Buster Olney of ESPN has a blurb in his daily blog. He is hearing the concerns about Albert Pujols' health are very real. I know I have already decided to not pick him in fantasy baseball drafts. What I haven't decided at what point I would take Pujols?
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On Grant Paulsen's "Minors & Majors" program on XM Radio, John Manuel of Baseball America offered the Angels' Nick Adenhart as a dark horse ROY candidate. Adenhart has a lot to overcome with the Yankees' Joba Chamberlain and the Red Sox' duo of Jacoby Ellsbury and Clay Buchholz set to dominate the headlines, but I know I'd rooting for Adenahrt to surprise.
Mr. Manuel pegged Joba at the favorite. Two 80 pitches on the 20-80 scouting scale is too much to overcome.
Additionally, he pegged Red 1B Joey Votto's chances of starting on Opening Day at 5%. He cited Hatteberg's experience and performance as too much for Votto to overcome. I wasn't surprised. What did surprise me is Mr. Manuel's contention that Votto doesn't have enough power.
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On Chris "Mad Dog" Russo's Saturday radio program on WFAN, he interviewed Giants' manager Bruce Bochy. In a response to Russo's question about the trio of young OFers competing for rosters spots (Fred Lewis, Rajai Davis & Nate Schierholtz), Bochy admitted some challenge getting all three enough time. Bochy said Aaron Rowand and Randy Winn were going to play everyday. That left Dave Roberts as a likely platooner. The OF Bochy mentioned as his mate? Rajai Davis.
Davis should be kept on the sleeper list of any NL-only leagues and watched in mixed ones looking for mid-season SBs. FWIW, Fred Lewis is out of options, so expect Schierholtz to open the season in AAA or to see Lewis dealt.