David Wright plans on playing opening day plus more

"David Wright is refusing to make a public decree about Opening Day, but his words to his manager yesterday upon returning to the Mets revealed the third baseman’s mindset.

“He reassured me he’ll be ready,” Terry Collins said after the Mets’ 2-1 exhibition loss to the Braves at Tradition Field. “I’m not doubting him, but we certainly have to have a contingency plan in case he’s not. But he said, ‘I’ll be out there.’ ”

Wright was still sore after receiving a cortisone shot in his left rib cage area two days earlier, and physical activity remains off limits. It likely won’t be until the middle of this week that Wright will receive an idea of what activities he can resume after team doctors diagnosed him with a “moderate” intercostal strain on Friday."

Source: NYPost.com

Dice-K, Matt Capps wont make Indians opening day roster

"Not long after five players were sent back to the minor-league camp this morning, manager Terry Francona and General Manager Chris Antonetti had more player personnel news.

Catchers Brian Jeroloman and Omir Santos, infielder Luis Hernandez, outfielder Matt Carson, plus reliever Matt Capps and starter Daisuke Matsuzaka were informed they would not make the team out of spring training but were being kept in major-league camp.

""We talked to all those guys and told them that as of now they will not be breaking camp with us and going to Cleveland, but that they're staying in our camp,'' Francona said. ""We didn't want raise unrealistic expectations, and we thought it was respectful to tell them.''

Source: Ohio.com

Teixeira's injury more serious

"The injury that will keep New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira out of the lineup until May at the earliest is not a wrist strain, as originally reported, but a partially torn tendon sheath that could potentially require season-ending surgery.

As of now, the Yankees are still expecting Teixeira to heal without needing an operation and to rejoin the club after about 8-10 weeks of healing time. 

But Teixeira, who arrived at spring camp Sunday morning with his right wrist in a cast-like splint and will rehab there for the rest of the spring, raised the possibility that his absence could be longer than that."

Source: ESPN.com

Farrell still searching for DH

"David Ortiz did not take batting practice on Monday, at one point a hope for the Red Sox designated hitter who's battling right heel inflammation.

"I haven't been able to play and do what I'm supposed to do. It's not fun," Ortiz told reporters in Fort Myers. "Just trying to deal with it. The setback is what pretty much frustrates me the most, because you think you're doing the right thing to get better. It's like walking backwards. That's the part of this game I don't like. We're approaching it different and hopefully we get to the point we don't have to worry about it anymore."

Source: MLB.com

Kershaw has smooth but painful outing

"To Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly,Clayton Kershaw looks ready for his opening-day assignment — that is, unless his leg swells up overnight.

Kershaw was struck on his left Achilles tendon by a batted ball during what were otherwise six near-perfect innings Saturday against the Texas Rangers. David Murphy's fourth-inning line drive accounted for one of only two hits Kershaw gave up.

"It might be a little sore tomorrow," Kershaw said. "I'll ice it tonight. It should be fine."

Kershaw didn't give up any runs or walks in the Dodgers' 4-0 defeat, lowering his spring earned-run average to 3.79. His pitch count was set at 90, but he completed his six allotted innings in only 70. He finished his workday with some extra throws off the bullpen mound."

Source: LAtimes.com

Yu Darvish scratched from start

"Right-hander Yu Darvish will not start on Monday night as scheduled for the Texas Rangers because of neck stiffness.

Darvish strained a neck muscle during workouts on Sunday. In a statement issued by the club, Darvish said the strain was “very minor,” and he would have started if this were a regular-season game. With nearly two weeks remaining before the start of the regular season, the club and Darvish decided to take the conservative route.

“This is precautionary on my part,” Darvish said.

Manager Ron Washington said the club is not concerned about the injury. Darvish, who joined the club for pre-game work, probably will have a bullpen throwing session before his next start."

Source: Dallasnews.com

As Stephen Drew recovers, Red Sox need to pick starter

"The Red Sox didn’t think anything was wrong when Stephen Drew was hit in the head by a pitch from Minnesota’s Caleb Thielbar March 7.

The ball seemed to glance off his helmet and Drew went to first base without any delay. He later scored and stayed in the game for another two innings.

“That? It was nothing,” Drew said that day as he left the park."

Source: Boston.com

Sandoval doesn't think elbow injury is serious

"Pablo Sandoval moments ago said of his elbow injury, “I don’t think it’s something serious.”  It was serious enough for hi, m to be scratched from today’s lineup, and he said he’s sore when throwing and batting left-handed.

He said he’ll have tests tomorrow and wouldn’t give a possible timetable for his return. He felt something in the elbow, he said, when making a throw to second base on Saturday."

Source: SFgate.com

Chris Carpenter still unlikely to pitch again

"It took his wife and young son to convince Chris Carpenter to do what his Cardinals teammates could not.

On his way back from a family vacation in Puerto Rico, Carpenter stopped by this afternoon for the game and he plans to spend the rest of the week in the Jupiter area and around the Cardinals' spring training facility. He was resistant to visit — this is first spring without a training to attend since he was 18 — and text messages and invitations from teammates and coaches wouldn't lure him into town.

But his wife suggested the stop on the way home."

Source: Stltoday.com

Headley out a month with fractured thumb

"Padres third baseman Chase Headley, coming off one of the best seasons in franchise history, will miss the first month of the season after fracturing the tip of his left thumb on Sunday.

Headley, who won National League Silver Slugger and Gold Glove Awards in 2012, sustained what the Padres' medical staff initially termed a jammed thumb trying to break up a double play Sunday against the Angels in Tempe.

After an X-ray on Sunday, Headley visited a hand specialist in San Diego on Monday.

"You hate to see it happen," Padres manager Bud Black said. "It's unfortunate for Chase and the Padres."

The Padres open the regular season on April 1 against the Mets at Citi Field."

Source: MLB.com