Yordan Alvarez’s lingering hand soreness has continued to bother the Astros slugger this spring, yet Alvarez took a noteworthy step today when he hit the batting cage to take some soft-toss swings. Alvarez emerged from the session with no problems, though manager Dusty Baker didn’t give reporters (including the Houston Chronicle’s Chandler Rome) any hints about Alvarez’s next steps. Neither Baker or Astros GM Dana Brown have seemed overly concerned about Alvarez’s injury, and in lieu of any other developments, it would appear as though the ALCS MVP will be in the Astros’ lineup come Opening Day.
More updates on other injury situations from around the American League…
- Dylan Moore has yet to play this spring as he recovers from offseason core surgery, but the Mariners utilityman is “closing in on playing,” according to GM Jerry Dipoto. In an interview on the Brock and Salk Show on Seattle Sports 710AM radio, Dipoto said Moore is on pace to be part of the Opening Day roster, and Moore is “now at full-go on the backfields and running, changing direction, and all those good things.” Dipoto also feels Tommy La Stella will be set for the Mariners’ opener, though La Stella has been battling an elbow injury. The team’s plan is to ease La Stella back into action as a DH, and then get him some fielding work in games early next week.
- Josh Winder threw a bullpen session on Wednesday and is slated for another bullpen during the weekend, the Twins told reporters (including Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune). Wednesday’s outing marked Winder’s first bullpen of the spring, as the right-hander has been bothered by a sore shoulder. This particular injury is especially troublesome for Winder given that shoulder problems also hampered him in each of the last two seasons, though if he is able to get back into game action relatively soon, he can still be an option for the Twins’ season-opening bullpen.
- A posterior knee muscle strain has sidelined Matt Vierling for the last few days, but the Tigers outfielder will be back to baseball-related activities as soon as this weekend, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press writes. Acquired from the Phillies as part of the Gregory Soto trade in January, Vierling is projected for regular duty in Detroit’s outfield this season, after being mostly a part-time player in his first two MLB seasons in Philadelphia.
The Ms are having a great spring, lots of experience being gained, and pretty much injury free.
This is the Mariners’ year.
M’s have a great rotation. Gonna be tough to dethrone the stros but they’re one of the 4-5 legit contenders in the AL.
Mariners year to do what?
La Stella would have been Marlon Brando’s favorite player.
The Mariners are dangerously thin on fielding depth, especially after learning Marlowe and Larsen may both end up on the IL, and Haggerty hasn’t played much to this point.
Easy to see them trading from their pitching depth for fielding depth, whether it’s a major-league player, or someone they can hold in reserve.
Yes indeed Stevil, I really worry about the depth at 3B and 1B. I think the current plan is to plug in La Stella at 3rd if Suarez is injured. I assume Evan White is Ty’s lifeline at 1B.
I’m not too worried about the OF depth. Cole Kalhoun must be imagining his Cactus League opponent Pitchers are wearing Seattle colors- he’s killing it this Spring. Cooper Hummel had another big day today
I don’t think they’re as worried about 1B as the rest of the infield. They have White & Ford to fall back on..
Kalhoun may never see Tacoma. Easy to see him being released to sign with another team if he doesn’t break camp with the Mariners.
They’re thin all the way around, at least for a little while. They won’t likely target a MLB player unless someone slotted for the active roster hits the IL, but it’s easy to see a utility player with options acquired.
*Calhoun
So far so good with Vierling. Hopefully more to come.
LaStella is injured. In other news, the sky is still blue.
Well that pretty well sums it up, La Stella makes the opening day roster. I wonder if he as well gets some of Haggerty God Father music? I hope he can put the hit in.,.. Baseball of course. Those who show up at the opener with salami, cheese, and cracker get a free autograph baseball card of either one of them. Check at the entrance gate for more details.
Winder’s stuff is great, but it’s clear that shoulder has serious issues. I’d suspect he’ll never be a starter at this point, but maybe he can at least figure out a way to stay pain free enough to carry a relief pitcher load?