Rodriguez Lifts Off; Cueto Sharpens Up for Reds

Players of the Day for Sunday, March 6, 2010

American League

Alex Rodriguez

Alex Rodriguez hit his first home run of the Spring, and the NY Yankees punished seven Houston pitchers for 21 hits in a 10-8 Yankee win. The Houston hurlers must have been getting the ball over the plate, because, despite recording seven strikeouts, they did not walk a single batter.

A-Rod returns for his 8th season in pinstripes, surpassing the seven years he spent with Seattle, where he began his MLB career. Rodriguez spent three seasons as a Texas Ranger before joining the Yankees.

Rodriguez returns off a pair of 30-home run seasons, and has lost time to injuries in each of the past three campaigns. He played in 137 games last year. Turning 36 this year, Rodriguez is the leading active player in home runs and RBI, with 613 and 1831, respectively.

Currently 6th on the all-time career home run list, he should top recently-retired Ken Griffey Jr.'s 630 homers and is 47 behind Willie Mays, at 660. Rodriguez finished 1 RBI better than Manny Ramirez in RBIs all-time and should surpass many great ones this season, including Griffey, Carl Yastrzemski, Ted Williams, Dave Winfield and Mel Ott. Willie Mays is 1oth on the list at 1903. Rodriguez is currently #17.

National League

Johnny Cueto

Johnny Cueto gave up just one hit and a walk over three innings and the next five Cincinnati pitchers - all working an inning each - no-hit the Cubs in a 10-0 Reds' whitewash.

Donnie Joseph, the final Reds pitcher, allowed a hit and a walk in the 9th, but fanned two batters to preserve the shutout.

Cueto, who was 12-7 with a 3.64 ERA last season, was one of the reasons the Reds captured the Central Division and is expected to remain a solid force in the Cincinnati rotation this season.

The latest work was an improvement for Cueto. In his first start, over three innings he only allowed two hits, but both of them were home runs.

Blackburn Perfect for 3; Gonzalez 3-for-3 in Win over Royals

Players of the Day for Saturday, March 5, 2011

American League

Nick Blackburn

Nick Blackburn no-hit the Tampa Bay Rays for three innings, striking out two, and six other Minnesota pitchers held the Rays to three hits for the game as the Twins won, 6-1.

Blackburn, beginning his 4th full season with the Twins, has had up-and-down seasons thus far, going 32-36 with a 4.10 ERA.

The Twins are hoping that Blackburn will become more consistent in 2011 as he has normally good control but has been streaky.

National League

Carlos Gonzalez

The Colorado Rockies outlasted Kansas City in a 10-9 exhibition game victory as Carlos Gonzalez found his groove.

Gonzlaez rapped out a pair of singles and a double in three at-bats, drove in one run and scored twice in the game. He had been in a 1-for-6 slump to start Spring training.

A big part of the Rockies' success in 2010, Gonzalez hit 34 homers and drove in 117 runs for the Rockies, a late-season surge nearly capturing the NL MVP award. He did cache some hardware, however, earning the MLB Players Choice Player of the Year and NL Most Outstanding Player in addition to the Silver Slugger award, a Rawlings Gold Glove and won MLB.com's Breakout Player of the Year.

Ryan Howard Bombs for Phillies; Bartolo Colon Sharp in Comeback Bid

 Players of the Day for Friday, March 4, 2011

American League

Bartolo Colon

Bartolo Colon, attempting to make a comeback after a full year absence from baseball, worked three solid, scoreless innings in a tune-up against a former team, the Boston Red Sox. Though the Red Sox won the game by a 5-3 score, Colon appeared to have most pitches working, allowing two hits and no walks while fanning five batters.

Once one of baseball's most dominant pitchers, Colon has only started 48 games since 2005 and is a combined 14-21 over a span of four seasons. After going 3-6 with Boston in 2009, Colon worked in the Dominican Winter League in hopes of making it back to the majors. He was the AL Cy Young award winner in 2005, when he compiled a 21-8 record with the Anaheim Angels.

National League

Ryan Howard

Philadelphia improved to 4-3 in the Grapefruit League with a 7-4 win over Pittsburgh as slugger Ryan Howard went yard for the first time this Spring.

Howard broke a 2-2 tie with his solo shot in the 6th inning and singled home another run, going 2-for-3.

One of baseball's best power hitters, Howard had somewhat of a down year - for him - in 2010, hitting just 31 homera and driving in 108 runs. From 2006 to 2009, Howard averaged 49.5 home runs and 141 RBI.

Davis Doubles Twice, Homers for Rangers; McGehee Smacks Third Spring Homer

Players of the Day for Thursday, March 3, 2011

American League

Chris Davis

Ian Kinsler rapped his third homer of the exhibition season and Chris Davis doubled twice and homered, driving in three runs and scoring a pair as the Rangers pounded out 15 hits in an 11-9 win over Cleveland.

Davis appears to be headed for a battle over full time duty as either the Rangers' 1st baseman, 3rd baseman or DH. In the mix are Mitch Moreland, who seems the choice at first, Michael Young, who can play 1st, 3rd or DH and Adrian Beltre, a solid glove and potent bat at third.

Whichever way the defending AL Champs align their infield, the Rangers, as usual, appear to be loaded with power hitters.

National League

Casey McGehee

Milwaukee third baseman Casey McGehee continues to swing a hot bat in the pre-season, knocking his third homer (a solo shot) and going 2-for-2 as the Brewers topped the A's by an 11-9 score.

The Brewers banged out 17 hits, including three doubles and five homers. McGehee is batting .556 (5-for-9) this Spring.

Milwaukee is seeking a return to the playoffs after missing out the past two years. They were the wild card in 2008, edging out the Mets by a game with a 90-72 record despite finishing 7 1/2 behind the Cubs in the NL Central division.