Cnotes MLB 2019 Spring Traning News Notes and Rumors !

[Cnotes53]

Judge thinks Yanks championship-caliber
February 19, 2019
By The Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Aaron Judge thinks the New York Yankees have a championship-caliber team without Manny Machado.

''We weren't in the position I felt like that we really needed to go out there and grab too many big pieces,'' the Yankees slugger said after Tuesday's first full-squad workout. ''We were just in a position where we just needed to add maybe one or two key guys and bring back a couple key guys that are just going to get us over the hump, and I feel like we did that.''

A person familiar with the negotiations speaking on condition of anonymity to the Associated Press confirmed that Machado agreed to a $300 million, 10-year deal with the San Diego Padres. The person said the agreement was subject to a successful physical and had not been announced.

The Yankees had met with Machado in the offseason, but didn't appear to make a formal offer to the star infielder.

''My take on it is, San Diego signed a really great player,'' Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. ''I think we have a great club. I think we're deep. Sitting here last year I felt like we had a really good team. As I sit here today, I feel like we're a stronger team based on the moves we made this winter.''

New York's 100-62 record in Boone's first season as manager was its best since winning the 2009 World Series. New York added left-hander James Paxton, reliever Adam Ottavino, shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and infielder DJ LeMahieu, and also re-signed starters CC Sabathia and J.A. Happ along with reliever Zack Britton.

''The lineup and the team that we have is pretty darn good,'' Judge said. ''We won 100 games. I'm excited for our team.''

Judge knows the team goal is always the same.

''We came up a little short last season,'' Judge said. ''It's always a disappointment any time we don't win a World Series. You always want to be that team, the last one standing. That will be our goal again this year.''

Judge said he hasn't heard about any proposals for a long-term contract.

''I'm focused on the season,'' Judge said.

Judge also said his shoulder, which was operated on during the 2017 offseason, and wrist that sidelined him last season are both 100 percent.

''That's the thing I kind of was looking for,'' Judge said. ''Getting a chance to actually have a normal offseason because the year before, going into '18, dealing with shoulder surgery and the majority of my time was spent rehabbing that.''

Judge didn't start swinging a bat last year until arriving in Florida.

Judge will be working for the second straight spring training on hitting with former NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton.

''The biggest thing is his approach,'' Judge said. ''That's one thing I really enjoyed watching. You see why he won an MVP, why he's an All-Star. That's the biggest thing I got from `G,' was different approaches.''

''I'd try and share them, but I've got to keep a couple secret,'' a smiling Judge added.

FARQUHAR MOVING FORWARD

Reliever Danny Farquhar, coming back from a brain hemorrhage stemming from a ruptured aneurysm last April 20, has started throwing to hitters. ''Can only imagine the emotions running through him,'' Boone said.

MLB MEETING

Boone said MLB executive and former Yankees manager Joe Torre will be at camp Wednesday. The manager plans to talk with Yankees' pitchers about the 20-second pitch clock to be used at spring training.

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[Cnotes53]

Buster Posey likely won't catch in early spring games
February 20, 2019
By The Associated Press

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) Buster Posey most likely will not catch in any spring training games until early March, San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Wednesday.

Posey, who had surgery in August to address a hip impingement and repair a torn labrum, has been catching pitchers' side sessions in camp so far.

''I'm very encouraged and he is, too,'' Bochy said. ''He's not feeling any effects from the surgery or the hip so he's doing really well. It's all good to go with him. We're probably looking around the first of March, in that area.''

The Giants begin their spring slate on Saturday against the Los Angeles Angels.

Bochy said Posey could play first base or serve as the designated hitter in the early games.

Overall, the Giants are ready to go, Bochy said.

''After a couple days of this, the hitters are ready to take that cage away and start the games,'' Bochy said. ''It looks like the pitchers are all throwing 100 (mph), and a couple guys are.''

Right-hander Chris Stratton will start the Giants' first game in Tempe and be followed by lefty Ty Blach, Bochy said.

Madison Bumgarner will make his first spring start Sunday against the Cubs and Derek Holland will face the White Sox on Monday.

Drew Pomeranz, a new addition after signing as a free agent in January, will follow Holland. Derek Rodriguez will start Tuesday against the Reds and Jeff Samardzija will go Feb. 27 against the Royals, followed by Andrew Suarez.

The starters will likely throw 20-25 pitches in their first outings.

 

[Cnotes53]

Bryant says balky shoulder feeling fine
February 20, 2019
By The Associated Press

MESA, Ariz. (AP) Kris Bryant made it abundantly clear - with his bat - that his balky left shoulder of last season is completely healed.

Bryant had been one of the most impressive players in Chicago Cubs camp leading up to the first day position players needed to report this week. He put on a show in batting practice and looked smooth in the field while working out on the back fields.

A good sign for the Cubs after the former NL MVP played only 102 games last year.

''The offseason was the time to ease into it, which I did,'' Bryant said. ''Now, this is the time to go. There's no easing into it. I'm ready to go. Full steam ahead.''

A bounce-back by their star third baseman is what the Cubs hope can help them regain their standing as the top team in the NL Central after last season's disappointing end.

The Cubs faltered down the stretch, losing a five-game lead to Milwaukee and ultimately Game 163 for the division title, and then fell in the wild-card game to Colorado.

Having a healthy Bryant, who twice went on the disabled list after sustaining a bone bruise in his left shoulder while sliding headfirst into first base, might have made a difference.

''When you lose Kris Bryant for the majority of the season that's going to take a toll on our team,'' Cubs starter Jon Lester said. ''And it did.''

Bryant won NL Rookie of the Year and MVP in back-to-back seasons and then finished seventh in MVP voting in his third season in 2017.

Then his instincts got the best of him last year.

The headfirst slide, something he said he doesn't like but did in the heat of the moment, came on May 19 while trying to leg out a hit. The injury led to him changing his swing to compensate for the pain, and a career low in games (102) and stats (.272, 13 home runs, 52 RBIs, .834 OPS).

Before the injury, he had a batting average/on-base/slugging line of .311/.428/.595 in 38 games. He finished the rest of the year on a downslide with a slash line of .249/.339/.378.

''We didn't give it enough time to properly heal,'' Bryant said. ''Kind of like when you sprain an ankle and you keep walking on it or you keep exercising on it. It's not going to heal the way it should. That's kind of what I was doing.''

''I'd take a week off and get back into things, swinging light and doing this and, for me, I really needed to just not do anything for like a month,'' he said. ''And that's kind of what I did this offseason. I went home and I didn't do anything.''

When Bryant resumed his workouts, ''sure, I felt a little sore, but it was good soreness,'' he said. ''And then a month after that I was like, `Wow, it's completely gone. I feel great. I'm going to start swinging.' And I did and everything just kind of took off from there.''

Bryant is confident he is back to his normal self and the signature one-handed finish that was too painful to use at times in 2018.

''Any time I take the baseball field, whether it's a spring training game or an actual game, I'm looking to do damage,'' he said. ''That's kind of my mindset this year.''

It starts Saturday when the Cubs host the Brewers in their exhibition opener.

''Last year I was trying to battle through certain things and trying to alleviate what I was feeling,'' he said. ''I've been a really dang good baseball player with that swing my whole life.''

''I was looking at me when I was 8 years old and I swung the same way, so I'm not going to change anything just because I had an injury last year. I'm over the injury. I've done everything I need to do to get over it, and I'm back to who I am,'' he said.

 

[Cnotes53]

Gordon eager to play alongside Hamilton
February 20, 2019
By The Associated Press

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) With six-time Gold Glove winner Alex Gordon in left and speedy Lorenzo Cain in center, the Kansas City Royals' outfield defense ranked among the best in the majors for the six years they were together.

That changed last season when Cain joined the Milwaukee Brewers.

Royals manager Ned Yost started nine different players in center last year. Brian Goodwin made the most with 32 games.

Gordon started in center field 11 times. Can he name the other guys who played there?

''I don't know,'' he said. ''Put me on a spot like that I can't do that.''

The Royals believed they solved their center field issue for this season by signing free agent speedster Billy Hamilton, who was considered one of the best defensive outfielders in the National League while with the Cincinnati Reds.

''We're looking forward to seeing what he can do in that big outfield in Kauffman,'' Gordon said. ''I haven't played with him yet. Hopefully we can develop a history like me and Lo-Cain. I know the balls I need to get. He knows the balls he needs to get.''

''That's kind of what me and Lorenzo Cain had. We knew each other that well. Hopefully me and Billy can establish that chemistry, too. Through spring training we'll talk, we'll figure it out,'' he said.

Yost is looking forward to seeing the tandem rob opposing batters of hits.

''That's what spring training is for, getting comfortable with the communication, comfortable with what each other can do,'' Yost said. ''It's just like a sixth sense. They don't have to see him to know where he is. The more they play out there, the more comfortable they're going to be. They're going to cover a lot of ground.''

The 35-year-old Gordon, who is in the final year of a four-year $72 million contract, remains a fitness fanatic, but has altered his workouts.

''I used to work out in the mornings in spring training,'' Gordon said. ''I can't do that anymore because I'm older and my body can't handle it. It's just an adjustment to how your body feels.''

''The main purpose is to be healthy and out there contributing. Everybody has a different routine, different setup. As you get older you definitely have to adjust. I'd just get sore and worn down. I'm just trying to be smarter about it. I don't lift weights during the season. I just said heck with the weights. I think it was putting too much stress on my body,'' he said.

Gordon played seven games last year before going on the disabled list in April with a left hip injury.

''Probably the best thing that happened to me last year was going on the DL even though it stunk, but coming back I felt rejuvenated and felt like I found my swing,'' Gordon said.

''During the season you're playing every day. It's hard to make adjustments and that's what I needed to do. It was like 13 days, I went into the cage and did small things off the tee and got back to where I felt like worked for me.'' He said.

After hitting .208 in 2017, Gordon hiked his average to .245 last season. He hit .302 with a .491 slugging percentage in his final 13 games. After he was moved to the third spot on Sept. 7, Gordon drove in 17 runs in 21 games.

Whit Merrifield, who led the American League in hits and stolen bases, and Adalberto Mondesi were batting in front of Gordon.

''It was fun to come up to bat and have someone on base every time,'' Gordon said. ''Just the pressure they put on the opposing pitcher, they weren't even worried about me. It was fun to hit in front of those two and watch them run wild.''

 

[Cnotes53]

White Sox seek answers from within
February 20, 2019
By The Associated Press

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) The Chicago White Sox made no effort to hide their disappointment over losing the Manny Machado sweepstakes.

They went to extra lengths, bringing in Machado's brother-in-law, another close friend and pulling out the stops in attempting to sell the free agent on the future of White Sox baseball.

But they still missed out when the star infielder reached a deal with the San Diego Padres worth $300 million over 10 years.

White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said of the experience that ''trying really hard and failing is not sufficient.'' Executive vice president Ken Williams said, ''I'm wearing my shades so you guys don't see the shock in my eyes.''

In the meantime, the White Sox will look around and return to their youth movement, now in its third season. If Machado had moved to Chicago, he might've played third base, with Tim Anderson at shortstop and Yoan Moncada at second.

Moncada, a key component of the trade that sent Chris Sale to Boston and began the Chicago rebuilding project, struggled in his first full big league season. He batted .235 with 17 homers while leading American League second basemen with 21 errors and topping all of baseball with 217 strikeouts.

Manager Rick Renteria's advice to Moncada was simple: Forget last season.

''I think he has more of a focus factor that comes into play,'' Renteria said of the 23-year-old. ''I think he sees himself as a little bit more focused on trying to get the job done.''

That is part of the reason that Moncada has been taking grounders at third in spring training, with Carlos Sanchez - who Moncada replaced at second - returning to his previous position. That may be temporary as well, with No. 1 draft pick Nick Madrigal being groomed for second and Anderson, who showed great defensive improvement in the second half last season, remaining at shortstop.

But Moncada's focus is part of the reason, Renteria said.

''I think it's possible, and there's no guarantee, that playing third base rounds out his focus on both sides of the ball,'' the manager said. ''His range factor is huge, his arm is good. Understanding the nuances of the game at third, getting reacquainted with it will be a factor on how well he'll do.''

For his part, Moncada says he ''feels good'' at third base. ''I like that position and with more repetitions I will feel even better.''

Moncada worked with Renteria and hitting coach Todd Steverson after last season ended on fixing some of his problems at the plate - which included 63 called third strikes on borderline pitches as defined by Statcast. Moncada said that is the main focus of his offensive approach entering this season.

''With two strikes I will be more aware of the corners and maybe a little more aggressive on those pitches,'' he said.

As for not getting the big free-agent prize, outfielder Jon Jay, who lockers next to Machado's brother-in-law Yonder Alonso - says they'll be able to move on, echoing what Hahn and Renteria also said.

''He's a good friend of mine,'' Jay said of Machado. ''We are very happy with what we have here and are going forward. I've been fortunate to be around a lot of playoff teams and that's still my goal here.''

''You see a lot of confidence. There are guys who have great opportunities, and what I like the most is that they want to get better,'' he said.

 

[Cnotes53]

Future Props - Bochy & Giants
February 20, 2019
By BetDSI

Following the news that Bruce Bochy will retire at the end of the 2019 season, BetDSI Sportsbook has posted odds on who will replace him as manager of the San Francisco Giants.

Matt Williams and Eric Chavez are the two favorites while Mike Matheny, Omar Vizquel and Ron Wotus all carry 5/1 odds or less. Jose Canseco and Pete Rose have the longest odds at 100/1.

You can find the full list below per BetDSI.eu

San Francisco Giants Manager on Opening Day 2020 - per BetDSI.eu

Matt Williams +200
Eric Chavez +250
Mike Matheny +350
Omar Vizquel +500
Ron Wotus +500
Sandy Alomar +750
Carlos Beltran +800
Dusty Baker +1000
Will Clark +1000
Joe Girardi +1500
Buck Showalter +1500
Barry Bonds +2000
Gary Pettis +2000
Lloyd McClendon +2000
Dave Stewart +2000
Chili Davis +2000
Eric Byrnes +5000
Randy Johnson +5000
Mark McGwire +7500
Rickey Henderson +10000
Buster Posey (player-manager) +10000
Tony La Russa +20000
Brian Kenny +20000
Mike Krukow +20000
Duane Kuiper +20000
Jon Miller +50000
Jose Canseco +100000
Pete Rose +100000

Odds Subject to Change

 

[Cnotes53]

McCutchen ready to boost Phillies in all sorts of ways
February 20, 2019
By The Associated Press

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) Andrew McCutchen is ready to boost the Philadelphia Phillies with his bat, glove and brain.

Signed to a $50 million, three-year contract, McCutchen said he enjoys his role as the veteran in the outfield and likes what he's seen from his younger teammates.

The 32-year-old McCutchen is set to start in left. He returns to the National League after finishing up last season with the New York Yankees - he spent his first nine seasons in Pittsburgh, joined San Francisco last year and then was traded to the Bronx.

The five-time All-Star hit a combined .255 with 20 home runs and 65 RBIs last season.

McCutchen said he is coming into camp knowing that Phillies have a surplus of outfielders, with Odubel Herrera, Roman Quinn, Nick Williams and Aaron Altherr looking for time in the lineup.

''There are no set spots,'' McCutchen said. ''We've got a lot of guys out who are competing for positions and that's a good thing to have in camp.''

''''Everybody is out there working hard. Working to win the job or even if they don't they know they could be the next man up. The competition is good for the outfield as a whole,'' he said.

While speculation swirls that the Phillies are in the mix for free agent outfielder Bryce Harper, McCutchen said he sees a lot of upside in the current group of outfielders in camp. He compares them to his former teammates with the Pirates.

''It's similar to when I was on the Pirates with Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco,'' McCutchen said. ''We were able to work together, challenge each other and grow together.''

''I'm happy to be here to help facilitate that here. We will be able to help each other out and I can share my knowledge and my experience,'' he said.

Phillies manager Gabe Kapler has raved about McCutchen's versatility and his ability to hit anywhere in the lineup, suggesting he'll use him at the top of the order when the situation presents itself.

McCutchen will likely start out around the middle of the lineup when spring games start Friday.

''I can hit anywhere you put me,'' McCutchen said. ''I've been up and down the lineup and there's not one place that I'm way more comfortable at than another. I'm comfortable leading off, hitting third, fifth, sixth whatever. I've done it all.''

NOTES: Herrera left camp with a strained left hamstring. Kapler said it happened on a running play from first to third base. ''It's something he had earlier in camp,'' Kapler said. ''It was tightening up on him, so we're getting it checked out.'' Kapler said the team didn't have an MRI planned, but Herrera had an MRI on the hamstring before camp opened up and determined there was nothing serious at the time. ... Kapler met with MLB executive Joe Torre later Wednesday. He did not reveal much of the meeting but said they discussed rule changes. ''The rules are in place and we just respond to them accordingly,'' Kapler said.

 

[Cnotes53]

Pricey FA would imbalance Pirates
February 20, 2019
By The Associated Press

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) Having watched the San Diego Padres reach a $300 million, 10-year deal with Manny Machado, Pirates owner Bob Nutting doesn't think it makes sense Pittsburgh general manager Neal Huntington to add a pricey free agent.

A huge salary could cause the portion paid to one player to be ''overweight.''

''You get an imbalanced payroll, that you have much more challenging team dynamic, much more challenging clubhouse dynamic, much more limitation in crafting an overall roster that can bring a championship,'' Nutting said Wednesday. ''I'm not sure that that necessarily makes a team a team more competitive and more ready to win a championship.''

Pittsburgh was 82-79 last year for its fourth winning record in 26 years. The Pirates acquired two-time All-Star right-hander Chris Archer from the Tampa Bay Rays last summer and reliever Keone Kela from the Texas Rangers.

Attendance dropped by 450,000 from 2017 and the lowest since 1996, and Nutting hopes for a rebound. Nutting thinks the Pirates can contend in the NL Central, where four of the five teams had winning records last season.

''The expectation of the fan base should be that we put a competitive team on the field that is built to win,'' Nutting said. ''That's what their expectations deserve to be. Frankly, I think that a seven-game improvement last year was a meaningful step forward, and we are absolutely positioned to take another meaningful step forward and get us back into that range where we have a very good shot at playoffs and, once you get into the playoffs, of moving down the pike.''

Pittsburgh was 26th among the 30 teams in payroll last year at $90.6 million for its 40-man roster and again will have one of the lowest. That makes Nutting rather unpopular with many fans.

''I think the only piece that worries me is to the extent that it negatively impacts the club,'' Nutting said. ''And that's unfortunate and up to me to do everything I can to make sure that the degree of commitment that I show - and I'll say show as opposed to have, because I deeply believe that I am fully committed to this organization and to its success and devote all the energy I possibly can to seeing that happen - if I need to be more effective to communicate that in order to help and support the team, that's on me.''

Notes: Archer threw batting practice for the first time this spring training. He underwent hernia surgery in November but is fully recovered. ... RF Gregory Polanco is taking batting practice as he rehabilitates following left shoulder surgery in October, but he is throwing from just 100 feet. He is expected to begin the season on the injured list. ... RHP Chad Kuhl, who underwent Tommy John surgery and will miss the season, made 50 throws off flat ground from 60 feet.

 

[Cnotes53]

Tulowitzki hits in first simulated game
February 20, 2019
By The Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Troy Tulowitzki took a called third strike in his first simulated game of spring training and followed with a drive down the right-field line that would have been over Yankee Stadium's right-field wall.

''Honestly I feel good, ready to go,'' he said. ''Just excited to play.''

Now 34, the five-time All-Star has not played in the major leagues since July 2017. He is projected to start at shortstop for the New York Yankees while Didi Gregorius recovers from Tommy John surgery.

Tulowitzki missed last season because of bone spurs in his right and left heels.

''Taking a full year off was tough for me,'' he said. ''But I think it's built some character, it's built some toughness, and it makes you appreciate it that much more being out there. It's been a long road. It's took it's toll but I'm still here standing.''

Gregorius is expected to return to the Yankees between June and August. Tulowitzki isn't expressing worry about his role.

''I care about just doing the best job I can to fill in for Didi,'' he said. ''Things work themselves out.''

Tulowitzki topped .300 or better four times from 2010-14 and 90 RBIs from 2009-11, boosted by Colorado's hitter-friendly Coors Field.

He agreed last month to a one-year contract with the Yankees for the major league minimum $555,000. That will be offset against the $20 million he is owed by Toronto, which released him. The Blue Jays also are responsible for $14 million in salary for 2020 plus a $4 million buyout of a 2021 team option.

''The question now for him is going to be the ability to bounce back and can he endure the rigors of being a regular,'' Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. ''He looks really good moving around in the field and where he's at with his swing.''

Boone said a plan is in place for Tulowitzki until mid-March and that he will play consecutive days before the team breaks camp.

''The idea would be at some point middle of spring that we start to see some bounce back and that will kind of determine if he's able to really be a regular,'' Boone said.

Tulowitzki has a no-trade provision in his deal with the Yankees. He hopes to find success in New York.

''I've done a lot of things in my career,'' Tulowitzki said. ''The one thing that's missing, I've been close, I haven't won a ring.''

MORE SWINGS

Greg Bird, slowed by injuries last year and trying to unseat Luke Voit at first base, also took part in the simulated game. The left-handed hitter had three at-bats, including a walk and pop fly off a southpaw. ''I think he's added some weight in a good way,'' Boone said. ''I think, clearly, he feels like he's through some of the physical things that we're holding him back a little last year.''

 

[Cnotes53]

After salaries drop, players want change
February 20, 2019
By The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) Neil Walker's salary dropped from $17.2 million to $2 million in two years. Greg Holland was cut from $14 million to $2 million this season. Daniel Murphy fell from $17.5 million to $10 million.

While Manny Machado agreed to a pending $300 million, 10-year contract with San Diego and Bryce Harper is likely to top Giancarlo Stanton's record $325 million, 13-year deal, many less-than-superstar veterans have been routed on the free-agent market.

Players want change, and management could be open to negotiations for alterations to the collective bargaining agreement as part of an extension of the current deal, set to expire in December 2021.

''It's really clear there's been a redistribution of how clubs are looking at veteran players,'' agent Scott Boras said Wednesday. ''We have a clear problem in the industry of a non-competitive cancer. Like any patient with a malady, we have to address it immediately. Otherwise it is going to get steadily worse.''

Of the 111 announced agreements among the 164 players who exercised their free-agency rights after the World Series, 36 were for minor league contracts and 26 were one-year deals for less than last year's average salary of just over $4 million.

In all, 46 players got one-year contracts, 19 two-year deals and seven three-year agreements. Just three longer contracts for free agents have been announced: left-hander Patrick Corbin's $140 million, six-year deal with Washington, outfielder A.J. Pollock's $60 million, five-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers and pitcher Nathan Eovaldi's $68 million, four-year package with Boston.

Clubs are replacing veterans with younger players earning at or near the $555,000 minimum who lack the roughly 2 2/3 years of major league service needed to be eligible for salary arbitration. In the age of analytics, cheaper may not be better, but often it's not much worse.

''All veteran players of a certain age are being affected by this analysis, which is not just widespread but fairly consistent across most clubs,'' said former New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson, now an Oakland Athletics senior adviser. ''The math is the math.''

Spending on big league payrolls dropped last season for the first time since 2010, an $18 million fall to $4.23 billion, according to figures compiled by the commissioner's office and obtained by The Associated Press. While the decrease was attributable to drug and domestic violence suspensions and a player retiring at midseason, payrolls were otherwise flat, unusual for a sport with rising revenue.

Team behavior changed following a new collective bargaining agreement, which imposed a higher luxury tax on big spenders. The New York Yankees dropped under the tax threshold last year for the first time since 2003 and the Dodgers for the first time since 2012. Neither showed great interest in Harper or Machado.

''Isn't it odd that all 30 teams have gone younger and cheaper rather than older and better?'' agent Jay Reisinger said. ''It's more than a coincidence that guys remain unsigned. Clubs are treating the tax threshold as a salary cap. If you look at the salary-cap sports, it is most often the middle-class that gets squished.''

In addition to Harper, Craig Kimbrel, Dallas Keuchel, Marwin Gonzalez, Carlos Gonzalez and Gio Gonzalez were still on the market on the eve of the exhibition opener scheduled for Thursday.

And many of those who have signed got deals for a fraction of their initial hopes. Mike Moustakas turned down a $17.4 million qualifying offer from Kansas City after the 2017 season and returned to the Royals in mid-March for a one-year contract that included a guaranteed $6.5 million. He was traded to Milwaukee during the summer, earned $2.2 million in bonuses and became a free agent again. He stayed with the Brewers for a one-year deal guaranteeing $10 million - raising his two-year total to just $1.3 million more than the one-year contract he turned down 15 months ago.

''It was nice to see Manny come off the board yesterday, but ultimately it's a lot more than one player,'' said reliever Andrew Miller, who left Cleveland for a $25 million, two-year contract with St. Louis. ''Even the guys that are getting deals that they're happy with, the timing of it is unique compared to what we saw in the past. It used to be a couple guys maybe played the long game. Now it seems like a lot of guys have no choice. The stories that we hear when guys show up to camp is that they had no offers.''

Players are ready to go to war over WAR. Teams compare the Wins Above Replacement of veterans against rookies. In addition, data shows older players spent more time on the disabled list.

The system since 1976 has been based on seniority. Clubs control the salaries of young players, those with roughly three-to-six years of service are eligible for arbitration and those with more than six are free. For decades, many players in the second half of their careers had deals that reflected earlier production more than their current output.

''There has been an explosion in data, and when you have more data you have fewer gaps that require some intuitive or subjective assessment,'' Alderson said. ''The second aspect of this is people running clubs are all exposed to the same data, and the data is only minimally subject to interpretation.''

Data also is causing teams to shed veterans during the offseason in favor of rebuilding. The cost of amateurs residing in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada was capped in the labor contract that started ahead of the 2012 season and the price of international amateurs was capped before the 2017 season.

Boras, whose top free-agent clients include Harper and Keuchel, suggests adding wild-card teams, so more teams try to compete later into the season.

''There is a clear evidence of tanking in our industry,'' he said. ''Clubs are choosing to lose and tank and the decrease in competition for the better teams does not require them to be as good. So they have less incentive to build the depth of their roster.''

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred maintains all teams are trying to win, though some have a longer-term vision of success. Boras says stripped-down rosters have been the cause of three straight years of attendance drops - to under a 30,000 average for the first time since 2003.

''I'm not saying that every team has to serve steak, but I'll tell you what, fans of this game love to go to the ballpark and have a good hamburger,'' Boras said. ''And that means that they know their team can beat another team every time. But when you walk in there and you're serving essentially stale, less-than-quality meat, fans aren't going to come, and the evidence has shown they won't.''

 

[Cnotes53]

Thursday?s 6-pack

Six states in this country where a case of beer is most expensive:

1) Alaska $31.21

2) Wyoming $26.68

3) Hawai?i $22.39

4) Montana $22.28

5) Tennessee $22.25

6) Vermont $21.56

Quote of the Day
?I didn?t know what to do. I?d wake up, my wife would drag me to this yoga class that she does. I?d have coffee with my wife and her friends and we?d talk about the Real Housewives of something.?
Former Iowa State/Bulls? coach Fred Hoiberg

Thursday?s quiz
Who led the major leagues in stolen bases last year?

Wednesday?s quiz
Purdue (23) has won the most Big 14 basketball championships.

Tuesday?s quiz
Mike Woodson was the Knicks? coach the last time they made the playoffs, in 2012-13.


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Thursday?s List of 13: Doing some thinking out loud?..

13) Joel Embiid played 23:00 in Sunday?s NBA All-Star Game; now comes news that Embiid will miss the next week with a sore left knee. No bueno.

Embiid missed all of the first two seasons of his career because of injuries, and then he missed 51 games in his third year. This is his fifth year.

Over this season and the next four years, Philadelphia will pay Embiid $146M; playing for the 76ers is more important than playing in the damn All-Star Game.

12) Will the Big East get more than two teams in the NCAA?s?

As of Wednesday morning. Villanova/Marquette are locks for the tournament, but no one else in the league is ranked in KenPom?s top 50.

Joe Lunardi has St John?s as a 9-seed, Seton Hall as a 10-seed, so if they don?t stumble in the next three weeks, they?ll probably to get in, because nationally, this is a down year for quality teams. There will be a few teams in the NCAA?s this year that aren?t really that good.

Big East had six teams in NCAA?s last year, seven the year before, so even if St John?s/Seton Hall both get in the field of 68, it is a down year for the league.

11) Florida State?s Mfiondu Kabengele is the only player in the country who leads his team in scoring, but hasn?t started one game this season.

10) Georgetown 85, Villanova 73? Wildcats lost their third straight road games, as Patrick Ewing?s Hoyas improve to 16-10, 6-7 in Big East.

9) Mississippi State 68, Georgia 67? Georgia fan threw a small stuffed bulldog on the court while Miss State was shooting a foul shot with 0:00.5 left and game tied. Kid missed the first of two foul shots, but a technical foul was called, he made the second one, then missed the third foul shot on purpose as MSU escapes Athens with a road win.

8) Upsets of the Night:
? Air Force (+14.5) 64, Fresno State 61
? North Carolina (+9) 88, Duke 72
? San Diego State (+8.5) 65, Nevada 57
? Xavier (+6.5) 70, Seton Hall 69
? Northern Iowa (+6) 63, Missouri State 43
? Georgetown (+5.5) 85, Villanova 73
? Florida (+5.5) 82, LSU 77, OT

7) Kentucky?s big man Reid Travis sprained his knee Tuesday night, is expected to be out until the SEC tournament, which starts in three weeks.

6) Watching the first two weeks of the AAF, it seems like it might become a throwback league, a throwback to a time where teams ran the ball a lot instead of passing it all the time.

Why? Because the quality of QB?s in the AAF ain?t that good. When Mike Martz reverts to a run-based attack, and then it works, you realize that this league might be a little different, not better or worse than expected, just different. More like old-school football.

5) Joe Gibbs has had an underrated career, parlaying being a great NFL coach with his tremendous success as a NASCAR owner. Very unique combination.

4) Franklin Pierce is the only first-term American President who had been elected president and then was denied re-nomination four years later; four other Presidents didn?t win their party?s nomination in the next election either, but all four of those guys became president because their predecessor passed away.

3) At halftime of the Villanova-Georgetown game last night, FOX?s Gus Johnson gave a very nice tribute to a young man who passed away in a car accident recently. The man?s father is the stat guy on FOX?s broadcasts lot of the time. Johnson fought back tears as he spoke

2) North Carolina 88, Duke 72? Zion Williamson played 33 seconds in this game, hurt his knee and never returned. His foot went right thru his sneaker; never saw that before.

If you like to bet futures, this could change EVERYTHING; if Williamson is done for the year, Duke is in the ashcan as far as a national title goes- more than twice as much money has been bet on the Blue Devils to win the national title as has been wagered on any other team.

1) For some reason, betting over/unders on the first period of NHL games has become a hot topic in some corners of Twitter. Blackhawks are 47-13 over in the first period; Dallas Stars are 41-18 under. You get a trend that goes 47-13, and people get interested.

 

[Cnotes53]

Column: Players finding payoffs are changing in baseball
February 21, 2019
By The Associated Press

Manny Machado's new $300 million contract put a stop - at least temporarily - to a growing chorus of player complaints that major league teams were conspiring to do deep damage to the free agent market.

It did nothing, however, to change the new reality of baseball. And that's something players should be worrying about between now and 2021, when the current collective bargaining agreement expires and the threat of labor action looms.

No longer do major league executives reflexively chase the latest bauble on the market. Analytics that have changed the field of play have changed the front office, too.

''Markets change,'' commissioner Rob Manfred said the other day before Machado signed with the San Diego Padres. ''We've had a lot of change in the game. People think about players differently. They analyze players differently. They negotiate differently.''

Indeed they do. But things have changed so quickly that the players' union seems to have been taken off guard.

When players last negotiated a contract in 2016 the most pressing issues were more days off and private chefs in every clubhouse. With salaries rising every year, their attention was on work life issues.

After a second straight season where owners expressed little interest in some free agents, though, the trends have set off some alarms among players and the players' union.

There's increasing chatter about the possibility of trying to reopen the collective bargaining agreement to make some adjustments.

Sure, Machado got a 10-year contract and Bryce Harper will get something similar. But those contracts are just for a few elite players, while others will remain unsigned or settle for far less.

It's one reason baseball salaries were down slightly last season for the first time since 2010.

From the standpoint of owners the equation is simple: Why take the risk on long-term contracts for millions of dollars when there are replacement players available for the major league minimum of $555,000?

Use two of them in a platoon and the numbers might be close enough to a Machado or Harper. Or load the bullpen with minimum wage arms and have them throw as hard as they can for as long as they can and then bring in a new bunch.

''All veteran players of a certain age are being affected by this analysis, which is not just widespread but fairly consistent across most clubs,'' said former New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson, now an Oakland Athletics senior adviser. ''The math is the math.''

That math is unsparing in baseball these days. A sport that always valued numbers has embraced new metrics like WAR (Wins Above Replacement) even more and front offices are using them to evaluate risk and reward in the free agent market.

Add in the higher luxury tax imposed in the latest collective bargaining agreement and high payroll clubs like the Red Sox, Dodgers and Yankees are watching every dollar they spend.

Still, it's hard not to laugh when Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts - whose team is valued at $2.9 billion by Forbes - opens spring training by saying his team didn't pursue any high priced free agents because there is no money to spend.

Even more laughable was the suggestion by Pirates owner Bob Nutting that it doesn't make sense to add a big free agent because it could cause an imbalanced payroll that might make other players unhappy.

No one - at least outside the union - is saying that major league ballplayers are underpaid either. At an average salary of $4 million a year they're well compensated for what they do.

They're also not going to be walking picket lines any time in the future. But even the possibility of labor trouble - at a time attendance is already declining - should scare baseball enough to at least have a discussion about where the game is going.

Expand that discussion to include issues like a pitch clock, the use of relievers and the shift and there's plenty of potential for owners and players to come together for the good of the game.

Or wait three years until owners have a full blown revolt on their hands.

 

[Cnotes53]

Indians, reliever Clippard agree to terms on minor contract
February 21, 2019
By The Associated Press

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) The Cleveland Indians and two-time All-Star reliever Tyler Clippard have agreed to terms on a minor league contract.

Clippard, who spent last season with Toronto, will try to earn a spot in Cleveland's revamped bullpen. The deal is pending the 34-year-old passing medical tests and may not be completed for several days.

If Clippard makes Cleveland's 40-man roster, he would receive a $2.5 million salary while in the majors.

Clipppard went 4-3 with a 3.67 ERA in 73 games for the Blue Jays in 2018. Over 12 major-league seasons, he's 52-46 with a 3.16 ERA and 68 saves for eight clubs. He's also appeared in 14 postseason games, three in the 2015 World Series with the Mets.

The Indians have two massive holes to fill in their bullpen following the departures of career saves leader Cody Allen and Andrew Miller as free agents.

The three-time defending AL Central champions have 11 other non-roster invitee pitchers in camp.

 

[Cnotes53]

Rockies' Arenado: State of free-agent market is 'sad'
February 21, 2019
By The Associated Press

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) The sluggish free-agent market the last two years has not scared Colorado third baseman Nolan Arenado, who could be among the prizes in the next pool.

''I'm not afraid of it at all,'' Arenado said. ''It doesn't have an effect on me. I think free agency is something you earn. You've been in the big leagues this long, you get there and you earn it. I don't know how it is going to work out, I can't speak on that. But you definitely earn it.''

Arenado would be among the biggest names in the position player pool next winter if he and the Rockies do not reach an agreement during current negotiations on a long-term contract. Paul Goldschmidt, Josh Donaldson and Khris Davis also can become free agents next winter.

Arenado signed a $26 million, one-year contract to avoid arbitration over the winter, the largest one-year salary for an arbitration-eligible player in league history. No deadline has been set on the current talks.

''I think it always worries you, but at the same time I have bigger things to worry about,'' Arenado said. ''I'm trying to do my job at a high level and that's it. Everything else can take care of itself.

''It's definitely a little worry, in a way, when you think about it for a long period of time. But I try not to think about that. I'm in a great situation right now. Just play baseball now. If it comes to that in the offseason, I'll deal with it then.''

Arenado called the current state of the free-agent market ''sad.''

While Manny Machado agreed this week to a pending $300 million, 10-year contract with San Diego, Bryce Harper has yet to sign with anyone and the overall market has been slow.

''There are some really good baseball players out there, and it is crazy to think some of these teams don't need them. They need them. There is no question that they do,'' Arenado said. ''They are just deciding not to, I guess.

''It's disappointing. I think it just shows that there are teams that are not trying to win. I just believe that the guys that are out there can really rebuild a team, get it jumpstarted, and help it win a championship.''

Arenado, meanwhile, seems at home in Colorado, which took him in the second round of the 2009 draft and has made the playoffs the last two seasons, a franchise first. Free agent Daniel Murphy was added and David Dahl is projected to take another step up after the losses of free agents Carlos Gonzalez, Gerardo Parra and Adam Ottavino.

Arenado has led the National League in homers three times, RBIs twice and doubles once while averaging 31 homers and 103 RBIs in his six seasons. He has won six Gold Gloves.

''We feel very comfortable with each other,'' Arenado said. ''We know what we are going to get out of each other. We're very comfortable communicating with each other. It just feels right. It is a very comfortable setting.''

 

[Cnotes53]

Gordon eager to play alongside Hamilton
February 20, 2019
By The Associated Press

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) With six-time Gold Glove winner Alex Gordon in left and speedy Lorenzo Cain in center, the Kansas City Royals' outfield defense ranked among the best in the majors for the six years they were together.

That changed last season when Cain joined the Milwaukee Brewers.

Royals manager Ned Yost started nine different players in center last year. Brian Goodwin made the most with 32 games.

Gordon started in center field 11 times. Can he name the other guys who played there?

''I don't know,'' he said. ''Put me on a spot like that I can't do that.''

The Royals believed they solved their center field issue for this season by signing free agent speedster Billy Hamilton, who was considered one of the best defensive outfielders in the National League while with the Cincinnati Reds.

''We're looking forward to seeing what he can do in that big outfield in Kauffman,'' Gordon said. ''I haven't played with him yet. Hopefully we can develop a history like me and Lo-Cain. I know the balls I need to get. He knows the balls he needs to get.''

''That's kind of what me and Lorenzo Cain had. We knew each other that well. Hopefully me and Billy can establish that chemistry, too. Through spring training we'll talk, we'll figure it out,'' he said.

Yost is looking forward to seeing the tandem rob opposing batters of hits.

''That's what spring training is for, getting comfortable with the communication, comfortable with what each other can do,'' Yost said. ''It's just like a sixth sense. They don't have to see him to know where he is. The more they play out there, the more comfortable they're going to be. They're going to cover a lot of ground.''

The 35-year-old Gordon, who is in the final year of a four-year $72 million contract, remains a fitness fanatic, but has altered his workouts.

''I used to work out in the mornings in spring training,'' Gordon said. ''I can't do that anymore because I'm older and my body can't handle it. It's just an adjustment to how your body feels.''

''The main purpose is to be healthy and out there contributing. Everybody has a different routine, different setup. As you get older you definitely have to adjust. I'd just get sore and worn down. I'm just trying to be smarter about it. I don't lift weights during the season. I just said heck with the weights. I think it was putting too much stress on my body,'' he said.

Gordon played seven games last year before going on the disabled list in April with a left hip injury.

''Probably the best thing that happened to me last year was going on the DL even though it stunk, but coming back I felt rejuvenated and felt like I found my swing,'' Gordon said.

''During the season you're playing every day. It's hard to make adjustments and that's what I needed to do. It was like 13 days, I went into the cage and did small things off the tee and got back to where I felt like worked for me.'' He said.

After hitting .208 in 2017, Gordon hiked his average to .245 last season. He hit .302 with a .491 slugging percentage in his final 13 games. After he was moved to the third spot on Sept. 7, Gordon drove in 17 runs in 21 games.

Whit Merrifield, who led the American League in hits and stolen bases, and Adalberto Mondesi were batting in front of Gordon.

''It was fun to come up to bat and have someone on base every time,'' Gordon said. ''Just the pressure they put on the opposing pitcher, they weren't even worried about me. It was fun to hit in front of those two and watch them run wild.''

 

[Cnotes53]

Minor likely Rangers opening starter
February 21, 2019
By The Associated Press

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) There were times in Mike Minor's return to a starting role last season that the left-hander got frustrated when the Texas Rangers were being cautious with him.

''In the end it's probably always best,'' Minor said. ''But when you're in the heat of the moment and trying to compete every however many days, I feel like the ball was being taken early and they were skipping me.''

Minor is at the top of the Texas rotation this spring training and likely will be on the mound for the opener March 28 at home against the Chicago Cubs. It would be his first opening-day start.

''It's always been a goal,'' the 31-year-old said.

''I love that he wants to fulfill that and take on that,'' new manager Chris Woodward said. ''We are going to keep our eye on him, but if he shows he's healthy and his stuff is good through 70-80-90 pitches, I would love to do that.''

Minor led the Rangers last year with 12 wins and 157 innings, more than doubling his 2017 workload as a full-time reliever in Kansas City. He missed two seasons following surgery for a torn labrum in his left shoulder.

Twenty-two of his team-high 28 games starts came on extended rest. He didn't make a start on regular four days of rest until May 8, and didn't have any fifth-day appearances after July with the innings adding up and the Rangers out of playoff contention.

''My impression is that I'm built up from last year,'' Minor said. ''The year before being in the bullpen, last year starting and doubling the innings, and this year should be full-go I believe.''

After so much time away from the starting routine, Minor said last year ''was kind of a learning experience'' to get back into the rhythm of that role. He said he was feeling a lot better the second half of the season.

''In the beginning I was leaning on general scouting reports, and later on started going toward my strengths rather than their weaknesses,'' he said.

Minor was the seventh overall pick by the Braves in the 2009 amateur draft and made his big league debut a year later. He went 38-36 in 110 starts and one relief appearance for Atlanta from 2010-14, then had shoulder surgery.

After he signed as a free agent with the Royals in 2016, his shoulder started hurting again during injury rehabilitation starts in the minors, and he had more issues when he tried again later that season.

After going 6-6 with a 2.55 ERA over 77 2/3 innings in 65 relief appearances for the Royals in 2017, Minor turned down a $10 million player option to stay in Kansas City. He instead signed a $28 million, three-year deal with Texas for the chance to start again.

Minor is the only returnee in the rotation. The Rangers signed free agent Lance Lynn to a $30 million, three-year contract; Drew Smyly, Shelby Miller and Edinson Volquez are all coming back from Tommy John surgery.

Teams kept asking the Rangers about Minor.

''There was a good deal of interest in him but it didn't make sense for us,'' general manager Jon Daniels said. ''The discussions we were having didn't quite get there. I'm happy he is in camp with us.''

 

[Cnotes53]

Suzuki, Gomes bring stability to Nats
February 21, 2019
By The Associated Press

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) As important as setting his pitching rotation, Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez will begin to determine his catching platoon when Grapefruit League games begin on Saturday.

After two years of subpar play at one of the game's most important positions, the Nationals elected to let Matt Wieters leave via free agency and fortified the position by trading for Yan Gomes and by signing Kurt Suzuki.

A little more than a week into spring training, both have been a hit with the Nationals' pitching staff.

''The targets that they give makes you feel great as a pitcher, makes you feel a little bit closer - like it's easier to hit,'' said closer Sean Doolittle, a former teammate of Suzuki's in Oakland. ''They both have an incredible reputation of being guys that are really smart back there, that work really hard.''

Gomes, absent from Washington's camp on Thursday because of illness, and Suzuki spent the first days of camp getting to know one of the league's best pitching staffs, led by Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and free-agent signee Patrick Corbin.

''It's always fun catching those type of pitchers because you've got so many weapons to work with and also you don't have to face those guys - they're on your team,'' Suzuki said.

Martinez has yet to establish a true catcher rotation for spring games. Gomes is slated to play in Saturday's opener against Houston. Suzuki won't make his spring debut until Tuesday when he'll catch Anibal Sanchez, his teammate last season with Atlanta.

''I just want to make sure they each catch Strasburg, they each catch Scherzer, Corbin and Anibal, (Jeremy) Hellickson, (Joe) Ross,'' Martinez said. ''They're going to play. The biggest thing for me is their at-bats. We want to keep them around 40-50 at bats.''

With Wieters frequently injured during his two seasons in Washington, the Nationals haven't enjoyed a true offensive threat at catcher since Wilson Ramos' 2016 season.

At Cleveland, Gomes hit double-digit homers in five of his last six seasons. Last year's 16 homers, which complemented 26 doubles and a .266 average, are more than the Nationals received from the position in either of the past two seasons.

Suzuki, a 12-year veteran whose four previous stops includes a stint with the Nationals, enjoyed a resurgence over the past couple seasons. He hit better than .270 and drove in at least 50 runs in each of the past two seasons.

''Both of us believe that we're No. 1 guys,'' Gomes said. ''We're going to have to put our feelings aside a little bit and, whenever our names are called, be ready to control that game.''

Martinez envisions something close to a 50-50 playing time split between his two catchers once the season begins.

''Maybe one guy likes throwing, they work better with a certain catcher, we'll see how that plays out,'' Martinez said. ''But they are both exceptional. I don't think we'll lose anything with either one of them playing.''

 

[Cnotes53]

Bird says he's ready to regain Yanks' 1B job from Voit
February 21, 2019
By The Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Greg Bird is stronger, healthier and ready to challenge Luke Voit for the New York Yankees' first-base job.

After three injury-marred seasons, the 26-year old Bird reported to the Yankees' spring training complex in early January and checked into camp at 230 pounds, up about 20 from the end of last season.

''I was able to start over and get to where I needed to be, and work from the ground up,'' Bird said Thursday after homering off Masahiro Tanaka in a simulated game and adding a single against left-hander James Paxton. ''I didn't change anything. I just got back to where I needed to be.''

Bird made his big league debut in August 2015 and hit 11 homers with 31 RBIs in 46 games. He missed 2016 after surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder, then hit .451 with eight homers during spring training in 2017 but fouled a ball off his right ankle March 30,.

He started the season 6 for 60 and went on the disabled list May 2. Bird had surgery July 18 to remove a bone in the ankle. He returned Aug. 26 and hit .253 with eight homers and 25 RBIs in 29 games, then batted .241 three homers and six RBIs in 13 playoff games.

But he hit poorly in spring training last year and had surgery March 27 to remove a broken spur on the outside of his right ankle. He did not play for the Yankees until May 26 and wound up with a .199 average, 11 homers and 38 RBIs over 82 games.

Voit, acquired from St. Louis on July 28, displaced Bird and hit .333 with 14 homers and 33 RBIs in 39 games with the Yankees. General manager Brian Cashman said the job was Voit's to lose this spring training.

''The one thing about Greg, even last year when he was struggling at its most, he controls the strike zone,'' Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. ''His first at-bats today, that was apparent and then we saw him impact the ball as well.''

Bird's drive off Tanaka produced a loud bang after nailing the right-center field scoreboard on a back field at Steinbrenner Field. In his next at-bat, he lined an opposite-field to left hit off Paxton. He also took a called third strike against Chad Green.

''It's step in the right direction,'' Bird said. ''I just want to play. That's one step closer to playing.''

Voit had three at-bats Thursday, including a single to left against Paxton.

Bird's homer was the lone hit off Tanaka, who struck out Miguel Andujar, Gleyber Torres and Tyler Wade over 1 2/3 innings.

Troy Tulowitzki drove a ball off the left-field fence against Paxton.

MR. 0

Adam Ottavino wore No. 0, and that's exactly what he gave the hitters.

He struck out Torres and Voit, then struck out Wade twice, both times swinging.

''You're watching from behind and knowing as a right-handed hitter, that's not a fun at-bat right there,'' Boone said. ''Sometimes when he executes, you're kind of like not even upset when you're out, you're just glad it's over with.''

MORE FROM THE MOUND

Reliever Danny Farquhar, coming back from a brain hemorrhage stemming from a ruptured aneurysm last April 20, could be ready for his first simulated game next week. . LHP CC Sabathia (heart stent and knee) is throwing at 60 feet on level ground. He is expected starting throwing off a mound around March 1.

 

[Cnotes53]

Brewers' Braun aiming to build off strong finish last season
February 21, 2019
By The Associated Press

PHOENIX (AP) Those days of playing every day, they're done for Ryan Braun. Most important for the longtime Milwaukee Brewers star these days is making the most of the time he's in the lineup.

Now 35, Braun is inching closer to the downside of his career. And while he is still capable of being a game-changing presence, staying healthy and on the field on a regular basis is not nearly as easy as it was when he was 28 and just hitting his prime.

Managing Braun's playing time to keep him fresh has been an annual challenge for Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell. He, Braun and the team's training staff try to map out a plan each year to build in scheduled rest days along the way - day games after night games, especially ahead of scheduled team off-days - to keep Braun as available as possible.

''We'll continue to do that this year,'' Counsell said. ''We have to just monitor usage. We have to be careful there. The point is to get the player out there when he's as close to healthy as we can get him. And we have to do that with Ryan.''

The plan worked a year ago. The outfielder missed 16 games with two separate stints on the injured list for back soreness, but appeared in 125 games overall and started all but five of those contests.

Most importantly for the Brewers, Braun was at full strength down the stretch. Braun helped power them to the NL Central crown and within one win of the World Series.

And such is the goal again in 2019. Braun reported no issues upon arriving to camp over the weekend and doesn't have a goal for games played in mind. He just wants to be ready if the Brewers find themselves in the thick of another pennant race.

''I know, realistically, it's unlikely I'm going to play in 155 or 160 games anymore,'' Braun said ''But the goal for most of us is to play as many of those games as close to possible at 100 percent.''

Braun hit 20 home runs with 64 RBIs last season, but his .256 batting average and .313 on-base percentage marked career lows.

Blaming his age would be an easy answer but a closer look at advanced metrics reveal a different story: Braun finished 20th among qualified big leaguers in average exit velocity and posted a 43 percent hard-hit ball rate, the second-highest total of his career. Even so, his batting average on balls put in play plummeted to a career-low .274.

He hopes his tweaks will change his launch angles just enough to change his luck.

''You'll probably be able to recognize some subtle differences but nothing too drastic,'' Braun said. ''But it's something I hope everybody recognizes at the end of the season the end results.''

Unlike last year, Braun won't have to worry about learning a new position this spring.

Looking to solve what was, at the time, a glut of outfielders after acquiring Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain, the Brewers tried out Braun at first base during Cactus League play. The thought was such a move would open up playing time in the outfield for Domingo Santana or Keon Broxton, both of whom have been traded, and provide a right-handed backup to Eric Thames while also easing Braun's workload.

That plan was shelved when Santana was demoted to Triple-A and Thames lost his starting job to Jesus Aguilar. Braun won't see much action outside of left field this spring.

 

[Cnotes53]

Indians reloading bullpen after down season, departures
February 21, 2019
By The Associated Press

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) Dan Otero is a man of words. Not just because the steady reliever fills out crossword puzzles, but because he chooses words carefully, as in politely noting the operative word for the Indians' bullpen status is ''reconfiguration'' as opposed to ''rebuild.''

Following an injury-plagued, sub-par 2018 performance and the loss of career saves leader Cody Allen and left-handed virtuoso Andrew Miller to free agency, the three-time defending AL Central champions are intent on improving the back end of their bullpen.

Cleveland relievers had a 4.60 ERA last season, a substantial drop from a successful run - 2.89 in 2017, 3.45 in 2016, and 3.12 in 2015 and 2014.

Otero is confident the corps can return to past form.

''We have all the pieces here to be a successful bullpen,'' he said Thursday in the clubhouse on a rare rainy day at camp. ''And most, if not everyone, was here last year at some point and in some capacity. And everyone has had prominent success in the big leagues, maybe not sustained as much as we like, but everybody has had prominent success.''

That number includes former two-time All-Star Tyler Clippard, who agreed Wednesday to sign a minor league deal, pending a physical. Clippard's expected arrival boosts the non-roster pitcher number to 12, nine of whom have MLB relief experience.

''Any time you get a chance to get a major league pitcher ... it's kind of hard to not want to bring him in,'' Indians manager Terry Francona said. ''We're really excited to bring him in and get a look at him and see where it could go. He'll go right into that mix of that group competing for bullpen spots.''

With 15 more relievers on the 40-man camp roster, evaluating the best bullpen candidates before the March 28 season opener at Minnesota will be incredibly challenging for Francona, beginning his seventh season with Cleveland.

''You can make some really bad mistakes with looking at ERAs, things like that,'' he said. ''For guys that have track records, it is a little easier because you can go back and say, `Is this the same guy? Is his velocity down?'''

Francona used Otero as an example. In spring training 2016, his ERA was over 6.0, but ''every groundball found its way through the infield,'' Francona said. ''But we thought he pitched very well.''

Otero wound up with 1.53 ERA, the best in the `pen.

The skipper also pointed out that in spring training games, the late-inning batters - facing Francona's bullpen candidates - are often long shots to make rosters.

''They're facing No. 99; we don't know who they are,'' Francona said. ''That might be the biggest at-bat of their life. They're going to call home after that at-bat and tell mom and dad that they faced Tyler Clippard. It's hard. You try to see who can pitch to a scouting report.''

As for combining the eye test with spin rates from data collecting technology Francona said, ''it's just another way of getting to the answer; you try not to guess. There is really good technology out there that we use and believe in.''

The human element is always part of the equation, as players who are more comfortable tend to perform better. That might be the case for Adam Cimber and closer Brad Hand, who were acquired last July from San Diego.

''It's human nature, you're not introducing yourself to people, you are reacquainting yourself,'' Francona said.

As Hand revealed, he made a quick adjustment, in part, because he's changed teams previously, from the Marlins to San Diego in 2016. In contrast, Cimber had only known the Padres.

''When you leave your first team, that's as close to family as you are ever going to get in a professional setting,'' Francona said. ''So, the first time it can be a little challenging, especially in the middle of the year.''

While Allen and Miller left massive holes, Francona does have some reliable arms coming back he knows he can count on.

Veteran left-hander Oliver Perez was solid during most of his 51 appearances last season after he signed in June following his release while in the minors with the Yankees. Nick Goody and Tyler Olson, two dominant relievers from 2017, might factor in with bounce back years, and Jon Edwards showed promise in brief appearances late last season.

Edwards said he is focusing on spin efficiency, among other aspects, in spring training. Certainly, Indians relievers seek a return to past dominance.

''There's an eagerness among guys, including myself, to pick that up and show we can help the team win and be a stabilizer at the back part of the game,'' Edwards said.