Spring Training: 3/17

Spring Player Outlook: Mike Trout

Stat Line: 1 HR, 4 RBI, .414 AVG, 3 SB

Mike Trout, like one would expect, is off to a great start.  In twelve spring games, he's homered, added three doubles and a triple, and batted .414 (12-29).  He's also scored twelve runs in those twelve games.  Even last year, before his 30 HR/.326 AVG/49 SB season, he was all of... 1-6 (.167 AVG).  This year, with a full spring, the sky is the limit for the sophomore.  He really heated up this spring starting March 4th, a date in which he's batted .500 (10-20) while homering, collecting three RBI, three stolen bases, and ten runs since.  On March 14th against the White Sox, he went 2-3 with a home run, a double, and a stolen base. 

News

Team Dominican Republic earned the top seed from Pool B for the final round of the World Baseball Classic.  The games will be: Dominican vs Netherlands and Japan vs Puerto Rico.

Jurickson Profar and Kenley Jansen will join the Netherlands for their game against the Dominican Republic.

Reds pitcher Aroldis Chapman exclaimed that he prefers closing over starting.

Yankees signed Brennan Boesch (12 HR, 54 RBI, .240 AVG, 6 SB, 2013 age: 28) to a one year, $1.5 million deal.

WBC Scores

Dominican Republic (6-0) beat Puerto Rico (4-3) 2-0.

Game Scores: SS=Split Squad

Astros (8-11) beat the Nationals (9-10) 4-2.

Red Sox (12-9) beat the Rays (13-8) 9-2.

Phillies (9-11) beat the Yankees (SS, 8-14) 7-0.

Braves (12-11) beat the Yankees (SS, 8-14) 4-0.

Rangers (SS, 10-10) beat the Dodgers (7-11) 4-0.

Cubs (SS, 10-12) beat the Rangers (SS, 10-10) 5-1.

Cubs (SS, 10-12) beat the Royals (16-4) 8-3.

Tigers (13-8) beat the Cardinals (10-12) 3-0.

Mariners (14-7) beat the Rockies (10-8) 5-2.

Top Scorer: Angels tied the A's (SS) 13-13.

Standings

Grapefruit League: Top: Orioles (12-5, .706 WPCT).  Bottom: Yankees (8-14, .364).

Cactus League: Top: Royals (16-4, .800).  Bottom: Angels (4-12, .250).

Nationals: 9-10, .474, 8th in Grapefruit League.

Spring Leaders

Offensive: AVG: Jeff Baker (Rangers), .500 (20-40).  Home runs: Khristopher Davis (Brewers), Paul Konerko (White Sox), and Michael Morse (Mariners), 5.  RBI: Khristopher Davis, Aaron Hicks (Twins), Ryan Howard (Phillies), and Max Ramirez (Royals), 13.  Stolen bases: Ezequiel Carrera (Indians), 8.

Pitching: Wins: 8 tied with 3.  K's: Stephen Strasburg (Nationals), 26.  ERA: Alex Cobb (Rays), Phillip Humber (Astros), Jon Lester (Red Sox), and Julio Teheran (Braves) 1.29 (14 innings, 2 earned runs).  Saves: 5 tied with 3.

Top Performers

Offensive: Khristopher Davis (Brewers): 3-3, 2 home runs (5), 5 RBI, 3 runs, AVG up .064 from .300 to .364, hitting streak to 1 game (3-3, 1.000 AVG).

Pitching: Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers): No decision, 6 shutout innings, 2 hits, no walks, 6 K's (20), ERA drop: 1.75 runs from 5.54 to 3.79.

Worst Pitching Performance: Jered Weaver (Angels): No decision, 2 innings, 8 earned runs, 6 hits, 2 walks, 0 K's, ERA jump: 8.63 runs from 1.50 to 10.13.

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Teams followed in this update: Washington Nationals, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers

If your team is not included, please leave a comment.

HR: home runs.  RBI: runs batted in.  AVG: batting average.  SB: stolen bases.  ERA: earned run average. WHIP: walks/hits per innings pitched.  K's: strikeouts. WPCT: winning percentage

Zack Silverman