Irish MTM Update

The marks to the left of the player's name indicates that their chances of making the team are moving up (▲), moving down (▼), or staying even (–). No mark to the left indicates there was no change from the previous week.

Players on the 40-man roster

▼ Blaine Boyer, rhp / Threw on the side to batters on Tuesday and felt good. Still needs to have some good outings in games before he makes the team. (Previously ▼)
▲ Lance Cormier, rhp / Still pitching great. (Previously ▲)
▲ Kyle Davies, rhp / Peter Gammons thinks the Braves will make room for Davies in the rotation before the season starts: The Braves reportedly will move John Thomson or Horacio Ramirez to make room for Kyle Davies. One rumor is Thomson to the Mets for Victor Diaz, but it seems hard to believe that the Braves would give a starting pitcher to the Mets. His latest start against Houston was a decent one, he worked his way in and out of trouble. (Previously ▲)
LOCK Joey Devine, rhp / More and more rumblings about him making the jump to the closer’s role. He is now a lock to make the team. (Previously ▲)
OUT John Foster, lhp / He’s not going to start the season due to an inflamed nerve in his pitching arm. The plan is to rest him a month or so, and see how if feels after that. He will not start the season with the club, though. (Previously ▼)
▲ Chuck James, lhp / With some good outings, he could sneak his way into the bullpen. (Previously –)
– Anthony Lerew, rhp / Finally puts a solid outing together. Then has a rough one, but keep in mind that all of the trouble came in his second inning of work. This was the same M.O. he followed last season, as I’ve pointed out before. He is very effective in his first inning of work out of the pen, but it all falls apart if he pitches a second inning. I’ll take the positives from his last two outings and say his odds of making the pen are about even right now. (Previously ▼)
▲ Macay McBride, lhp / Has not pitched in quite some time due to a strained muscle in his left forearm. (Previously ▲)
▲ Oscar Villarreal, rhp / Finally got in another WBC game, and pitched 2 innings of stellar relief. (Previously ▲)
– James Jurries, 1b / Still putting in good work. I wonder, though, if Cox and company will decide to go with the guys that have major league experience like Kelton, Ryan, or Jordan over a raw rookie like Jurries. That may also lead them to use a first base platoon less than in recent years, and give LaRoche a real shot at playing every day. (Previously ▲)
▲ Matt Diaz, of / Still hitting, slugs out his third spring homer to lead the team. He’s almost a lock at this point. (Previously ▲)
– Kelly Johnson, of / A hit and a walk, he keeps making his case. (Previously –)

Non-roster invitees

▼ Wes Obermueller, rhp / Another Ooff-ermueller type outing, 3 hits, 2 walks, 3 earned, unless we’re desperate he’s not making the team. (Previously ▼)
▼ Chad Paronto, rhp / Couldn’t work his way out of trouble. But had a good second outing. (Previously –)
▲ Mike Remlinger, lhp / With Foster possibly lost for the season, this is exactly the outing that Remlinger needed (followed by another good one). His stock takes a huge boost, as he is the only healthy lefty standing at the moment. (Previously ▼)
▲ Brian Jordan, of / Showing some speed, not bad. (Previously ▲)
– Dave Kelton, of / He’s still plugging away, and slowly getting more hits and getting better. (Previously ▼)
– Michael Ryan, of / He’s also still plugging away, and slowly getting more hits and getting better. (Previously ▼)

Off the radar and bound for the minors: Brad Baker, rhp; Scott Thorman, 1b; Kevin Barry, rhp; Jarrod Saltalamacchia, c. Previously bound for retirement: Eddie Perez, c. Previously off the radar Jose Ascanio, rhp; Brayan Pena, c; Jonathan Schuerholz, ss; Martin Prado, 2b; Travis Smith, rhp; Sean White, rhp; Steve Pyzik, c; Clint Sammons, c; Cesar Crespo, 2b-ss.