Andy Pettitte makes spring debut and more

"Derek Jeter wasn’t the only Yankee to return to the field Wednesday night.

Andy Pettitte made his spring debut, allowing one run over three innings as the Yankees beat the Phillies, 6-2, at Steinbrenner Field. Pettitte gave up four hits and walked three, striking out three during his 58-pitch outing.

“It’s just good to get back out there and see somebody in a different uniform,” Pettitte said. “Stuff-wise, I didn’t feel great. I felt like my command wasn’t anywhere near where I wanted, but it’s good it gives you something to work on for the next time out.”

Pettitte’s next start will come at the Yankees’ minor-league complex on Monday, when the Bombers have an off-day. He’ll make two more starts after that as he tunes up for the season."

Source: NYDailynews.com

Charlie Manuel doesn't want to retire

"Charlie Manuel figures he has plenty of time to see his grandchildren, play golf and travel the world during the offseason.

Manuel, who is in the final season of his contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, made it clear he wants to continue as manager beyond this year. Retirement plans haven't even entered his mind.

"I still want to manage," Manuel told The Associated Press on Thursday. "I'm not ready for somebody to tell me to go home. I'm not ready to quit managing. I'm not ready to get out of the game."

Manuel is the franchise's all-time leader in wins and only the second manager to lead the Phillies to a world championship. It's widely assumed that Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg, the team's new third-base coach, will eventually replace him as the manager."

Source: ESPN.com

Johan Santana irons out issues with Mets

"Johan Santana, sitting in front of his locker at Tradition Field, had been speaking about the recent drama involving himself and the Mets for about five minutes when Jeff Wilpon came by and offered his hand.

“I’m getting old,” the lefty said on his 34th birthday.

“No you’re not,” Wilpon answered, smiling.

And that was the theme at Mets camp on Wednesday: All conflicts between Santana and the Mets are resolved, and everyone is friendly again. Whether that is true on the deepest levels, the mood had clearly changed in the clubhouse."

Source: NYDailynews.com

Marco Scutaro, thinking mans hitter

"The Giants picked up Marco Scutaro on July 27 in a trade so ho-hummish that his new teammates dubbed him Blockbuster. Ballplayers love irony.

Scutaro was not baseball's best http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/santana-mets-smooth-article-1.1287445-season pickup in 2012. He was the best late-season pick-up of any baseball season. Granted, I have not done much research on this (like zero), but come on, this might have been the greatest late-season pickup in any sport.

Why Brian Sabean didn't get any love from the Nobel Prize judges, I have no idea. East Coast bias?"

Source: SFgate.com

Henry Rodriguez important to Nationals bullpen

"The Washington Nationals are in an enviable position this spring: They have few unknowns. The lineup is complete. The starting rotation has been set since December. Players are entrenched at every position, save for a catcher returning from knee injury. Even the bench figures to be the same.

Then, there’s Henry Rodriguez.

Of all the known commodities on this team, Rodriguez is the enigma. The flame-throwing right-handed reliever can be extreme at either end of the spectrum, otherworldly stuff or mind-boggling wildness."

Source: Washingtonpost.com

Red Sox await word on Morales' back

"When spring training began, the Red Sox had a surplus of relievers, including three lefties with considerable major league experience.

The ranks have been thinned.

With Craig Breslow already slowed by soreness in his throwing shoulder, fellow lefty reliever Franklin Morales returned to Boston yesterday to have his cranky lower back examined at Mass General Hospital, manager John Farrell said today. The Red Sox are awaiting the results to determine whether Morales' injury is more than merely inflammation. Regardless, Morales has pitched in only one game and appears likely to open the season on the disabled list.

"He hasn't really made the improvements that we had hoped for," Farrell said."

Source: Bostonherald.com

Hamels tabbed as opening day starts for Phillies

"Cole Hamels has been an All-Star and a Most Valuable Player in the World Series.

And now he'll get to start on Opening Day for the first time.

The Phillies announced Thursday that Hamels, who won 17 games last year, will be on the mound when they open their season April 1 against the Braves at Turner Field. Hamels is 91-60 with a 3.34 ERA, and he's had a winning record in six of his first seven seasons.

Hamels has made at least 20 starts for the Phillies in each of his first seven seasons, but he's never been the first name called out of the rotation. Roy Halladay started on Opening Day in each of the last three years for Philadelphia, and Brett Myers did the honors from 2007-09.

Hamels, the 17th overall pick in the 2002 First-Year Player Draft, has been impeccable this spring. The southpaw has started three times, notching a 2-0 record and a 0.90 ERA. Hamels has made 29 career starts in March and April, posting a record of 13-10 with a 3.74 ERA."

Source: MLB.com

Matt Harrison set for opening day star

"The toe is good to go and Matt Harrison appears to be on track to start Opening Day.

Harrison, who was scratched from his last scheduled start Saturday with inflammation on his second toe on his left foot, worked the first two innings of a ‘B’ game against the Royals on Tuesday morning.

He allowed two runs on four hits with one walk and two strikeouts over his two-inning, 37-pitch outing.

“The toe was good, no pain, no issues,” Harrison said. “Pitching, I felt great. This is the best I felt all spring and I think it’s because I didn’t have to worry about that issue and my legs were back under me and I was able to get better action than the past two games.”

Source: star-telegram.com

Nine to Know: The Giants win 2-0, Up 2-0

1. Just a thought for Tigers fans - The Giants won Game 2 of the World Series and held the Tigers to two hits and won 2-0. On October 5, 1962, in Game 2 of the World Series, the Giants held the Yankees in San Francisco to three hits and won 2-0.

• The winning pitcher for the Giants was Jack Sanford and the losing pitcher for the Yankees in Game 2 1962 was Ralph Terry.
• In Game 7, 1962, in San Francisco, the Yankees won, 1-0, and the winning pitcher was Terry, the loser was Sanford.

2. Last night was the 50th postseason game in which the losing team was held to two hits or less and the 24th in World Series play.

3. Madison Bumgarner was brilliant last night mixing his pitches and changing location while striking out eight.

1. In the 1st, Bumgarner struck out Austin Jackson looking at an 86 MPH slider.
2. In the 1st, Bumgarner struck out Omar Infante swinging at an 88 MPH slider.
3. In the 2nd, Bumgarner struck out Avisail Garcia swinging at an 88 MPH slider.
4. In the 3rd, Bumgarner struck out Doug Fister swinging at an 87 MPH slider.
5. In the 3rd, Bumgarner struck out Austin Jackson swinging at an 91 MPH four seamer.
6. In the 5th, Bumgarner struck out Delmon Young swinging at an 75 MPH curveball.
7. In the 6th, Bumgarner struck out Gerald Laird swinging at an 89 MPH four seamer.
8. In the 6th, Bumgarner struck out Omar Infante swinging at an 89 MPH four seamer.

4. Of the 52 teams to take a 2-0 lead in the World Series, 41 have gone on to win the title including 14 of the last 15.

5. The critical moment in this game came in the 2nd inning when Prince Fielder was thrown out at the plate with no one out. Had Tigers third base coach Gene Lamont made the correct call and held Fielder at third, Jhonny Peralta would have been the batter with runners on second and third and no out.

Peralta with runners on second and third and no out this season

• During the regular season, with a runner on third and less than two outs, Peralta was successful in getting the runner home 11 times (39%).
• During the season with runners on second and third and no out, Peralta was 7-for-24 (and two walks) with two doubles, one homer, four strikeouts, and seven RBI.

6. Now they know how the Yankees felt - In the ALCS, the Tigers pitchers had a 1.38 ERA and a 0.872 WHIP. In Games 1 and 2 of the World Series, the Giants pitchers had a 1.50 ERA and a 0.778 WHIP.

7. The Tigers always held lead sweeping the Yankees and have never held the lead in losing Games 1 and 2 of the World Series.

8. Striking out much?

• The Giants have struck out 16 times in the first two games of the Series with Hunter Pence, Gregor Blanco and Brandon Belt whiffing three times each. In 14 postseason games, the Giants have whiffed 106 times (7.57 strikeouts per game) with Brandon Belt whiffing 15 times and Hunter Pence whiffing 14 times.

• The Tigers have struck out 17 times in the first two games of the Series with Austin Jackson striking out four times and Omar Infante whiffing three times. In 11 postseason games, the Tigers have whiffed 86 times (7.81 strikeouts per game) with Austin Jackson whiffing 14 times and Omar Infante whiffing 12 times.

9. Time to shut up out

Postseason shutouts by the Giants

Date	Series	Gm#	Tm ▴	Opp	Rslt	IP	H	BB	SO
1905-10-09	WS	1	NYG	PHA	W  3-0	9.0	4	0	6
1905-10-12	WS	3	NYG	PHA	W  9-0	9.0	4	1	8
1905-10-13	WS	4	NYG	PHA	W  1-0	9.0	5	3	4
1905-10-14	WS	5	NYG	PHA	W  2-0	9.0	5	0	4
1913-10-08	WS	2	NYG	PHA	W  3-0	10.0	8	1	5
1917-10-10	WS	3	NYG	CHW	W  2-0	9.0	5	0	5
1917-10-11	WS	4	NYG	CHW	W  5-0	9.0	7	1	7
1921-10-13	WS	8	NYG	NYY	W  1-0	9.0	4	5	3
1922-10-06	WS	3	NYG	NYY	W  3-0	9.0	4	1	2
1923-10-12	WS	3	NYG	NYY	W  1-0	9.0	6	3	4
1962-10-05	WS	2	SFG	NYY	W  2-0	9.0	3	3	6
1987-10-07	NLCS	2	SFG	STL	W  5-0	9.0	2	4	6
2003-09-30	NLDS	1	SFG	FLA	W  2-0	9.0	3	0	5
2010-10-07	NLDS	1	SFG	ATL	W  1-0	9.0	2	1	14
2010-10-19	NLCS	3	SFG	PHI	W  3-0	9.0	3	3	7
2010-10-28	WS	2	SFG	TEX	W  9-0	9.0	4	3	2
2010-10-31	WS	4	SFG	TEX	W  4-0	9.0	3	2	8
2012-10-19	NLCS	5	SFG	STL	W  5-0	9.0	7	1	8
2012-10-22	NLCS	7	SFG	STL	W  9-0	9.0	7	4	8
2012-10-25	WS	2	SFG	DET	W  2-0	9.0	2	2	9

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 10/26/2012.

Detroit's postseason games in which they have been shut out:

Date	Series	Gm#	Tm	Opp	Rslt	IP	H	BB	SO
1907-10-12	WS	5	CHC	DET	W 2-0	9.0	7	1	4
1908-10-13	WS	4	CHC	DET	W 3-0	9.0	4	0	4
1908-10-14	WS	5	CHC	DET	W 2-0	9.0	3	4	10
1909-10-16	WS	7	PIT	DET	W 8-0	9.0	6	1	1
1934-10-09	WS	7	STL	DET	W 11-0	9.0	6	0	5
1935-10-02	WS	1	CHC	DET	W 3-0	9.0	4	4	1
1940-10-07	WS	6	CIN	DET	W 4-0	9.0	5	2	2
1945-10-03	WS	1	CHC	DET	W 9-0	9.0	6	5	4
1945-10-05	WS	3	CHC	DET	W 3-0	9.0	1	1	1
1968-10-02	WS	1	STL	DET	W 4-0	9.0	5	1	17
1972-10-08	ALCS	2	OAK	DET	W 5-0	9.0	3	0	2
2006-10-24	WS	3	STL	DET	W 5-0	9.0	3	0	6
2012-10-09	ALDS	3	OAK	DET	W 2-0	9.0	4	2	11
2012-10-25	WS	2	SFG	DET	W 2-0	9.0	2	2	9

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 10/26/2012.

Analyzing NLCS MVP Marco Scutaro

It has been a joy to watch Marco Scutaro since he joined the Giants on July 28. From that date through the postseason, Scutaro has hit .362, had an OBP of .386, slugged .473, giving him an OPS of .859.

Scutaro, who has become the inspirational leader of the Giants, is an outstanding end of season batter. Here are his career month-by-month regular season averages:

• April: .257
• May: .264
• June: .279
• July: .275
• August: .273
• Sept/Oct: .298

In the last month of the season: 

• In 2010, Scutaro hit .293
• In 2011, when his Boston teammates were drinking beer, eating chicken, and collapsing, Scutaro hit .387
• This season when the Giants were battling for a postseason slot, Scutaro only hit .412. 

Here are Scutaro's last month of the 2012 season hits

25 of his 45 hits were to centerfield and right field.

Scutaro struggled during the LDS against the Reds hitting only .150 going 3-for-20.

Scutaro saw 96 pitches

Within the red areas above are Scutaro's three hits. Nearly half of the pitches Scutaro saw (42) were fastballs and he was 1-for-10 against them.

So, why were the Reds successful while the Cards were not?

Start by looking at Scutaro's outs in the LDS

Here are the results of these pitches (outs only): 

• Game 1 - Two ground outs to short, one to second, and one liner to left
• Game 2 - A liner and a fly to center, a ground out to the mound and to short
• Game 3 - Ground outs to first and second and fly to center
• Game 4 - Fly out and line out to right, sac bunt to the mound and ground out to second
• Game 5 - Two grounders to second and a liner to center 

First thing you want notice here is the adjustment Scutaro made as the series progressed in attempting to go to the opposite field. Starting in Game 3, all of his outs were to the right side of infield or to center. Proving that he's no Derek Jeter, Scutaro attempted unsuccessfully to go to right six times on pitches that were on inner half of the plate (seven if you count the sac bunt).

Overall, Scutaro saw 38 pitches on the inner half. The Reds also worked him high, throwing 53 pitches in the upper half. Scutaro saw 58 pitches on the outer half of the plate (two resulted in hits - one to right one to left) with only 26 in the strike zone.

Here are Scutaro's NLCS MVP pitches

Scutaro saw 100 pitches

Against the Cards, Scutaro saw 39 pitches on the inner half resulting in four pulled singles and two pulled doubles and six outs, four to the left of second.

However in the NLCS, Scutaro saw 61 pitches on the outer half of the plate, seven resulted in hits all to center or to right. Only 33 pitches, on the outer half of the plate were out of the strike zone.

If this pattern continues, and the Tigers are going to quiet Marco Scutaro, look for them to be working him on the inner halfof the plate and up in the zone. If you are planning on working on the outer half, you have to be enough out of the zone that Scutaro is chasing and can't drive the ball to the opposite field.