Closing Thoughts: Street throwing, but not without pain
Huston Street's(notes) shoulder has apparently not improved through rest, so he's decided to throw through the problem according to the AP. He reportedly hopes to join the Rockies at the end of April. Franklin Morales(notes), as you already know, is expected to get the first shot at saves in Street's absence.
An MRI failed to reveal a significant problem in Street's shoulder, but the soreness is nonetheless there. Here's more from the AP:
Street said after back-to-back throwing sessions on Friday and Saturday “it didn’t go any better, but we are going to stay with the throwing program, see if we work through it.”
[…]
Street was shut down briefly on Feb. 26, and then again on March 11.
“I didn’t even pick up a ball for 11 days, and we hoped the long layoff would eliminate the problem, but it didn’t,” said Street.
That late-April return date seems fairly optimistic, given Street's obvious frustration. He'll open the season on the DL.
Morales' last six spring appearances (6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 5 K) went much better than his first three (5.2 IP, 11 H, 10 R, 0 K), and you'll recall that he saved seven games for Colorado last September. He's buried in the pre-ranks (No. 418), which helps explain why he's only owned in 16 percent of Yahoo! leagues. Get him. Enjoy him while you can.
If Morales fails, then (and only then) we'll have to have the Manuel Corpas(notes) discussion. But not today. Everyone's eager to get to the refreshingly minty closing grid…
• In case you missed the news, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reported on Friday that Jason Frasor(notes) has the edge in Toronto's closer battle. Jays manager Cito Gaston had this to say: "It's still up in the air, but Frasor was my closer last year. He hasn't really done anything to lose that opportunity." Nor has Kevin Gregg(notes) really done anything to win that opportunity. Frasor of course has been the subject of various trade rumors. Don't get too attached.
• Were you looking for some Frank Francisco(notes) propaganda? Well, here you go. "He's rocking the strike zone," says manager Ron Washington.
• The Twins officially formed a bullpen committee over the weekend. Details here. It's important to note, however, that Ron Gardenhire doesn't necessarily plan to continue that arrangement indefinitely. This from the Star-Tribune:
…look for Jon Rauch(notes), Matt Guerrier(notes), Jesse Crain and even Jose Mijares(notes) to be on the mound in the ninth inning to try to close games out.
"And we'll figure it out," Gardenhire said. "We can go through each day until we decide on one guy."
• If the Houston closer battle were an actual fight, the ref might have stopped it on Monday. Or Brandon Lyon(notes) might have called "No mas" after allowing five hits and two runs (one earned) to the Pirates. Matt Lindstrom(notes) is still sporting a 0.00 spring ERA; he's given up only two hits and no walks over his last seven innings.
• Andrew Bailey(notes) (tennis elbow) has returned to spring action for the A's, and every other injured pitcher in the Oakland 'pen also received good news on Monday, too. You're free to continue your aggressive early drafting of Bailey (ADP 92.8).
• Matt Capps(notes) pitched his first clean inning of the spring on Sunday, lowering his ERA to 7.20. He's made 10 appearances thus far, and has allowed at least one run in six of them. I'm quietly buying shares of Brian Bruney(notes) and Tyler Clippard(notes).
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