Posted on March 30, 2006 by Andrew Flynn
Rotowire Roundup
Brief notes on Atomic RoadRunners from Rotowire:
Moises Alou
Alou has struggled in his minimal amount of time with the Giants so far this spring, hitting just .176 over 18 at-bats with one home run. Eighteen at-bats isn’t enough to get worried over. Last year Alou struggled through April but turned in a good year when he wasn’t injured. Look for a quality year from Alou if he can remain off the disabled list.Brandon Webb
Webb pitched in a minor league game for the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, the team web site reports. In five innings, Webb gave up eight runs (seven earned) on seven hits (no walks, five strikeouts, 93 pitches). We’ve been touting Webb all spring, but all of a sudden, he’s given up 21 runs in 13 innings over his last three outings. Both Webb and the team said they felt good about they way he threw Wednesday. That means the D-Backs appear ready to discount Webb’s recent results as just one of those spring things, perhaps compounded by the fact he and his wife have just become first-time parents. If that’s the case, it may be a good thing that Webb’s first two starts of the season will come on the road, as it may be the first time in a few weeks he’s gotten a good night’s sleep.Kerry Wood
Wood will pitch to hitters Friday in Las Vegas for the first time since undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder last Aug. 31, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Pitching coach Larry Rothschild has said that once Wood begins facing hitters, his rehab should accelerate quickly. There remains hope among Cubs officials that Wood could pitch for the team as soon as the last week of April.Adrian Gonzalez
Gonzalez has played his way onto the Padres’ Opening Day roster, and he might even begin the year as the starter at first base with Ryan Klesko’s shoulder possibly putting him on the DL, the Associated Press reports. Gonzalez has hit well since returing from the WBC, going .400 with two homers and six RBI. Given Klesko’s age and decline last year, it’s not a stretch to suggest the Padres aren’t losing much by replacing him with Gonzalez.Gary Majewski
Majewski threw a scoreless inning on Wednesday, on the heels of rough outings in three of his last four appearances and a shaky outing in the WBC, the Associated Press reports. “I’m where I need to be,” Majewski said, adding that he liked the movement on his fastball. “After today, I don’t feel I’m that far behind.”Ryan Franklin
Franklin might well be headed to the bullpen now that the Phillies have announced Gavin Floyd will start the year in their rotation, their official site reports. The move is not official yet, as unnamed club sources have indicated he is the choice to be bumped from the rotation. Charlie Manuel has not tipped his hand. Franklin’s agent and brother said: “We knew there was an outside chance that might happen. If it happens, Ryan is prepared to do whatever it takes to help the Phillies win.” Franklin has pitched well this spring, with a 2-1 record and a 3.57 ERA in 17 2/3 innings.Adam Dunn
Dunn hit his fifth homer of the spring against the Devil Rays on Wednesday. Dunn will spend most of his time in left field this year, but if/when Scott Hatteberg flops or needs a day off, Dunn will go to first base instead.Rich Aurilia
Reds manager Jerry Narron still is fairly tight-lipped about the starting second base job, but has implied that all three of Aurilia, Ryan Freel and Tony Womack will play there, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. “We’re going to try to keep all three guys sharp,” he said. “We’re going to go with matchups and try to get the best nine guys out there. “Rich is going to play a lot of second, first and some shortstop. Freel will play a lot of outfield and some second. Womack will play primarily second, but we’ll use him as a pinch hitter, as a pinch runner.”Jeff Kent
Kent has signed a one-year contract extension with the team that includes an option for 2008, reports the team’s official site. This comes as a mild surprise considering Kent just turned 38 on March 8th, but you can’t exactly say that he’s on a steep decline. Kent belted 29 homers and drove in 105 last year while posting his highest OBP (.377) since his MVP year in 2000. Since the Dodgers don’t have any elite second base prospects that are knocking on the door, this should help bridge the gap, potentially to Blake DeWitt in 2008.Matt Wise
Wise appears to be over he injuries that dogged him at the end of the 2005 season. Wise will begin the season as one of the top setup guys for the Brewers.