2012 MLB Regular Season Running Thread

http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120401&content_id=27818562&vkey=news_col&c_id=col

Speaking of guys who've been hurt a time or two, x-rays on Troy Tulowitzki's elbow came back negative after Ubaldo Jimenez drilled him with a pitch. Jimenez then challenged Tulowitzki to come after him.

There have been words back and forth between the two in the media since the Rockies traded Jimenez, who was pissed that the team gave extensions to Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez but not him after the 2010 season.

Of course, the Rockies are calling for disciplinary action to be taken against Jimenez, who was not ejected.

 

What's the over under for Nick Johnson.

 

I thought that passed the first day of spring training.

 

Didn't link this yesterday because I didn't think he was going to play much, but the Braves have acquired 3B Juan Francisco from Cincinnati for minor-league reliever J.J. Hoover. Manager Fredi Gonzalez says Francisco will start at third (at least until Chipper Jones returns), with Martin Prado going back to LF.

http://bit.ly/Hea8sq

Francisco's got a TON of power, but no plate discipline to speak of. Minor-league K-to-BB ratio of 591-to-99.

Still, he's just 24. And it's nice to see Atlanta trade for a young hitter with upside for once instead of trying to patch the lineup with re-treads like Troy Glaus, Matt Diaz and Garret Anderson like they've done in years past.

Plus, Dusty Baker hates him, so he's all right with me.

 

Twitter buzzing with reports that Joey Votto is about to agree to a $200 million-plus extension.

 

So much for the Dodgers going after Matt Cain next offseason. He just signed a 5-year, $100 million extension with San Francisco:

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/giants/2012/04/02/breaking-giants-cain-agree-on-5-year-extension/

 

Excellent. There was a lot of anxiety about that all spring.

Cain signed long-term, Lincecum through '14 '13 (at a hell of a price tag, but still, cost certainty), and by then the $ for Zito, Rowand and Huff are off the books.

 

Baseball is in really good financial shape, it seems. Teams have a ton of money and the price of players is inflating.

 

Cole Hamels tips his cap to Matt Cain.

 

Throw in Bumgarner and the Giants are set 1-2-3 for a few years. Then there's Zito ... and can anyone in that lineup hit?

 

Good point raised by Danny Knobler ... that of the three contenders in the NL Central, it was the Reds who were able to keep their stud first baseman:

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/danny-knobler/18248780/in-the-nl-central-votto-is-the-first-baseman-whos-staying

 

Jiminez suspended five games, according to Bob Nightengale on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/#/BNightengale/status/186937375853776896