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2B Daily News – Thursday, April 5, 2012 For openers: Strasburg, Scully, flamingos, Fielder By BEN WALKER AP Baseball Writer Stephen Strasburg on the mound at Wrigley Field, pink flamingos in center field at Miami. Vin Scully at the microphone, Prince Fielder in Motown. Young and old, fresh and famil- ''It looks like a spaceship,'' —Cardinals rookie manager Mike Matheny, regarding the new Marlins Park iar, baseball is set to start all across America. A week after Ichi- ro Suzuki, Yoenis Cespedes and the rest of Athletics and Mariners began in Tokyo, everyone else gets a turn at opening day. Justin Verlander, Clayton Ker- shaw and Roy Halladay are warmed up, and so is the weather. From Citi Field to Petco Park, the forecast is perfectly playable — none of those flurries and freezing temperatures that intruded at the start in past years are expected. Josh Johnson, one of several big stars coming back from injury- shortened seasons, threw the first pitch Wednesday night at new Marlins Park. Jose Reyes and the Miami starters were escorted onto the field by young women dressed as Latin showgirls. Moments later, Muhammad Ali rode into the ball- park and delivered the first ball. Carlos Beltran then produced Angeles Dodgers, soon to have Magic Johnson's touch, visit San Diego. faces for the future, starts for the Washington Nationals against the Chicago Cubs. ''Opening day — it is an honor Strasburg, one of baseball's injuries. Andy Pettitte is coming back, too, after ending his one- year retirement. Toronto at Cleveland, Philadelphia at Pittsburgh and Miami at Cincin- nati. Also on Thursday's schedule: and stuff,'' he said. ''But it's not what I play for. You want to play for the games in October.'' For now, that stuff is plenty. Especially for fans growing weary of watching their stars get hurt, wrecking preseason predictions and fantasy picks. The DL lineup from spring training could fill out an All-Star team: Chipper Jones will start his farewell tour in the trainer's room, along with Chase Utley, Chris Carpenter, Carl Crawford, Michael Pineda and more. It was especially rough for the first hit and World Series MVP David Freese opened the scoring with a two-run single. That got the champion St. Louis Cardinals, minus Albert Pujols for the first time in more than a decade, rolling toward a 4-1 win in a stadium with a decidedly South Florida flair. ''It looks like a spaceship,'' Cardinals rookie manager Mike Matheny said. Seven more games were on the schedule Thursday. Fielder takes his first swings with the Detroit Tigers when they host the Boston Red Sox and new manager Bobby Valentine. Scully begins his 63rd season in the broadcast booth when the Los relievers, with Joakim Soria, Ryan Madson, Andrew Bailey and Joel Zumaya having severe setbacks. Plus add the likes of Ryan Howard, John Lackey and Joba Chamberlain, who were already out. day. That's when Pujols makes his debut as his Los Angeles Angels host Kansas City. The two-time AL champion Texas Rangers get a visit from the Chicago White Sox and new manager Robin Ventura, while the New York Yankees are at Tampa Bay. The rest of the teams open Fri- Johan Santana, however, is ready to start the opener for the New York Mets on Thursday when they host Atlanta. The two-time Cy Young winner was out of the majors last year while recovering from shoulder surgery. ''I'm happy to have the oppor- tunity to start the season from Day One with the team. That's some- thing I was really looking forward to,'' he said. Buster Posey and Adam Wain- wright are among the other big names returning from major Friday. The next day, Jamie Moyer starts for the Rockies at age 49 against the Astros — out of the majors last season while recover- ing from Tommy John surgery, he could become the oldest pitcher to win in the majors. ''I've accomplished some things for myself, just knowing where I am and going through a spring training,'' he said this week. ''Now it's all for keeps, so it's go out there, be prepared and that makes it a little bit easier.'' Rookies to watch include Colorado opens at Houston on Tampa Bay lefty Matt Moore, who made a brilliant start in the play- offs, and Texas ace Yu Darvish, the Japanese star who struck out 11 in a six-inning start in spring training. Still to seen, meanwhile, are whether old pros Johnny Damon, Vladimir Guerrero, Hideki Matsui or Roy Oswalt will play a part this year in postseason race expanded to include 10 teams. Stars for so long, none of them had a job on opening day. GIANTS (Continued from page 1B) the Year in his Venezuelan winter ball league after a great season with Tiburones de La Guaira, received word from manager Bruce Bochy on Wednesday morning that he made the team. ''He first told me 'con- gratulations and you did a good job,''' said Sanchez, who hit .339 with 40 RBIs in 51 winter ball games. ''He was happy with how I played and that I'm working hard. I was content that I did what I needed to do.'' San Francisco also traded catcher Chris Stewart to the New York Yankees for right- handed minor league reliever George Kontos. That move brings the roster to the 25- player limit for opening day Friday at defending division champion Arizona. ''The Yankees had been asking for a while and got a little more aggressive recent- ly,'' Bochy said. ''The way the team was shaping up we felt we could make this move.'' The 22-year-old Sanchez is a switch-hitter with power who was batting .372 with four home runs and 10 RBIs this spring heading into the exhibition finale Wednesday against the Oakland Athlet- ics, in which he was the des- ignated hitter after the teams agreed to use a DH in the National League ballpark. Sanchez worked tireless- ly during winter ball in his native Venezuela to improve his defense, and Bochy said late Tuesday that he liked how the catcher handled the pitchers in a close game. ''We're taking a leap of defense. He's got a gift, he can hit.'' to Triple-A Fresno, along with right-hander Steve Edlefsen. Outfielder Gregor Blanco's contract was pur- chased from Fresno — and he also impressed this spring after spending the offseason as Sanchez's winter ball teammate. Whiteside was optioned Bochy called the demo- tion of Whiteside — San Francisco's backup catcher during the 2010 World Series championship run — among the hardest he has made. ''I will go and get some at-bats and try to get better,'' Whiteside said. ''It's part of the game. It's not what I wanted to happen. Hector had a good spring and he had a good offseason in winter ball.'' faith,'' Bochy said. ''You have to. We did with Buster. It's the only way you find out — you put him out there, you play him. ... He's earn- ing it every day. ... He under- stands that's the priority, his Brett Pill and Brandon Belt made the roster — with Pill playing Wednesday against a left-handed starter as Bochy says will often be the case this season. Bochy has hinted Belt could start at first base opening day with Aubrey Huff in left field. Belt, who bounced between the majors and Triple-A last season, spent his winter ball experience focused on improving his consistency at the plate. He reached base safely with a hit or walk in his last nine spring games, batting .483 (14 for 29) with three walks. His 28 total hits were tied for sec- ond most in baseball enter- ing play Wednesday. ''I feel good about how I performed this spring,'' said Belt, who cried a year ago when he made the team. ''I had a goal in mind to come in and be consistent and have a good spring, and I feel I did that.'' Also Wednesday, the Giants reassigned to Fresno infielder Joaquin Arias, out- fielder Justin Christian and right-hander Jean Machi. Donaldson's 2 HRs power A's past Giants 8-1 SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Josh Donaldson is starting to show signs that he might be a reli- able replacement for Scott Sizemore. Donaldson hit two homers and drove in five runs against Yus- meiro Petit, and the Oakland Athletics avoided a Bay Bridge Series sweep with an 8- 1 victory over the San Francisco Giants in Wednesday's spring finale. ''I've felt good about where he is in his progress, and I think today was a fitting end for him and how much work he's done this spring,'' A's manager Bob Melvin said. ''It's all starting to come together right now.'' Donaldson never fig- ured to have such an eventful year. That all changed in an instant. Sizemore tore a liga- ment in his left knee during Oakland's first full-squad workout of spring training, ending his season and making Donaldson — a convert- ed catcher — the start- ing third baseman before a game had been played. Donaldson fin- ished 4 for 5 in the finale, pushing his bat- ting average up to .270 after a dismal start. ''Every day in spring training I'm in there doing early work, whether it's hitting, defense, then playing the game, then doing more after the game,'' Donaldson said. ''Right now, I feel it's easier on me mentally and physi- cally just going out there playing and hit- ting.'' An otherwise quiet spring ending for San Francisco still had a bright spot. Buster Posey, receiv- ing rousing ovations from fans every time his name was announced, cleared another mile- stone with an RBI sin- gle in the first. Both were firsts at AT&T Park for the 2010 NL Rookie of the Year since a brutal season- ending collision at home plate with Flori- da's Scott Cousins last year. with two walks in Mon- day night's exhibition in San Francisco. He also added a double in the fourth in the last spring training game, setting the stage for San Francisco's chase to reclaim the World Series title the franchise won two years ago. ''We're set now. Now Posey was 0 for 2 it's time to get the sea- son started,'' Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. ''I like the way the spring went. We worked hard and played hard. I think they're ready.'' A sun-soaked day at San Francisco's cozy waterfront ballpark still belonged to an unproven slugger from across the bay. After a so-so start to spring training, Donald- son smacked a two-run shot to left in the sec- ond to put Oakland ahead 2-1. He followed MLB West Division A's Seattle Angels Texas East Division Baltimore New York Boston American League WL Pct GB 11 .500 — 1 1 .500 — 0 0 .000 — 0 0 .000 — WL Pct GB 0 0 .000 — 0 0 .000 — 0 0 .000 — Tampa Bay 0 0 .000 — Toronto Central Division Chicago Cleveland Detroit 0 0 .000 — 0 0 .000 — 0 0 .000 — Kansas City 0 0 .000 — Minnesota No games scheduled Today's games Boston (Lester 0-0) at Detroit (Verlander 0-0), 10:05 a.m. Toronto (Romero 0-0) at Cleveland (Masterson 0-0), 12:05 p.m. Friday's games Seattle at Oakland, 7:05 p.m. Chicago at Texas, 11:05 a.m. Minnesota at Baltimore, 12:05 p.m. New York at Tampa Bay, 12:10 p.m. Kansas City at Los Angeles, 7:05 p.m. 0 0 .000 — —————————————————— Wednesday's results 0 0 .000 — WL Pct GB with a three-run homer to deep left-center in the third for his only long balls this spring. Donaldson's latest go-around in the Bay Area figures to last a lit- tle longer than his first. Originally a first- round draft pick of the Chicago Cubs, Donald- son was traded to Oak- land in a deal for pitch- er Rich Harden in 2008. He briefly played for the A's in 2010 and had- n't done much since. Sizemore was acquired by Oakland last May in a trade with Detroit. He hit .249 with 11 home runs and 52 RBIs in 93 games with Oakland. The 26-year-old Donaldson wasn't the only A's hitter to sud- denly find some pop in a lineup that rarely shows any of it. Jonny Gomes — from nearby Petaluma — also hit a solo home run earlier in the third, helping Oakland build an 8-1 lead. Brian Wilson retired MLB West Division Arizona Colorado Dodgers Padres GIANTS East Division Atlanta New York National League WL Pct GB 0 0 .000 — 0 0 .000 — 0 0 .000 — 0 0 .000 — 00 .000 — WL Pct GB 0 0 .000 — 0 0 .000 — Philadelphia 0 0 .000 — Washington 0 0 .000 — Miami Central Division St. Louis Cincinnati Chicago Houston 0 1 .000 .5 WL Pct GB 1 0 1.000 — 0 0 .000 .5 0 0 .000 .5 0 0 .000 .5 Milwaukee 0 0 .000 .5 Pittsburgh 0 0 .000 .5 —————————————————— Wednesday's result St. Louis 4, Miami 1 Today's games Atlanta (Hanson 0-0) at New York (Santana 0-0), 10:10 a.m. Philadelphia (Halladay 0-0) at Pittsburgh (Bedard 0-0), 10:35 a.m. Washington (Strasburg 0-0) at Chicago (Dempster 0-0), 11:20 a.m. Miami (Buehrle 0-0) at Cincinnati (Cueto 0-0), 1:10 p.m. Los Angeles (Kershaw 0-0) at San Diego (Volquez 0-0), 4:05 p.m. Friday's games San Francisco at Arizona, 4:10 p.m. St. Louis at Milwaukee, 1:10 p.m. Colorado at Houston, 4:05 p.m. Los Angeles at San Diego, 7:05 p.m. both batters he faced in the eighth, all the work Bochy wanted from his bearded closer in the exhibition finale. regular season at defending NL West champion Arizona on Friday. The A's host Seattle in the last two of a four-game set that began in Japan and was squeezed between the final week of the exhi- bition schedule. The Giants open the ever discounts a win at the home of the rival Giants. ''We needed to create something going into the season,'' Melvin said. ''Momentum for a new group, confidence for a new group, I think, that type of winning in spring training can car- ryover.'' Not that Oakland NOTES: A's reliever Joey Devine was still waiting to hear the results from an MRI on his surgically repaired right elbow. Dr. James Andrews was scheduled to read the MLS WESTERN CONFERENCE WL T Pts GF GA Salt Lake 4 1 0 12 9 4 QUAKES 31 0 9 5 1 Colorado 3 1 0 9 7 5 Vancouver 2 0 2 8 3 0 Seattle 2 1 0 6 5 2 Portland 1 2 1 4 6 6 FC Dallas 1 2 1 4 5 8 Galaxy 1 2 0 3 5 7 Chivas USA 1 3 0 3 1 3 EASTERN CONFERENCE WL T Pts GF GA Kansas City 4 0 0 12 7 1 New York 2 2 0 6 10 7 Columbus 2 1 0 6 3 2 Houston 2 1 0 6 2 2 N. England 2 2 0 6 4 5 D.C. 1 2 1 4 5 5 Chicago 1 1 1 4 2 3 Philadelphia 0 3 1 1 2 6 Montreal 0 4 1 1 3 11 Toronto FC 0 3 0 0 1 7 NOTE: Three points for victory, one point for tie. —————————————————— Wednesday's result Real Salt Lake 1, Montreal 0 Today's game New England at FC Dallas, 5:30 p.m. Saturday's games Vancouver at San Jose, 4 p.m. Toronto FC at Montreal, 9 a.m. New York at Columbus, Noon Los Angeles at Sporting Kansas City, 1 p.m. Seattle FC at D.C. United, 4:30 p.m. Colorado at Real Salt Lake, 6 p.m. Chivas USA at Portland, 7:30 p.m. scan for Devine, who had Tommy John surgery in April 2009 and is experiencing more problems. Devine is already on the DL with right biceps tendinitis and has been shut down for now. He hopes this won't threaten his season. ''This is the story of my life,'' Devine said. ''It's just a constant. It's pretty sore — same symptoms, putting shampoo in my hair, turning a doorknob.'' ... NHL WESTERN CONFERENCE Pacific Division WL OT Pts GF GA 40 27 13 93 187 170 Kings Phoenix 40 27 13 93 208 202 SHARKS 41 29 10 92 219 203 Dallas 42 33 5 89 209 217 Ducks 33 35 12 78 199 224 Central Division WL OT Pts GF GA y-St. Louis 48 21 11 107 206 159 x-Detroit 48 27 5 101 245 198 x-Nashville 46 26 8 100 229 209 x-Chicago 44 26 10 98 244 234 Columbus 27 46 7 61 190 257 Northwest Division WL OT Pts GF GA y-Vancouver50 21 9 109 244 195 Colorado 41 33 6 88 205 209 Calgary 35 29 16 86 194 222 Minnesota 34 35 11 79 174 221 Edmonton 32 39 9 73 210 233 EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division WL OT Pts GF GA z-Rangers 51 22 7 109 223 178 x-Pittsburgh 49 25 6 104 273 217 x-Philadelphia46 25 9 101 260 227 x-N. Jersey 46 28 6 98 222 206 N.Y. Islanders33 36 11 77 195 244 Northeast Division WL OT Pts GF GA y-Boston 47 29 4 98 262 198 x-Ottawa 41 29 10 92 246 233 Buffalo 39 31 10 88 214 224 Toronto 34 36 10 78 227 258 Montreal 30 35 15 75 207 223 Southeast Division WL OT Pts GF GA Florida 37 25 18 92 197 222 Washington 40 32 8 88 214 227 Winnipeg 37 34 9 83 218 237 Tampa Bay 37 36 7 81 229 275 Carolina 32 32 16 80 210 238 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. x-clinched playoff spot y-clinched division z-clinched conference —————————————————— Wednesday's results Detroit 3, St. Louis 2, SO Montreal 5, Tampa Bay 2 Today's games San Jose at Los Angeles, 7:30 p.m. Buffalo at Philadelphia, 4 p.m. Florida at Washington, 4 p.m. Montreal at Carolina, 4 p.m. N.Y. Rangers at Pittsburgh, 4 p.m. Tampa Bay at Toronto, 4 p.m. Winnipeg at N.Y. Islanders, 4 p.m. Boston at Ottawa, 4:30 p.m. New Jersey at Detroit, 4:30 p.m. Chicago at Minnesota, 5 p.m. Dallas at Nashville, 5 p.m. Columbus at Colorado, 6 p.m. Vancouver at Calgary, 6 p.m. Anaheim at Edmonton, 6:30 p.m. Friday's games Phoenix at St. Louis, 5:30 p.m. The A's optioned RHP Tyson Ross to Triple-A Sacramento. Melvin plans to have Ross return April 17, the first time the A's will need a fifth starter. ... The Giants will open AT&T Park for a free viewing party Friday night so fans can watch the team's opener at Arizona. NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE Pacific Division Lakers Clippers Phoenix WL Pct GB 34 20 .630 — 32 21 .604 1.5 27 26 .509 6.5 WARRIORS 21 32 .396 12.5 KINGS 19 35 .352 15 Southwest Division WL Pct GB San Antonio 38 14 .731 — Memphis Dallas Houston 30 23 .566 8.5 31 24 .564 8.5 29 25 .537 10 New Orleans 14 40 .259 25 Northwest Division WL Pct GB x-Okla. City 40 14 .741 — Denver Utah Portland 29 25 .537 11 28 26 .519 12 25 29 .463 15 Minnesota 25 31 .446 16 EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division Boston WL Pct GB 30 23 .566 — Philadelphia 29 25 .537 1.5 New York Toronto 27 27 .500 3.5 20 35 .364 11 New Jersey 19 36 .345 12 Southeast Division WL Pct GB 39 14 .736 — 32 22 .593 7.5 32 23 .582 8 x-Miami Orlando Atlanta Washington 12 42 .222 27.5 Charlotte Central Division x-Chicago 42 13 .764 — Indiana Milwaukee 26 28 .481 15.5 Detroit 7 45 .135 31.5 WL Pct GB 33 21 .611 8.5 20 33 .377 21 Cleveland 17 35 .327 23.5 x-clinched playoff spot —————————————————— Wednesday's results Golden State 97, Minnesota 94 Atlanta 120, Charlotte 93 Dallas 95, Memphis 85 Indiana 109, Washington 96 Miami 98, Oklahoma City 93 Milwaukee 107, Cleveland 98 New Orleans 94, Denver 92 San Antonio 87, Boston 86 Toronto 99, Philadelphia 78 L.A. Lakers at L.A. Clippers, late New Jersey at Portland, late Phoenix at Utah, late Today's games L.A. Clippers at Sacramento, 7 p.m. New York at Orlando, 4 p.m. Washington at Detroit, 4:30 p.m. Boston at Chicago, 6:30 p.m. Friday's games Golden State at Utah, 6 p.m. Oklahoma City at Indiana, 4 p.m. Cleveland at Toronto, 4:30 p.m. Detroit at Atlanta, 4:30 p.m. Memphis at Miami, 4:30 p.m. Washington at New Jersey, 4:30 p.m. Charlotte at Milwaukee, 5:30 p.m. New Orleans at San Antonio, 5:30 p.m. Portland at Dallas, 5:30 p.m. Phoenix at Denver, 6 p.m. Houston at L.A. Lakers, 7:30 p.m.