FORT MYERS, Fla. — Take a spin around the Grapefruit League with “Three Up, Three Down,” an inside look at what is coming up and what went down on Tuesday.
THREE UP
1. Alex Rodriguez is not expected to be in the lineup when the New York Yankees open their Grapefruit League season Wednesday by hosting the Detroit Tigers. While that is not completely unusual, given that A-Rod will turn 41 in July, it is somewhat of a surprise since manager Joe Girardi has said Rodriguez is ahead of where he was at the same point last spring, when the veteran started the spring opener after missing the entire previous season while serving a suspension. Rodriguez often said how hard he worked this offseason and how much better he feels without the “excess luggage” of his PED suspension.
Rodriguez is expected to play Thursday against the Philadelphia Phillies and Saturday against the Boston Red Sox, but he will not make the trip to Lakeland, Fla., on Friday to face the Tigers.
2. The St. Louis Cardinals are keeping a close eye on catcher Yadier Molina, who had the cast from his left wrist, which was surgically repaired twice, removed about a month ago. He caught some easy tosses from Adam Wainwright on Monday, observed by a sizable media contingent.
Molina, 33, is entering his 13th major league season, and his availability for Opening Day is unknown.
“You’re talking about possibly the best defensive catcher of our generation, at least, and someone who’s got to be in talks, at least, for the best defensive catcher ever. In the talks,” Wainwright said. “So when you realize that, it’s not that we couldn’t go out there and get outs without Yadier. It’s that we can do it a whole lot better with him.”
3. Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria arrived in camp and said he was ready to relinquish some of his duties as the team leader, a role Longoria took seriously over the past several seasons. However, with right-hander Chris Archer emerging as a team leader, second baseman Logan Forsythe enjoying a breakout season in 2015 and veterans Steve Pearce and Logan Morrison arriving in the offseason, Longoria said it’s time for others to step up.
“Nobody wants to feel that pressure every day,” Longoria said. “I felt it a lot last year, the way I was hard on myself. I know it’s not the best thing for you mentally. End of the season, it sucks, you’re tired. And sometimes, day to day, it’s not as enjoyable as it can be being here because you’re so mentally drained. For me, it’s more kind of trying to take the weight off myself, but also knowing that the rest of the guys are capable. I really feel I don’t have to be anymore.”
THREE DOWN
1. Right-hander Marcus Stroman got the start in the Toronto Blue Jays’ Grapefruit League opener against the Phillies on Tuesday, and he went two innings, allowing two runs on three hits with no walks and one strikeout.
Stroman, the 22nd overall pick in 2012 out of Duke, was expected to miss all of last season after tearing his left anterior cruciate ligament in spring training. However, he returned to go 4-0 with a 1.67 ERA in four regular-season starts and made three postseason starts, going 1-0.
2. Newly retired Torii Hunter, a nine-time Gold Glove winner during his 19-season career, is in the Minnesota Twins’ camp for 10 days working with Miguel Sano, 22, who is moving to right field.
“I heard (Sano is) moving around well out there,” manager Paul Molitor said. “He’s talking about getting his body ready and taking it as seriously as he possibly can. Getting the effort out of him is a good thing, because this spring is going to go really fast for him.”
3. Third baseman Pablo Sandoval caused a stir last week when he reported to the Red Sox’s camp three days early but appearing to be overweight. Principal owner John Henry, chairman Tom Werner, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and manager John Farrell all said they were not concerned by Sandoval’s physical condition. Sandoval is listed at 5-feet-11 and 255 pounds. Henry said the third baseman’s body-fat ratio was measured at 17 percent, down from 21 percent last season.
However, in the team’s exhibition game against Boston College on Monday, Sandoval couldn’t pick up a slow roller, causing the home crowd to boo him. He later struck out with two runners on, inciting another chorus of boos. It is going to be a tough season for Sandoval if the home crowd in spring training is booing him on the first day.