Josh Barfield vince la competizione per il 25 posto a roster, sarà il 13 position player ed il pinch runner e l'occasionale 5 OF.
Tutto abbastanza previsto.
Per l'ultimo posto nel bullpen ieri male Jackson e molto bene Chulk che ha lanciato 3 scoreless inning ed ora è davanti nella corsa al posto..
Ma le migliori notizie sono queste di Terry Pluto del Plain Dealer:
It's a spring training, under-the-sun, life is great thing, so be patient with me ... but I watched Jake Westbrook throw off the mound in a bullpen session and you'd never guess that he had reconstructive elbow surgery last June 12. His fastball was in the upper 80s. He is beginning to throw a few breaking balls. Something can always go wrong, but so far, this is very promising.
Westbrook is extremely excited about his comeback. His goal is to be starting rehabilitation games in the minors by May and to be back with the Tribe by June 12 -- the one year anniversary of his surgery. If that happens and he is anything close to the guy who had a 3.12 ERA in his first five starts last season (or 46 wins between 2004-06), the rotation can suddenly look a lot better.
Speriamo.
Mentre sul versante Hafner:
it has been agonizing to watch him try to regain his swing. The numbers really do tell the story: .225, two extra-base hits (doubles) in 40 at-bats. He seldom pulls the ball and has not come close to a home run.
Ho l'idea che non vedremo un Hafner versione 2007 ne 2008...ma sarà una specie di versione 2009. Non mi stupirei di vederlo in DL dovesse faticare tanto all'inizio. Brutte notizie, ma su di lui non ne sono mai arrivate di troppo incoraggianti negli ultimi mesi.
Se dovesse faticare come lo scorso anno e LaPorta dovesse far bene in AAA non ci sarebbe nulla di strano in vedere LaPorta DH per fine giugno.
