Koji Uehara, currently grounded by a left hamstring strain suffered on March 18, told Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com (though his interpreter) that he expects to begin the season on the disabled list:  “If it happens, there’s nothing I can do about it,” Koji said through interpreter Jiwon Bang. “Obviously we don’t have many days before…

Roy Oswalt is set for his eighth straight Opening Day start next week after getting an injection Monday in his lower back. Oswalt left his last start Friday because of tightness in his left hamstring. He complained earlier in the week of tightness higher in the area around his left gluteus. The training staff determined…

Bud Black announced that Jon Garland will the Padres’ Opening Day starter, with Chris Young and Kevin Correia following him in the rotation. “We just feel pretty good about these three guys,” Black told Corey Brock of MLB.com while refusing to name the Padres’ fourth and fifth starters. Clayton Richard and Matt Latos are expected…

In a surprise move, the Cubs have decided to keep 24-year-old outfield prospect Tyler Colvin on the Opening Day roster. Colvin is slated for a bench role, although manager Lou Piniella said that he hopes to find the former first-round pick 2-3 starts per week. Piniella cited Colvin’s outstanding spring training performance as the reason…

Between now and Opening Day, HBT will take a look at each of the 30 teams, asking the key questions, the not-so-key questions, and generally breaking down their chances for the 2010 season.  Next up: The San Jose Athletics (forgive me; just tryin’ it out) The big question: Should Athletics’ fans be freaking out about…

Pirates manager John Russell revealed today that he plans to bat the pitcher eighth in the lineup for most games this season, with shortstop Ronny Cedeno or his backup Bobby Crosby hitting ninth. Some lineup simulations have shown that the pitcher batting eighth rather than ninth can indeed lead to more runs, as having a…

President Barack Obama will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Nationals-Phillies game on Opening Day in Washington and commissioner Bud Selig will also be in attendance at Nationals Park. Obama probably won’t be wearing Nationals gear, however, because he previously threw out the first pitch to catcher Albert Pujols at last season’s All-Star…

Ron Gardenhire announced yesterday that the Twins will begin the season using a “closer-by-committee” approach with Joe Nathan out for the year following Tommy John elbow surgery: We are a committee. Our closer role is a committee. We’re going to try just about anything. I’ve never had to do it. It’s going to be an…

According to Jim Reeves of ESPNDallas.com the Rangers are “scouring other camps to try to find that right-handed hitting role player … to fill the role of backup first baseman/third baseman” and “keep coming back to” Mike Lowell. Reeves quotes a “club source” as saying that the Rangers “believe they can still basically get Lowell…

Between now and Opening Day, HBT will take a look at each of the 30 teams, asking the key questions, the not-so-key questions, and generally breaking down their chances for the 2010 season.  Next up: The new-look Seattle Mariners The big question: Was the Mariners’ offseason all that it was cracked up to be? No,…

Joel Sherman of the New York Post notes that Johnny Damon and Yankees general manager Brian Cashman “met for about 10 minutes behind the batting cage yesterday.” They reportedly cleared the air following unsuccessful offseason negotiations that saw Damon end up with the Tigers. In fact, according to Sherman “the two parted with a hug”…

Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald passes along word that Gaby Sanchez has captured the Marlins’ starting first base job over top prospect Logan Morrison, who has been reassigned to minor league camp. Sanchez, 26, hit .409/.460/.659 this spring with 18 hits, five doubles, two home runs and five RBI in 44 at-bats while Morrison,…

Jake Westbrook may have missed the entire 2009 season due to Tommy John surgery, but that doesn’t mean he’s off the map in Cleveland.  The right-hander clinched a “Celebrity Bracket Challange” over the weekend hosted by the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, beating out local VIPs like the Browns’ Josh Cribbs, the Cavaliers’ Mo Williams and Kosta Koufos,…

Between now and Opening Day, HBT will take a look at each of the 30 teams, asking the key questions, the not-so-key questions, and generally breaking down their chances for the 2010 season.  Next up: The Texas Rangers The big question: Will the rotation hold up? When Nolan Ryan rode into town in 2008 and…

UPDATE: Guzman took the decision in stride and told Ladson that he is “willing to do anything the Nats ask of him.”  He will not demand a trade. SATURDAY, 10:41pm: MLB.com’s Bill Ladson passes along some refreshing news out of Nationals camp.  According to team sources, 24-year-old prospect Ian Desmond has captured the club’s Opening…

Vicente Padilla has been named the Opening Day starter for the Los Angeles Dodgers, but I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that right-thinking baseball fans expect that it will be Clayton Kershaw who assumes the mantle of ace. The early evidence certainly is pointing in that direction. The 22-year-old left-hander dominated the Cincinnati…

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports that the Athletics have reached agreement on a contract with free agent right-hander Chad Gaudin. The Yankees released Gaudin last week after he failed to win an uphill battle against Phil Gughes and Joba Chamberlain for the club’s final rotation spot.  The 26-year-old Gaudin went 6-10 with a 4.64 ERA,…

Mets shortstop Jose Reyes has now participated in four baseball-related workouts since having his overactive thyroid cleared by team doctors.  According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, he is now ready to step it up a notch. Reyes, 26, is expected to begin playing in minor league simulated games soon and the Mets…

UPDATE:  Baggarly hears that Cain’s salary will remain at $4.5 million this season, but jumps to around $8 million in 2011 and north of $15 million for 2012.  All things considered, it’s a great deal for the Giants. 3:38pm:  The San Francisco Chronicle’s Henry Schulman reports that it’s a three-year deal. Cain is getting a…

UPDATE:  Belisario spoke with ESPN Los Angeles on Sunday and explained his absence from camp: “I never missed an appointment,” he said. “They gave me appointments to go to after they said they were denying my visa. They told me to take exams and things, and I kept going twice a week. They just said…