Harper went 7-for-14 with four homers last week, improving his overall numbers to .431/.528/.931 with 12 homers and a 21-22 K-BB ratio in 31 games. As talented as Harper is, those numbers are still astonishing for a 17-year-old who should be a high school junior, not to mention that he's playing in a wood-bat conference. - BA
Sean Green pitches in relief for the New York Mets. Green’s strength lies in his ability to keep the ball in the park. He’s allowed just 12 home runs in his career, covering 248 2/3 innings, a rate of 9.7 HR per 200 IP. Two of those home runs came with the bases loaded, meaning 16% of the home runs he allowed came in a situation representing just five percent of the at bats against him. Green’s weakness stems from his walk rate, 4.3 per nine innings for his career. That high rate is a function of his poor pitching against left-handed batters (see link above). LHB walk in 16.1 percent of plate appearances against Green, RHB just 7.2% of the time. Lefties don’t hit him all that much better than righties, and I wonder if Green is simply being too cautious. With his overall ability to keep the ball in the park, a drop in his walk rate should lead to a much better ERA. - Musings
Mindy McCready says that she and Roger Clemens didn’t get intimate until she was of legal age, and describes the MLB star as being “good” in bed, despite having “a lot of problems” with erectile dysfunction. She also insisted that she isn’t a “bad girl,” saying the wildest place they ever got down and dirty was a hot tub in Palm Springs. Despite a couple of close calls, McCready said she never actually met Clemens’ wife - although she has something to say to her now. “I wish she and I had spoken because I realize now that the stories I was being told from Roger weren’t exactly the truth,” McCready tells the camera - Maller
John Maine, holder of the significantly less expensive contract amongst the three pitchers, surprisingly holds the most promise of the three mediocre starters. He is tenacious on the mound, has a developing repertoire of pitches, has a good fastball, and attacks hitters. He’s a student of the game, and is finally healthy after dealing with shoulder problems. If he can stay healthy and pitch without difficulty, he’ll develop into the #2 starter that the Mets need. His main problem, other than health, has been putting hitters away. He, much like Pelfrey and Perez, struggles with getting past the sixth inning. None of the three is considered to be an innings eater, thus putting more pressure on the below average bullpen. Not a good combination - Mark Rawden
Drew Butera will open the season as Joe Mauer's backup. Butera was officially awarded the temporary position Wednesday when the Twins sent Wilson Ramos to minor league camp. It won't really matter in a few weeks, though, because Jose Morales (wrist) is nearly back to full strength. Butera was 4-for-23 this spring with two walks and two RBI - link
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