Baseball – Page 86 – North Platte Post Archive

Rockies’ Gonzalez Staying in Left Field

Posted on February 22, 2014

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Colorado Rockies manager Walt Weiss says slugger Carlos Gonzalez will remain in left field rather than move over to center to replace Dexter Fowler.

Moving CarGo to center had been a strong possibility ever since the Rockies traded Fowler to Houston over the winter. Weiss revealed the decision Saturday.

But the Rockies later acquired Drew Stubbs from Cleveland, and Stubbs can platoon in center with Corey Dickerson or Charlie Blackmon, who can back up all three outfield spots.

Gonzalez said he’d be fine with a move to center field so long as he didn’t bounce back and forth as he had earlier in his career. He said that affected him both physically and mentally.

Gonzalez is a three-time Gold Glove winner.

Rockies’ Gonzalez Healthy, OK with Move to CF

Posted on February 21, 2014

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Carlos Gonzalez insists moving from left to center field at spacious Coors Field won’t be a problem.

Staying healthy may be the bigger issue for the Colorado Rockies slugger.

Dominant at the plate and in the field when he can play, Gonzalez is eager to show he can log 145 games again after wrist and finger injuries have slowed him in recent years.

His bad luck continued even after the season when he needed an emergency appendectomy. And when doctors were performing that surgery, they discovered a hernia that needed repair.

Gonzalez declared himself fit Friday and manager Walt Weiss says he plans to use him in center to start the spring.

Royals Sign 7 Players to 1-Year Deals for 2014

Posted on February 21, 2014

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — The Royals have agreed to terms with seven players not yet eligible for arbitration on major league contracts, including third basemen Mike Moustakas and Danny Valencia.

Kansas City also agreed Friday to deals with left-hander Justin Marks, right-handers Louis Coleman and Kelvin Herrera, infielder Cheslor Cuthbert and outfielder Lane Adams.

The flurry of agreements leaves 13 players unsigned for the 2014 seasons: right-handers Francisley Bueno, Michael Mariot and Yordano Ventura; left-handers Danny Duffy, Chris Dwyer, Donnie Joseph and John Lamb; infielders Pedro Ciriaco, Christian Colon and Johnny Giavotella; and outfielders Lorenzo Cain, Jarrod Dyson and Carlos Peguero.

If deals can’t be reached with pre-arbitration players, contracts can be renewed at the club’s discretion provided they meet a series of salary criteria.

MLB Managers Ready to Test Expanded Video Replay

Posted on February 18, 2014February 18, 2014

PHOENIX (AP) — Major League Baseball managers are getting ready to test expanded replay reviews of umpire’s decisions.

While most seem to embrace the idea, they acknowledge it’s uncharted territory and yet another strategic tool to employ during games.

The issue was a consistent line of questioning when managers and general managers of the 15 teams that hold spring training in Arizona gathered for MLB media day on Tuesday.

All clubs will get a chance to test the new system in a handful of spring training games, although details of that schedule had not been determined.

Each team will get at least a minimum number of games this spring to test the rule. Teams with more spring training games that are televised probably will have more opportunities to try out the new system.

Morneau Takes Over for Icon Helton in Colorado

Posted on February 18, 2014

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — If you’re going to replace Todd Helton at first base in Colorado while wearing Larry Walker’s old number, you better have a solid resume.

The Rockies are convinced four-time All-Star and former American League MVP Justin Morneau is the answer as they begin the post-Helton era.

Morneau signed a two-year, $12.5 million free-agent deal with the Rockies in December. He’s one of several position players to report early to spring training in Arizona.

Manager Walt Weiss thinks Morneau’s experience as a four-time All-Star and former American League MVP with Minnesota will mean “maybe that ghost won’t be so overwhelming” as he replaces the retired Helton.

Hawkins Named Rockies Closer

Posted on February 17, 2014February 17, 2014

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Colorado Rockies manager Walt Weiss has named 41-year-old LaTroy Hawkins as his closer. Hawkins was with the Rockies in 2007 and saved 13 games last season for the New York Mets. The Rockies made several offseason moves to bolster a bullpen that had a National League-worst 4.23 ERA last season.

Indiana Voted Big Ten Baseball Preseason Favorite, Nebraska Second

Posted on February 12, 2014

Rosemont, Ill. – Indiana was the unanimous choice by the conference coaches as the preseason favorite to claim the Big Ten Championship, it was announced on Wednesday. The conference’s coaches voted on the top six teams and also selected three players from their own squads to a Players to Watch list. The Hoosiers were followed in the preseason poll by No. 2 Nebraska, No. 3 Ohio State and No. 4 Michigan State, with Illinois and Michigan tied for fifth.

The Hoosiers return seven of their nine All-Big Ten honorees from last year’s College World Series squad, including third baseman Dustin DeMuth, catcher Kyle Schwarber and first baseman Sam Travis, who were named Big Ten Players to Watch. The trio each earned Preseason All-America accolades from various outlets, with Schwarber being a unanimous pick from Baseball America, College Baseball Newspaper and the National College Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA).

Nebraska was picked to finish second after advancing to the Big Ten Tournament Championship Game last season. Starting pitcher Aaron Bummer, second baseman Pat Kelly and outfielder/designated hitter Michael Pritchard were named Big Ten Players to Watch. Kelly was a 2013 All-Big Ten first-team pick and Pritchard was a second-team choice.

Ohio State welcomes back 13 letterwinners from last season, while also getting back Big Ten Player to Watch choice Josh Dezse, who missed last season due to injury. Other Players to Watch for the Buckeyes include Preseason All-America reliever Trace Dempsey, who was named to the NCBWA Preseason Stopper of the Year Watch List, and outfielder Patrick Porter.

Michigan State is coming off its fourth straight 30-win season after earning 33 victories last season. Outfielder Jimmy Pickens, who was a second-team All-Conference choice a year ago, outfielder Cam Gibson, who earned a spot on the Big Ten’s All-Freshman Team, and pitcher Justin Alleman were tabbed Big Ten Players to Watch.

Illinois advanced to NCAA Tournament play a season ago, finishing the year with 35 victories. Starting pitcher Kevin Duchene, a 2013 All-Conference second-team pick, and reliever Ronnie Muck are two of the Illini’s 15 returning pitchers, while first baseman David Kerian was a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2013. The three were named Players to Watch.

Michigan was part of the Big Ten Tournament field in 2013 and returns six of its eight position players from last year’s team. Each of the Wolverines three Big Ten Players to Watch this season, infielder/reliever Jacob Cronenworth, starting pitcher Evan Hill and shortstop Travis Maezes, were named to the Big Ten’s All-Freshman Team a season ago.

The top-six preseason poll and complete Players to Watch list can be found below.

2014 BIG TEN BASEBALL PRESEASON POLL (top six teams)

1. INDIANA

2. Nebraska

3. Ohio State

4. Michigan State

T-5. Illinois

T-5. Michigan

CAPS denote a unanimous selection

2014 BIG TEN BASEBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH

Kevin Duchene, So., SP, Illinois

David Kerian, Jr., 1B, Illinois

Ronnie Muck, Sr., RP, Illinois

Dustin DeMuth, Sr., 3B, Indiana

Kyle Schwarber, Jr., C, Indiana

Sam Travis, Jr., 1B, Indiana

Sasha Kuebel, Jr., SP, Iowa

Eric Toole, Jr., CF, Iowa

Jake Yacinich, Jr., SS, Iowa

Jacob Cronenworth, So., IF/RP, Michigan

Evan Hill, So., SP, Michigan

Travis Maezes, So., SS, Michigan

Justin Alleman, So., SP, Michigan State

Cam Gibson, So., OF, Michigan State

Jimmy Pickens, Jr., OF, Michigan State

Alec Crawford, Sr., SP, Minnesota

Matt Halloran, Sr., C, Minnesota

Ben Meyer, Jr., SP, Minnesota

Aaron Bummer, Jr., SP, Nebraska

Pat Kelly, Jr., 2B, Nebraska

Michael Pritchard, Sr., OF/DH, Nebraska

Brandon Magallones, Jr., SP, Northwestern

Matt Portland, So., SP, Northwestern

Kyle Ruchim, Sr., IF, Northwestern

Trace Dempsey, Jr., RP, Ohio State

Josh Dezse, Jr., P/DH, Ohio State

Patrick Porter, Jr., OF, Ohio State

James Coates, So., OF, Penn State

Alex Farkes, Sr., C, Penn State

Greg Guers, So., OF, Penn State

Sean McHugh, Sr., 3B/C, Purdue

Jordan Minch, So., SP, Purdue

Kyle Wood, So., SP/1B, Purdue

Royals, Holland Agree on $4.675 Million Contract

Posted on February 12, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Royals and All-Star closer Greg Holland agreed on a $4.675 million contract Wednesday, which means all of Kansas City’s arbitration-eligible players are signed ahead of spring training.

Pitchers and catchers are due to report to Surprise, Ariz., on Friday.

Holland asked for $5.2 million after going 2-1 with a 1.21 ERA and 47 saves last season, while the Royals offered $4.1 million. They settled on a figure that represents a big bump from the $539,000 he made in 2013, and includes a $50,000 bonus for making the All-Star game.

The deal means that Royals general manager Dayton Moore still has never gone to arbitration with a player. The last Royals player to go to arbitration was outfielder Emil Brown in 2006, the offseason prior to Moore’s hiring as GM.

Roy Oswalt Retiring After 13 Seasons in Majors

Posted on February 11, 2014

Right-hander Roy Oswalt is retiring after 13 major league seasons.

Oswalt’s agent, Bob Garber, confirmed Oswalt’s retirement Tuesday and said the pitcher would come to work for his agency.

Oswalt, 36, had a 163-102 career record with a 3.36 ERA. His best season came with Houston in 2004, when he went 20-10 with a 3.49 ERA. The durable righty — a three-time All-Star and 2006 NL championship series MVP — went over 200 innings seven times in his career but dealt with injuries in recent years.

He was 0-6 with an 8.63 ERA in nine outings and six starts for Colorado last year. He signed a minor league deal with the Rockies in May 2013 and missed time with a strained left hamstring.

A 23rd-round pick by Houston in the 1996 amateur draft, Oswalt pitched his first nine-plus seasons for the Astros and then played for Philadelphia, Texas and the Rockies.

Royals’ Holland Mum on Contract Discussions

Posted on February 10, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Royals pitchers and catchers report to Arizona for the start of spring training on Friday, and that presumably means All-Star closer Greg Holland will be there.

Of course, there’s a little business that still needs to be finished.

Holland is eligible for arbitration and the two sides have yet to reach an agreement. He asked for $5.2 million after going 2-1 with a 1.21 ERA and 47 saves, while the Royals offered $4.1 million. Either way, it’s a big bump from the $539,000 he made last season.

The Royals would not disclose when his arbitration hearing will take place, so it’s unclear when a deal would need to be reached. Hearings run through Feb. 21.

Holland did say he’d welcome a long-term deal, but he’s staying out of those talks.