Here's a potpourri of news items as we head into the weekend…
- Chipper Jones talks to MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince about his recovery from knee surgery and his future in baseball. Jones was thinking of retirement last summer before, as Castrovince writes, "he started to hit like Chipper Jones again….And where the knee injury might have been the straw that broke the camel's back in June, in August, it served as a motivating factor to keep going."
- Laynce Nix has the been the subject of trade rumors, reports MLB.com's Bill Ladson. Nix has a .251/.293/.445 career slash line against right-handed pitching and the Astros are reportedly in the market for a left-handed bench bat. Nix is currently in the Nationals' Spring Training camp on a minor league contract.
- Star prospect Mike Trout is turning heads at the Angels' Spring Training camp, reports MLB.com's Lyle Spencer.
- The Rockies will look internally to replace the injured Aaron Cook, reports Troy Renck of the Denver Post. Already suffering from shoulder inflammation, Cook will be out until at least May due to a broken finger on his throwing hand.
- Tyler Kepner of the New York Times looks at the Rangers' offseason and how the team had a more-than-adequate "plan B" (Adrian Beltre) in mind when they failed to re-sign Cliff Lee.
- Jake Odorizzi might end up being the most important piece of the trade package the Royals received for Zack Greinke, says MLB.com's Dick Kaegel.
- Mariners manager Eric Wedge has brought a number of former Indians coaches and players with him to Seattle, writes Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
- Brandon Wood has struggled this spring, while Mark Trumbo has had a big camp for the Angels. Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles.com thinks Trumbo's emergence means that the out-of-options Wood's "days in an Angels uniform appear to be numbered."
- It was almost a year ago that Red Sox prospect Ryan Westmoreland underwent life-threatening brain surgery. Today, MLB.com's Evan Drellich writes that "doctors have already been amazed at the speed of his recovery" as Westmoreland is trying hard to regain both his basic motor skills and his baseball abilities.
My god who are the rockies kidding? Just release Cook now he is overpaid, always injured, no good performances when actually contributing, and has no trade value at this point. So go ahead O’Dowd, cut the cookie. If he had the audacity to do it to Hawpe then Cook shouldn’t be a problem.
And while you’re at it start shopping Ian Stewart. Minor collision on day 1 of spring and he is treating it as if he needs to miss the season. If they are serious about overtaking the Giants then they are going to have to cut the chemistry crap and make some moves.
Westmoreland had all the scouts excited, comparing him to Sizemore. I pray he just gets to a point to live life normally and it would be an amazing day to see him play baseball again (even if it isn’t with the Sox)
What’s encouraging is that if you read the article, doctors are already “saying” that he WILL live a normal life..and that it just remains to be seen whether his baseball skills will eventually return to their previous level. With the progress he’s made, I certainltly wouldn’t discount the possibility..I know I’m rootin for him.
I just got one thing to say what kinda of grown man goes by chipper , great ball player (HOF) but come on. chipper? really
Larry Wayne Jones Jr. takes too long to say.
that makes him sound more like a jazz pianist , rather than a ball player , so chipper it is
Hopefully you didn’t just think of this, since he’s been around since 1993.
no ive just been waiting for the right moment when mlbtr mentioned larry wayne jones jr
Westmoreland is a great story. Cutting open his brain only to return to playing baseball? Too bad doctors can’t do that (legally) to Milton Bradley.
Well ‘ya see, there has to be something in there to cut open. It just so happens that isn’t the case with Mr. Bradley.
Ummm no. They cut open his brain to let him live a normal life. He has lost his vision and hearing a few days prior to surgery.
EDIT: Eh, ignore what I said. I misread your comment.
Yeah I probably should have put a comma in there between “brain” and “only”. Wasn’t my intention to imply that the only reason for undergoing radical brain surgery was to play ball.
I’m pulling extra hard for Westmoreland. He’s a native Rhode Islander like myself.
I hope to see Brandon Wood move on from LA. I think he needs a change of venue to maybe jump start his career. Would like to see the Braves bring him in as Chippers eventual replacement when he goes down again this year.
AND WATch the second he leaves anahiem he will become the player everyone was projecting him to be…
hah
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Then everytime we talked about Wood we could use Dennis Green’s line, “He is who we thought he was” (replacing they with he).
This kid, Westmoreland, is tough. He will be back because the brain heals, allbeit slowly, but it heals..and the rest of his body is the same as it was…. Give him a year and he will be good as new…just watch!