Around The Majors- Wednesday

The second game of the young 2008 baseball season has been completed and a split may be in order in Tokyo. There'll be the news and notes with today's fantasy spin and other items that may arise on this sunny, spring day in New York.

-Rich Harden was the story early this morning in Japan, as his six solid frames stymied the potent Red Sox attack in a 5-1 win for Oakland. Harden struck out nine and walked three in his outing, with many a whiff from the Boston lineup. Red Sox started Jon Lester didn't fare too well, allowing four runs in as many innings. Part-timer Chris Denorfia got the scoring started in the bottom of the 2nd by driving in Bobby Crosby with a single. The game got out of hand for Lester in the 3rd frame as he allowed a three-run jack to newly signed Emil Brown to give Oakland a 4-0 cushion. Harden's only blemish was a solo shot allowed to Manny Ramirez (who probably doesn't want to leave Japan) but then the trio of Casilla, Foulke, and Embree shut the door to preserve the win. Oakland tacked on another run on a Jeff Fiorentino single to give the A's the series split.
-Transactions from just today at this early hour begins with Pittsburgh's acquisition of reliever Tyler Yates from Atlanta for a minor leaguer. The Pirates may even ask Yates to set up closer Matt Capps but the reward is certainly greater than the risk. After a splendid first game, Boston OF Brandon Moss was sent down. Tom Mastny was optioned by Cleveland, Tim Byrdak released by Detroit, and Texas surprisingly sent down both Kameron Loe and Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Salty will try his luck at 1B to make his move to the big club soon. Jack Cassel and Runelvys Hernandez were both sent down by Houston and the Royals acquired reliever Ramon Ramirez from Colorado for a PTBNL.
-Yesterday's moves include the White Sox sending Josh Fields down, perhaps in a last ditch effort to maximize Joe Crede's value before finally jettisoning him most likely to IF starved San Francisco to reunite with Aaron Rowand. Miguel Cabrera finally got his 7 year contract extension to keep him in Detroit until the apocolypse, and San Diego wisely exercized the option on manager Bud Black. Oscar Robles, Craig Stansberry, Chip Ambres, and Shawn Estes were sent down by the Friars. Milwaukee released Claudio Vargas, but he may not be unemployed for long. The New York Post reports that the Mets are very interested in making Vargas their 5th starter as Orlando Hernandez, Mike Pelfrey, and Nelson Figeroa have all failed to convince Willie Randolph that they can pin down the final rotation spot. The St Louis DL filled up rather quickly as Chris Carpenter, Mark Mulder, Joel Piniero, Matt Clement, Tyler Johnson, Josh Kinney, and Juan Encarnacion have all been shelved making the Cards DL far superior than their actual roster. Texas have sent down both Frank Francisco and prospect Eric Hurley.
-The Cubs signed recently released OF Reed Johnson to a 1 year deal, sending down Sam Fuld and Eric Patterson in the process. This transaction is the subject of today's Fantasy Spin with ESPN's Eric Karabell:
-Fantasy Spin- Now that the Cubbies have inked Reed Johnson, adding to a crowded OF many (or maybe just me) have thought that it may cut down Felix Pie's playing time and reduce his value for those that own him in Fantasy. Karabell quickly debunked that theory: "I don't think it cuts into his value at all." Karabell told SprungOnSports. "On the contrary, Pie cannot hit lefties, and Johnson can. The Cubs needed a more versatile fourth outfielder than Matt Murton, and they have Johnson now. I don't see Pie losing value because of this." So let out a sigh of relief Cubs fans and Pie owners, that was today's Fantasy Spin.
-Last, but not least my take on the leaked Jose Canseco-A-Rod accusation story. Even if A-Rod met with this steroids distributor, it doesn't mean that he was given them. Just because I have a conversation with a drug addict or an adulterer doesn't make me one. Not only is it a quintessential case of heresay, Canseco has a huge incentive to embelish or even fabricate his story. Not only does Canseco allegedly say that Rodriguez tried to sleep with his former wife, this source says that Canseco wrote that he hated A-Rod's bleeping guts. Granted most of the things Canseco said in his other book came out to be true, but never was their quite a personal vendetta against an individual like there is in his new book. Just things people have to take into account before jumping to conclusions...