Fan News

Roughly two weeks of spring training games are in the book as we push ever closer to Opening Day and the start of the 2014 MLB season.

Spring training results have to be taken with a grain of salt, as it's as much a time for players to shake off the rust and work on specific things as it is a competitive atmosphere. Still, there are stats at our disposal, so we'll dive into them and analyze.

Spring training is important, but you cannot always judge regular-season success based on how people perform in this month of exhibitions. For example, some guys do great all spring but never seem to stick on a major league team.

On the flip side, some of the best players in baseball aren’t very good at spring training for some reason. They struggle but then get it together in time for the games that really count.

The New York Mets will be without ace Matt Harvey in 2014 as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. Luckily, the team still has a host of promising young arms to look forward to in right-handers Zack Wheeler, Noah Syndergaard and Rafael Montero.

The Toronto Blue Jays might still be in the mix for free-agent pitcher Ervin Santana, according to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal via Twitter.

Rosenthal reports that Santana has abruptly changed his free-agency strategy following a split with agent Bean Stringfellow of Performance Sports and is now interested in signing a one-year “pillow contract” as soon as possible.

There was no television or radio coverage, but we know for certain that New York Yankees right-hander Michael Pineda made his 2014 debut on Friday night against the Detroit Tigers.

We also know this: It went well.

Like, really well.

Former Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher was at spring training with the Los Angeles Angels in Arizona on Friday, shagging fly balls and even hitting some balls during batting practice before the team's game against the Chicago Cubs.

Fox Sports provided a video on their Facebook page.

According to Alden Gonzalez from MLB.com, Urlacher had this to say about attending practice with the Angels:

Former 2008 World Series MVP and Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels has been sidelined with shoulder tendonitis, putting him behind schedule in getting ready for the 2014 MLB season.

For those who don't remember, MLB used to feature one of the most vibrant, audacious and hard-hitting athletes in sport. Thankfully, Manny Ramirez hasn't given up on his dream to once again star in the majors, this time as Super Manny. 

We warned that you would only encourage him, Chinese Professional Baseball League. 

Somebody recently asked Albert Pujols if he was motivated to put up numbers like those of fellow Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout. Pujols didn't take kindly to that and was still stewing about it in a more recent interview this week.

During the Los Angeles Dodgers' amazing 62-28 run to finish the 2013 regular season, it's no surprise that the team's top two starting pitchers—Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke and Hyun-jin Ryu—completely dominated. 

The eventual Cy Young award winner, Kershaw went 11-4 with a 1.61 ERA in 17 starts while holding opposing hitters to a .503 OPS. Greinke went 12-2 in 19 starts while holding opposing hitters to a .589 OPS.