Picked Off: Spring Training Boxscores 2/28/2009

1B Kevin Millar, Toronto Blue Jays:  He hit clean-up and played 1B.  I fully expect Millar to get 300+ ABs this season.  The only question is who is going to lose them.  1B Lyle Overbay? OF/DHs Travis Snider and Adam Lind?

SP Brian Matusz, Baltimore Orioles:  Last year's 4th overall draft pick threw an inning and two thirds against what looks like the Florida Marlins regular line-up.  He struck out three and allowed no runs.  The Orioles are a lot closer to surpassing the Toronto Blue Jays than a quick glance at their expected Opening Day rotation would lead anyone to believe.

OF Brandon Moss, Pittsburgh Pirates:  Following off-season knee surgery, one did not know if he'd be ready for Opening Day.  Instead, he has played in three Spring Training games, and March has not yet arrived.  Keep an eye on him in NL-Only or deep mixed leagues.  In 236 ABs, he had 26 extra base hits.

OF Denard Span, Minnesota Twins:  He went 0-4, but, more importantly, he was taking pitches at the top of the order.  I feel a little more comfortable that last season's .397 OBP is reliable.

SP Joba Chamberlain, New York Yankees:  In the first game started by one of the expected rotation members, Chamberlain was up in the zone against the six batters he faced.  He was hit hard, too.  Maybe that had something to do with the 88 MPH being reported on the YES gun.

SP Carl Pavano, Cleveland Indians:  The one dubbed "American Idle" by George King of the NY Post (and relentlessly referred to as such to the point of recollection of junior high) threw two shutout innings.  However, he struck out nobody.  Even if healthy, remember Pavano was no better than a 6.0 K/9 starter.

RP Roy Corcoran, Seattle Mariners:  Call me crazy, but I watch the 5th inning reliever in the first week of Spring Training to get an idea of who is closing.  Corcoran threw that inning after Miguel Batista threw two shutout innings following the two frame start of Carlos Silva.

P James McDonald, Los Angeles Dodgers: The other September call-up to dazzle in last season's play-offs threw two shutout innings and k'ed three.  Of course, the line-up he faced was much closer to the starting line-up of the Colorado Springs Rockies rather than the Colorado Rockies.