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Spring Training 2025...catch-all for non-Sox


caulfield12

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https://www.truebluela.com/2025/2/19/24368696/yoshinobu-yamamoto-dodgers-start-spring-training-opener

Opening Day in Glendale

Yamamoto vs. Poteet (Dodgers vs. Cubs)

2 pm Central Time

only game in MLB today

cheapest price to get in on secondary market $37.00

 

Eddie Rosario and Giovanny Gallegos two more notable names to follow with LAD this spring...

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"GLENDALE, Ariz. — For the first time in a Dodgers uniform, 23-year-old right-hander Roki Sasaki threw to hitters Wednesday in front of a gigantic crowd of spectators, the likes of which rarely gather for such a routine component of baseball’s spring practice sessions.

A year ago, it was Shohei Ohtani’s first live batting practice that had Camelback Ranch buzzing, as eager fans filling the backfields got their first glimpses of the superstar in action wearing Dodger blue. Should Ohtani face hitters as a pitcher this spring as part of his progression back from elbow surgery, that might usurp Sasaki’s inaugural live batting practice as the highlight of Los Angeles’ spring training. But as of now, Sasaki’s first chance to face hitters represents the high-water mark for intrigue in Dodgers camp."

https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/article/roki-sasakis-first-live-batting-practice-draws-a-crowd-at-dodgers-camp-everybodys-excited-to-watch-it-012937776.html

 

Cubs: Most of Chicago's main position-player group are not in the starting lineup for the opener at Camelback Ranch. Starting first baseman Michael Busch -- acquired from the Dodgers prior to last season -- is the only regular who made the trip, though three of Chicago's seven Top 100 prospects -- Moises Ballesteros (No. 69), James Triantos (No. 73) and Kevin Alcántara (No. 90) -- are in the lineup.

Dodgers: Mookie Betts, Teoscar Hernández and Max Muncy are the only three Dodgers regulars in the lineup for the team's first Cactus League game, with offseason acquisition Hyeseong Kim and No. 30 overall prospect Dalton Rushing also in the starting nine.

mlb.com

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Nicky Lopez Reese McGuire...David Bote some notable names for Cubs and now Dodgers.

ABS automatic balls and strikes challenge system experiment starts ... two not three challenges per team per spring game.  Only pitcher catches better can invoke. Keep your challenges as long as you keep winning then.

Lopez and Brujan k'd by Yamamoto...who starts 20+ days from now in Tokyo Series.

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But he can still hit.

In his first at-bat in a major league exhibition game, Keaschall laced the first pitch he saw into right field, driving in two runs and leading the Twins to a 3-1 victory over the Braves to open spring training play.

“It was cool. I just went up there, he hung a changeup, and I just got it out front,” said the 2023 second-round pick, who came up as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning, with the bases loaded, two outs and the Twins trailing 1-0. “I’m just trying to find a way to score a run. I saw the ball really well.”

startribune.com/sports

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Then there was Garrett Crochet, the blossoming ace acquired for four prospects at the Winter Meetings. The lefty was overpowering in the first inning, striking out the side. He lost some command in the second and finished his day with a walk and four punchouts over 1 2/3 innings.

What stuck out to both players was the vibe at Fenway South, even for a Spring Training game.

“Just having some good fan turnout helped a lot,” Crochet said. “That's probably the most people I've thrown in front of in Spring Training so it's cool to kind of get the juices going early.”

mlb.com

 

Looks like Max Stassi has a pretty good shot to make the Giants...Murphy is hurt, would be paired with Patrick Bailey

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https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/article/cleveland-guardians-owner-larry-dolan-dies-at-age-94-team-announces-210612356.html

Lawrence "Larry" Dolan dies at 94, former Indians/Guardians owner since buying it from Jacobs about 25 years ago...team now run by son Paul Dolan

 

https://www.cleveland.com/guardians/2025/02/guardians-owner-larry-dolan-remembered-for-humility-and-generosity.html

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Needless to say, there is precedent for MLB taking their television relationships to the brink and somehow finding a way to salvage them. It certainly does not seem like MLB will remain with ESPN going forward, but there is technically nothing stopping the sides from reaching a new deal.

There was no small irony in Manfred assailing ESPN and cable as declining properties unfit for Major League Baseball just hours ahead of ESPN averaging 9.3 million viewers for a hockey game. Indeed, while Manfred’s statement is broadly correct — any cable network is bound to be a “shrinking platform” in 2025 — ESPN has delivered several blockbuster audiences in the past year, from the aforementioned hockey game to Caitlin Clark-led Iowa against UConn and LSU in last year’s NCAA women’s basketball tournament (14.4 and 12.2 million respectively).

Any of those games would have surely done better on ABC, but it is hard to look at those viewership figures and suggest ESPN held them back.

(Also, how exactly is Warner Bros. Discovery supposed to feel after the comments Manfred made about cable? Losing the NBA is survivable if one holds onto other rights, but losing the NBA and MLB would put WBD in an unenviable position — and call into question its future with the NHL, which is up for bid the same year as MLB, 2028.)

 

https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2025/02/monday-musings-mlb-espn-split-permanent-four-nations-viewership-recap/

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Trace Thompson and Zavala playing for Red Sox...

Crochet 97-99 but wild...pulled after 41 pitches, victim of abs challenge when he appeared to be out of the inning.  Dominant in first, three walks in second.

Anthony Campbell Mayer hitting 1-2-3.

Campbell still hitless.  All these guys with good obp skills/eyes/strike zone judgement.

Mayer really has a great eye up there.

Edited by caulfield12
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Posted (edited)

Eduarniel Nunez, 25, San Diego Padres

This is an elite arm. Think Jason Adam. Nunez posted eye-popping fastball metrics in his appearance against the Mariners: 96.8 mph with a spin rate of 2,661 rpm. Only six pitchers threw four-seamers in an MLB game last year with that kind of velocity and spin (minimum of four fastballs): Padres' Jason Adam, Michael Kopech, Jeff Hoffman, Ryan Helsley, SFGs' Randy Rodriguez and Twins' Brock Stewart.

Not bad for a non-roster invitee whom the Padres quickly snapped up as a minor league free agent after Nunez spent eight seasons in the Cubs’ system. His slider spin rate (2,911) and curveball spin rate (2,931) are also elite. Yikes.

Of course, there are reasons why the Cubs did not give him a 40-man roster spot: poor mechanics and poor control.

Nunez still cannot consistently throw his fastball for a strike when he needs it. He has walked 6.1 batters per nine innings in 190 minor league games, including 26 in 23 2/3 innings last year in his first look at Triple-A.

Minor league free agent, spent 8 years in the Cubs' system...could be the next Estrada (also from Cubs)/Suarez bullpen find

 

Ethan Routzahn, 26, San Diego Padres

This is another success story when it comes to hard work, technology and instruction. Undrafted after playing for three colleges (Dallas Baptist, Northwest Florida State College and St. John’s), Routzahn signed with San Diego after pitching for Trenton in MLB’s Draft League. At age 26 in High A with an 88.4 mph sinker, Routzahn did not appear to be on a track to the big leagues. Always a hard worker, he decided to check in with Driveline to work smarter.

...

On Saturday, Routzahn threw his sinker on 13 of 17 pitches. It’s a low-spin sinker with crazy movement down and to the arm side. He could be a workhorse, groundball reliever with deception, in the manner of Ryan Thompson and John Schreiber or a righthanded version of Hoby Milner.

https://www.si.com/mlb/eight-pitchers-spring-training-better-stuff

 

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Posted (edited)

Old friend Bryan Shaw appearance for the Reds...throwing 92-94.

 

Sasaki 99 99 98 86 CH 97 98 85 CH 86 SL 99 99 86 SL 87.3 Cutter

Not sure if they can track his forkball or not...or if he just hasn't used it yet.  Following at mlb.com and not video.

 

Elly de la Cruz vs. Sasaki should be fun...and Austin Hays has been playing well so far for the Reds

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Posted (edited)

De la Cruz ripped a homer on a 98 MPH fastball.

oops

his fastball is not an elite weapon compared to the offspeed stuff where he gets most of his swings and misses...

 

turns out it was a DOUBLE instead

finally has started throwing splitters (2) to Hays, called out on strikes....splitter, change, slider, cutter all showing up at 84-87 mph range

 

a walk, 3 strikeouts, HBP, 2 hits....a mixed bag but no EARNED RUNS yet

WP on a change-up moves runners up to 2nd and 3rd

N.Marte popped on a 97.5 MPH fastball to end the inning....99.3 his best fastball so far, 35 pitches (but only 18 strikes)

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Posted (edited)

Sheets powering up -- and buying in -- with Padres

Lefty slugger homers twice vs. former club, including walk-off smash

 

Sheets had played for La Russa with the White Sox during his two best seasons as a big leaguer in 2021 and ‘22. In speaking with Shildt, La Russa mentioned Chicago’s AL Central title run in ‘21 and the crucial role Sheets played.

“He said: ‘You can win with this guy,’” Shildt recalled. “That’s all I needed to know from a guy that’s won the second-most games of anyone to ever manage. That was enough to sign off on it for me.”

“The exciting thing about getting into a new organization is you get new thoughts,” Sheets said. “Getting to work with the guys here, they’ve been awesome. They’ve had a game plan for me, with what they’ve seen over the past, that they think can take me to the next level and be an impact player. I’m just buying in.”

He came off the bench and pounded out two homers and a line-drive single. All three left his bat at 106 mph or harder.

What, specifically, has Sheets altered this spring?

“I’m just getting into a better launch position, being more athletic with my swing and body and trying to get my body in a position to get my A-swing off on every swing,” Sheets said. “That’s obviously what I’ve been able to do the last couple games. I’m excited about the changes.”

AJ Cassavell mlb.com

 

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/03/11/gavin-sheets-has-rediscovered-his-stroke-in-time-to-make-a-run-at-padres-roster/&ved=2ahUKEwjaup_T5oWMAxXDke4BHU0eDmwQvOMEKAB6BAgYEAE&usg=AOvVaw1sTwzVCUrmLN3Tr05lEDiS

Edited by caulfield12
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