Gallery: Submit Your Spring Training Photos

Sarasota County officials announced today that they are prepared to take a tentative memorandum of understanding to the Sarasota County Commission with the Baltimore Orioles. If accepted by the commission, the agreement would bring the team to Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota for spring training in 2010.

“We’ve held many productive discussions with the Orioles representatives over the past several weeks,” said Deputy County Administrator Dave Bullock, the county’s principal negotiator with the team.

“We’re pleased that we’ve reached an understanding with the team that will bring them to Sarasota and preserve the long history that Sarasota has had with major league baseball.”

The deal is contingent upon Sarasota approving an environmental indemnity clause in its interlocal agreement which will transfer Ed Smith Stadium to the county. City officials will meet Wednesday to discuss the agreement.

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According to the Florida Sports Foundation here are the individual team attendance figures for the 2009 Grapefruit League spring training season:

Atlanta Braves, Champion Stadium, Disney’s Wide World of Sports, Lake Buena Vista
16 games; 133,016 total attendance; 8,314 average per game
Largest crowd: 10,955 vs. New York Yankees, Saturday, March 28
Baltimore Orioles, Fort Lauderdale Stadium
16 games (two cancellations); 73,415 total attendance; 4,588 average per game
Largest crowd: 8,269 vs. Boston Red Sox, Saturday, March 14
Boston Red Sox, City of Palms Park, Fort Myers
15 games; 117,832 total attendance; 7,855 average per game
Largest crowd: 8,279 vs. Detroit Tigers, Monday, March 23
Cincinnati Reds, Ed Smith Stadium, Sarasota
15 games; 77,758 total attendance; 5,184 average per game
Largest crowd: 7,530 vs. Boston Red Sox, Thursday, March 19
Detroit Tigers, Joker Marchant Stadium, Lakeland
16 games; 111,131 tottal attendance; 6,946 average per game
Largest crowd: 9,680 vs. New York Yankees, Wednesday, March 11
Florida Marlins, Roger Dean Stadium, Jupiter
17 games; 69,726 total attendance; 4,102 average per game
Largest crowd: 8,131 vs. Boston Red Sox, Saturday, March 21
Houston Astros, Osceola County Stadium, Kissimmee
17 games; 62,326 total attendance; 3,666 average per game
Largest crowd: 6,6,78 vs. New York Yankees, Wednesday, March 18
Minnesota Twins, William Hammond Stadium, Fort Myers
17 games; 122,555 total attendance; 7,209 average per game
Largest crowd: 8,027 vs. Baltimore Orioles, Monday, March 16
New York Mets, Tradition Field, Port St. Lucie
16 games; 82,116 total attendance; 5,136 average per game
Largest crowd: 7,135 vs. Atlanta Braves, Sunday, March 22
New York Yankees, George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa
16 games; 168,922 total attendance; 10,558 average per game
Largest crowd: 11,113 vs. Boston Red Sox, Tuesday, March 24
Philadelphia Phillies, Bright House Field, Clearwater
16 games; 133,620 total attendance; 8,353 average per game
Largest Crowd, 10,335 vs. St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, March 15
Pittsburgh Pirates, McKechnie Field, Bradenton
19 games; 87,195 total attendance; 4,589 average per game
Largest crowd: 5,866 vs. New York Yankees, Saturday, March 14
St. Louis Cardinals, Roger Dean Stadium, Jupiter
18 games; 101,740 total attendance; 5,652 average per game
Largest crowd: 8,306 vs. Boston Red Sox, Thursday, March 12
Tampa Bay Rays, Charlotte Sports Park, Port Charlotte
15 games; 97,692 total attendance; 6,513 average per game
Largest crowd: 7,621 vs. New York Yankees
Toronto Blue Jays, Dunedin Stadium, Dunedin
16 games; 68,674 total attendance; 4,292 average per game
Largest crowd: 5,742, vs. Tampa Bay Rays, Friday, March 20
Washington Nationals, Space Coast Stadium, Viera
14 games; 54,154 total attendance; 3,868 average per game
Largest crowd: 6,182, vs. St. Louis Cardinals, Saturday, March 21
Florida Spring Training (1999-2009)
2009:  1,561,873 total attendance; 6,030 average per game
2008:  1,677,858 total attendance, 6,478 average attendance
2007:  1,716,840, total attendance; 6,243 average attendance
2006:  1,604,393, total attendance; 5,855 average attendance
2005:  1,598,454, total attendance; 6,244 average attendance
2004:  1,557,934, total attendance; 5,792 average attendance
2003:  1,397,144, total attendance; 5,272, average attendance
2002:  1,538,444, total attendance; 5,028, average attendance
2001:  1,500,184, total attendance; 5,320, average attendance
2000:  1,598,255, total attendance; 5,473, average attendance
1999:  1,502,617, total attendance; 5,042, average attendance

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	W	L	T	Pct
NY Yankees	24	10	1	.700
Atlanta	21	12	0	.636
St. Louis	19	12	2	.606
Minnesota	19	13	1	.591
Boston	20	14	0	.588
NY Mets	18	15	1	.544
Pittsburgh	17	15	3	.529
Tampa Bay	15	16	1	.484
Washington	15	17	2	.471
Detroit	15	17	1	.470
Toronto	13	17	3	.439
Philadelphia	13	19	2	.412
Cincinnati	13	20	0	.394
Florida	12	19	2	.394
Houston	12	20	3	.386
Baltimore	13	21	0	.382

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TAMPA - Joba Chamberlain has worked out at the Yankees’ minor league complex Saturday, one day before his final spring training start.

New York’s No. 5 starter flew to Florida after watching the Yankees play their first game — an exhibition matchup with the Chicago Cubs — at the new Yankee Stadium on Friday night.

Chamberlain says he will throw five innings or 75 pitches in Sunday’s camp game between Triple-A Scranton/Wikes-Barre and Double-A Trenton. The right-hander is scheduled to make his first start of the regular season April 12 at Kansas City.

Also, Jason Johnson, who had treatment for a cancerous tumor behind his right eye in February, gave up two hits over 5 2-3 scoreless innings in a minor league spring training game Saturday.

Sanchez throws 3 scoreless innings for Florida
JUPITER - Anibal Sanchez finished his first healthy spring training in three years on a strong note.

Sanchez threw three scoreless innings as the Florida Marlins tied the Toronto Blue Jays 1-1 in their final Grapefruit League game. Florida’s No. 4 starter allowed two hits, struck out one and walked one.

Sanchez, who threw a no-hitter as a rookie in 2006, made his 2008 debut on July 31 after recovering from right shoulder surgery. He went 2-5 with a 5.57 ERA.

Left-hander Ricky Romero, who will be Toronto’s No. 4 starter, allowed one run and four hits in five innings. He was 1-2 with a 3.91 ERA in five spring games.

AP Wires were used in this report.

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Fans booed the mayor before Cincinnati’s final spring training game in Florida, which the Reds lost to the Pittsburgh Pirate 6-5.

Reds starter Edinson Volquez failed to make it out of the fourth inning with a sloppy performance — five hits, three walks, three runs.

Only 2,935 fans showed up for the last game, less than half the capacity of Ed Smith Stadium. The Reds have trained in Florida since the 1920s, but are moving to Arizona — the site of their first camp in 1891 — to share a complex with the Cleveland Indians.

The Reds wanted to stay in Sarasota and offered to sign a long-term lease if the facility was upgraded. Voters rejected a stadium tax hike in 2007 and local politicians declined to commit $18 million to the facility, prompting the Reds to leave.

Robertson trying to hang on despite dismal spring
LAKELAND - Nate Robertson knows he’s at a career crossroads.

The left-hander was told by Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland that he would start the season in the bullpen, but before an 8-5 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday, Robertson said he’s ready for anything, even if that means leaving Detroit.

“I am 31 years old and I know I can still be a durable pitcher for somebody,” Robertson said. “I know I can be a starting pitcher in the big leagues.”

Robertson has been a Detroit Tigers starter since 2004, but had the worst season of his career in 2008, going 7-11 with a 6.35 ERA in 28 starts. He had no guarantees this spring except that he would get a chance to compete for one of the final spots in the rotation.

Robertson got shelled early and often this spring, allowing 12 earned runs in 17 2-3 innings. He was beaten out by rookie Rick Porcello and Zach Miner for the final two spots behind Armando Galarraga, Justin Verlander and Edwin Jackson.

Wind fuels flaming plate performances
Ryan Zimmerman hit two home runs off Jamie Moyer and the Washington National overcame Ryan Howard’s 10th longball of spring training to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 12-10 Thursday.

The 46-year-old Moyer, entering his 23rd major league season, gave up 11 hits and nine runs in four innings. He is scheduled to start the Phillies’ second game, Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves.

“The ball was flying out of there today, wasn’t it?” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. “When the wind is blowing like it was today and they’re hitting balls in the air, you have a chance to give up some runs. But Jamie knows what he’s doing.”

Howard, who led the major leagues with 48 home runs and 146 RBI last year, hit a two-run shot to the opposite field on the first pitch he saw from Nationals left-hander Scott Olsen in the bottom of the first, one of eight homers Thursday.

AP Wires were used in this report.

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CLEARWATER - Chan Ho Park made his final bid for the No. 5 spot in the Philadelphia Phillies’ rotation, working effectively into the sixth inning of a 13-3 win over the Houston Astros on Monday.

Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Eric Bruntlett all home runs off Houston starter Mike Hampton. Carlos Ruiz also homered, in the sixth inning off of Wesley Wright.

Park allowed two runs — one earned — on six hits in 5 2-3 innings. The 35-year-old right-hander finished his spring campaign with a 2.45 ERA in five games.

“He pitched good,” Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel said. “He did a good job.”

Whether it was good enough to win a spot in the rotation is still undecided. Park is competing with rookie left-hander J.A. Happ, who has a 3.15 ERA in six games.

“We haven’t made up our mind yet,” Manuel said. “Both have pitched pretty good.”

Ohlendorf sharp, Pirates beat Reds
BRADENTON -  Ross Ohlendorf is proving that the Pittsburgh Pirates were right about him.

The Pirates got the right-handed reliever from the Yankees as part of the trade for Xavier Nady last July, then put him in the rotation for the rest of the season. They kept him there this spring, and he provided more evidence on Monday that it was the right move.

Ohlendorf pitched into the sixth inning, allowing only a run set up by a flyball lost in the sun, and the Pirates’ reserves rallied in the ninth inning for a 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

Ohlendorf gave up only three hits during 5 1-3 innings, another solid showing. Overall this spring, the right-hander has allowed only two earned runs in 20 2-3 innings.

“I’m really excited about the regular season, but I’m still getting things out of these games,” Ohlendorf said. “I want to show them why I feel I deserve to be in the rotation. I want to make their decision look good.”

Galarraga strikes out nine in Tigers victory
VIERA - Armando Galarraga struck out nine in five innings, Clete Thomas and Ryan Raburn homered and the Detroit Tigers beat the Washington Nationals 3-2 on Monday.

Galarraga allowed two runs and two hits while walking one.

“I thought he was very sharp,” Tigers manger Jim Leyland said. “He used his pitches extremely well, and he looked very comfortable doing it.”

Trailing 2-0, Raburn homered off Shairon Martis leading off the third inning. Brent Clevlen followed with a single then Thomas connected for a two-run shot.

Martis pitched 4 1-3 innings, allowing three runs and four hits with five strikeouts and a walk.

A day after being named Washington’s No. 4 starter, Martis struggled with his control, throwing 94 pitches, 60 for strikes.

AP Wires were used in this report.

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LAKE BUENA VISTA - Mark Teixeira is fitting in quite nicely with the New York Yankees.

The first baseman, who signed an eight-year deal worth $180 million in the offseason, hit his second spring home run and raised his Grapefruit League average to .391 as the http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/mar/28/jeter-yankees-get-scare-against-braves/  target=”_top”>Yankees defeated the Atlanta Braves 6-4 on Saturday.

Teixeira was 2-for-2 and walked against Braves starter Jair Jurrjens. His homer came on the first pitch of the fifth inning and sailed well over the fence in right-center field.

“We’ve got a great lineup and I’m going to get pitches to hit all season,” Teixeira said. “We should score a lot of runs.”

Hammel throws 5 scoreless in Rays’ loss to Reds
PORT CHARLOTTE - Jason Hammel made his case to win a spot in Tampa Bay’s starting rotation, tossing five scoreless innings in thehttp://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/mar/28/hammel-makes-strong-case-rotation-against-reds/ target=”_top”> Rays’ 5-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday.

Hammel walked Willy Taveras to start the game, but picked him off first base for the first out. Hammel sailed from there, allowing just two hits and striking out four.

“I just went back to the aggressive approach that I was using early in camp,” Hammel said. “It was basically just attack. I wasn’t going to walk guys today. The one walk to Willy was pretty close.”

Wind wreaks havoc as Tigers beat Jays
DUNEDIN - Scott Richmond didn’t appear to improve his chances of making Toronto’s starting rotation, but manager Cito Gaston cut him some slack Saturday because of a gusting 30-mph wind and a shaky Blue Jays defense.

The right-hander, in the mix along with left-handers Brad Mills and Ricky Romero for the last two spots in the rotation, gave up five runs — three earned — on six hits in a four-inning 80-pitch outing as thehttp://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/mar/28/wind-wreaks-havoc-tigers-beat-jays/  target=”_top”> Detroit Tigers won 5-1.

“Overall, he didn’t pitch that bad,” Gaston said of Richmond.

McCutchen’s 5-for-5 leads Pirates past Phils
BRADENTON -  Andrew McCutchen is trying to push up the timetable for his arrival in Pittsburgh.

McCutchen, the former first-round draft pick targeted to begin the season in Triple-A, homered and hit three doubles while going 5-for-5, leading Ian Snell and the http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/mar/28/mccutchen-leads-pirates-past-phillies/ target=”_top”>Pirates over the Philadelphia Phillies 10-4 Saturday.

“I don’t think I’ve had five hits since rookie league,” said McCutchen, who drove in two runs and scored three times. “It was amazing. I amaze myself.”

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BRADENTON - Roy Halladay already has that opening day look.

The Blue Jays’ 20-game winner was in start-of-the-season form, limiting the Pittsburgh Pirates to one run and four hits over seven innings of the Toronto Blue Jays’ 4-1 victory on Friday night.

Brad Emaus backed Halladay’s effective start with a wind-aided solo homer over the left field wall in the third inning and a run-scoring double in a two-run fifth against Virgil Vasquez. Travis Snider doubled and scored on Emaus’ double and Alex Rios followed with a sacrifice fly.

Halladay gave up Brad Hinske’s double and Brandon Moss’ run-scoring single in the second, then permitted only one hit over his final five innings — Brian Bixler’s single in the fifth. He lowered his spring ERA to 3.67.

Halladay struck out four and didn’t walk any in exactly the kind of start that enabled him to go 20-11 with a 2.78 ERA last season, his second 20-win season and his first since 2003.

Halladay has known since the beginning of spring training that he would start the Jays’ April 6 opener against the Tigers.

In his previous start, Halladay gave up six runs and nine hits in a 9-7 loss to Houston last Saturday.

“Doc struggled a little bit the last two times out, but you know he’s always going to bounce back,” manager Cito Gaston said. “That’s exactly what he did tonight.”

Vasquez, competing with Jeff Karstens to be the Pirates’ No. 5 starter, gave up three runs and five hits in 5 2-3 innings.

Shields roughed up by Twins
James Shields joked that he might have to get sent back to the minor leagues following a performance that was no laughing matter.

Tampa Bay’s projected opening-day starter gave up 11 runs and 12 hits in the Rays’ 16-2 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Friday.

Rays manager Joe Maddon let Shields face minor leaguers over his previous two starts. But against the big boys, Shields gave up homers to Justin Morneau, Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel in 4 1-3 innings.

“Joe decided to call me up from the minor leagues finally, and I pretty much didn’t help my cause for staying here,” Shields said.

Sabathia sharp once again
TAMPA -  CC Sabathia cruised through his next-to-last spring training start.

Sabathia, the Yankees’ opening day starter, allowed one run and four hits over 7 2-3 innings as New York beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-1 on Friday night.

The left-hander, who had seven strikeouts, retired 16 in a row after Norris Hopper hit a two-out, RBI single in the second.

“Just to see the sixth, seventh inning is definitely big,” Sabathia said. “Go out there and get used to it.”

A-Rod’s rehab going good
Alex Rodriguez’s rehabilitation from right hip surgery will keep him from returning to the Yankees’ spring training complex until after the team heads to New York to play two exhibition games in their new stadium.

A-Rod has been rehabbing in Vail, Colo., where he had the surgery March 9. Rodriguez is working out in a pool, doing range of motion drills and lifting weights.

“He’ll be back after we’re gone,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Friday. “All is going good.”

Glavine and Verlander have strong outings
KISSIMMEE - Atlanta’s Tom Glavine and Detroit’s Justin Verlander are looking to have bounce-back seasons, and each made strides Friday toward reaching their goals.

Verlander threw seven scoreless innings and Glavine shut out the Tigers for four in the Braves’ 3-2 victory.

Glavine, the two-time Cy Young Award winner with 305 wins, started a career-low 13 games last year, going 2-4 before his season was cut short by an elbow injury. He went on the disabled list for the first time in his 22-year career and ended up having elbow and shoulder surgery.

AP Wires were used in this report.

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CLEARWATER - Hideki Matsui hit one of four New York home runs, offsetting consecutive long balls by Chase Utley and Ryan Howard off Joba Chamberlain.

Utley hit his second homer in two games and Howard connected for his seventh of the spring. Cody Ransom, Nick Swisher and Melky Cabrera also homered for the Yankees, who began experimenting with a new lineup — batting Derek Jeter leadoff and Johnny Damon second.

Lowe works six dominant innings for Braves
KISSIMMEE - The Atlanta Braves signed Derek Lowe to be their ace, and he’s pitching like one.

Lowe struck out seven in six sharp innings for the Braves, but the Toronto Blue Jays rallied for a 7-5 victory Thursday.

The Braves gave Lowe a four-year $60 million free-agent contract to lead the Braves’ revamped rotation. He gave up a run and five hits without walking a batter, lowering his spring ERA to 3.27. He has 24 strikeouts in 22 innings.

“He was good again,” Braves manager Bobby Cox said. “He’s had a terrific spring.”

Cox hasn’t decided on his opening day start, but Lowe is in line for the honor.

Zumaya likely shelved to start season
LAKELAND - Tigers manager Jim Leyland said oft-injured reliever Joel Zumaya is unlikely to start the season in Detroit.

The 24-year-old Zumaya has pitched in only one game this spring. He was considered for the closer job this season but felt soreness after an appearance on March 2 against Florida Southern College.

Leyland said “there is no timetable” for Zumaya’s return.

Prized prospect Rick Porcello, trying to earn the No. 5 spot in Detroit’s rotation, allowed a run and three hits with three walks in 2 1-3 innings. Curtis Granderson had a double and a homer in his return from the WBC.

Dioner Navarro had three hits for the Rays.

AP Wires were used in this report.

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Say what you want about the World Baseball Classic.

Say the timing of the event is horrible and the format is less than desirable and creates far too much downtime between games.

Say that the tournament that claims to be “worldwide” effectively excludes 180 other countries from competition.

Say it doesn’t elicit the greatest fan reaction here in the states.

Say that the best players aren’t always showcased because of their commitments to their “day jobs.”

Say the players sometimes treat their nationality as if it were free agency.

You could say all of these things and more, but there is another thing you have to say about the WBC.

It was good baseball.

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PORT CHARLOTTE - The Rays set two franchise spring training attendance records in their 5-0 victory over the New York Yankees.

The sellout crowd of 7,621 at Charlotte Sports was a record for the facility and pushed the Rays season home attendance mark to 83,274, the most ever for one spring season.

It was their sixth sellout of the spring at Charlotte Sports Park.
Rough day for Hammel leaves door open
Jason Hammel issued five walks in the http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/mar/23/hammel-stumbles-bid-secure-rotation-spot/sports-rays/  target=”_top”>Rays’ 4-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

With the days counting down to the Rays’ decision on who will hold down the back end of the starting rotation to open the season, this was not what Hammel needed. His main competitor, Jeff Niemann, was coming off a brutal relief outing in his most recent appearance and Hammel had a chance to leave a positive impression that might be enough to put him over the top.
It didn’t work out that way at all, as he allowed a total of 11 men to reach base in his four frames and surrendered four runs.
Pittsburgh’s Zach Duke pitched five shutout innings and Jack Wilson’s two doubles led to a pair of two-run innings
. Duke gave the Pirates their second strong start in three days, following up Paul Maholm’s six shutout innings against Cincinnati on Saturday by limiting Tampa Bay to two hits — lowering his ERA to 1.83. Duke has allowed only three earned runs in 18 2-3 innings in his last five starts.

Phillies option Kendrick to minor league camp
The Phillies have optioned pitcher Kyle Kendrick to their minor league camp, cutting the candidates for the final spot in the rotation to three.

Kendrick has won 21 games for the Phillies since June of 2007. He was competing for the fifth-starter spot with veteran Chan Ho Park, rookie J.A. Happ and top prospect Carlos Carrasco. The move was announced Monday.

Kendrick struggled in the second half of last season and was 1-3 with a 9.20 ERA in four Grapefruit League games this spring.

Penny makes first start for Red Sox, Schilling Retires
FORT MYERS - Brad Penny pitched three hitless innings in his spring training debut, and the http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/mar/23/penny-makes-first-start-red-sox/  target=”_top”>Boston Red Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 7-6 on Monday.

Earlier in the day, Red Sox ace Curt Schilling announced his retirement after missing all of last season with a shoulder injury. Penny is coming back from shoulder trouble that limited him to 19 starts with the Los Angeles Daodgers last year.

Penny was scratched from a scheduled March 4 start against Puerto Rico.

Mike Lowell, Jason Bay, Chris Carter, and Ivan Ochoa hit consecutive homers to left field off Brandon Lyons in the sixth inning for Boston.

The Tigers scored three runs in the eighth inning, ending a streak of 17 scoreless innings.

Gonzalez hurt in 3-0 win over Jays
SARASOTA - Cincinnati Reds shortstop Alex Gonzalez is hurt again.

Gonzalez strained his right hamstring beating out an infield hit in the second inning of ahttp://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/mar/23/gonzalex-hurt-reds-victory-over-jays/  target=”_top”> 3-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday. He left the game to get treatment.

Cincinnati’s Edinson Volquez allowed four hits, walked two and struck out five in five innings. The 17-game winner last season has pitched 14 innings this spring without allowing an earned run. He gave up three unearned runs against the Netherlands while pitching for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.

Girardi: A-Rod making progress in rehab
TAMPA - Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez is making progress in his rehab program after right hip surgery, but is unlikely to rejoin the team before New York breaks spring training camp on April 1.

“I’m not anticipating it,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Monday. “It’s only 10 days. His rehab is going well.”

Rodriguez had surgery on March 9. He is rehabbing in Vail, Colo., and is expected to be out until May. He has been riding a stationary bike, working out in a pool and doing range of motion drills.

AP Wires were used in this report

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Kendrick helps rotation bid, Hamels throws bullpen
Posted March 21, 2009 by Scott Butherus
Updated Mar 21, 2009 at 06:19 PM

Kyle Kendrick kept himself in the race for the final spot in Philadelphia’s rotation.

The 24-year-old right-hander pitched his best game of spring training Saturday in the Phillies’ 2-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins. Kendrick allowed two runs and five hits in five innings.

He called his latest outing “a step forward.” Kendrick is competing with veteran Chan Ho Park, rookie J.A. Happ and top prospect Carlos Carrasco for the role of fifth starter.

“It was a good, solid outing — which I needed,” said Kendrick, who struggled earlier this spring. “Not to bring up last year, but this is how it was last spring. I struggled getting everything situated and then I went from there. … I just want to build on it and keep going.”

The Phillies also received encouraging news about their ace. Left-hander Cole Hamels threw off a mound for the first time since leaving camp Tuesday with elbow tightness.

Hamels, who had an anti-inflammatory shot Tuesday, said he didn’t feel any pain following a bullpen session that simulated a two-inning stint.

“The only soreness I have is from the injection, and that actually has been fading day by day,” Hamels said. “Other than that, all the spots that were kind of causing me soreness didn’t cause me any discomfort at all, so I think that’s a good thing.”

Hamels will pitch in a minor league game Tuesday. His status for the regular-season opener April 5 against Atlanta is uncertain.

Hughes optioned to Triple-A
TAMPA - Right-hander Phil Hughes was one of four players optioned to the minors by the New York Yankees on Saturday.

Hughes, and pitchers Steven Jackson and Anthony Claggett were optioned to Triple-A Scranton-Wikes/Barre. Reliever Humberto Sanchez was optioned to Double-A Trenton, while right-handers Jason Johnson and Sergio Mitre were reassigned to the minor league camp.

Hughes, who started the 2008 season in the Yankees rotation, had little chance to start this season after New York signed free agents CC Sabathia and A.J Burnett during the offseason. He did put himself in position to be called up in case of an injury by posting a 2.19 ERA in four spring training appearances.

“Hughes had a great camp,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. “He’s in a good frame of mind. He knows he did great.”

Maholm pitches 6 shutout innings for Pirates
SARASOTA - With another sharp outing, Paul Maholm extended his scoreless streak to 15 2-3 innings and strengthened his bid to become the Pittsburgh Pirates’ opening-day starter.

“I think everybody knows it will be Paul,” Pittsburgh manager John Russell said after Saturday’s 6-5 victory over Cincinnati, which sent the Reds to their seventh straight loss. “We haven’t announced anything officially, but we’re leaning that way.”

Maholm allowed three hits in six innings, struck out four and walked none. He has given up one run in 19 2-3 innings this spring training.

“I’m waiting for that bad outing,” Maholm said. “I know it’s going to come. I want to get it out of the way. I just need to continue to prepare and sharpen up a few things. Then in April, if I have to make an adjustment, it will be a small one.”

Youkilis could return to play Monday
Kevin Youkilis could rejoin the Red Sox lineup on Monday after giving his sprained left ankle more time to lead.

The first baseman returned to the Red Sox on Wednesday from the World Baseball Classic with a mild sprain and mild Achilles tendinitis in his left foot. He had been wearing a hard plastic boot, then was examined Saturday by team physician Dr. Peter Asnis and took batting practice while wearing running shoes.

AP Wires were used in this report.

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Vernon gets first spring action
Posted March 20, 2009 by Scott Butherus
Updated Mar 20, 2009 at 06:42 PM

DUNEDIN - Playing for the first time this spring, Vernon Wells went hitless in his two at bats as the designated hitter against the Tampa Bay Rays, grounding into a 6-4-3 double play in his first at bat and flying out to center in his second. It was hishttp://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/mar/20/wells-makes-first-spring-appearance/ target=”top”> first appearance of the spring after straining his left hamstring during workouts last month.  It is the same hamstring that hobbled him late in the season and limited him to only 108 games for the Jays. 

“They wanted me to be cautious since we’re in Spring Training,” Wells said. “If this was during the season, I would’ve been playing a week, week and a half ago,” the outfielder said.

Utley tests hip, ready to push it further
Chase Utley is getting ready to put his hip to the nine-inning test.

Utley played into the sixth inning Friday on his surgically repaired hip and had two hits and scored a run as the Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals played to a 2-2 tie in 10 innings. He had three at-bats for the first time in four games this spring.

“Those are the steps we’re going to make pretty soon,” Utley said. “Everything has felt good as far as getting my timing down and so far everything has felt good with my hip.”

Utley had a piece of the labrum shaved off his hip on Nov. 24. The Phillies were told he would need four to six months before he could return to the lineup but he played in a minor league intrasquad game Saturday and made his spring debut Sunday. He expects to be ready for opening day on April 5.

Mauer says he won’t be ready for opening day
FORT MYERS - Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer said Friday he won’t be ready to play by opening day due to lingering pain and inflammation in his lower back.

The reigning AL batting champion isn’t sure when he’ll be able to return.

“We really don’t have a timetable,” Mauer said. “It all just depends on how I feel. Hopefully, it will be sooner than later. There’s good days and bad days.

Mauer has inflammation in the sacroiliac joint, which connects the spine to the pelvis. Mauer traveled to Baltimore on March 14 to seek a second opinion for the injury.

“We know it’s in there,” Mauer said of the inflammation. “We just have to get it out.”

Mauer had offseason surgery Dec. 22 to remove a blockage from one of his kidneys, but he said this injury isn’t related to that. The two-time All-Star has been limited in spring training because of his back problems.

Orioles’ Uehara throws pain-free in bullpen
FORT LAUDERDALE - Baltimore Orioles right-hander Koji Uehara threw 54 pitches in a pain-free bullpen session Friday and will throw batting practice Sunday if his left hamstring strain doesn’t show any lingering soreness.

Uehara, who has been sidelined since a two-inning stint during a March 9 spring training game, is hoping to make his first scheduled regular season start on April 8.

Right-hander Danys Baez, bidding for one of three open spots in the Orioles’ rotation, allowed four runs and seven hits in 4 2-3 innings in a 4-0 loss to the New York Met. His 4 2-3 innings matched the longest outing by a Baltimore starter this spring.

AP Wires were used in this report.

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Bonderman Continues To Bounce Back From Disappointing Season
Posted March 19, 2009 by Scott Butherus
Updated Mar 20, 2009 at 11:38 AM

KISSIMMEE - The Detroit Tigers could sure use a healthy and consistent season from Jeremy Bonderman. He got off to a good start Thursday night.
After missing most of last year following surgery to repair a circulatory condition in his shoulder, Bonderman gave up two hits in two scoreless innings during Detroit’s 5-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves.

Bonderman’s return this spring was slowed by more soreness in his pitching shoulder. At one point, the right-hander returned to Detroit to be examined by team physicians.

“It’s been a long fight to get back,” he said. “It was a relief to go out there and throw again with no pain. I’m over the hump.”
Bonderman walked two and did not strike out a batter.

“My mechanics are not where I’d like them to be. There is a timing issue, but I’ll get stronger,” he said. “I’ll be sore tomorrow, but normal sore. I’ll be fine to throw again in five days. And the more I pitch, the stronger the arm will get.”

One of baseball’s biggest disappointments last season, the Tigers hope Bonderman can join a 2009 rotation that includes Justin Verlander, Armando Galarraga and Edwin Jackson.

Bonderman won 50 games from 2004-07, surpassing 174 innings in each of those seasons, before going 3-4 with a 4.29 ERA last year, when he was shut down in June.

Veteran lefty Dontrelle Willis, trying to land the fifth spot in Detroit’s rotation, allowed seven hits and five runs — four earned — in 2 2-3 innings.

Willis had his sore left hand wrapped in ice after the game. He hurt himself trying to catch a ball hit by Kelly Johnson but said he was OK.
Willis has pitched 11 2-3 innings this spring, allowing 13 runs and 19 hits.

“I felt good out there, much better than I have,” Willis said. “I was around the zone all night. They just hit them where we weren’t.”

Braves starter Javier Vazquez, who just returned from playing for Puerto Rico at the World Baseball Classic, worked 4 2-3 innings and allowed one run while striking out six.

Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge led off the game with a homer off Vazquez.

Vazquez pitched in place of Kenshin Kawakami, scratched from his scheduled start because of arm fatigue. Neither he nor manager Bobby Cox expressed any serious concern.

Cox said Kawakami likely would make his next regular start on Tuesday.

“He could have pitched today,” Cox said. “So I’m not concerned at all.”

Kazmir Feels A Little Woozy After Tater
PORT CHARLOTTE -  Weakened by the bug that has been rolling through the Rays’ clubhouse, http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/mar/19/ill-kazmir-struggles-through-start/sports-rays/ target=”_top”>Scott Kazmir wasn’t terribly effective in his start against the Cardinals. Kazmir gave up a three-run homer to Ryan Ludwick and a solo shot to Rick Ankiel.

Tampa Bay third baseman http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/mar/19/200216/longoria-heeds-call-headed-team-usa/sports-rays/ target=”_top”>Evan Longoria replaced injured Chipper Jones on the United States roster for the semifinal round of the World Baseball Classic.

Blue Jays Take Shots At Former Teammate Burnett
TAMPA -  A.J. Burnett was hit on the upper part of his left arm by John McDonald’s second-inning line drive, but remained in the game and wound up allowing one run and three hits over 3 1-3 innings.

Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, coming back from right shoulder surgery last October, needed just five pitches to work a perfect sixth.
Toronto center fielder Vernon Wells is expected to return from a strained left hamstring and make his first spring training appearance of the year Friday as a designated hitter.

Blanton Sharp Against Fish
JUPITER - Joe Blanton had his best start of spring training for Philadelphia, allowing one hit in six scoreless innings. Marlins right-hander Chris Volstad gave up a hit in four innings and has a string of nine shutout innings over two starts.

AP Wires were used in this report.

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Hamels has no damage in pitching elbow
Posted March 17, 2009 by Scott Butherus
Updated Mar 17, 2009 at 08:56 PM

CLEARWATER - Phillies ace Cole Hamels will return to camp after a team physician found no damage in his sore left elbow.

General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. says Dr. Michael Ciccotti reported no structural damage to the joint after looking at the left-hander’s pitching elbow Tuesday in Philadelphia.
Last season’s World Series MVP received an injection to relieve inflammation and should be cleared to throw by Thursday.

Hamels’ status for the April 5 opener against Atlanta is unclear. The team will continue to monitor his recovery when he returns to camp.

Hamels went 14-10 last season with a 3.09 ERA. He was 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA in five postseason starts.

Verlander works 6 sharp innings in Tigers’ tie
LAKELAND - Justin Verlander remained confident when he struggled earlier in spring training and picked up another reason to be optimistic on Tuesday.

Verlander pitched six sharp innings in the Detroit Tigers’ 1-1, 11-inning tie against the Houston Astros. The right-hander allowed one run and one hit, walked three and struck out two.

Myers pitches well in Phillies’ victory over Reds
CLEARWATER - Brett Myers struck out seven in 5 2-3 shutout innings to lead Philadelphia to an 8-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old Myers, who has started on opening day each of the last two seasons, allowed four hits and walked none. He looked more like the pitcher who finished strong to help the Phillies win the World Series last year than the one who sent to the minors in July.

Royals sign Sidney Ponson
Sidney Ponson will get another chance to pitch, this time with the Kansas City Royals.

Coming off two starts for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic, Ponson signed a minor league contract with the Royals on Tuesday and was invited to big league camp.

AP Wires were used in this report.

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