Shoving cameramen and doctoring baseballs failed to take a toll on Kenny Rogers’ shoulder, but it appears as though a blood clot will deny Detroit the services of their left-handed ace for the first half of the season. MLive’s Danny Knobler reports Chad Durbin will now assume a spot in the Tigers’ rotation.
While Da Edge made the Mets’ big league roster, there’s some good news for the hitters of the Pacific Coast League. The Daily News’ Adam Rubin writes that Chan Ho Park (3 scoreless innings today, 5 K’s against the Fish) has accepted the Mets’ assignment to Triple-A New Orleans.
Congrats to journeyman IF Jason Wood, 37, who was added to the Marlins opening day roster in his 16th year of pro ball. Wood’s tale of perseverance should provide some solace to Mark Prior, who upon being assigned to the Iowa Cubs, set a goal of making the Triple-A All Star Game. Baby steps, Mark, baby steps.
Carl Pavano was named the Yankees’ opening day starter, and WFAN’s Sweeney Murti says “it’s time to stop kicking dirt” on the right-hander. Of course, Murti makes said statement after outlining —- in detail — many of the major world events that have occured since the last time Pavano started a game in the big leagues on June 25, 2005.
The Chicago Tribune’s Phil Rogers felt very comfortable summing up the tone in Mets’ camp, but Mike Steffanos was quick to point out,
(Orlando) Hernandez pitched poorly his first outing, but he hasn’t had a horrible spring. The day before this column ran, El Duque gave up an unearned run in 6 strong innings. Maine and Perez had been pitching great, as you all know, which would hardly qualify Pelfrey as “the one bright spot.” If you were looking to pan the Mets, as Rogers obviously was, there certainly are legitimate issues to talk about. Instead, he more or less made up the ‘facts’ he used to make his argument.
Japan Baseball Daily reports ESPN is working on a documentary about Bobby Valentine’s Chiba Lotte Marines. I don’t know exactly what Bobby is doing in the photograph above, but if Charles Perez was allowed to host a chat show, I don’t suppose it would be that hard a gig.