I just wanted to update what we said in the preview a little bit since there have been some significant changes made.

First, with I-Rod as our catcher Towles is pretty much destined for a stint at AAA until 2010 or if Quintero proves an unpalatable option as our back-up catcher. Pudge should see a slight up tick in all his rate stats (especially BA and SLG), so should your league include OPS he’d be worth a late gamble, in my estimation.

Wandy went down early in this Spring with a strained rib-cage muscle (intercostal on the left side, if memory serves me correctly). Our pitching coach, Dewy Robinson, claims to have figured out what it was mechanically that lead to the strain, and claims the fix will lead to increased command. If Wandy has better command I’d venture a guess at better WHIP and K numbers, and better peripheral rate stats all around; plus it could mean deeper innings and more starts if he’s healthy. It remains to be seen what the adjustments will do for Wandy, but he’d be a great late round sleeper since he probably will be ignored because of the early injury. Just expect the first week or two of the season to keep him on the bench until you can appraise him.

With Boone out of the picture, it appears that 24, soon to be 25, year old Chris Johnson will get a look at 3B out of the gate and could be worthwhile in deeper NL-only leagues, or a keeper league if you have the bench space. I don’t think he’ll be a great AVG guy because of his K%, but could be a source of power if you play him against RHP because he has a much better platoon split against RHP than LHP. This is weird because he’s a RHB, but he’s definitely someone to keep an eye on should you be in need a 3B a few weeks in and you don’t mind the possible waiver claim.

Sutton and Bogusevic are still guys to keep an eye on when Kaz Matsui goes down and should Bourn/Abercrombie fall flat on their faces heading into late-May, early-June.

@TEEJ: Sure!