I wanna heal, I wanna feel like I’m close to something real
I wanna find something I’ve wanted all along
Somewhere I belong.
It's not a lock that it'll be B.J. Ryan charging out of the Rogers Centre bullpen in the ninth to the dulcet tones of Slipknot. Concerns about the big lefty's lack of velocity this spring means he may be sharing the closer's role with fellow southpaw Scott Downs.
UPDATE: 03/31 @ 6:30 P.M. - Jeremy Accardo and Joe Inglett have been demoted to Las Vegas.
The Beej had another rocky outing in Monday's 3-1 loss to the Yankees in Dunedin. He gave up a run on a triple and double and struck out one in the eighth inning. Meantime, Downs pitched a clean ninth. Jason Frasor wound up with the loss by giving up the winning run in the seventh on three hits.
Startingwise, despite a few too many free passes, lefty David Purcey had a solid six innings in which he issued five walks but allowed just a run on two hits and plunked a batter (Hideki Matsui). One, plunking a Yankee is not the worst thing in the world and two, it doesn't count against your WHIP! Purcey lowered his spring ERA to 1.54.
At the plate, Marco Scutaro had an RBI double in the sixth off Andy Pettitte to score Michael Barrett. Adam Lind had a two night afternoon and John McDonald was 1-for-1 at the dish when he replaced Scutaro late in the game. The struggles continue for Kevin Millar, who's hitting .182 this spring and Lyle Overbay is not much better with a .212 mark. Travis Snider was 0-for-3 but is still batting .362. Scott Rolen has also had a nice Grapefruit League session with a .321 average but he was thrown out at third by new Yankees center fielder Brett Gardner.
Tonight, rookie lefty Brad Mills will pitch against Philadelphia in Clearwater against Brett Myers in a 7:05 EDT start. Mills and righty Scott Richmond are dueling for the final spot in the rotation. The winner will join Roy Halladay, Jesse Litsch, David Purcey and Ricky Romero in the starting five.
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In other TDIB notes........
*The Tigers have released 499 home run hitter Gary Sheffield.
* Phillies ace Cole Hamels will miss Opening Day with a sore elbow.
* Brewers closer Trevor Hoffman is on the 15-day DL with a pulled oblique muscle.
* Some guy named Larry from Atlanta signed a new deal, hooray.
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20090331111826184