Out of the Dugout

It was great to see the bottom line while watching college basketball last night and actually see baseball scores scrolling across the bottom line, rather then being beaten to death on the Roger Clemens story.

It was a quiet today on the field yesterday as only five games were on the schedule, as the majority of the teams will take to the field today.

The Tigers got a look at Jeremy Bonderman yesterday as he tried to rebound from a disappointing 2007 season in which he compiled an ERA over 5. http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=C4&Date=20080227&Category=SPORTS02&ArtNo=802270803&Ref=PH&Profile=1048

Bonderman gave up two runs in two innings, it's obviously way to early to read anything into a spring performance but the Tigers will need to get some production from Bonderman this year if they expect to hold off the Indians.

Another interesting note regarding this game is that Miguel Cabrera blasted a home run in his first spring training at bat for the team. Cabrera has played his entire career in relative obscurity in Florida, and for the first time in his career will be faced with some pressure to perform.

The Reds took on the Phillies yesterday and Jamie Moyer took the mound as he prepares to start his 22nd big league season. Moyer looked impressive, but that's not the big news as he's virtually going to be guaranteed a spot in the rotation.


The Reds gave the ball to Jeremy Affeldt who is trying to latch on to a spot in the starting rotation. Reds writer John Fay has a good article regarding the importance of this Spring Training for Affeldt. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20080228/SPT04/802280350/

Affeldt's stats were less then impressive as he gave up one run in two innings. Affeldt will be competing against a lot of promising young hurlers in the Reds rotation, so it's important he make good impressions on the Reds brass sooner rather then later.

In other news around the Majors, the Phillies announced that Brett Myers will be the opening day starter for the team. It's an interesting move by Charlie Manuel as Myers gets the nod over Cole Hamels who had an outstanding season last year. The move isn't so much interesting in the fact that Hamels isn't the guy, but that Myers despite being the opening day starter last season, only made three starts all season long. Myers of course was moved to the bullpen as they imploded during the month of April.

The move does mean one thing however, the Phillies will not be making that same decision this year despite the injury to Brad Lidge, who is expected to miss one month before returning to the Phillies.