Between smoke breaks, Jim Leyland anointed Fernando Rodney the opening day closer. This sounds like when you were a kid and you tried to pulled something like, “Pops, you said not to put on my bathing suit until after lunch so I went into the pool in my dungarees.” Leyland is saying Rodney is the opening day closer, then on April 7th he’ll call on Lyon to close a game. In other words, this is still a coin flip. I’m holding onto Brandon Lyon in every league I own him (which is a few actually). I’m also picking up Rodney on the teams where I have room. Later, Chad Cordero! Don’t drop anyone that worthwhile for either of these schmohawks, but saves are saves and if someone’s getting them, they should be owned. Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in spring training for fantasy baseball:
Rick Porcello – Big day in Motown. The Tigers named Porcello their number five starter. Porcello is easily my favorite Tigers starter. Let’s see how highly we should consider that a compliment… Galarraga? Blah. Verlander? Bleh. Miner? Blech. Robertson? Belch. Jackson, Bonderman and Willis? Ladies and gentlemen, your 2009 Detroit Tigers pitching staff. Porcello is worth a flier in AL-Only leagues and deep mixed leagues. He’s very raw so you should expect some speed bumps, but sometimes hitters are so unfamiliar with a pitcher that the pitcher can catch them off guard for a month or two.
Troy Glaus – After a setback, he’ll be out until at least June. Punt!
David Freese – He should be owned already in NL-Only leagues. He’s the kind of player that can become mixed league worthy real fast. So if you’re hurting at 3rd or Corner, I’d pick him up just to see if he can carry on his numbers from Triple-A where he hit .306 with 26 HRs.
Mark Teahen – We now bring you our Royals segment of the program. Hey! Don’t switch the channel! Teahen’s bringing his yawnstipating offense to 2nd base where it’s almost digestible. Stay tuned!
Sidney Ponson – Won the 4th (!) spot in the Royals rotation. Yeah, the Royals are totally this year’s Rays. If last year’s Rays had Eric Hinske pitching for them.
Scott Richmond – Named Jays 5th starter. Look away, baby, look away.
Josh Outman – Named 5th– Oh, who cares?
Homer Bailey – Seems to have finally turned the corner. Might make a splash this year as a mid-season callup.
Matt Joyce – Made the Rays out of spring, but once Upton returns he’s going to have a hard time working his way into the Kapler/Gross platoon. Seriously, there’s not a bit of irony in that.
Jeremy Guthrie – Has looked real rusty so far. He gets the Sawx, Yanks and Rays out of the gate, so if I’m owning him, I’m probably not starting him.
Ben Francisco – Not that we should put much stock into spring numbers, but Francisco has been doing it and doing it and doing it well. Now if he’ll steal some bases like he did in the minors, we could have a potential breakout.
Chris Shelton – Batted .460 in spring and was sent to the minors. Wait, he has a good ten more days in him!
Joe Saunders – Dead arm. As opposed to what he had before which was what? A live arm? Please.
Chris Getz – Will bat 2nd. DWWise is leading off. Somebody tell Ozzie he’s holding his lineup card upside down.
