2015 MLB spring training thread

Pete Abraham @PeteAbe · 14h14 hours ago
Pablo Sandoval just hit a ball over the batting cages in right field. Haven't seen that happen before.

 

Bochy hospitalized.
Giants Bochy has heart procedure after feeling discomfort

 

The A's have reliever Pat Venditte in camp -- he's a switch pitcher. Dominated AA last year with the Yankees (0.82 ERA in 22 IP), was serviceable in AAA (3.36 ERA in 56 IP). As much as Oakland plays the lefty-righty game, he could find a place.

Pat Venditte, Oakland A's righty, uh lefty -- he's both! - San Jose Mercury News

If he does make the majors, there's already a Pat Venditte Rule -- the pitcher has to make his intention clear before each batter, then has to finish that batter with the same hand. So we wouldn't see a repeat of this.

 

Greg Harris was a switch-pitcher, too. However, I think he only did it once in an MLB game, right at the end of the season when his team (the Expos?) were out of the playoff race.

He even had a specially made glove that he could switch back and forth.

 

Story says that's how Venditte got started -- when he was a kid, his dad gave him a Greg Harris two-handed model.

 

Rougned Odor.
All-time name list.

 

The Rangers just signed his brother, also named Rougned Odor — not to be confused with his father Rougned Odor, his uncle Rouglas Odor or his cousins Rouglas Odor, Rouglas Odor and Roberto Odor.

Rangers sign Rougned Odor -- younger brother of Rougned Odor - CBSSports.com

 

Free membership in the George Foremans club, too.

 

Tabitha Soren, ex-MTV reporter and wife of Michael Lewis, caught up with the 2002 Oakland A's "Moneyball" draft picks for a photo essay for this week's ESPN the Magazine:

The Old-School A's

Good stuff.

 

Source: Red Sox land Cuban prospect Moncada for $31.5M | MLB.com

Red Sox sign Cuban infielder Yoan Moncada for a reported $31.7 million, but the deal will actually cost them $63 million due to the penalty for exceeding the bonus pool for international signings.

Moncada may not stay at shorstop and he may not be ready this season, but everything I've heard and read places him as the best player to come to MLB from Cuba in decades.

 

They outbid the Yankees, who offered him $25 million, and a few other teams. Yankees believe him to be at least two years away from the majors.

 

The big thing about the Sox signing Moncada is that they now would possibly be willing to deal Xander Bogaerts (or minor leaguers Rafael Devers or Deven Marrero) in a package for Cole Hamels.