Times wires
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
CLEARWATER — If the Phillies have any information on Chase Utley's ailing right knee, they're keeping it to themselves.
The All-Star second baseman, who hasn't played in a game this spring, had a cortisone injection Friday for his patellar tendinitis. The team initially said it would know something by the weekend, then said it should have an update Monday or Tuesday.
On Tuesday, manager Charlie Manuel said he should know something before the end of the week.
"I've got nothing new for you guys," Utley said at Bright House Field on Tuesday morning. "When I do, I'll let you know."
Injuries limited Utley to 115 games last season.
QUICK TURNAROUND: LHP Cole Hamels worked the kinks out of his delivery and got instant results, setting down the last 11 batters he faced after a rough first inning.
"That's pitching. I was able to make the adjustments," Hamels said. "You just try to make one good pitch at a time, and that's what I was able to do."
UNDER THE KNIFE: Rookie RF Domonic Brown, the former Pasco High standout, had surgery on his broken right hand and is expected to miss four to six weeks.
Jays: Still on track
PORT CHARLOTTE — An early injury doesn't seem to have affected Travis Snider's bat.
The Blue Jays LF/DH, who didn't play in a game until Saturday because of an upper ribcage injury, was 1-for-3 with a double Tuesday in a 3-2, 10-inning loss to the Rays. He is 3-for-8 with two doubles this spring.
"He has stepped right back in and shown pretty good timing at the plate," manager John Farrell told MLB.com. "Over the next four or five days, we'll look to get some consistency on the field with him as well whether it's in leftfield or in the DH spot."
Snider, 23, is entering his fourth big-league season. Once considered one of Toronto's top prospects, he has hit .255 with 25 home runs and 74 RBIs in 612 career at-bats.
DOMINICAN SIGNING: Toronto signed 17-year-old Dominican OF Francisco Tejada for $150,000, MLB.com reported. The website described Tejada as 6 feet 4 with an above-average arm, plus bat speed and the potential to develop into a power hitter.
Yanks: Hard choices
LAKE BUENA VISTA — Freddy Garcia, Ivan Nova, Bartolo Colon and Sergio Mitre; they're all making life difficult on Yankees manager Joe Girardi — in a good way.
Garcia pitched three scoreless innings in New York's 5-4 win over the Braves, striking out two while extending his spring scoreless streak to five innings over two starts.
"I feel pretty good, man," he said. "So far, so good. That's the way I have to pitch if I want to win the spot. Throw strikes. Be aggressive. Made the pitches when I need it."
The four right-handers are competing for two rotation openings behind LHP CC Sabathia and RHPs Phil Hughes and A.J. Burnett. Mitre pitched three scoreless innings Monday night, and the four competitors for the final slots have allowed a run in 20 innings this spring.
"There's no separation," Girardi said. "They're going about their business the right way."
Girardi said the rotation won't be finalized until near the end of spring training.