Riding the Pine… Daily Update 02/28/2007

Who Knew? Roger Clemens was 38-18 in 84 starts with ERAs of 2.98, 1.87 and 2.30 the past three seasons. He completed only one start…Who Knew? There’s a reason why so few of baseball’s great managers were former pitchers. Of the 20 all-time winningest managers, 15 were big-league position players. Walter Alston and Earl Weaver had no major league playing experience. The last pitcher I can remember who had a significant managerial career was Fred Hutchinson. Hutch was a No. 3 starter type who pitched his entire career for the Tigers, going 95-71 in a 10-year career interrupted 5 years by World War II…I’m not in favor of diluting the quality of Hall of Famers, but I do advocate adding people who deserve the honor. There are two major problems in the election process: the required 75 percent of votes is too high and too many voters vote for too few of the candidates (they can list up to 10 but the average ballot this year for the players had 5.96 names and the average composite ballot had only 4.17 names. Suggested solution: Reduce the percentage of votes for election to 70 percent and/or vote for a minimum of eight nominees…

Astros switch-hitting catcher Hector Gimenez, who was expected to battle for a spot on the roster this spring, could be lost for the season due to a shoulder injury. Gimenez was examined Monday by team physician Dr. David Lintner and diagnosed with a tear of the labrum in his right shoulder. Gimenez was in competition with Humberto Quintero and Eric Munson to be Brad Ausmus’ backup. General manager Tim Purpura said it’s likely Gimenez will undergo surgery, which would keep him out at least three to four months…

Braves pitcher Mike Hampton put his surgically repaired elbow through another test Tuesday, then graded it less optimistically than his manager. “I’m still not where I need to be,” the veteran left-hander said after mixing in some curveballs when he threw his third batting practice session of Braves spring training. “Every day’s a challenge.” He hadn’t thrown breaking balls since instructional league in the fall, and felt some discomfort. Hampton had ligament-transplant surgery Sept. 26, 2005, and missed the entire 2006 season. “I thought he was good today, real good,” Braves manager Bobby Cox said. “He was free and easy [in his delivery]. Mike’s not happy he’s not 100 percent yet, but for me, there’s been no setbacks. Today was a good day.” Normal recovery for the surgery takes 12-18 months; it has been 17 months for Hampton. The Braves are counting on him as their No. 3 or No. 4 starter, and Cox hopes he’ll be ready to go five innings when the season begins…

The Brewers intrasquad game had a comical moment in the bottom of the first inning when Neil Janowitz, a staffer from ESPN The Magazine who is doing a story on what it’s like to take part in spring training, was given an at-bat. By design, he faced Derrick Turnbow, one of the hardest throwers in the game. Turnbow threw three fastballs to Janowitz, who looked at the first one with very big eyes, then waved futilely at the other two and took a seat. Asked how Turnbow’s fastball looked, Janowitz said, “I don’t know. I couldn’t see it.” Actually, Turnbow took it easy on Janowitz, throwing his fastball in the 92- to 94-mph range instead of the usual 94 to 98. “I just tried to treat him like a normal hitter,” said Turnbow, who is working on correcting the delivery flaws that ruined the second half of his ’06 season. “I went after him and threw strikes. “I don’t think he has swung the bat too much”…

The Cardinals recently told agents representing seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens that they are interested should the 44-year-old expand his list of potential 2007 landing spots beyond Houston, New York and Boston. General manager Walt Jocketty, assistant general manager John Mozeliak and vice president of player personnel Jerry Walker met at length Monday morning at a nearby coffee shop with one of Clemens’ lead agents, Alan Hendricks, and two associates. Much of their two-hour meeting focused on Hendricks clients Braden Looper and Kip Wells, but Clemens was discussed. “I guess you would always have interest in a guy like that,” Jocketty said. “He’s someone we’ve expressed interest in before. I’m not sure it would be mutual, though. There are so many factors involved it would be pretty tough to do any deal with them. You never know.” One club official played down the Cardinals’ chances of landing Clemens to “1 million to 1″…The Cardinals will survey available trade avenues for starting pitching. The Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers and Yankees offer potential help; but the Cardinals admit to only tepid interest in the Phillies’ Jon Lieber and oft-injured Yankees enigma Carl Pavano. The Dodgers’ Brad Penny represents a more attractive target. Signed through 2008 with a club option for 2009, the 28-year-old thrower also fits the Cardinals’ financial profile. Coming off a 16-9 record and 4.33 ERA, Penny is due $7.5 million this season and $8.5 million in 2008 with an option for $8.75 million in ’09…Cards SS David Eckstein, a pro wrestling fan, brought his favorite wrestler, “The War Machine” Rhino, to the clubhouse on Tuesday.”Wrestling is something I’ve enjoyed since I was a kid,” Eckstein said. Eckstein participated in a wrestling event during the offseason, during which the 2006 World Series MVP battled Team (A.J.) Pierzynski in an in-ring “brawl” won by Team Eckstein. “When you step into the ring, you’re outside your comfort zone,” Eckstein said. “I can handle playing in front of 45,000 fans, but going out in front of the TNA Wrestling fans who always want to see action, I was nervous. But it was a lot of fun and definitely an adrenaline rush when everything started to go down, just as much when I step off the field after a game”…Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley spoke to Cardinals relievers Tuesday in a 45-minute session that several described as both practical and motivational. “It was great,” right-hander Brad Thompson said. “He’s a great guy, been in the league forever, a great guy to listen to and just kind of hear him talk about the game and pick up little bits and pieces, which is good for everybody”…

Do you get the feeling the Cubs are propping up Jacque Jones in the media every day to try to trick someone into trading for him before Opening Day?…Most of the Cubs’ key pitchers are on schedule to pitch in the first week of games, though Kerry Wood’s first bullpen outing has yet to be decided. Wood threw his second batting practice session Tuesday and the Cubs hope to get him into a game early next week. “We’ll see,” pitching coach Larry Rothschild said. “With him, we’ll just take it day-by-day. We’re not holding him back. “It’s just a matter of letting him go through what he needs to do early in spring with the batting practices. He’ll have another one of those, we’ll see how he reacts to that and go from there.” Wood was heard muttering a few times during his session, suggesting he was not entirely satisfied with his progress. Wood hasn’t pitched competitively since last June, when he was diagnosed with a tear in his rotator cuff and shut down for the rest of the season…Cubs manager Lou Piniella says he believes Ryan Dempster will revert to his 2005 form. “He has good stuff,” Piniella said. “He probably lost confidence in himself. The team was struggling a little bit and I think when he finally got save opportunities, he probably put a lot of pressure on himself. “But that’s the good thing about a new season. Hope springs eternal. You work hard and put that behind you and get ready for a new championship”…

Matt Kemp squeezes into the space in front of his locker and gives a cordial nod to the player to his left and the player to his right. They aren’t quite teammates yet, because Choo Freeman and Larry Bigbie are new to the organization and Kemp has yet to establish himself. To Kemp, Freeman and Bigbie signify competition for the Dodgers’ fifth outfield spot, although it is more likely they will become his outfield mates at triple-A Las Vegas in April…Who Knew? Dodgers pitcher Derek Lowe’s 80 victories since 2002 are tied for the second-highest total in the Major Leagues.

If Barry Bonds is indicted by a federal grand jury this season and the Giants void his contract based on language in his new contract that says they can, the club might get a fight from the players association. Executive director Donald Fehr hinted as much Tuesday when asked about the indictment clause Bonds reportedly signed despite assertions by his agent, Jeff Borris, that it is meaningless because language in the collective bargaining agreement supersedes it. As usual, Fehr declined to discuss Bonds specifically. But generally, he said, “The question is, is it enforceable to say a player gives up certain collectively bargained rights? There is some history on that. When we have disputes, what we often do from time to time is preserve our legal positions, and if we have to fight about it, we have to fight about it. Usually, we don’t”…

Trot Nixon signed a one-year contract with the Tribe, so it’s not as if he bought himself long-term security. But he’s not worried about anything past this season. “I can only control what happens today,” he said. “I learned a lot from free agency. I wouldn’t want somebody else to go through what I did. There are some things I want to prove. Not just that I can overcome an injury, but that I can put up solid numbers again.” At 33, time still is on Nixon’s side. His role with the Tribe will require him to play right field against right-handed pitchers. Casey Blake will take his place against lefties…

Among the nine unsigned Mariners is second baseman Jose Lopez. He is the only one of the nine talking with the club about a multiyear deal. Other than Ichiro, who is in the last year of a four-year deal, Lopez is the only probable member of the starting lineup not tied to the club through at least 2008. The club also is trying to work on getting Ichiro’s name on a contract extension…Infielder/outfielder Willie Bloomquist had two of his golf clubs placed on the Mariners’ hanging tree Tuesday morning. To this point, only clothing deemed too brutal for words had been placed on the tree (actually an electric cord coming out of the ceiling)…

The Florida Marlins continue to look for a center fielder, with six in-camp candidates still looking unimpressive. Across the state, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays have a glut of outfielders and likely would deal Rocco Baldelli for good young pitching. The Marlins have good young pitching. Does it seem too simple to think a deal should have been made by now?…

This season, Oliver Perez is likely the Mets No. 3 or the No. 4 starter, an important piece in the pitching rotation puzzle with Tom Glavine, Orlando Hernandez, John Maine and possibly Chan Ho Park…

Tom Ward, the Nationals’ senior vice president and chief marketing officer, said Tuesday that no decision had been made as to who the club’s public address announcer at RFK Stadium would be. Sources have said that Jim Clarke, who served in that capacity in 2005 and ’06, would not return. Clarke, who was considered a candidate for the job, did not go through a formal audition, as other candidates did….

Baltimore Orioles pitcher Kris Benson said he continues to feel pain in his injured right shoulder after almost a week of rehabilitation. “The range of motion from Day One to now is a lot better,” said Benson, who has a partially torn rotator cuff. “The strength is getting much better also. There’s definitely progress. As far as alleviating that anterior shoulder pain, we still have a little ways to go. I think we’re in the right direction.” Benson will continue rehab for the next three weeks. At that point, he and the team will determine whether he should have season-ending surgery. Benson said he would have to be pain-free in order to pitch without surgery…Orioles pitcher Hayden Penn ditched the crutches he was carrying Monday, and said his left ankle felt much better after an extra night’s rest. Penn injured himself after Sunday’s workout and was unable to participate in baseball drills Monday. If things continue at their current pace, he should be back by the end of the week. “I was carrying boxes downstairs, and they were kind of slippery,” said Penn, explaining how he hurt himself. “That last stair, I tried to anticipate it and just rolled it. Right away, I was like, ‘Oh god, here we go.’ I’m glad it didn’t turn out too bad.” Penn had X-rays and an MRI exam on his injured ankle, but neither test showed anything alarming…

The Phillies could open the 2007 season with the highest payroll in team history. It could be more than $96 million after they sign first baseman Ryan Howard. But that projected payroll for their opening-day 25-man roster could change – and possibly drop – before the April 2 season opener, against the Atlanta Braves, at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies and Howard, their only unsigned player, are negotiating a contract and are expected to have a decision no later than Friday. Either the parties will come to an agreement or the Phillies will renew Howard’s contract. Because Howard is not eligible for salary arbitration until after this season, the Phillies have that right. A multiyear contract seems unlikely at this point, but the Phillies are expected to pay Howard at least $1 million next season, which would be a record for a player not eligible for arbitration…If Phils manager Charlie Manuel has picked an opening-day starter, he’s not letting on. A smart bet for the moment has Freddy Garcia the opening-day starter, followed by Brett Myers, Cole Hamels, Adam Eaton and Jamie Moyer. But that can change…First-base coach Davey Lopes has been working with the Phillies on baserunning all spring. He worked with Pat Burrell individually for a short time yesterday…

Tony Armas has a clean bill of health while Shawn Chacon expects to pitch through pain in his arthritic right knee. That raises the possibility that the Pirates could keep Armas, whom they signed as a free agent to a one-year contract worth a guaranteed $3.5 million, and cut Chacon. Chacon is signed to a one-year, $3.8 million contract but would be owed only one-sixth of that if cut by mid-March. The scenario is seen as highly unlikely, though. The Pirates are planning to use the loser of the fifth-starter duel in a long relief role…Outfielder Xavier Nady, still without a firm diagnosis for his inflamed intestine, sought and received permission from the Pirates to fly to Pittsburgh yesterday for more tests. He will be examined today at Allegheny General Hospital by a gastric specialist he expects will be able to help him there all season, if needed. He should rejoin the team tomorrow. “It hasn’t been determined exactly what kind of testing will be done,” Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield said. “But since they haven’t gotten a tell-tale answer as to why he’s had these stomach pains, they’ll do whatever they need to do to find out what the answer is”…

Texas GM Jon Daniels finds himself in a peculiar position this year. By the middle of March, he won’t be surprised to get phone calls from other teams seeking some of the Rangers relief pitchers, which is an indication of the Rangers’ potential depth in the bullpen. Akinori Otsuka, who has moved from closer to eighth-inning reliever, will probably draw some interest, but Daniels said it would take something huge for the Rangers to be interested…Sammy Sosa continues to show up early for batting practice with Rangers hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo and says the sessions are paying dividends. “Rudy is one of the great hitting coaches for many, many years,” Sosa said. “All the mechanics that I didn’t correct in 2005 are going to be corrected”…

Manny Ramirez’ agent yesterday said the slugger wants to stay with the Red Sox for the remainder of his playing career. “Manny is at peace with his situation in Boston,” said Gene Mato, one of Ramirez’ representatives, yesterday. “He has indicated to me that he would look forward to the opportunity to retire in a Boston uniform.” Ramirez’ moods and mind have been known to flip-flop before, and his relationship with the Red Sox has sustained more than its fair share of peaks and valleys, especially around trading deadlines or entire offseasons, when either the club or player has pursued a divorce. Still, the declaration by Mato represents a somewhat startling turnabout for one of the top right-handed hitters of the last decade and a fixture in the heart of the batting order. The eight-year, $160 million contract that Ramirez, who will turn 35 on May 30, signed with the Red Sox as a free agent before the 2001 season contains two option years (2009 and ’10) worth $20 million apiece. Ramirez also has the right to veto any potential trades…An episode yesterday reflects Manny Ramirez’ newfound sense of contentment. According to a photographer on the scene, team president and CEO Larry Lucchino approached Ramirez behind the batting cage on Field No. 5 at the minor league complex and inquired about the health of his mother, who is currently recovering from surgery. Ramirez put his arm around Lucchino and guided him a few steps away from the cage, where he expressed contrition for the “trouble” he caused by arriving one week after the rest of the position players…Red Sox pitcher Matt Clement hasn’t been given clearance yet to begin throwing a ball but he expects to have it by the end of the week. The right-hander is nearly a month ahead of schedule on his rehab program after undergoing shoulder surgery last Sept. 26…Wily Mo Peña is one of the more intriguing players in the Red Sox clubhouse. He’s bigger than John Coffey of “The Green Mile” fame and hits longer home runs than anyone who has ever played at Fenway. Folks are still talking about his 498-foot shot in Cincinnati in 2005, and the 451-foot thunderbolt in Kansas City last summer. And let’s not forget the heat-seeking missile he hit at Fenway — the one that hit the back wall of the Monster seats and bounced almost all the way back to the shortstop…A replica of the Ted Williams statue outside of Gate B at Fenway Park will be unveiled this afternoon at 4:30 in front of the main entrance to City of Palms Park. The statue, which is at the corner of Edison Avenue and Broadway, was formerly at the now-closed Ted Williams Museum in Hernando, Fla. Johnny Pesky, who was Williams’ teammate in 1942 and 1946-52, will do the official unveiling…

The Reds acquired Kirk Saarloos from the Athletics last month, and the right-hander is among the candidates to make the club either as the fifth starter or as a reliever. He won 10 games as Oakland’s surprise fifth starter in 2005 and began last season in the bullpen. In 35 appearances with the A’s, including 16 starts, Saarloos finished 7-7 with a 4.75 ERA. “I loved my time in Oakland,” Saarloos said. “We made the playoffs. I met a lot of great guys. But I think here, with the way Oakland was set up and the way this team is set up, I feel this is a better opportunity for me”…

Garrett Atkins paid the price for the Rockies’ strict discipline regarding non-arbitration eligible players. Atkins will make $400,000 this season when his contract is officially renewed Thursday. That’s a $65,000 raise, but all but $20,000 is a product of the league’s new $380,000 minimum salary…In an attempt to cut down bloop hits at Coors Field, the Rockies plan to move their outfielders in 5 to 10 feet on average this season. The experiment begins today with their first spring-training game. “We believe our outfield is athletic enough to cover ground, and by doing this we can take away a lot of the stuff in front of them,” manager Clint Hurdle said…The Blake Street Bash has been put on hold. The Rockies had hoped to honor their famed sluggers with a Coors Field reunion in conjunction with Andres Galarraga’s induction into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame on April 10. However, because the Rockies are in the middle of their first road trip at that time, plans had to be altered. “We are still looking to do something to honor the Bombers, possibly this year, but right now there are some scheduling conflicts,” Rockies president Keli McGregor said Tuesday. One possibility, McGregor said, would be to bring the Bombers back individually to honor them. The Blake Street Bombers launched homers at Coors Field from 1995 through 1997. The original crew consisted of Dante Bichette, Larry Walker, Vinny Castilla and Galarraga. Ellis Burks joined the cast in 1996 when he hit 40 bombs. During a three-year span, the average season for each Bomber was 35 homers and 110 RBIs…

Royals left-hander Odalis Perez sure looks primed to reclaim his status as a dependable starting pitcher as he enters the last season of a three-year contract. And while looks aren’t everything, it’s a good place to start. “I just want to be healthy the whole year,” he said. “If I don’t win 10 games, it won’t matter if I pitch 200 innings. That’s what I want, to throw 200 innings. I want to be able to do my job every time I go out there”…Don’t look for Mike Sweeney to make his spring debut until early next week. Buddy Bell plans to limit Sweeney’s playing time, particularly early in camp, in hopes of keeping him healthy. “He’s fine,” Bell said, “but we’re just trying to do things a little different. I just get concerned with his history. I want him to be ready April 2.” Sweeney wasn’t pleased. “I love Buddy Bell like he’s my dad,” he said. “This move, I understand it from his point of view. I just don’t agree with it because I’ve come here in great shape and I want to play”…Royals eligible for free-agency after 2007 season:
•1B/DH Mike Sweeney: His five-year, $55 million deal expires this season
•2B Mark Grudzielanek*: Has player option for 2008 at $4 million
•OF Reggie Sanders: Royals willing to eat part of $5 million salary to make trade
•C Jason LaRue: Making $5.45 million this season, but Royals paying only $2.5 million
•RHP Scott Elarton: Making $4 million and will start season on disabled list
•LHP Odalis Perez*: Club has $9 million option with a $1.5 million buyout
•RHP Octavio Dotel*: Has player option for 2008 at $5.5 million

Cameron Maybin is a shade under 6-foot-4, and it would appear that at least 4-foot-4 of his fuselage is composed of long, sinewy legs that are the wheelhouse for any athlete’s speed and power. No wonder the 19-year-old Tigers outfielder is Detroit’s top position prospect — by miles. Likewise, it is hardly news that Maybin is potentially — and “potentially” is the worst word in all of sports — a franchise player who could (another bad word) be in manager Jim Leyland’s lineup by 2009, if not before…

Twins outfielder Lew Ford had arthroscopic surgery this winter to fix his left knee. Now he might be headed for surgery on his right knee and could miss the rest of spring training. Ford took a cortisone shot Tuesday after the results of a magnetic resonance imaging exam showed torn cartilage in his right knee. He said he needs to wait three days before testing the knee, and that if he still is in pain, he will undergo more arthroscopic surgery…The Twins have started pondering whether anything can be done to help Francisco Liriano avoid further arm problems. The all-star pitcher is out for the season after undergoing reconstructive elbow surgery and is expected to start throwing late this summer. “The big thing is how much can an arm handle with that arm speed he has, and we all saw the violent throwing motion where he spins in a circle,” manager Ron Gardenhire said. “Will he get back to that? Can he get back to that? Or should he? Those are all questions we have. We’re going to talk and see if there are ways to help him, but it comes down to the pitcher wanting to be able to do those things”…Because of Sidney Ponson’s visa issue, the Twins moved forward with plans to use him in a B-game Monday. His visa hearing is scheduled for March 9 in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic. “If we really got into a bind, where we need him to throw, we could even set up an intrasquad game,” Gardenhire said. “That’s old-school baseball.” While Twins officials are frustrated with this issue, they have been encouraged by what they have seen from Ponson in camp…Torii Hunter, appearing as a guest on FSN’s “Best Damn Sports Show Period,” on Barry Bonds: “I’m definitely cheering for Barry Bonds to break Hank Aaron’s record”…Torii Hunter, appearing as a guest on FSN’s “Best Damn Sports Show Period,” asked if MLB Commissioner Bud Selig should be at the game if Bonds breaks the record: “(Selig) should definitely be there. If Bonds breaks Hank Aaron’s record, people should give him the recognition. The guy has never been proven to have used steroids. The guy is the best hitter I’ve ever seen”…

Of the players battling to land a roster spot, only center fielder Luis Terrero is out of minor-league options. But Terrero faces a stiff battle because Brian Anderson will be given every chance to win back the center-field job he lost his grip on late last season. Anderson can alleviate the White Sox’s concerns if he hits with enough consistency. If Anderson fails, however, the Sox could lack a true backup center fielder behind Erstad unless Terrero overwhelms manager Ozzie Guillen and the coaching staff. The exhibition season also represents a showcase for pitcher Sean Tracey, first baseman Casey Rogowski and second baseman Junior Spivey, each of whom faces a roadblock at his respective position…A simple drill Tuesday produced cheering and hooting around the batting cages, and it was as intense as any assignment the White Sox have performed this spring. Situational hitting-a spring crusade for manager Ozzie Guillen-was in full force as the Sox worked on moving runners over in various circumstances. Computer scouting analyst Mike Gellinger, who has the unofficial title of assistant hitting coach, barked out a specific situation behind the batting cage before the pitch was delivered. The Sox led the majors with a .307 batting average with runners in scoring position last season, but that mark dropped nine points in the second half as they fell from postseason contention…

Yanks OF Bobby Abreu, who strained his right oblique muscle in batting practice Monday, said he would be healthy by opening day. “You have to be careful, and that’s what I’m going to do,” said Abreu, who added that he would not swing a bat for two weeks…Joe Torre garnered 26 votes by the Hall of Fame Veterans Committee yesterday but was disappointed that former Players Association head Marvin Miller didn’t get in when the committee didn’t elect anybody. “I wanted to see him get in because of his impact on the game,” Torre said of Miller…Multiplayer packages for one big-name star rarely turn out equitably. Randy Johnson was considered a disappointment as a Yankee despite winning 34 games in two seasons, but Ross Ohlendorf or Alberto Jackson will have to develop into a consistent major league starter for this deal to look good for the Yankees…