Andy LaRoche on Comeback Trail; Arizona Whips Padres with Chris Young

Players of the Day for Tuesday, March 8, 2011

American League

Andy LaRoche

The Oakland A's used the long ball strategy to whip the San Diego Padres Tuesday by a 6-2 final score. Home runs by Andy LaRoche, Michael Taylor and Anthony Becker all went yard.

For LaRoche, picked up from Pittsburgh by the A's in the off-season, it was his third homer of the Spring as he vies for the regular third baseman spot in Oakland.

LaRoche had a down year in 2010, hitting just four homers and driving in 16 runs in 102 games. His batting average was .206 in 247 at-bats, though he hit .258 in 150 games in 2009.

LaRoche may have an uphill battle for the starting job at third. Kevin Kouzmanoff is the regular, and he's coming off a productive season. LaRoche may end up as the DH or even at first base.

National League

Chris Young

Arizona's Chris Young banged out a double and his first home run of the Spring, drove in four runs and scored twice as the Diamondbacks plastered Cleveland's pitching staff for 22 hits in a 16-5 rout.

One could assume that the Indians need to work on their pitching, as they've given up 41 hits over the past two days, surrendering 19 in a 16-16 tie with the White Sox on Monday.

Young, the unheralded soul of the Diamondbacks, hit 27 home runs for Arizona last year, drove in 91 runs and stole 28 bases. Arizona finished far back in the NL West, in last place in 2010.