Spring Training: 3/28

Spring Player Outlook: J.A. Happ

Stat Line: 1-1, 1.90 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 18 K's in 23.2 innings.

The Blue Jays starter came into camp as the team's sixth starter and a likely candidate for a demotion at the end of the spring.  The 30 year old lefty, who went 12-4 with a 2.93 ERA as a rookie for the Phillies in 2009, has struggled over the past few seasons, going 16-26 with a 5.08 ERA over his past two seasons.  Now in spring training, he owns a 1.90 ERA in seven games (six starts) and has ousted 2011 and 2012 Opening Day starter Ricky Romero, who was 15-11 with a 2.92 ERA for the Blue Jays in 2011.  Romero struggled in 2012, going 9-14 with a 5.77 ERA, and has been demoted to High Class A Dunedin to start 2013 (the reason he was demoted so low, as in past AAA and AA, is more weather related, as the Blue Jays' other two affiliates are in Buffalo, NY and Manchester, NH, and Toronto wants Romero to work in the warm Dunedin, FL weather).  Happ got more good news after beating Romero when Toronto signed him to a two year, $8.9 million extension.  Happ's best spring outing came March 22nd against Boston, when he threw six shutout innings on two hits, two walks, and a hit by pitch on just 59 pitches.

News

Cardinals signed Adam Wainwright to a five year, $97.5 million extension ($16.25 million per season).

Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter will miss Opening Day due to his ankle issues.

Blue Jays signed J.A. Happ to a two year, $8.9 million extension ($4.45 million per season).

In a great day of offense, Ryan Zimmerman hit three home runs while Chris Getz knocked six hits.

Game Scores: SS=Split Squad

Nationals (SS, 13-17) beat the Braves (19-15) 11-2.

Cardinals (15-14) beat the Nationals (SS, 13-17) 10-1.

Marlins (13-15) beat the Red Sox (15-16) 5-1.

Yankees (13-17) beat the Orioles (18-9) 11-8.

Phillies (15-15) beat the Tigers (18-13) 4-1.

Blue Jays (14-16) beat the Rays (15-16) 6-1.

Mariners (20-11) beat the Dodgers (11-19) 10-7.

Cubs (16-17) tied the Royals (SS, 23-7) 9-9.

Top Scorer: Nationals (SS) beat the Braves 11-2 and Yankees beat the Orioles 11-8.

Standings

Grapefruit League: Top: Orioles (18-9, .667 WPCT).  Bottom: Pirates (12-18, .400).

Cactus League: Top: Royals (23-7, .767).  Bottom: Angels (9-18, .333).Nationals: 13-17, .433, 14th in Grapefruit League.

Spring Leaders

Offensive: AVG: Bryce Harper (Nationals), .476 (30-63).  Home runs: Brandon Belt (Giants) and Michael Morse (Mariners), 8.  RBI: Brandon Belt, Billy Butler (Royals), and Justin Upton (Braves), 19.  Stolen bases: Ezequiel Carrera (Indians), 11.

Pitching: Wins: 6 tied with 4.  K's: Julio Teheran (Braves), 35.  ERA: Jon Lester (Red Sox), 0.75 (24 innings, 2 earned runs).  Saves: Heath Hambree (Giants), 4.

Top Performers

Offensive: Ryan Zimmerman (Nationals): 3-4, 3 home runs (4), 4 RBI, 3 runs, AVG up .037 from .271 to .308, hitting streak to 1 game (3-4, .750 AVG).  *Honorable mention: Chris Getz, who was 6-6 with a double and a triple.

Pitching: Jeff Niemann (Rays): No decision, 6 shutout innings, 2 hits, no walks, 3 K's (17), ERA drop: 0.94 runs from 3.86 to 2.92.

Worst Pitching Performance: Daniel Rodriguez (Braves): Loss (0-2), 2 innings, 8 earned runs, 6 hits, 5 walks, 0 K's, ERA jump: 6.90 runs from 9.53 to 16.43.

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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