Update 3:00 PM – Adam Rubin reports that Johan Santana may not appear in a Grapefruit League game for at least two weeks because of elbow tightness, and the ace wouldn’t rule out missing an Opening Day start in Cincinnati on April 6. Original Post 10:17 AM – Newwsday is reporting that Johan Santana met with GM Omar Minaya and manager Jerry Manuel for 40 minutes this morning...

Redding Will Pitch Today – According to several reports, pitcher Tim Redding will throw a bullpen session today. It will be his first time pitching since he was shelved with some soreness ten days ago Just Call Him Babe – Bobby Kielty decided to abandon switch hitting yesterday and then came out to pinch hit in the ninth inning… The result was a Ruthian blast that.went for a...

Righthanded reliever Juan Cruz was signed by the Royals on Saturday. Cruz signed a two-year contract with an option for 2011. The deal was believed to be worth $2.25 million for this year, $3.25 million for 2010 and a club option for $4 million for 2011 with a $500,000 buyout. Cruz, 30, last season had a 4-0 record with a 2.61 ERA in 57 games for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He led all...

Two of the key players in the competition for the number five starter delivered performances that were on opposite sides of the spectrum. Freddy Garcia was slapped around for four runs in two-thirds of an inning. He walked three and allowed two hits before being removed from the game. Afterward, he spoke to reporters. “I’m always slow, but this year is different. I’ve got to be...

Great piece based on some nice information gathered from The Fielding Bible – Volume 2. In 2008, it wasn’t close.  The New York Mets clearly had the best defense, based on Defensive Runs Saved from The Fielding Bible–Volume II.  Outfielders saved 56 runs for the Mets last year.  Using the rule of thumb that the value of a win is about 10 runs, that’s five...

Johan Santana was supposed to make his spring debut today against the Cardinals, but he was bumped from that start on Wednesday because of a little soreness and tightness in his elbow. The plan was that we would be shipped until his next scheduled start on Tuesday, but now several sources have confirmed that he will not make that start either. David Lennon writes: Johan Santana already...