Spring Training News & Notes, 3/29: Catching Up With Everyone

Mets: Johan Santana will pitch against the Memphis Redbirds tomorrow...Jerry Manuel maintains that the fight for the final spot on the Mets’ bench is “too close to call.“ Mike Jacobs adds power to the bench, but his main competition, Frank Catalanotto is more versatile defensively and a better all-around hitter...Kelvim Escobar has begun playing catch again. It seems reports of his retirement were extremely premature, but he shouldn’t be expected to be ready anytime soon...Jose Reyes took batting live practice, but his timetable is still uncertain.

Phillies: J.C. Romero looked “sharp” in his game debut, but only faced four batters due to rain...The Phillies released12 minor leaguers, including OF Brad Wilkerson...Joe Blanton gave up 11 runs to minor leaguers...Ryan Madson will start the season as the team’s closer. Brad Lidge is rehabbing his knee and shoulder, but should be back by the third week of the season.

Royals: Alberto Callaspo is out of action with a sore right side, and though the team doesn’t think the injury is serious, he may not be healthy by Opening Day...Gil Meche, who was pulled from last week’s start with shoulder soreness, reported no problems throwing 120-foot long toss...Bryan Bullington was re-assigned to minor league camp...Robinson Tejeda will be working out of the bullpen, and not the rotation...Royals Review asks if you could build a decent combination team out of three lousy teams.

Twins: Matt Tolbert, Mike Maroth, Ben Revere, and Danny Lehmann were cut from big league camp. Tolbert’s dismissal paves the way for Alexi Casilla to step in as the last guy on the bench...Jacque Jones had a big spring as he attempted a comeback, but he will not make the Twins...barring a trade, the Twins are prepared to go with a closer-by-committee approach, headed by Jon Rauch.

Dodgers Russell Martin’s recovery continues to go well, and True Blue LA believes he may not need a trip to the DL, and will simply be carried as an active but injured reserve on the 25-man roster for a few days. Clayton Kershaw and the LA bullpen posted a solid performance on Sunday, beating the Reds 2-1, and allowing only six hits and a walk, striking out seven batters. Kershaw will start the second game of the season, if kept on normal rest, following Vincente Padilla

Giants San Francisco has had a very productive spring as far as pitcher extensions goes, locking up starter Matt Cain yesterday, adding that to the contracts recently signed by reliever Jeremy Affeldt and closer Brian Wilson. However, Nate Schierholtz’s poor Cactus League numbers have them looking for credible alternatives. John Bowker and Mark DeRosa are possibilities, though neither are ideal for the position of right-field.

Mariners: Doug Fister, coming back from a line drive to the arm, threw 65 pitches in a minor league game Monday and felt good...Erik Bedard threw off a mound for the first time, but wasn’t anywhere close to being at full speed...Cliff Lee’s suspension appeal was supposed to take place Monday, but has been postponed because not all parties could attend the conference call...both Ian Snell and Ryan Rowland-Smith spun solid starts over the weekend as they work their way into game shape...the Mariners re-signed starter Yusmeiro Petit to a minor league contract...Milton Bradley will begin the season as the Mariners’ cleanup hitter...Eliezer Alfonzo, Guillermo Quiroz, and David Pauley were cut from big league camp.

Angels: Ervin Santana came back from an inflamed bursa sac in his elbow to throw pretty well on Sunday, although the results were poor...Maicer Izturis was sidelined with back stiffness on Saturday, but has made a rapid recovery.