What should you do about John Smoltz?

Atlanta Braves

It seems likely that John Smoltz will have to start the season on the Disabled List, but should only miss a start or two, and still have a shot at 200 innings as a 40-year-old. If he has issues, the Braves should not hesitate to give him a day or two off this year, as he is still one of the best pitchers in the NL. Chuck James should get into the rotation at the beginning of the year as a tune-up for Mike Hampton, who is starting the year injured. If Hampton can stay healthy, he would probably be a good dump candidate with the depth of their pitching staff.

Arizona Diamondbacks

I have been waiting for Tony Pena to take over the closing job since last April. So far fruitlessly since Jose Valverde, healthy for once, was one of the premier closers in 2007. I was not the only one expecting him to take the role this year, but it was handed to Brandon Lyon without competition, which was good for Lyon since he has allowed eight more hits, nine more runs, and four strike outs less in the same number of innings as Pena. It is beginning to look like Barry Bonds could play sooner than Chad Tracy could. Tracy seems completely off a timetable. Fortunately, Mark Reynolds had an OPS of .843 last season, although he has been largely ineffective this spring. In addition, not to be piling on Tracy, but it is not as he has developed since 2005.

Chicago Cubs

Lou Pinella has named his rotation of Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly, Ryan Dempster, Rich Hill, and Jason Marquis. With Jon Lieber, Sean Marshall, and Sean Gallagher waiting in the wings, the bottom three should be on fairly short leashes. The group mindset of fantasy players seems to believe that Carlos Marmol will likely get a shot at the closer’s role this year, still. Kerry Wood does not rank high on my list for closers this year for sure, but if he can get over all those big ifs, he could be really good in that role. Rumors still abound that the Cubs would like another outfielder despite being solid at the corners and Felix Pie and Matt Murton being reasonable for the third and fourth outfield slots. Similarly, Mark DeRosa’s starting job at second still seems in danger with an eventual trade for Brian Roberts still possible. He likewise, has done little to deserve losing this, other than being one of the better second base, third base, and outfield utility players.

Colorado Rockies

We love the Rockies. However, their pitching this spring has been more like their historical staff than last year’s staff, which actually had mixed leaguers considering them.

Beyond Jeff Francis, their starters have been lit up in 2008. Youngsters Ubaldo Jimenez and Franklin Morales in particular have been disappointing. When you see that Mark Redman has allowed 31 hits in less than 19 innings, you are not surprised immensely. His 14:1 K/BB is surprising though. Only three years in his career has he managed a 2:1 ratio. After taking chances on him in previous years during the stretches when he pitched competently, I am eager to see how he does in this rotation. Kip Wells is already out of the mix, Jason Hirsch is still injured, Josh Towers can limit walks and strike out a decent number, but not much else, and Jimenez and Morales are not building on last year, so far. At that rate, Redman could make 30 starts.

Florida Marlins

The Marlins always keep things interesting with their pitching staff. With an abundance of young arms, they continue to draft and develop even more pitchers. Of course, it seems like they always have several injuries to contend with, so it is probably a good idea. Evidence of their luck with pitchers is that Mark Hendrickson will be their opening day starter. Scott Olsen should be ready to pitch by game four, so at least they have that. The other starters will “likely” be Rick Vanden Hurk, Adam Miller, and Ricky Nolasco, with Chris Volstad in line to get a chance sometime. Sergio Mitre and Anibal Sanchez should be getting rotation spots back when they return from their injuries.

With a spring OPS over 1.100, Jorge Cantu appears to have hit himself into a starting job at third base. After naming my AL team after him last year after naming the previous team after Carlos Pena, who broke out in a big way, I am half-expecting Cantu to make Miami forget about Miguel Cabrera. One decision that the team made, that they had to, no matter what everyone wanted was to send Cameron Maybin to the minors this week. To everyone who drafted him already – sorry, but perhaps injuries will allow him to get an extended look, otherwise, count on him to be in the running for Rookie of the Year, 2009.

Houston Astros

After acquiring Miguel Tejada as the best available shortstop in my NL league when I refused to be ripped off in a Yunel Escobar trade, I have become a huge fan. His spring OPS is far exceeding any of his regular season ones. I am on record as being a believer that this will be Ty Wigginton’s best year already. Unfortunately, this side of the infield will not exactly be a help to the questionable pitching staff. I just cannot get behind anyone on this staff this year. Roy Oswalt should still be good, but not in the top NL ranks anymore. Fantasy owners are likely to overvalue Wandy Rodriguez, and the rest of the staff is pretty much a total question mark.

Los Angeles Dodgers

With Andy LaRoche sidelined, Nomar Garciaparra potentially missing the beginning of the season, and Jeff Kent likely to miss opening day, things are not looking particularly great for their infield. Despite speculation that they might trade for Brandon Inge or Marcus Giles, neither has happened yet. Tony Abreu looks to get regular at bats at the beginning of the year, with Blake DeWitt possibly getting a bump from Double A to the majors until someone comes off the DL.

San Diego Padres

It looks like the rotation is set with Randy Wolf pitching better as the spring progresses. As a No. 4 starter, he should be fine behind the aging Greg Maddux, who should post similar numbers to last year. Justin Germano will have the spot to lose to Mark Prior if all things go well – which it has not since 2003. Germano was competent as a number five last year and could just as well keep the job or spot start when Wolf, Young, or Prior is once again injured.

After three seasons with limited major league at bats – and limited results in them – Paul McAnulty seems ready to grab a lot of playing time this year after posting an OPS of 1.052 this spring. Jim Edmonds will likely miss the first two weeks of the season and with him, Brian Giles, and Scott Hairston all injury risks, who knows how much starting time there will be, though Jody Gerut will likely get plenty of chance also.

San Francisco Giants

Eugenio Velez was a sleeper for steals going into this year. With injuries to Kevin Frandsen (ruptured hamstring – possibly effectively ending season), Omar Vizquel (knee surgery – out for the first week of the season at least), and Ray Durham, who had been hitting well this spring (hamstring – day-to-day), he could be in for quite a bit of playing time at the start. On the other hand, the Marlins released Jose Castillo for the iron gloved Jorge Cantu at third, and the Giants have picked him up off waivers. The Giants might be grooming him as the fill in shortstop. With Velez stealing 13 bases this spring and posting an OPS over .800, it seems like the team will need to find him at-bats to see how he does in an extended look in the majors, regardless.