Kuzul

Major League Baseball needs to reconsider its policy on suspensions. Indians starting pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez was suspended five games for plunking Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki in an April 2nd spring training matchup. After the game, disgruntled Colorado manager Jim Tracy dubbed Jimenez’s actions “the most gutless act I have seen in 35 years of professional baseball.” Major League Baseball’s rules regarding player suspensions for bean-balls were laid out long before Tracy poured out his emotional tirade to a sympathetic commissioner’s office. According to MLB.com, these are official rules regarding the pitcher and intentionally hit batsmen: “If, in the umpire’s judgment, such a violation occurs, the umpire may elect either to:1. Expel the pitcher, or the manager and the pitcher, from the game, or2. may warn the pitcher and the manager of both teams that another such pitch will result in the immediate expulsion of that pitcher (or a replacement) and the manager.If, in the umpire’s judgment, circumstances ...

The Washington Nationals made a surprising decision with their final roster cuts on Tuesday. As reported by the Washington Post's Adam Kilgore, the team optioned starting pitcher John Lannan to Class AAA Syracuse and kept Ross Detwiler on the big league roster. Perhaps it shouldn't be a shock that the Nats sent Lannan to the minors, considering general manager Mike Rizzo was trying to trade him throughout spring training.With the additions of Gio Gonzalez and Edwin Jackson to their rotation, the Nationals appeared to have a surplus of starting pitching. Several rumors had the Detroit Tigers inquiring about Lannan, with the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros also showing interest.The general opinion seemed to be that the Nats would hold on to Lannan after Chien-Ming Wang suffered a hamstring injury. But Lannan did himself no favors by pitching badly this spring. In six appearances, he allowed 14 runs (12 earned) and ...

Following a tumultuous spring in which he posted a 6.48 ERA and a 10/9 K/BB rate in 16.2 innings, the Toronto Blue Jays sent left-hander Brett Cecil to the minors on Tuesday morning. Cecil was expected to begin the 2012 season as part of the team’s starting rotation alongside Brandon Morrow, Ricky Romero, Henderson Alvarez and Kyle Drabek. However, after allowing nine runs (seven earned) on 11 hits over four innings against the Tigers on Monday, it became clear that Cecil wasn’t ready to be rushed out there as part of the rotation. To fill the southpaw’s spot in the rotation, Manager John Farrell announced that right-hander Joel Carreno would serve as Cecil’s replacement. Now, you won’t find Carreno on many Blue Jays’ top-prospect lists. But that doesn’t mean that the 25-year-old lacks either potential or value. Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2004, Carreno is a 6’0" 190-pound ...

Kelly Johnson had a mixed bag of a 2011 season. He hit 21 home runs and 58 RBI for the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Toronto Blue Jays, but his batting average was a paltry .222. He also struck out a career-high 163 times.But now that Johnson has some experience playing for Toronto and is getting used to having Rogers Centre as his home, how will he fare in 2012?I personally think he'll improve considerably in 2012; his numbers should stay the same or improve in several categories.When Johnson was playing for Arizona in 2010 and 2011, he was playing in a hitter-friendly park. Toronto's stadium is a hitter-friendly park as well, so his home run totals should stay roughly the same.He's also been slotted into the second spot into the lineup, which means he should be able to drive in runs, as well as make it to home himself, with guys like ...

The Chicago Cubs made another set of cuts to their spring training roster this week, and surprised a few fans with the demotion of Welington Castillo and Randy Wells.It was also announced that Steve Clevenger and Joe Mather will be on the Opening Day roster when the Cubs start the season April 4.Welington Castillo was slated to be the backup catcher behind Geovany Soto, but his season will instead start in Iowa. The 24-year-old is one of the Cubs' top prospects and will benefit from playing every day in the minors. Taking his place will be Steve Clevenger, a 25-year-old with just four career at bats in the majors. He will provide the Cubs with a solid left-handed bat when Soto needs a rest. Randy Wells was another surprising cut from the 25-man roster. Though he didn't make the starting rotation, he was expected to be the long reliever in the Cubs ...

As teams begin preparing for the regular season, rosters get filled out. Who stays on the roster or gets dropped is a key issue around this time of the year.For the Atlanta Braves, they have one situation that will be decided soon. Does Randall Delgado or Julio Teheran get the fifth starter's spot?As of yet, neither one has established themselves as the frontrunner for this job. Through this spring, Delgado has a horrible 7.89 ERA with a WHIP of 1.85. He has won only one game and lost four, which is expected with those numbers.His competition, Julio Teheran, has done worse. His ERA through spring training is at 9.00. His WHIP is at 1.92 and he has an 0-1 win-loss record. However, he has played less than Delgado.He has pitched 13.0 innings, while Randall has pitched 21.2 innings. Teheran has had fewer opportunities due to soreness to improve his numbers.Right ...

Daniel Bard's success as a starter could very well prove to be the key to a 2012 playoff run for the Boston Red Sox.Then again, he's just as likely to be relegated back to bullpen duty.But with two rotation spots up for grabs, all indications point towards the 26-year-old at least beginning the season in Bobby Valentine's starting-five. As of this writing, Bard and fellow system-product Felix Doubront figure to fill the fourth and fifth spots, with 2011's jack-of-all-trades Alfredo Aceves returning to the 'pen.Nothing's official yet, but can they really send Bard back at this point? Assuming he has nailed down a starting role, what, if anything, has his performance in camp told us? Clearly, a lot of what happens in spring has to be chalked up to pitchers trying out new pitches, tinkering with arm slots, working out the kinks in their mechanics, etc. So the spirit of this ...

Breaking news: San Francisco Giants Barry Zito struggled in his most recent spring outing, causing concern from the fan base about whether the veteran lefty deserves a spot in the team’s starting rotation as Opening Day approaches. What is this, 2008? Wait, 2010? No, it’s 2012! Talk about déjà vu all over again. Talk about déjà vu all over again. Since signing one of the most infamous contracts in the history of pro sports in 2006, Zito has been under tremendous scrutiny and immense pressure to live up to the bazillion dollar billing. Each year, it’s the same old story—for both Zito and for the organization. Well, actually, somehow every season it seemingly gets worse for the 33-year-old veteran. In 2007, his first season in San Francisco, Zito toughed out an 11-13 record with a 4.53 ERA. The next year, he posted career-worst marks in losses (17), losing percentage (.370), ...

Andy Pettitte's much-anticipated comeback for the New York Yankees won't officially kick-off until he gets his first start of the spring, but according to the New York Post, the Yankees legend is set to do so sometime next week. Pettitte made his comeback announcement on March 16th, and given the normal month and a half or so it takes most pitchers to get ready for the season, the 39 year old won't be able to take the mound until May 1st at the earliest. According to the same report, Pettitte threw 20 pitches in batting practice on Tuesday (3/27) and then went on to throw 13 more in a simulated game. He faced four batters during the simulation. He is expected to have another session similar to Tuesday's on either Friday or Saturday of this week. Look for Pettitte to take the mound for his first start of the spring on either Tuesday ...

At last the waiting is over. Even though it hasn't officially been announced, we now know who the two lucky winners of the spring battle for the No. 4 and 5 spots in the Boston Red Sox starting rotation are; Felix Doubront and Daniel Bard.Boston Globe's Peter Abraham reported the upcoming pitching plans for the next couple of days that virtually leaked the starting rotation for the season.According to Abraham, Clay Buchholz will start in a minor league game tomorrow. On Thursday, Alfredo Aceves will start against the Toronto Blue Jays and Felix Doubront will start in a minor league game. On Friday, Daniel Bard will start against the Minnesota Twins.If all goes according to Abraham's plan, the rotation would be set up as Lester, Beckett, Buccholz, Doubront and Bard.Abraham notes that it probably isn't a coincidence that Doubront will pitch in a minor league game instead of starting against the ...