MLB Update - 3/3/2009

• Phillies manager Charlie Manuel was disappointed that the Phillies did not have a .300 hitter during their World Series season. Manuel is a former hitting coach and seems to take it personally that the team underperformed a bit at the plate in 2008.
• Freddy Garcia has not thrown well in spring training for the Mets and was rocked in his first start. He is competing with Livan Hernandez, Tim Redding and Jonathon Niese for New York's 5th starter spot. Hernandez seems to have the inside track to the job.
  
• The Mets are being cautious with SP Johan Santana. He has felt soreness in his arm and elbow while throwing. He has been scratched from his Grapefruit league start and was to head back to New York for precautionary tests.
  
• Longtime White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko said he'd be open to a trade if Chicago is not in contention come August.
• The Cardinals are a bit beat up. Troy Glaus had shoulder surgery and is expected to miss all of March and April. Utilityman Brendan Ryan, who is battling for the 2B or 3B job, has a sore wrist. Former OFs Joe Mather and Skip Schumaker are getting time at third and second, respectively.
• Fomer closer Joe Borowski has decided to retire.
• Oakland first baseman Daric Barton has missed the first few spring training games as he recovers from offseason hip surgery.
• Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers, his only suitor, are yet to agree on a contract despite Ramirez's agent, Scott Boras, claiming that he'd be in camp before the spring training games began. Ramirez recently declined the Dodgers 2-year, $45 million offer.
• In other Dodgers news, they did sign utilityman Doug Mientkiewicz to a minor league deal.
  
• Cubs OF Alfonso Soriano claims he his healthier than he has been in recent years and plans to run much more this season, hoping for 30 or more steals.
• The Royals opening day starter will come down to Zack Greinke and Gil Meche, who has made the opening day start the past two seasons.
• The Diamondbacks - specifically OF Chris Young and newly signed 2B Felipe Lopez - are expected to run more this season than they did in 2008. Diamondback steals dropped off last year and the team missed the playoffs.
• Twins SP Boof Bonser had exploratory surgery the other day but the results came back worse than expected. Bonser has a torn labrun amd rotator cuff and will miss at least six months and more likely all of the 2009 campaign.
• Veteran SPs Bartolo Colon and Jose Contrearas are expected to round out the White Sox rotation. They have been battling young guns Clayton Richard and Jeff Marquez for the 4th and 5th starter spots.
• Phillies CF Shane Victorino is taking Grady Sizemore's spot on the United States roster for the World Baseball Classic, which kicks off tomorrow morning at 4:30 AM.
• Our friends at Nittanydelphia report that the Phillies will wear gold-trimmed opening day jerseys to commemorate their 2008 World Series Championship.
  

• SS Miguel tejada has been back and forth on his commitment to the Dominican Republic for the WBC, but has now decided he will play for th team.
• The Yankees rotation is coming into focus. Joba Chamberlain will be the 5th but his innings pitched will be monitored. It is believed he will be limited to 130-150 innings this season and could be skipped over during the first week of games.
• Veteran infielder Nomar Garciaparra has decided he will play for the Athletics or retire.
• SP Curt Schilling will decide soon if he will pitch in 2009. He has decided he'd like to pitch for the Rays or Cubs, if he returns.
• Washington Nationals GM Jim Bowden has resigned after a scandal involving skimming bonuses given to Latin American prospects.
• SS Orlando Cabrera has signed with the Oakland Athletics.
• And finally, the Phillies have released SP Adam Eaton. Eaton has sinced signed a minor league contract with the Orioles, with a chance to make the rotation (not likely).