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About Ellis Canady - RotoBaller
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Ellis Canady - RotoBaller has written 674 articles so far, you can find them below.
Matt Olson Has Productive Day At The Plate
Oakland Athletics first baseman Matt Olson went 2-for-3 against the Cubs on Sunday. He also pitched in an RBI and a run. To date, Olson is batting .310 with two home runs and six runs batted in this spring. He has also struck out seven times in his 29 at-bats. Olson will provide plenty of... Read More
Jed Lowrie Picking Up Pace In Spring
Oakland Athletics second baseman Jed Lowrie has picked up the pace this spring and raised his average to .278 with one home run. Lowrie is already 33 years old and is rarely healthy for a full season. The hope is that he can repeat his 2017 season of 86 runs with 14 home runs and... Read More
Marcus Semien Is A Power-Speed Option At Top Of Lineup
Oakland Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien, who is hitting .407 this spring, will likely open the season as the leadoff hitter. It is surprising, as Semien has average on-base skills (.325). Semien's goal this season will be to demonstrate that last season's power fall-off was purely because of his wrist injury. Last season, he hit 10... Read More
Rick Porcello Struggles Through Four Innings
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Rick Porcello gave up four runs over four innings against the Orioles on Sunday. Porcello has been using innovative ways to help him locate his pitches this spring. Whether or not Porcello was focusing on locating his pitches is unknown. Porcello will continue to work on his pitch location the... Read More
Christian Vazquez Carrying Offensive Success From 2017 Into Spring Camp
Boston Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez finished 2017 on a high note, batting .290 with five home runs and 32 RBI in 324 at-bats. Thus far, Vazquez is hitting .286 in the spring and is set to reap the benefits as the starting catcher in Boston's potent lineup. It has yet to be determined if... Read More
Hanley Ramirez Has Multi-Hit Game Against Orioles
Boston Red Sox designated hitter/first baseman Hanley Ramirez was 2-for-3 in Sunday's game against the Orioles. Ramirez has made some bold proclamations this spring. While a 30-30 season might not be a reasonable expectation, Ramirez can still recover some value in an improved lineup. Ramirez is expected to bat third and will see plenty of... Read More
Rafael Devers Impresses With Aggressiveness
Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers is having a very good spring with two home runs and a .345 average. Manager Alex Cora is preaching aggressiveness this spring, which Devers has no trouble accomplishing. Devers swung at 50 percent of pitches last season, 38.5 percent of which were out of the zone. Cora does... Read More
Renato Nunez Still Not Playing, A's Must Decide His Fate
Oakland Athletics outfielder/designated hitter Renato Nuñez (hamstring) is still unable to play in spring training games. According to John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Athletics are not sure if Nunez will get enough time to be ready for the season. He is currently doing some work, including hitting and taking grounders. Nunez is... Read More
Matt Joyce To DH In Lieu Of Field Sunday
Oakland Athletics outfielder Matt Joyce (elbow) will serve as the designated hitter Sunday against the Cubs, according to Jon Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle. Joyce has been dealing with a sore right elbow, so he will need another week before he is able to play in the outfield. Additionally, he will start a throwing program Sunday to... Read More
Mookie Betts Is Having A Spring To Forget
Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts is struggling to get into a rhythm this spring. Thus far, Betts has one hit in 19 at-bats, with his one hit coming on Thursday. While many disregard spring numbers as unimportant, Betts surely wants to make sure he improves upon his 2017 batting average (.264). Getting consistent quality results... Read More
Xander Bogaerts Getting Aggressive At The Plate
Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts has seemingly bought into new manager Alex Cora's intent of being more aggressive at the plate. Thus far, Bogaerts is 9-for-18 at the plate in spring training with five runs, one home run and three runs batted in. More importantly, he is driving the ball and has an on... Read More
Daniel Mengden Roughed Up On Saturday
Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Daniel Mengden gave up six runs in four innings against the Rangers. Mengden came on in relief on Saturday and was not effective at all. He did strike out four batters and walked one. Mengden is almost assured of a starting spot in the rotation after his performance at the end... Read More
Jonathan Lucroy's Contract Worth $6.5 Million
Updating a previous report on the signing, free-agent catcher Jonathan Lucroy's contract with the Oakland Athletics is for $6.5 million for one year, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. There does not seem to be any incentives at all in that deal. At 31 years old, Lucroy is hoping for a more... Read More
Roenis Elias Vying For Reliever Spot On Roster
Boston Red Sox pitcher Roenis Elias is being used as a reliever in spring training. Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reported Elias is throwing sidearm to lefty hitters. Elias has long been a starting pitcher but despite being 29 years old, he has not had a successful career. The last year he was productive... Read More
David Price Will Not Pitch In A Game Saturday
Updating a previous report, Boston Red Sox starting pitcher David Price will not be pitching in a game Saturday, according to Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe. Price will get his work done in a bullpen session. Price was originally supposed to pitch against the Twins this afternoon, but rain caused the plans to change.... Read More
Drew Pomeranz Is Back In A Routine
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Drew Pomeranz (forearm) said his arm is fine and is ready for a bullpen session, according to Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe. Pomeranz believes he has time to be ready for the start of the season. The current plan is for Pomeranz to throw two innings of live batting... Read More
Sam Travis Locates Previously Unproven Power
Boston Red Sox first base prospect Sam Travis hit his third home run of the spring Friday against the Marlins. He went 2-for-3 with two RBI and one run. Travis has never hit more than six home runs in any season of his minor league career. It became questionable whether Travis would stay at first... Read More
David Price's Spring Debut Altered Due To Rain
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher David Price will pitch at Fenway South on Saturday morning instead of his afternoon start against the Twins, according to Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe. Price will pitch in a minor league game and have his first Grapefruit League start postponed. Coming off a season marred by injuries that ultimately concluded... Read More
Khris Davis' Power Still On Display
Oakland Athletics outfielder Khris Davis hit his third home run of the spring on Friday against the Brewers. He was 1-for-3 in the game with two RBI. Davis is an example of consistency with two straight seasons of 40 home runs and three consecutive seasons of a .247 average. Take it for what he is.... Read More
Drew Pomeranz Has Another Pain-Free Throwing Session
Just like on Wednesday, Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Drew Pomeranz (forearm) played catch and was pain-free on Thursday, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. Pomeranz threw from 90 feet with no issues. Manager Alex Cora does not want to rush Pomeranz back to action, so he could not commit to Pomeranz being on the... Read More
A.J. Puk's Solid Game Adds To Opening Day Intrigue
Oakland Athletics top pitching prospect A.J. Puk had a very good spring training game Friday against the Brewers. He pitched three clean innings and struck out two but also gave away two free passes. John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reported that when asked if Puk would be on the season-opening roster, manager Bob Melvin... Read More
Chris Sale Looks To Be In Midseason Form In Spring Debut
Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale demonstrated his dominance, even in his first spring game against the Marlins. Sale struck out five batters through four innings, only allowing one run on two hits, and also did not walk a single batter. In his first and only appearance thus far, the methodical regimen to progress his... Read More
Rick Porcello Using Innovative Methods For Improvement
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Rick Porcello has been using different methods to help him locate his pitches, according to Jen McCaffrey of MassLive.com. Porcello regressed in 2017 with a 4.65 ERA and his walk rate rose to 5.4. The hope is to get Porcello back to his 2016 self that posted a 22-4 record... Read More
Eduardo Nunez Hitless in Debut
Boston Red Sox super-utility man Eduardo Nunez (knee) had no hits in two at-bats in four innings of play on Wednesday. Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reported that following the fourth inning, Nunez began a more intensive workout session. Nunez pulled a sled loaded with weights back and forth, followed by more conditioning work. Nunez... Read More
Dustin Pedroia Still Has Long Recovery
Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia (knee) still has a lengthy process ahead of him before he is ready to get back on the field in games, according to Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe. Manager Alex Cora said it was unlikely Pedroia would even be ready for a minor league game before camp... Read More
Eduardo Nunez Makes Spring Debut Thursday
Boston Red Sox super-utility man Eduardo Nunez will be making his spring debut at second base Thursday. Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe has reported Nunez is in the lineup and is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday as well. Nunez will start the season at second base in place of the injured Dustin Pedroia (knee).... Read More
Eduardo Rodriguez Likely To Return Ahead Of Other Injured Starter
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez (knee) is ahead of fellow injured starter Steven Wright, according to Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe. Rodriguez was able to throw 35 pitches off the mound on Wednesday and his next step will be a live batting practice session. Rodriguez will start the season on the disabled... Read More
Dustin Pedroia Unlikely To Play In Spring Games
Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora stated it is unlikely that second baseman Dustin Pedroia (knee) would get into even a minor league game this spring. Pedroia is still recovering from offseason knee surgery. As with the plan for all their players, the Red Sox are being very methodical in gradually bringing players along. Even... Read More
Jharel Cotton Very Efficient In Start
Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jharel Cotton performed in the fashion that most hoped he would in 2017 in spring action Wednesday. Cotton pitched four innings and allowed only one run while striking out five and walking none. Cotton had high expectations heading into 2017, but he was inconsistent and walked too many people and gave... Read More
Blake Swihart's Spring Has Caused Teams To Come Running
Sean McAdam of Boston Sports Journal reported that Boston Red Sox catcher Blake Swihart's spring performance has given cause for other teams to inquire on his availability. Thus far, Swihart leads the team in a number of offensive categories. Also, his six doubles are the most in the Grapefruit League. Thus far, Swihart has been... Read More
