AL East Update

BALTIMORE ORIOLES

Spring Leaders

Hits - Vladimir Guerrero 23
Home runs - Jake Fox 10
RBIs - Vladimir Guerrero 19
Stolen Bases - Matt Angle 5
Innings - Zachary Britton 20
Strikeouts - Jake Arrieta 14

News: Jeremy Guthrie will be getting the ball on Friday as the Orioles open the season against the Tampa Bay Rays. Guthrie went 11-14 last year with a 3.83 ERA and eclipsed 200 innings for the 2nd consecutive season. A 10+ game winner in each of the past 3 seasons with the O's, the 31 year old righty will look to extend that streak in 2011... Jake Fox has 10 home runs and 7 doubles in 73 spring at bats. Last year in 198 at bats he had 10 doubles and 7 home runs but hit just .217.


BOSTON RED SOX

Spring Leaders

Hits - 2 tied with 19
Home runs - Jacoby Ellsbury 3
RBIs - 2 tied with 9
Stolen Bases - Ryan Kalish 5
Innings - Daisuke Matsuzaka 25 1/3
Strikeouts - Daisuke Matsuzaka 17

News: The Sox finalized their bullpen on Monday with Matt Albers and Dennys Reyes making the club and Hideki Okajima and Alfredo Aceves getting sent down to AAA Pawtucket. Albers had a 2.84 ERA over 9 spring appearances striking out 13 batters in 12 2/3 innings and Reyes had a 2.70 ERA over 10 appearances. Aceves, who was with the Yankees in 2010, made a pair of starts and had a 4.05 ERA this spring while Okajima, the former all-star struggled a bit over his 7 appearances giving up 6 runs and 10 hits in 7 innings. Boston's bullpen figures to be a strength this year with the likes of Bobby Jenks, Daniel Bard, Dan Wheeler and Jonathan Papelbon.


NEW YORK YANKEES

Spring Leaders

Hits - Alex Rodriguez 19
Home runs - Alex Rodriguez 6
RBIs - Alex Rodriguez 14
Stolen Bases - Eduardo Nunez 6
Innings - Phil Hughes 22
Strikeouts - Bartolo Colon 17


News: Eric Chavez and Bartolo are both going to be breaking camp with the Yankees this spring. Chavez will make the team as a backup corner infielder behind Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira after hitting .405 (17/42) this spring. Chavez has been plagued by injuries in recent years playing just 154 games over the past 4 seasons with A's. The Yankees are hopeful that the change of scenery does him good and allows him to perform close to the level that saw him win 6 gold gloves with the A's in the early 2000s. Colon will head to the bullpen after losing out to Freddy Garcia for a spot in the starting rotation. Colon pitched well this spring in 4 starts allowing just 4 earned runs over 15 innings and leading the team in strike outs with 17 while posting a 2.40 ERA. Colon has not pitched in the majors since 2009.


TAMPA BAY RAYS


Spring Leaders

Hits - 2 tied with 17
Home runs - 3 tied with 4
RBIs - 4 tied with 10
Stolen Bases - Elliot Johnson 11
Innings - David Price 22 1/3
Strikeouts - David Price 20

News: Infielder Elliot Johnson has made the Rays opening day roster after a strong spring where he hit .314 (11/35), drew 7 walks and stole 11 bases. Johnson has not appeared in the majors since he made the opening day roster in 2008 and went 3 for 19 in 7 appearances before getting sent back down to the minors. He's coming off a strong season in AAA where he hit .319 last year with 24 doubles, 11 homers and 30 stolen bases.


TORONTO BLUE JAYS

Spring Leaders

Hits - Yunel Escobar 24
Home runs - 2 tied with 4
RBIs - Jose Bautista 13
Stolen Bases -Anthony Gose 9
Innings - Jesse Litsch 22
Strikeouts - 2 tied with 20

News: Rajai Davis has had a huge spring in his first season with Toronto batting .362 (21/58) with 8 doubles, 2 triples and 4 homers. He's also scored 14 runs and driven in 8. The 4 home runs is somewhat surprising considering he only hit 5 last season in 525 at bats in all of 2010 with the A's. The 30 year old Davis did steal 50 bases last year and could add an element of speed to an otherwise power-happy lineup in Toronto.