Opening Day is just under a month away, and spring training games are in full swing. So far, there have been a few surprises as well as some injury concerns. Here are 10 questions facing MLB clubs as the regular season approaches.
10. How will the Texas Rangers handle Yu Darvish’s injury?
Last year, the Rangers suffered greatly from injuries, especially in their rotation. After pitching just 144 innings last season due to injury, now Darvish has partially torn ligaments in his right elbow. While he is seeking a third opinion, it's a near certainty he will be advised to get tommy john surgery. After a trip to Dr. James Andrews, Darvish will miss the 2015 season and potentially the start of the 2016 season.
The Rangers aren’t playoff favorites as it is, but, even so, the loss of Darvish would be a huge blow. It seems as if Tommy John is inevitable, leaving the Rangers without an ace and even more questions in their rotation. They may look for a trade, or, and this is more likely, they look to replace him within their own organization.
9. Will the A’s move of Coco Crisp to left field pay off?
In an effort to keep Crisp healthy for the 2015 season, the Oakland A’s moved the center fielder to left field. While Crisp doesn’t have the arm strength to throw runners out at the plate, he can cover plenty of ground with his range in the outfield.
This is a move to try and keep Crisp in the lineup for more than 140 games this season, a feat he hasn't achieved since 2007. But he's not off to a great start, already missing time with a triceps injury. While there is no structural damage, he is missing time, and there’s no definite timetable for his return, although he will miss at least a few more days.
The A’s will have Sam Fuld and Craig Gentry platooning in center with Crisp in left, but regardless of the move, it’ll take time for Crisp to adjust to playing in left field full time.
8. What to make of Josh Reddick’s injury?
Crisp isn’t the only Athletic missing time. Former Gold Glove winner Josh Reddick is watching games from the trainer's room because of an oblique strain. While it's still early, there is a risk he isn’t ready by Opening Day.
Oakland traded away a lot of their outfield depth, including players that produced. Given the uncertainty around the outfield, Oakland can’t afford to see players like Reddick or Crisp miss much time.
7. Is Cliff Lee’s career over?
The Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher’s career may be over after news of his latest elbow injury. An MRI revealed a torn flexor tendon and the club doesn’t seem too optimistic. Lee could require surgery, which would lead to six to eight months of recovery; and considering his age and injury history, it may just be time for him to call it quits.
The Phillies aren’t expected to do much in the N.L. East, and have missed the playoffs the past three seasons, but Lee has had a great career and is an asset when healthy to any rotation.
6. How will the Giants fare without Hunter Pence to start the season?
The defending World Series Champion San Francisco Giants will be without Pence for six to eight weeks, which means the Giants right fielder will miss opening day. Pence fractured his forearm after being hit by a pitch last week.
Gregor Blanco and Nori Aoki are options for the Giants in right field as Pence recovers, but manager Bruce Bochy hasn’t made a definite decision yet.
With the loss of Michael Morse and Pablo Sandoval to free agency, the last thing the Giants needed was another big bat out of the lineup. The pressure is now on Brandon Belt and Buster Posey to pick up the slack and provide offensive power.
5. How will the Blue Jays deal with the loss of Marcus Stroman?
When it was announced that Jays pitcher Marcus Stroman would miss the entire 2015 season due to a torn ACL in his left knee, it was quite the blow to a team with high hopes this season. The Blue Jays have spent this offseason vastly improving their roster in an effort to send out a feared lineup every day, but the rotation will take a hit with the loss of Stroman, causing concern as the regular season approaches.
Now, the Jays have some options, trading for another starting pitcher is one of them, but so is taking a look at prospects Daniel Norris and Aaron Sanchez. Toronto has some time to finalize their rotation and look at their options this month; after all that is the beauty of Spring Training.
4. Is the Royals hot start a sign of a repeat season?
There’s pressure on the Kansas City Royals to have a successful 2015 and prove their magical run last year wasn’t just a fluke. Easier said than done with the loss of James Shields and Billy Butler; two big reasons for their playoff success. Although Shields struggled come October, his numbers in the regular season made him their ace.
Now they must move on, and so far they’ve done well with the additions of Kendrys Morales, Alex Rios, and Edinson Volquez. They are 8-1 this spring and have their eye on another American League title. While it is only March and these are only exhibition games, they inhibit great value to a club. With the Royals leaving the tying run of Game 7 of the World Series on third base to end their year, they will be playing with a bit of a chip on their shoulder in 2015. Kansas City is also in a division stacked with talent, so it’ll be interesting to see how they do this year.
3. What can be expected of Alex Rodriguez?
A-Rod is back in pinstripes, but with Chase Headley playing third, Rodriguez will be used elsewhere. The Yankees will utilize A-Rod, because, well, they’re paying him $22 million and could use his bat in the lineup.
There has been so much drama regarding Rodriguez and PED’s. With Rodriguez missing so much time due to his suspension, it’s unknown how he will perform this season. A-Rod’s return is highly anticipated, and it will be interesting to see how the Yankees use him and what type of numbers he puts up in 2015.
2. When will Chris Sale return to the mound?
The Chicago White Sox have a revamped roster for 2015, but Sale is one of their best players and an important piece to the puzzle as they attempt to make a run for October baseball. Last year Sale was their ace, now Jeff Samardzija joins him, which will make for a nice one-two punch in the rotation.
Sale fractured a bone in his right foot and it was recently announced that he would not be the Sox opening day starter. He is supposed to miss approximately three weeks, but they are taking it easy with him and being extra cautious.
1. How will the game change with MLB’s attempt to speed up the game?
The biggest question as the regular season approaches is one that applies to each of the 30 clubs. Now, these new rules are being implemented in spring training games already, but some players and fans have shown mixed emotions in response to these initiatives.
To speed up the duration of the games, there will be a clock behind home plate for the pitcher to keep an eye on and make sure their warm-up tosses are complete and the batter is in the batter’s box by the time the clock ticks down to anywhere between 20 and five seconds.
They are also requiring the batter to keep one foot in the batter’s box at all times during an at bat, unless the batter swings, is brushed off the plate by a pitch, timeout is called, or if there is an attempted play on a base runner. If the hitter is in violation of this rule, a strike could be called. Red Sox slugger David Ortiz has been very open with his disapproval of this new rule, because he’s always liked to take his time in between pitches to get focused on an at bat.
Managers are also no longer required to leave the dugout to challenge plays.
These changes are all in an effort to speed up the time of games, but not everyone is happy with the changes. They will undoubtedly take some time to get used to not only for players, but fans watching from the stands or at home. The game is always changing, but there are several questions revolving around these new rules and how they will affect the players.