The Cubs, Red Sox, Diamondbacks and Phillies need to pick up the pace a little bit. Entering the weekend, those four 2007 playoff teams were among the 10 biggest losers this spring. There was only one playoff team from among the 10 teams with the worst records last spring. … Kyle Lohse contributed to winning teams in Minnesota and Philadelphia but wore out his welcome in both places. He should help the Cardinals, but general manager John Mozeliak signed him out of desperation, not desire, after Lohse priced himself out of the free-agent market this winter. … Might the Orioles wind up sending Brian Roberts to the White Sox, not the Cubs? They reportedly are looking at veteran middle infielders, including Juan Uribe. Roberts would be a great addition in the attempt to build a contender on the fly, but it’s not clear if the Sox have any high-level prospects with which to tempt Baltimore GM Andy MacPhail. … Ichiro Suzuki asked for the ball after ending his 0-for-21 slump with an infield single Thursday. You have to love that guy. … Francisco Liriano’s fastball touched only 92 m.p.h. Wednesday. Nobody asked, but it looks like this guy is being set up for failure with the big expectations put on him in Minnesota since Johan Santana’s trade. … The Phillies beat the odds by making the playoffs with a 4.91 ERA from their starting pitchers last season, and that deficit might have worsened with Lohse’s departure. Charlie Manuel’s starters have been getting pounded this spring, including ace Cole Hamels.
Juan Gonzalez’s comeback with the Cardinals might be just about over. He’s sidelined with an abdominal strain and has been on the field only once in an “A” game. … Pitchers young and old are shining in Cincinnati’s camp. Lefty Kent Mercker, 40, is making a nice comeback after missing 2007 with Tommy John surgery. Edinson Volquez struck out eight Yankees in four innings, and one AL scout says Johnny Cueto has been the best pitcher in Florida. Cueto, who stands only 5 feet 10 inches, throws easy heat, running radar guns up to 97-98 this spring. … Kevin Cash’s handling of knuckleballer Tim Wakefield led to the surprising release of Doug Mirabelli. It’s still hard to believe the Red Sox gave up Josh Bard, Cla Meredith and cash to get Mirabelli back from San Diego in 2006. What a deal for Padres GM Kevin Towers. … The Braves are raving about right-hander Jair Jurrjens, who came from Detroit in the Edgar Renteria trade. The 22-year-old Jurrjens, a native of Curacao, will break camp in the rotation barring a setback.
