Post by John on May 23, 2006 10:30:53 GMT -4
5/23 Updates
Peavy fans Padres-record 16 in loss to Braves
Jake Peavy struck out a Padres-record 16 on Monday night, but he still took the loss after giving up two runs in seven innings against the Braves.
Both runs came on Ryan Langerhans' homer. It actually wasn't a bad pitch, but Langerhans got ahold of the tailing fastball and lined it over the 358-foot marker in left field. Fred Norman (in 1972) and Sterling Hitchcock (1998) held the San Diego record with 15 strike outs in a game. Peavy might have received a chance to add to his total if the Padres hadn't needed to pinch-hit for him in the bottom of the seventh, but since he was at 114 pitches, it was probably for the best that he was removed.
Angels call up top prospect Morales
Angels recalled first baseman Kendry Morales from Triple-A Salt Lake.
Morales wasn't any good for the first six weeks of the season, but he's been on a tear lately and the Angels might as well seek to capitalize. Overall, he was hitting .318/.363/.478 in 157 at-bats. Expect him to play over Robb Quinlan at first base for now. Both he and Dallas McPherson can start fairly regularly until Darin Erstad returns and Chone Figgins heads back to third base. He should have some value in AL-only leagues.
Tigers' Verlander tosses first career shutout
Justin Verlander tossed a complete-game shutout against the Royals on Monday night. He struck out seven while throwing 114 pitches.
The Royals had two of their five hits in the ninth, and Verlander would have been removed had one more batter reached in the inning. However, he got Reggie Sanders to fly out to end it. Verlander walked just one batter, and the seven strikeouts matches his career high. An easy schedule has helped, but the rookie has overwhelmed a bunch of hitters while going 5-1 with a 2.28 ERA in his last six starts. It will be fun to see how he performs against the Indians, Yankees and White Sox in his next three starts.
5/22 Updates
Orioles' Penn undergoes appendectomy
Orioles placed RHP Hayden Penn on the 15-day disabled list with appendicitis.
That's just really bad timing. Penn, who was called up after Sunday's game, was due to start Tuesday night against the Mariners. It now looks like either John Halama or Kurt Birkins will get the nod. Adam Loewen replaced Penn on the roster, but he won't be rested enough to pitch right away. Penn figures to miss two or three weeks after surgery on Monday, and he'll likely make at least a couple of starts in the minors before the Orioles will again consider putting him into the rotation.
Blue Jays interested in Kennedy
Source: FOXSports.com
According to FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal, the Blue Jays are targeting Adam Kennedy in trade talks and would be willing to part with Shea Hillenbrand.
A straight-up swap would surely for Toronto. Of course, Kennedy is better and cheaper than Hillenbrand. Unless the Angels can acquire a true difference maker on offense, they might as well make trades with an eye toward 2007. Kennedy would be a great fit for the Blue Jays, but if he's going to made available at all, the Angels probably won't part with him until the deadline. Toronto is going to need middle-infield help before then.
Yankees place Chacon on disabled list
Yankees placed RHP Shawn Chacon on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 17, with a bruised left leg.
Aaron Small figures to get at least one more start in pace of Chacon, who was hurt when he was hit by a comebacker in his start against the Red Sox on May 11. Terrence Long's contract was purchased to replace Chacon on the roster.
Hidalgo expected to sign with Yanks
Source: New York Times
General manager Brian Cashman said Sunday that the Yankees expect to sign Richard Hidalgo.
Hidalgo and the Yankees seem to be a decent fit, especially given that New York just called up Terrence Long.
5/21 Updates
Sheffield could return this week
Gary Sheffield (hand) took batting practice on Sunday and told manager Joe Torre he was ready to play in a game.
Sheffield's hand is feeling good because he decided to undergo a cortisone shot, something he said he wouldn't do a couple of weeks ago. Maybe the soreness will come back when the injection wears off, but it currently looks like he'll return from the disabled list before the end of the week. His return should result in fewer at-bats for Bernie Williams, although the DH spot will remain open for him.
5/20 Updates
McCann listed as day-to-day with ankle injury
Brian McCann is listed as day-to-day with a left lateral ankle sprain sustained in a collision at home plate during Saturday's game.
Well, we'll see about that. Our guess is that McCann will end up on the DL. However, the early fear was that it may have been a season-ending injury, and that no longer appears likely. If McCann avoids the DL, the Braves may sent down Travis Smith to call up Brayan Pena on Sunday.
Mariners cut outfielder Lawton
Mariners designated outfielder Matt Lawton for assignment.
Lawton wasn't happy in such a limited role and the Mariners need more roster flexibility, so this is probably for the best. The 34-year-old was hitting .259/.310/.259 in 27 at-bats. There are several teams out there that Lawton could help as a part-time outfielder. The Yankees immediately come to mind, but that's not going to happen.
Angels release veteran Alfonzo
Angels released infielder Edgardo Alfonzo.
Talk about overdue. In the Angels' defense, maybe they would have done it weeks ago if not for Maicer Izturis' injury. Still, the smart thing to do would have been to drop him prior to Opening Day. Alfonzo hit .100/.135/.120 in 50 at-bats. The Orioles or another team looking for a veteran backup could take a chance on him, but he seems to be done.
Hidalgo on the Yankees' radar
Source: Newsday
The injury-riddled Yankees plan to soon work out free agent Richard Hidalgo at their minor league complex in Tampa.
"Richard is definitely intrigued," said Hidalgo's representative Chris Leibel. Hidalgo was released by the Orioles in spring training after leaving the team to be with his ailing wife. Assuming that he's not inbaseball shape right now, Hidalgo would probably have to spend several weeks in the minors before becoming a possibility for the Yankees. He could end up as the club's primary left fielder at some point, but it's more likely that he'll fit in as a reserve.
Peavy fans Padres-record 16 in loss to Braves
Jake Peavy struck out a Padres-record 16 on Monday night, but he still took the loss after giving up two runs in seven innings against the Braves.
Both runs came on Ryan Langerhans' homer. It actually wasn't a bad pitch, but Langerhans got ahold of the tailing fastball and lined it over the 358-foot marker in left field. Fred Norman (in 1972) and Sterling Hitchcock (1998) held the San Diego record with 15 strike outs in a game. Peavy might have received a chance to add to his total if the Padres hadn't needed to pinch-hit for him in the bottom of the seventh, but since he was at 114 pitches, it was probably for the best that he was removed.
Angels call up top prospect Morales
Angels recalled first baseman Kendry Morales from Triple-A Salt Lake.
Morales wasn't any good for the first six weeks of the season, but he's been on a tear lately and the Angels might as well seek to capitalize. Overall, he was hitting .318/.363/.478 in 157 at-bats. Expect him to play over Robb Quinlan at first base for now. Both he and Dallas McPherson can start fairly regularly until Darin Erstad returns and Chone Figgins heads back to third base. He should have some value in AL-only leagues.
Tigers' Verlander tosses first career shutout
Justin Verlander tossed a complete-game shutout against the Royals on Monday night. He struck out seven while throwing 114 pitches.
The Royals had two of their five hits in the ninth, and Verlander would have been removed had one more batter reached in the inning. However, he got Reggie Sanders to fly out to end it. Verlander walked just one batter, and the seven strikeouts matches his career high. An easy schedule has helped, but the rookie has overwhelmed a bunch of hitters while going 5-1 with a 2.28 ERA in his last six starts. It will be fun to see how he performs against the Indians, Yankees and White Sox in his next three starts.
5/22 Updates
Orioles' Penn undergoes appendectomy
Orioles placed RHP Hayden Penn on the 15-day disabled list with appendicitis.
That's just really bad timing. Penn, who was called up after Sunday's game, was due to start Tuesday night against the Mariners. It now looks like either John Halama or Kurt Birkins will get the nod. Adam Loewen replaced Penn on the roster, but he won't be rested enough to pitch right away. Penn figures to miss two or three weeks after surgery on Monday, and he'll likely make at least a couple of starts in the minors before the Orioles will again consider putting him into the rotation.
Blue Jays interested in Kennedy
Source: FOXSports.com
According to FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal, the Blue Jays are targeting Adam Kennedy in trade talks and would be willing to part with Shea Hillenbrand.
A straight-up swap would surely for Toronto. Of course, Kennedy is better and cheaper than Hillenbrand. Unless the Angels can acquire a true difference maker on offense, they might as well make trades with an eye toward 2007. Kennedy would be a great fit for the Blue Jays, but if he's going to made available at all, the Angels probably won't part with him until the deadline. Toronto is going to need middle-infield help before then.
Yankees place Chacon on disabled list
Yankees placed RHP Shawn Chacon on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 17, with a bruised left leg.
Aaron Small figures to get at least one more start in pace of Chacon, who was hurt when he was hit by a comebacker in his start against the Red Sox on May 11. Terrence Long's contract was purchased to replace Chacon on the roster.
Hidalgo expected to sign with Yanks
Source: New York Times
General manager Brian Cashman said Sunday that the Yankees expect to sign Richard Hidalgo.
Hidalgo and the Yankees seem to be a decent fit, especially given that New York just called up Terrence Long.
5/21 Updates
Sheffield could return this week
Gary Sheffield (hand) took batting practice on Sunday and told manager Joe Torre he was ready to play in a game.
Sheffield's hand is feeling good because he decided to undergo a cortisone shot, something he said he wouldn't do a couple of weeks ago. Maybe the soreness will come back when the injection wears off, but it currently looks like he'll return from the disabled list before the end of the week. His return should result in fewer at-bats for Bernie Williams, although the DH spot will remain open for him.
5/20 Updates
McCann listed as day-to-day with ankle injury
Brian McCann is listed as day-to-day with a left lateral ankle sprain sustained in a collision at home plate during Saturday's game.
Well, we'll see about that. Our guess is that McCann will end up on the DL. However, the early fear was that it may have been a season-ending injury, and that no longer appears likely. If McCann avoids the DL, the Braves may sent down Travis Smith to call up Brayan Pena on Sunday.
Mariners cut outfielder Lawton
Mariners designated outfielder Matt Lawton for assignment.
Lawton wasn't happy in such a limited role and the Mariners need more roster flexibility, so this is probably for the best. The 34-year-old was hitting .259/.310/.259 in 27 at-bats. There are several teams out there that Lawton could help as a part-time outfielder. The Yankees immediately come to mind, but that's not going to happen.
Angels release veteran Alfonzo
Angels released infielder Edgardo Alfonzo.
Talk about overdue. In the Angels' defense, maybe they would have done it weeks ago if not for Maicer Izturis' injury. Still, the smart thing to do would have been to drop him prior to Opening Day. Alfonzo hit .100/.135/.120 in 50 at-bats. The Orioles or another team looking for a veteran backup could take a chance on him, but he seems to be done.
Hidalgo on the Yankees' radar
Source: Newsday
The injury-riddled Yankees plan to soon work out free agent Richard Hidalgo at their minor league complex in Tampa.
"Richard is definitely intrigued," said Hidalgo's representative Chris Leibel. Hidalgo was released by the Orioles in spring training after leaving the team to be with his ailing wife. Assuming that he's not inbaseball shape right now, Hidalgo would probably have to spend several weeks in the minors before becoming a possibility for the Yankees. He could end up as the club's primary left fielder at some point, but it's more likely that he'll fit in as a reserve.