AL East

Last season, when Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy both started out in the rotation, they combined for an 0-8 record and a 7.45 ERA. This season, it's not likely that either will open up in the rotation.

On one hand, you have a 28-year-old right fielder from Puerto Rico. On the other hand, you have a 25-year-old, right fielder from America.

They are Alex Rios of the Toronto Blue Jays and Nick Markakis of the Baltimore Orioles.

As of now, Markakis has certainly had the better career, but certain players definitely develop faster then others.

Both players are five-tool talents, they both have rocket arms in the outfield, speed on the base paths, power in their swings, man their corner outfield spot well, and both know how to put the ball in play.

Source: mlb.com

RAYS 3, PHILLIES 2
at Port Charlotte, Fla.
Thursday, March 12

Vernon Wells tested his left hamstring on Wednesday and reported that he felt good.  I always tend to be a little suspicious of what the athletes tell the media. He’s trying to come back from his second hamstring injury in a year to this hamstring. I’m sure the Jays are going to be cautious at this stage of the season.

From the AP:

Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon compared former teammate Manny Ramirez to cancer, saying Boston made the right decision when it traded the slugging left fielder to the Los Angeles Dodgers last summer.

2008 Record: 68-94

Key Additions

Ryan Freel, Felix Pie, Cesar Izturis, Ty Wigginton, Rich Hill, Gregg Zaun

A big part of the reason the Yankees missed the playoffs last year was all the injuries they had to deal with during the season.

A big part of their season this year is going to be how they bounce back from them, if they can bounce back at all. Most specifically, how four players, Hideki Matsui, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera and Alex Rodriguez, who all had surgery can recover from them.

This is a follow up on my "Bring Back 'Kitty'" post from Tuesday.

Turns out Jim Kaat will be back in the booth this year, but it won't be for the YES Network. He mentioned in his most recent blog entry that he will be doing some games for the MLB Network.

Players with 0-3 years of major league service time signed contracts today. This is how it broke down for the Yankees:

Cody Ransom: $455,100
Joba Chamberlain: $433,000
Jose Veras: $432,975
Edwar Ramirez: $422,450
Brett Gardner $414,000
Ian Kennedy: $408,925
Phil Hughes: $407,650
David Robertson: $406,825
Jonathan Albaladejo: $403,075
Phil Coke: $403,300
Francisco Cervelli: $400,700
Wilkin De La Rosa: $400,000
Michael Dunn: $400,000
Christian Garcia: $400,000
Eric Hacker: $400,000

New York Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon barely hesitated long enough for the reporter's question to be completed before he tossed his answer forward.

When asked to name the most athletic player on the entire Yankee roster, Damon emphatically answered, "Cody Ransom."

After the reporter seemed slightly taken aback by his response, Damon added, "Have you been to YouTube yet?"