Red Sox sluggers Ortiz, Napoli return to lineup
Victorino blasts radio hosts for implying he wants Betts traded
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com
(10:53 am ET) Red Sox outfielder Shane Victorino was not a happy man Thursday.
Victorino spent time with the media Thursday lashing out at sports radio hosts Michael Felger and Tony Massarotti for suggesting Victorino was advocating trading top prospects for Phillies ace Cole Hamels, in his comments to the Philadelphia Daily News.
“All I said, a question was asked of me about getting Cole Hamels,” Victorino said, per the Boston Herald. “I said, ‘Hey, if you can go get Cole, I’ll be all for it.’ Nothing against everybody in this clubhouse. I said from Day 1, I’ll be fine with what we have. We can go win with what we have. But if you can add another element of a guy who’s been there, I said, why wouldn’t you? And that’s the part for me is they took it obviously as me, and the names that were attached to these (rumors), I never mentioned anybody’s name. I said, ‘If you can give up two or three prospects, could be anybody, could be a second-, third-tier guy, my whole career I’ve watched that.”
Although Victorino didn’t mention any players by name, the radio hosts accused Victorino of lobbying the Red Sox to trade Mookie Betts, who is competing for the starting job in center field this spring. Felger also accused Victorino of “throwing your young players under the bus.”
“You have a 34-year-old, breaking-down outfielder whose job is potentially going to be taken by whom? Mookie Betts, or by default, Rusney Castillo,” Massarotti said. “And so who are we talking about, potentially, in this trade? Mookie Betts. So is that the deal? Mookie Betts is going to take his job, (and Victorino says), ‘Hey, get the kid out of here, because we can win now if we get Hamels.'”
Victorino seemed really upset Betts’ name was mentioned since he is a big fan of the 22-year-old outfielder.
“If there’s one person that’s an advocate of that individual who was named in the article, Mookie Betts, it’s me,” Victorino said. “I don’t have any fear or feel like there’s competition that I’ve got to get him shipped out of here. That’s the part for me, where individuals put words in your mouth, that sit behind a mic and say something, you know where I’ll be. I’ll be more than happy to talk to you about it. But don’t get behind a mic and be a coward and try to put words in my mouth, because not once in that article did I mention anybody’s name.”
Astros’ Samuel Deduno appears to be fading in SP competition
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com
(10:43 am ET) It appears the competition for the final spot in the Astros’ rotation is down to Asher Wojciechowski and Roberto Hernandez after Samuel Deduno pitched in relief Wednesday against the Phillies. It seems the Astros are lining Deduno up for a role as a sixth starter/long reliever.
“We wanted to simulate more of a long reliever role for him,” manager A.J. Hinch said of Deduno’s outing Wednesday, per the Houston Chronicle. “We know we can stretch him out and he can start. He can throw a lot of pitches. He’s got a resilient arm, but he’ll have an outing here where he’ll go pitch, (have a) couple days off, pitch.”
Buck Farmer, Rafael Dolis cut from Tigers’ major-league camp
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com
(10:21 am ET) The Tigers announced Thursday they optioned Buck Farmer to Triple-A Toledo. They also reassigned pitcher Rafael Dolis to minor-league camp.
Manager Brad Ausmus said Farmer will stretch out as a starter at Toledo.
“We think he has a very bright future,” Ausmus said of the 24-year-old. “He’s quite a bit ahead of schedule, if you look at his career path.”
Dolis is expected to end up in the bullpen at Toledo.
“He actually has great stuff,” Ausmus said. “He has a lot of movement on his fastball. He throws in the mid-90s with a good split. We were really considering him for a while.”
Blue Jays OF Ezequiel Carrera reassigned to minor-league camp
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com
(10:16 am ET) The Blue Jays announced Thursday outfielder Ezequiel Carrera was reassigned to minor-league camp. Carrera hit just .061 (2 for 33) in 19 spring games.
Jays option Delabar, increase chances of Osuna, Castro making ‘pen
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com
(10:09 am ET) The Blue Jays announced Tuesday they optioned reliever Steve Delabar to minor-league camp. Delabar — who had a 3.86 ERA, one save, nine strikeouts and one walk in seven spring innings — said he was shocked by the move, per the National Post.
“They told me that some other guys have stepped up. I’m assuming it’s some of the younger guys,” he said.
Manager John Gibbons didn’t hold back in his assessment of Delabar’s spring performance.
“I’m glad he’s pissed off,” Gibbons said. “He should be pissed off. Why wouldn’t he be? We’re all pissed off. We wanted him on the team.
“We need a multiple-inning guy. He’s basically right now a one-inning pitcher. That’s what it came down to.”
Delabar’s demotion could pave the way for Roberto Osuna and Miguel Castro to make the Opening Day roster. Both players have been impressive in camp. Castro has tossed nine scoreless innings, while striking out eight and not issuing a walk. Osuna also hasn’t allowed a run in 9 2/3 innings, while striking out eight and walking two.
Veteran catcher John Buck announces retirement
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com
(9:58 am ET) Braves catcher John Buck announced Thursday he is retiring from baseball to spend more time with his family. Buck was in camp this spring as a non-roster invitee.
The 34-year-old Buck retires after spending 11 years in the majors. He played for the Royals, Marlins, Mets, Angels, Pirates, Mariners and Blue Jays. He made one All-Star team (2010) and finishes with a career .234 average in 1,090 games.
Gibbons: Saunders, Izturis to open season on disabled list
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com
(9:47 am ET) Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said Thursday outfielder Michael Saunders (knee) and infielder Maicer Izturis (groin) will open the 2015 season on the disabled list, per Sportsnet.ca.
Saunders is expected to start in left field when healthy, while Izturis will likely be a backup infielder.
Phillies OF Grady Sizmore competing to keep roster spot
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com
(9:41 am ET) Phillies outfielder Grady Sizemore has seen more playing time in minor-league games rather than major-league games as of late because the team wants him to quicken his bat after seeing him struggle to stay ahead of pitches in Grapefruit League games, manager Ryne Sandberg said.
“It should be a good thing for him going forward,” Sandberg said Wednesday, per The News Journal. “…I think getting him seven or eight at-bats in minor league camp sometimes goes a long way for guys making adjustments and coming out with not only some hits but some reps like that all in one day.”
Although the Phillies signed Sizemore to a one-year, major-league deal in October, it sounds as though his spring struggles have put him on the hot seat. Sizemore is batting just .148 (4 for 27) through 12 spring games, and Sandberg wouldn’t confirm if Sizemore has a spot on the Opening Day roster.
“As far as the outfield goes, I don’t have that settled,” Sandberg said Tuesday.
Sizemore is aware of the situation and will continue to compete in order to keep his spot on the roster.
“I play every spring regardless of what my situation is,” Sizemore said. “You’re fighting for a spot. No, I’ve been around long enough to know what I need to do and how things are going. So whatever happens moving forward, I’m good with that.”
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