Fantasy Baseball: Thursday’s Spring Training Roundup

Here are some thoughts after reviewing Thursday’s spring training boxscores:

Come the start of the minor league season, Brian Kandell and Greg Pelletieri will be posting daily updates on the performances of all the top minor league prospects listed here and here over at Fake Teams. Be sure to let us know if we are missing anyone who should be covered. I am looking forward to this new feature over at Fake Teams.

With Ian Desmond winning the SS battle in Washington, has Christian Guzman become a late round sleeper in the event Desmond comes out of the gate flat? Guzman has seen time at second base anr right field in spring training, so this situation bears watching. He also could be dealt sometime during the season.

Speaking of second baseman, the Dodgers named Blake Dewitt their starting second baseman yesterday. I see him hitting double digit HRs with a .260-.270 BA. Am I too high on the BA? ESPN’s Eric Karabell thinks he can hit .300.I have him in the UBA league which drafts next Wednesday.

The Hardball Times reported yesterday that the doctor who performed Brandon Webb’s surgery last August felt that he need at least a year to recover. And, GM Josh Byrnes was recently non-committal when asked when Webb would return to the mound. Temper your expectation for Webb in 2010.

Diamondbacks pithcer Edwin Jackson gave up 3 runs on 5 hits in 5+ innings on Thursday. Not bad, but he only struck out 2 while walking 4. Not a good sign.

National SS Ian Desmond batted 8th yesterday, going 0-1 with 2 walks and his 6th SB of the spring. Battling for two walks in the 8 hole is a good sign.

Diamondbacks outfielder Chris Young batted leadoff in the DBacks A game yesterday and went 1-3 with a HR and a walk. He did not strike out which is a good sign he could be turning the corner at the plate.

A’s third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff was 3-5 with 2 RBI giving him 15 in spring training. Will he be a different hitter now that he doesn’t have to hit at Petco for half his games?

Boston’s John Lackey threw 5 solid innings, giving up one run on a HR, on 6 hits while striking out two. His spring ERA is 1.35. Lackey will certainly make things interesting in the AL East this season. Who will have a better season-Lackey or Javier Vazquez?

Indian third base prospect Lonnie Chisenhall went 0-4 yesterday. The fact that he is still in camp tells me that that Indians think highly of him and he could be someone to watch this season.

Padres outfielder Kyle Blanks went 2-3 with 3 runs scored, and 3 RBI. He hit his 3rd spring HR and stole his 3rd base as well. He is a guy who can be drafted in the later rounds of drafts. I think he can go 25-85 in 2010.