Here is a look at the Spring Training News & Notes from Tuesday. The news & notes are focused on changes that affect players value as well as players coming back off of injuries or rookies that might make an impact.
Hitters:
Jose Bautista hit his third home run of the spring and is a good source of late game power in a draft as the starting right fielder for the Toronto Blue Jays if you team can support his low batting average.
Marlon Byrd might be able to retain his breakout numbers from last season as it looks like he will be hitting second in the Chicago Cubs line up after Ryan Theriot and in front of Derrek Lee.
After seeing 200 at bats in the one slot in the batting order in 2009, it looks like Aaron Rowand will be taking up full-time residence there in 2010, which should give him a boost in runs scored this season.
Pitchers:
Kris Medlen tossed three shutout innings with two strikeouts. I wrote about him last week in 2010 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers. The talent is there and he will get an opportunity at some point this year as a starter.
Joba Chamberlain was bombed, allowing six runs in 2 1/3 innings with three walks. History has shown that his numbers are much better as a relief pitcher so I have Phil Hughes penciled in for the fifth starter spot.
I put Neftali Feliz in the same boat as Joba right now. It does not look like Feliz will be making the transition to starter which limits his value if he is only a seventh or eighth inning set up man. He allowed four runs on four hits in two innings on Wednesday.
It looks like Ben Sheets still has some rust to shake off after allowing five runs in 2 2/3 innings for the Oakland A’s.
After missing part of the 2008 season and all of 2009, Jeff Francis is back on the hill for the Colorado Rockies. He tossed three shutout innings with two strikeouts on Wednesday.


