performance free-fall.

The nuances of batting order are completely lost on me, other than the first three hitters usually getting one more AB in a game.  I fail to see how the order can make such a difference, since it's different every inning after the first.  But, if Figgy has it in his mind that it makes a difference and, according to this he clearly does ... why not try it?  There is nothing left to lose.


On a lighter note, the 2012 commercials are "in the can"... to be unveiled in mid-March :-)

Catching up on some recent additions...

Spent a few days in Lake Tahoe, visiting my daughter for Super Bowl weekend.
What an absolutely beautiful place...

Oh, and though I was not at all enamored by the SB match-up, I managed to stay interested due to my parlay bets...

 


Now, back to baseball...

• RHP Brian Sweeney is back in the M's org, signing a minor league deal
• Another old friend, Carlos Guillen, agrees to a minor league contract with an invite to camp 
• M's add some more pasta to the bullpen, signing both LHP Hong-Chih Kuo and RHP Shawn Camp to Major League deals (to make room, both Mike Wilson and Chris Gimenez are designated for assignment)

Pitchers and Catchers report on Saturday!!!