Daily Thoughts

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone. MLB does a nice job using pink bats to support breast cancer awareness on Mother's Day, I bet that they could incorporate green baseballs in spring training games today to support another good cause. A green ball might royally screw up a hitter's timing but maybe make it light green? I think I'd prefer to watch a few green baseballs thrown around to eating green bagels this morning.

• Zach Wheeler. Ouch. This is terrible news for Mets fans who after patiently waiting all last season to see Harvey/Wheeler atop the rotation have to wait another year. On the other hand, as far as the 2015 season is concerned, it likely doesn't move the needle much. Wheeler is a solid young pitcher with great pedigree but he was also only worth 1.8 fWAR last season. Dillon Gee, Noah Syndergaard, Rafael Montero and co. should hold down the fort well enough. This injury won't necessarily be the reason why the Mets make or miss the playoffs...but it still hurts. 

• Tony Cingrani, who was quite good in 2013 before struggling last year will be moved to the bullpen on the Reds this season. Cingrani has always struggled a bit against right-handed hitters (career .334 wOBA against) but he should dominate lefties (.254 wOBA against) while being more than a classic LOOGY (lefty one out guy). However, in the grand scheme of things this move doesn't mean much as I don't believe Jason Marquis and Paul Maholm will be throwing 200 solid innings for the Reds this year. Cingrani's one pitch profile and inability to get out opposite handed hitters consistently might lead to him being a full time reliever at some point in his career, but I would still expect to see him in the rotation this year. For more news on this, see Dave Cameron's take on Bryan Price playing it safe.

• Who is your favorite Patrick baseball player? Pat Neshek, Pat Hentgen. Patrick Corbin, Pat Burrell, Pat Borders, Pat Listach, Pat Kelly, Pat Rapp? There are many Pats but few Patricks besides Mr. Corbin. However, if we allow middle names, we get some very good players and more current players in Jim Patrick Edmonds, Joseph Patrick Mauer, Joshua Patrick Beckett, Ian Patrick Kennedy. 

• Any time people are vague about an injury, I get a little nervous. Anthony Rendon sprained his knee on March 9th and Matt Williams recently said "you do run out of time eventually." Assuming he's referring to making it back to the lineup for Opening Day, this news doesn't sound too promising. On March 11th we were told Rendon hurt his knee but won't miss much time, on March 13th we were told Rendon will rest a few days and on March 17th we find out we're not sure when he's coming back from a sprained MCL. It's a long season and if the Nationals intend to make it a strong one they will need a healthy Rendon. If he misses a few games in April, so what.

• Fun with spring stats: Kris Bryant leads with six homers. Dee Gordon's five stolen bases and seven attempts are the most thus far this spring. I guess hitters gonna hit and runners gonna run. TJ House is having a strong spring with 10 strikeouts against no walks and which should help him gain control of the Indians fifth starter role. In 102 innings pitched last season, House was quite good pitching to a 3.53/3.69/3.10 ERA/FIP/xFIP pitching line with a strong 3.64 K/BB ratio. The next Kluber has to come out of Cleveland, right?