Spring schedule means Santana could pitch later in first week
By Marty Noble / MLB.com
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Now that the Mets know exactly when Johan Santana will pitch in Spring Training, it also seems they know when he won't pitch in the regular season -- Opening Day. And that's a full-fledged maybe. If rain doesn't interfere with the exhibition game schedule established Tuesday by pitching coach Dan Warthen, Santana is likely to pitch at some point in the first week. Opening Day isn't likely. But neither Santana nor his coach discounted the possibility.
Each thought it was far more important that the pitcher had experienced no recurrence of the left elbow stiffness that was the genesis of the uncertainty in the two days since his 31-pitch bullpen season. And to worry about precisely when Santana will pitch in the regular season was a case of putting the start before the horse.
"All we want is for Johan to make all the starts he's supposed to make," Warthen said Tuesday. "He's our horse. Yes, we'd prefer to know exactly when, but the bigger deal is if. And it looks like we're moving past the if now. That's good."
Santana was pleased by how his arm responded to his Sunday session, and he too was not all that worried about Opening Day. All that is certain now -- as certain as any Spring Training plan that is subject to the weather -- is that the plan calls for him to throw in the bullpen Wednesday, Saturday and three days later, throw batting practice -- he has yet to face a hitter -- March 13 and make his first appearance in an exhibition game five days after that.
If Santana starts every fifth day thereafter -- and an off-day on March 23 will necessitate some finagling -- he will make merely four appearances and probably get his pitch count to only about 75 before the end of the exhibition schedule. It is important to note that he already is behind and will fall further behind before he begins to pitch.
Yet Warthen and manager Jerry Manuel have noted several times each that Santana is uncommonly strong and well conditioned, so he might be ready to compress his preparation time. And both have said they don't want to push him.
So there it is, all laid out. And Santana wondered Tuesday whether it was necessary to know about the first week of April during the first week of March. He decided it probably wasn't.
Jeter enjoys win at Yankees' expense
Dual captain's two RBIs help Team USA prevail in exhibition
By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com
TEAM USA 6, YANKEES 5 at Tampa, Fla. Tuesday, March 3
Team USA at the plate: Playing against the Yankees for the first time in his career -- save for a random scrimmage -- Derek Jeter gave Team USA the lead in the top of the third inning, coming through with a two-run single to center field. In the sixth, Adam Dunn knocked in Jeter with the third U.S. run on a bases-loaded Angel Berroa error, and Kevin Youkilis tacked on a two-run single to open up a 6-1 lead.
Yankees at the plate: Continuing his bid to be New York's Opening Day center fielder, Brett Gardner had another strong showing, stroking hits in his first three at-bats -- including a double -- while stealing a base and scoring a run. The Yankees put up a first-inning run, as Gardner singled, moved to third on Mark Teixeira's hit to right and came home on Jorge Posada's RBI bloop single to shallow left field. Nick Swisher popped a two-run ground-rule double in the sixth.
Team USA on the mound: Taking the ball for the first of Team USA's three exhibitions, Roy Oswalt worked 3 2/3 innings, allowing one run on four hits. The Astros right-hander walked one and struck out two, throwing 50 pitches (32 strikes). Brad Ziegler relieved and turned in 1 2/3 innings of scoreless, two-hit ball, striking out three. Matt Thornton allowed three runs in the sixth inning.
Yankees on the mound: Working on his curveball, starter Phil Hughes went 2 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on three hits. The right-hander walked none and struck out two, throwing 41 pitches (25 strikes). Phil Coke was next and hurled 2 1/3 scoreless frames, but Eric Hacker allowed four runs in the sixth inning, walking two while throwing a wild pitch and hitting a batter.
Up next: Team USA will play the second of its three pre-World Baseball Classic exhibitions on Wednesday, traveling to Dunedin Stadium to face the Toronto Blue Jays at 1:05 p.m. ET. Left-hander Ted Lilly will start for Team USA against lefty Brad Mills.
The Yankees will return to Grapefruit League play on Wednesday, traveling to Lake Buena Vista, Fla., to meet the Atlanta Braves in a 1:05 p.m. ET start. Right-hander Ian Kennedy will get his second nod for New York, opposing righty Kenshin Kawakami. Among the players in the Yankees' lineup will be Johnny Damon, Gardner and Xavier Nady.
Unit's seven strikeouts highlight win
Velez, Sandoval go yard in Giants' comeback victory
By Chris Haft / MLB.com
GIANTS 7, DIAMONDBACKS 6 at Scottsdale, Ariz. Wednesday, March 3
D-backs at the plate: Arizona roared to a 5-0 lead, shattering a scoreless tie by scoring twice in the fourth inning on RBI singles by Chris Roberson and Josh Whitesell. The D-backs added three runs in the fifth on Justin Upton's RBI triple and Kevin Frandsen's accompanying throwing error, followed by Miguel Montero's RBI single.
Giants at the plate: San Francisco broke a 5-5 tie in the eighth. Jesus Guzman lashed an RBI double off the right-center-field fence and scored on Jake Wald's soft single. Earlier, power helped the Giants erase their five-run deficit. Eugenio Velez homered in the fifth before the Giants pulled even with a four-run sixth. Pablo Sandoval lashed a two-run homer, Velez contributed a run-scoring groundout and Andres Torres lined an RBI single.
D-backs on the mound: Starter Doug Davis threw two perfect innings, striking out one. It was a nice recovery for Davis, who allowed six runs (five earned) in 1 1/3 innings in his previous outing. Jon Rauch worked a scoreless third inning before the shutout dissolved against Tony Barnette, who pitched the next two innings.
Giants on the mound: Randy Johnson looked ready for the regular season, yielding two hits in three shutout innings. The left-hander struck out the side in the first and third innings while totaling seven. Luis Perdomo, a Rule 5 selection, worked the ninth to record the save.
Cactus League records: Giants 3-4; D-backs 4-3
Up next: The Giants travel to Glendale, Ariz., on Wednesday to play their longtime rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers, who thrashed them, 16-7, last Thursday. Barry Zito will oppose fellow left-hander Clayton Kershaw. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. PT.
The D-backs will have a busy day, as Brandon Webb will start in an exhibition at Tucson Electric Park against Team Mexico, which is preparing for the World Baseball Classic. Game time is 5:05 p.m. MT. This will be the first spring outing for Webb, who was scratched from his previous turn with forearm stiffness. Arizona also will play a morning "B" game against Colorado at Hi Corbett Field.
