Spring Update

Spring Training is half over, which means we are half way from yet another season of Major League Baseball. Let's see what has happened in the first half of spring, shall we?

• Free agents are still finding homes. The most recent signing comes out of St. Louis, where the Cardinals gave right-hander Kyle Lohse a 1 year, $4.25 million contract on Friday. Lohse is joining his fourth club in the last two years, after spending time with Minnesota in 2006, and splitting '07 with Cincy and Philly. Last season, Lohse went a combined 9-12 with a 4.62 ERA and recorded 122 strikeouts. The Cards are in desperate need of some stability in their rotation, with injuries to ace Chris Carptener, free agent acquisition Matt Clement, and lefty Mark Mulder.
• Last month, the reigning world champ Boston Red Sox signed right-hander Bartolo Colon to a minor league contract. Colon, coming off a dismal 2007, will compete with Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester for a spot in the Sox rotation. In an injury-riddled 2007, Colon went 6-8 for the Angels with an ugly 6.34 ERA. The 2005 AL Cy Young Award recipient will look for a chance to rebound in 2008 with the "Sawx", but don't expect him to provide much for any fantasy teams.
• The rivalry between the Red Sox and the Yankees has been well documented throughout history - ever since the Sox sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees for a couple of peanut shells. But there seems to be a new fued forming, and it started last week. In a Yankees-Rays exhibition game last weekend, Rays' infielder Elliot Johnson upended Yanks' catching prospect Francisco Cervelli, fracturing the young backstop's wrist in the process. Bombers' manager Joe Girardi was rather irate at the play, claiming the take out was too aggressive for an exhibition game. And revenge was to be had on Wednesday, when Yanks' first baseman Shelly Duncan slid his spikes into the body of Rays' second baseman Akinori Iwamura. This slide sparked a bench-clearing brawl between the two clubs. As a result, Duncan and center fielder Melky Cabrera along with Rays' Jonny Gomes were all suspended to begin the regular season. Cabrera and Duncan each got three games, while Gomes will miss the first two games. All that's left to say is, just wait until the first regular season series between the two: April 4-7 in the Bronx!
• The Cincinnati Reds signed center fielder Corey Patterson to a minor league contract, and manager Dusty Baker will give the former first-round pick every chance to make the club out of spring training. Early on in the spring, top prospect Jay Bruce seemed to have the starting center field job wrapped up in a box with a bow. But Patterson played for Baker with the Cubs, and Baker likes his style, and now it's a Great American bash for the center field job.
• The injury bug has certainly gotten around this spring. Here is a look at some key players who are expected to miss some time to begin the regular season:
• Josh Beckett, back: Beckett has been dealing with back pain all spring, and will not fly to Japan for the Sox opening series against the A's. There is a chance that Beckett will be ready to pitch when the "real" season starts in April.
• Moises Alou, hernia surgery: Alou will likely be out of the lineup until May, after undergoing hernia surgery last month.
• The Mets have been riddled with injuries this month. Along with Alou, Carlos Delgado (hip), Luis Castillo (knees), Carlos Beltran (knees), Brian Schneider (tight hamstring), and Ryan Church (concussion) have all missed time this spring, with Castillo still yet to play in a game. Oh yeah, Pedro Martinez is scheduled to make his spring debut Sunday against the Tigers. There's no doubt - the Mets have a very veteran team this season, and injuries will be a huge part of their game. It will be up to the reserve players (Marlon Anderson, Endy Chavez, Damion Easley and Ramon Castro) to spark the offense in the absence of the main cogs of the lineup.
• Two ace pitchers are expected to miss some time due to a couple of strains. The Angels' John Lackey could be out until May with a strained triceps muscle. The Rays' Scott Kazmir will not pitch on Opening Day, thanks to an elbow strain, but should be able to pitch sometime shortly afterwards.
• The Nationals' Wily Mo Pena is suffering from a strained oblique muscle, and will miss at least six weeks, including Opening Day. Newcomer Elijah Dukes will likely take over the left field responsibilities while Pena is out - but don't be surprised if Dmitri Young sees some time out there, in order to get his bat in the lineup.
  

Statistical and historical information courtesy of baseballreference.com, ESPN.com, and MLB.com