Beyond Busch: NL Central and MLB Notes – Spring Training Continues

This week Beyond Busch will switch to bullet style for each team. Notes on each Major League team are supplied after the break.

NL Central

Chicago Cubs – Ryan Dempster gets the Opening Day start

Cincinnati Reds – Ryan Madson still not ready, Aroldis Chapman likely headed to ‘pen

Houston Astros – Jimmy Paredes sent down to play second base

Milwaukee Brewers – Shaun Marcum makes first spring start

Pittsburgh Pirates – Erik Bedard will start Opening Day for Bucs

NL East

Atlanta Braves – Chipper Jones to call it a career

Miami Marlins – Hanley Ramirez seems to be taking third base in stride

New York Mets – Settlement in Madoff mess likely allows Wilpons to remain owners

Philadelphia Phillies – Ryan Howard gets protective boot removed and practices

Washington Nationals – Stephen Strasburg gets first of many Opening Day starts; the Nats hope

NL West

Arizona Diamonbacks – Chris Young; .438, 2 HR, 4 RBI in 38 PA this spring

Colorado Rockies – Jeremy Guthrie set to start Opening Day

Los Angeles Dodgers – Clayton Kershaw looks ready for duplicate effort in 2012

San Diego Padres – Jeff Moorad steps down as Padres CEO

San Francisco Giants – Have I mentioned Brandon Belt is good?

AL East

Baltimore Orioles – Zach Britton receives platelet rich plasma treatment for shoulder

Boston Red Sox – Bobby Jenks arrested for DUI

New York Yankees – Joe Girardi pulls Yanks off field, irks Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine; feud begins

Tampa Bay Rays – James Shields gets Opening Day honors

Toronto Blue Jays – Brett Lawrie hoping to be back at it soon

AL Central

Chicago White Sox – Adam Dunn blasts two homers on Thursday; 4 HR, 12 RBI, .515 OBP for spring

Cleveland Indians – Chris Perez on target for Opening Day

Detroit Tigers – Miguel Cabrera takes a grounder to the face fracturing orbital bone

Kansas City Royals – Joakim Soria to have 2nd Tommy John surgery

Minnesota Twins – Justin Morneau is struggling to say the least

AL West

Los Angeles Angels – Kendrys Morales back on the field for first time since 2010

Oakland A’s – Yoenis Cespedes to play center field against Mariners in Japan

Seattle Mariners – Ichiro Suzuki looking forward to playing at home

Texas Rangers – Derek Holland signs 5-year, $28 million extension through 2016, plus club options for ’17 & ’18

Check back next week as Beyond Busch will provide an in-depth look at each division with predictions sure to go wrong.

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