CLEARWATER, Fla. — Phillies left-hander Cliff Lee said a side muscle strain was the reason his first bullpen session lasted just eight pitches a week ago.
Lee said Monday he’s “perfectly fine” and the strain under his left armpit is “not really a major issue.” He completed his next two pitching sessions last week and took part in fielding practice during the first week of spring training.
Lee signed a five-year, $120 million deal with the Phillies as a free agent in December.
Morneau taking it easy
FORT MYERS, Fla. — When it comes to his concussion, Twins first baseman Justin Morneau said he is feeling better but still feels some of the effects.
He was injured in Toronto on July 7 while sliding into second base. Morneau has resumed baseball activities, but will likely miss the first four or five exhibition games. He hopes to be ready for opening day April 1.
“Wouldn’t say it’s 100 percent yet, but I think it’s as close as I can get,” he said. Doctors have yet to clear him for full game activity, but he is able to face live pitching in batting practice.
Too busy for baseball.
Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner thinks his team’s celebration of its 2009 World Series championship may have lasted too long.
“I think, maybe, they celebrated too much last year,” Steinbrenner said. “Some of the players, too busy building mansions and doing other things and not concentrating on winning. This year . . . they’ve come in with a real, new drive and determination — the kind they had in 2009.”
Steinbrenner also said baseball’s revenue sharing and luxury tax programs need changes, and that commissioner Bud Selig is open to the idea.
Footnotes.
Cubs manager Mike Quade selected Ryan Dempster to start the season opener against Pittsburgh on April 1. Dempster was picked over right-hander Carlos Zambrano, who has started the last six openers for the Cubs. Zambrano will start the second game of the season, followed by Matt Garza.
• Adam Wainwright will pitch the Cardinals’ first exhibition in a week against the Marlins, putting the NL Cy Young Award runner-up in line to start the March 31 opener against the Padres.
• A day ahead of the first full-squad workout, the Nationals’ Bryce Harper was besieged by autograph seekers after his workout. He took roughly 40 swings and hit four home runs — all to right field.
• Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez hit off a tee for the first time since shoulder surgery four months ago and is confident he will be ready for opening day.
• The Braves gave general manager Frank Wren a two-year contract extension through the 2013 season.
• Players’ union head Michael Weiner said he expects meetings with management about the next labor contract to be held in Florida and Arizona before the regular season opens. The current deal expires in December.
The Associated Press
