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| Gonzalez is the big bat for the Padres | Thursday 5/22, 11:58 PM CT |
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Continuing to produce as the team's only power threat, Adrian Gonzalez went deep for the 13th time this year on Thursday night as he pushed across two runs giving him 39 RBI on the year.
Our View: Gonzalez seems intent on producing his second straight 30 HR, 100 RBI season for the Padres as he seeks to established himself solidly on the second tier of power hitters at first base. |
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| Dunn working on hitting streak | Thursday 5/22, 11:56 PM CT |
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Adam Dunn went 2-for-4 on Thursday and how has a hit in 8-straight games to push his average from .203 to .245.
Our View: With his recent hot streak, Dunn is on pace for his customary 40 HR and 90 RBI though he'll need to pick up his run scoring pace a bit to record 90 for the fifth straight year. |
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| Wolf has nine K, picks up win | Thursday 5/22, 11:51 PM CT |
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Randy Wolf held the Reds to just two runs over seven innings to improve his record to 3-4. Wolf walked only one while striking out nine.
Our View: After a couple of rough outings, Wolf has rebounded to allow five runs over his last two starts during which time he has 14 K and just two BB, a major reason for his success. When he throws strikes Wolf is tough to hit, he just struggles to find the strike zone at times. |
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| Harang continues to pile up loses | Thursday 5/22, 11:49 PM CT |
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Aaron Harang lost his sixth game of the season on Thursday as he gave up five runs on 10 hits and two walks over 5.1 innings.
Our View: Harang is a perfect buy low candidate right now if his current owner is fixated on his record. Harang owns a 3.50 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and a 7.59 K/9 mark, and those are the ratios of a 15 game winner, not a 15 game loser. |
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| Wandy excels in minor league start | Thursday 5/22, 11:19 PM CT |
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Wandy Rodriguez had another minor league outing on Thursday and he looked strong allowing just one run over six innings for Double-a Corpus Christi, according to MLB.com.
Our View: With his solid work tonight, Wandy could be making his next start with the big league club though the team could still have him make one more start since he threw only 78 pitches in the game. |
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| Kershaw nearing call up? | Thursday 5/22, 11:16 PM CT |
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Clayton Kershaw left his scheduled start on Thursday after throwing just a single inning leading to speculation that the phenom might be on his way to join the Dodgers, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Kershaw is scheduled to start again on Tuesday which is the next time the Dodgers will call on the #5 starters spot adding to the speculation. However, he could go as early as Saturday given his short work today which would allow the Dodgers an extra day for Brad Penny to rest. Stay tuned. |
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| Bourn has two hits, SB | Thursday 5/22, 11:12 PM CT |
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Michael Bourn had two hits on Thursday night, and is now 9-for-21 over his last five games (.429). He also stole his 21st base of the season.
Our View: It's nice to see Bourn push that average up to .214 but he still has a long way to go before we can label him as anything resembling a quality leadoff hitter, but alas, it is a good start. |
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| Berkman back to hitting ways | Thursday 5/22, 11:01 PM CT |
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Lance Berkman gave pitchers a break by going 1-for-10 over his last three games, but he returned to his mashing ways on Thursday night with three hits in five trips to the plate. Ty Wigginton also had three hits for the Astros.
Our View: Berkman also knocked in his 45th run of the season as he now has 18 doubles and 16 home runs on the year. Still amazing, the man just will not slow down at the plate. |
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| Werth removed with oblique strain | Thursday 5/22, 10:58 PM CT |
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Jayson Werth was forced from the Phillies game on Thursday night in the eighth inning by what is being called a right oblique strain.
Our View: That's all the info we have right now. Oblique injuries can be minor and last a couple of days, or they can often times require a trip to the DL resulting in up to a month's worth of missed action. If Werth needs to head to the DL that means that Shane Victorino will be in the lineup every day regardless of the matchup. |
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| Oswalt goes six on sore hip | Thursday 5/22, 10:55 PM CT |
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Roy Oswalt made his scheduled start on Thursday night, and though the results weren't great (11 hits, five runs), he was able to throw 94 pitches over six innings despite his sore hip.
Our View: Oswalt allowed another home run though there is no shame in having Ryan Howard take you deep. All we were really looking for from Oswalt tonight was a nice and easy throwing motion, so we were pleased with what we saw even if the results weren't ideal. |
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| Lidge still perfect on the season | Thursday 5/22, 10:48 PM CT |
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Facing his old team, Brad Lidge allowed one hit in the ninth inning on his way to his 12th save in 12 chances for the Phillies.
Our View: Lidge has 23 K in 21 innings while he has allowed all of one earned run leading to a 0.43 ERA. He showed the Astros tonight just what he's got left in that right arm, and the results were predictably dominating. |
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| Howard goes deep, strikes out twice | Thursday 5/22, 10:45 PM CT |
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Ryan Howard blasted his 13th home run of the season on his way to three hits, three runs and two RBI for the Phils.
Our View: This was Howard's sixth home run in nine games, and though he has three hits and is now batting .207, the two AB where he didn't get a hit he struck out leaving him with an astounding 71 K in 49 games. |
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| Burell goes deep in pinch hitting role | Thursday 5/22, 10:43 PM CT |
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After saying that Pat Burrell wouldn't play on Thursday night and probably not on Friday as well because of his recent slump, Charlie Manunel called his name late and Burrell responded with a pinch-hit home run for the Phils in the bottom of the eighth for the winning run.
Our View: So much for that night off. Just like it's hard for you to rest a 30 homer bat, so it is for a manager, and tonight Burrell showed why he really should be on the field every day no matter how he is going at the plate. |
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| Delgado goes yard | Thursday 5/22, 10:39 PM CT |
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Carlos Delgado hit a solo home run on Thursday night for the Mets in their 4-2 loss to the hated Braves.
Our View: A .218 average and six home runs certainly aren't what Delgado owners paid for this season, and truth be told, most would welcome the .258-24-87 hitter that showed up last year. Does Delgado still have that thunder in his bat? We're still holding out hope that he does. |
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| Beltran has a blast and a steal | Thursday 5/22, 10:37 PM CT |
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Carlos Beltran had two hits including his fourth home run of the season while he also added his sixth SB of the year on Thursday night.
Our View: Beltran really hasn't been able to get much traction this season though he does have hits in 10 of his last 11 games. Still, the home run power has totally disappeared thanks to a HR/F ratio that is about half of what it normally is (8.6%). |
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| Chipper returns to lineup, has two hits | Thursday 5/22, 10:33 PM CT |
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Chipper Jones returned to action after fouling a ball off his shin on Wednesday and the injury had little effect as he went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Our View: Jones is now hitting .412 through 170 AB and he is once again proving that the only thing that is able to stop him on the field are the injuries that keep him off it. |
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| Johnson has three bingos | Thursday 5/22, 10:31 PM CT |
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Kelly Johnson hit a double and two singles on Thursday night to finish the night with a .299 batting average.
Our View: Johnson has been hotter than Sofia Vergara when hitting out of the seventh or eighth holes in the order this season going 12-for-23 (thats .552 folks). Who needs that leadoff spot when your hitting like that lower in the order? |
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| Hudson shuts down Mets | Thursday 5/22, 10:26 PM CT |
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Tim Hudson picked up his seventh win on Thursday night by holding the Mets to only two runs over eight innings. Hudson didn't walk a batter though he did allow two solo home runs.
Our View: Three times this year Hudson has allowed four or more earned runs. In the three starts directly following those outings he has allowed one, zero and two runs. How's that for limiting the damage? |
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| Santana surrenders 12 hits in loss | Thursday 5/22, 10:23 PM CT |
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Johan Santana allowed a career worst 12 hits to the Braves on Thursday which lead to four runs, three earned, in his third loss of the season.
Our View: Santana didn't walk a single batter, but he only had one strikeout in about as unlike Santana outing as you will ever see. But given the man credit; he was at his worst yet he still allowed only three earned runs. |
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| Upton on prolonged streak of ineffectiveness | Thursday 5/22, 10:17 PM CT |
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Justin Upton went 0-for-4 on Thursday to drop his average to .296, the first time it's been under .300 since the third game of the season.
Our View: Face it, Upton just isn't ready to be a prime time performer yet. He has only one home run in 35 games, or about as many as Micah Owings, yeah that Owings the pitcher and teammate of Upton. Upton is still a remarkable long term option, but he just hasn't been able to sustain his hot start. |
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| Jackson continues to struggle at plate | Thursday 5/22, 10:11 PM CT |
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Conor Jackson's struggles continued on Thursday night as he went 0-for-3 to lower his average to .291.
Our View: Jackson, who started the year on fire, has hit the skids in May with just a .203 average in 17 games. If you look at his numbers right now there are still at a level that you have to be happy, but it would be nice if he channeled some of that April mojo right about now. |
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| Uggla has a nothing outing | Thursday 5/22, 10:07 PM CT |
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Dan Uggla went 0-for-4 without a run or RBI on Thursday night for the Marlins as he lost his 10-game hitting streak.
Our View: What makes this rather ordinary night so noteworthy is the fact that Uggla hadn't gone without either a hit, run or RBI since May 3rd, a span of 17 games. Don't feel sorry for him, he is still hitting .409-10-20 in 19 games in May. |
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| Cantu knocks in two from third hole | Thursday 5/22, 10:03 PM CT |
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Jorge Cantu, hitting in the third spot in the order vacated by Hanley Ramirez who returned to the leadoff role, went 1-for-4 with two RBI.
Our View: Cantu is currently batting .264 with 19 RBI on the year which seems to make him an odd choice to bat third for the Marlins. However, manager Fredi Gonzalez stated earlier that Cantu would likely remain there for a while giving him an obvious boost in value. |
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| Haren falters late in loss | Thursday 5/22, 10:00 PM CT |
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Dan Haren was sailing along until he surrendered three runs in the seventh inning as he came out on the losing end of a 4-0 loss to the Marlins. Haren allowed all four runs in 6.2 innings though he did not allow a walk while striking out eight.
Our View: Through his first 10 starts in the NL Haren owns a 3.39 ERA and 1.01 WHIP and has provided exactly what those who invested an early pick on him this year had hoped for. |
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| Miller dominates Arizona | Thursday 5/22, 9:56 PM CT |
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Andrew Miller pitched the best game of his young career on Thursday night as he dominated the D'backs over seven innings to push his record to 4-3. Miller didn't allow a single run, walked just one and struck out nine.
Our View: This is the type of effort that led to the Marlins trading for Miller who can dominate one night and look lost the next. Right now he looks great with four straight starts with two or fewer runs allowed, though his ratios are still ugly because of some unsettling work earlier in the season. |
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| Gorzelanny evens record | Thursday 5/22, 9:49 PM CT |
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Tom Gorzelanny evened his record at 4-4 on Thursday as he held the Brewers to two runs in five innings of work. Tom allowed eight hits and four walks while only striking out two.
Our View: This outing leaves him with 35 BB and just 26 BB. That's all you really need to look at to realize you are playing with fire without any protection if you start Gorzelanny. |
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| Bush falls to 1-5 | Thursday 5/22, 9:47 PM CT |
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Dave Bush didn't walk a batter on Thursday but he allowed nine hits which led to six runs in five innings for the Brewers. Bush fell to 1-5 after this outing.
Our View: Luckily for Bush, Jeff Weaver continues to struggle in the minors or he might already be out of the rotation. As it stands, Bush will have to bring a lot more to the table to avoid losing his spot at some point in the near future. |
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| McLouth continues hitting spree | Thursday 5/22, 9:40 PM CT |
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Nate McLouth went 4-for-4 on Thursday with three runs scored and a stolen base for the Pirates.
Our View: McLouth just won't go away. He continues to be one of the top-10 hitters in the fantasy game and tonight's performance allowed him to escape a 1-for-11 stretch the past three games. |
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| Weeks produces despite low average | Thursday 5/22, 9:36 PM CT |
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Rickie Weeks went deep on Thursday hitting his sixth home run for the Brewers. The run he scored on the long ball was his 38th of the year.
Our View: If you don't look at his batting average, Weeks would have some pretty solid production this year. He continues to get on base at a decent clip in relation to his batting average with a .340 OBP, but he just isn't having any luck at the plate with a .222 BABIP. |
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| Hart goes deep, swipes bag | Thursday 5/22, 9:31 PM CT |
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Corey Hart hit a home run, his fourth, and stole a base, his eighth, for the Brewers on Thursday.
Our View: Hart has bee a bit of a disappointment this season despite a .305 average and eight steals as he just hasn't displayed the power he showed last season. We know it will take a lot, but we aren't ready to write off a potential 20/20 season just yet. |
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| Burrell given day off | Thursday 5/22, 9:20 PM CT |
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Pat Burrell was given Thursday off due to a protracted slump, and he might also be out of the lineup on Friday, according to MLB.com. "He's not seeing the ball real well right now," manager Charlie Manuel said. "He's chasing breaking balls. We just thought we'd give him a couple of days off and see how he was doing.
Our View: Burrell, who hit .326 in April is three for his last 27 and 0-for-11 over his last three games dropping his average to .271. Look for Burrell to return this weekend and continue the slugging ways that have him on pace for well over 30 HR. |
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| Kotchman tries to get Angels offense going | Thursday 5/22, 8:56 PM CT |
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The Angels suffered the troubling 4-3 loss to Toronto this evening as the offense struggled to perform. First baseman Casey Kotchman was the star of the evening, going 2-for-4 with two singles and a run scored.
Our View: Kotchman is now hitting .313 on the season, going 10-for-26 with four RBIs and four runs scored over his last seven games. |
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| Gregg a working man's closer | Thursday 5/22, 8:21 PM CT |
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Kevin Gregg, a former starter, has no problem with working multiple innings for saves, according to MLB.com. "As long as I keep my pitch count down, it's not a big deal," Gregg said.
Our View: Gregg has a 2.31 ERA and 1.16 WHIP this season with nine saves, though it hasn't always been a smooth ride as he has struggled with his control at times. Gregg should continue to provide saves with decent ratios to remain one of the betters closers who isn't a household name. |
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| Towles putting in extra work | Thursday 5/22, 8:15 PM CT |
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J.R. Towles took early batting practice on Thursday to try and break out of his year long slump, according to MLB.com. "We're going to stay with him," manager Cecil Cooper said. "I think you have to do that. You have to give these kids a chance to grow a little bit. We're not struggling offensively, so we're going to give him a chance to play, as long as it doesn't bother his defense.
Our View: With all the hype around him heading into the season, Towles .150 batting average to this point has been a massive disappointment. With no average, little power (four HR) and no steals (zero), he has been a huge drain on his current owners. |
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| Riske uncertain about return date | Thursday 5/22, 8:02 PM CT |
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David Riske (elbow) hopes to be able to return on May 30th but he is still experiencing soreness in his elbow, according to MLB.com. "It's still in there," Riske said. "I finished what I was supposed to do, but I still felt it in the last five or six throws. It's not all the way gone yet."
Our View: With the Brewers bullpen in flux, they could certainly use a healthy Riske, though his performance when on the hill this season certainly hasn't matched what he did last year before earning his big contract. |
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| Escobar almost ready to return | Thursday 5/22, 7:58 PM CT |
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Yunel Escobar's limp is gone but he is still experiencing some pain in his right leg. Still, he took batting practice on Thursday and hopes to be able to play on Friday, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Escobar was injured when Ryan Church inexplicably went into second base without sliding. Regardless, the Braves miss Escobar's defense as well as hit bat, so they will welcome him back with open arms. |
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| Bard placed on DL | Thursday 5/22, 7:53 PM CT |
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Updating an earlier story, Josh Bard was placed no the DL on Thursday with a sprained left ankle, according to the Associated Press. The team called up Colt Morton to back up Luke Carlin.
Our View: Bard has been a massive disappointment this year with just a .200 average with only seven RBI in 38 games. The Padres will try and get by for the next couple of days until Michael Barrett (elbow) is ready to be activated from the DL. |
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| Young placed on DL with broken nose | Thursday 5/22, 7:41 PM CT |
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Chris Young, who took an Albert Pujols line drive off his nose on Wednesday night and suffered a nasal fracture, was officially placed on the DL on Thursday, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: Young will likely be ready to go once the 15 day stint is up. Let's just hope that he doesn't change his mechanics because he is gun shy. Josh Banks figures to take over Young's vacated roster spot. |
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| Doumit progressing nicely | Thursday 5/22, 7:17 PM CT |
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Ryan Doumit, out with a fractured thumb, appears to be on track to return to the Pirates lineup much sooner than the previous estimate of four weeks, according to MLB.com. "We'll see what we get from that report," manager John Russell said of Doumit's Thursday meeting with a hand specialist. "It would be nice if that injury is a little different than we thought and we can get him back sooner."
Our View: Doumit has been saying that he will be back sooner than anyone thought, and it sure seems like that might indeed happen. Ronny Paulino has failed to impress, so look for Doumit to slide right back into the starting role once healthy. |
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| Stairs out | Thursday 5/22, 7:12 PM CT |
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Toronto DH Matt Stairs is out of the starting lineup for the Blue Jays this evening as they face the Angels, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Manager John Gibbons told reporters that Stairs arrived on Thursday night with a stiff neck and was held out of action as a result, giving Joe Inglett the start at DH in his stead. The team does not believe the injury to be serious and asserts he is likely to return to action soon. |
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| Scherzer sent to bullpen | Thursday 5/22, 7:10 PM CT |
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Max Scherzer will be moved into the bullpen to make room in the starting rotation for the returning Doug Davis, according to the Arizona Republic. "We wanted to get him into what potentially could be a prominent role," GM Doug Melvin said of the chance for Scherzer to pitch in more of a setup role than a long reliever role. "We didn't want to look at him just as a long guy . . . We felt he could be a significant piece..."
Our View: Apparently Scherzer will spell both Chad Qualls and Tony Pena in a setup role when needed, and in between he will be featured when the team needs a big strikeout. This move obviously tanks most of Max's value in the short term, but he could certainly develop into a Joba Chamberlain type out of the pen with his arsenal of pitches. |
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| Davis overcomes cancer, will be activated | Thursday 5/22, 6:55 PM CT |
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Doug Davis has overcome all the off-field issues surrounding his thyroid cancer and as a result he will return to the starting rotation to face the Braves this weekend, according to Fox Sports. Brandon Medders was designated for assignment to open up a roster spot.
Our View: Davis made two starts at Triple-A to help build back up his stamina, and whether or not he is successful this weekend we are all in his corner. Don't get all sappy though and add him to your roster because it's a good story as his effectiveness certainly isn't what it used to be. |
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| Bautista set for minor league rehab | Thursday 5/22, 6:44 PM CT |
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The Tigers report relief pitcher Denny Bautista is ready to begin a minor league rehab assignment at Triple-A Toledo starting Saturday, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Bautista has been out since May 3rd with right shoulder tendinitis. Manager Jim Leyland spoke with reporters and notes the Tigers are going to be tracking his command as much as his health during this rehab stint. Bautista was struggling to pitch with efficiency in his early regular-season work despite dramatic improvements witness in spring training. The team wants to continue that progress and bring back the reliever with a cautious hope of improved work that could lead to longer relief outings. |
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| Smoltz throws to batters with new look | Thursday 5/22, 6:36 PM CT |
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John Smoltz threw for a third straight day on Thursday as he faced hitters prior to batting practice, according to the Associated Press. "He’s got a lot of movement,” said manager Bobby Cox. “It all comes down to location. Smoltz has a knack, no matter what angle he’s throwing from.”
Our View: Besides the news that he appeared to be feeling better, there was also the added wow factor that Smoltz also altered his arm angle as well throwing more from the side than over the top to protect his shoulder. An old pro like Smoltz likely won't take too long to adapt to a different arm angle, but it remains to be seen whether or not he will take it into game action when he returns. |
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| Alou placed on DL | Thursday 5/22, 6:27 PM CT |
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Moises Alou has been placed on the 15-day DL because of a strained left calf on Thursday, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: Alou, who missed the first 26 games of the year recovering from a hernia operation, is injured more than a 160 pound kicker forced to play middle linebacker in the NFL would be. He can still hit as he's batting .340 in 14 games, but he just cannot stay healthy. Endy Chavez and Marlon Anderson will likely split outfield duties until Alou can return. |
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| Gagne has tendinitis | Thursday 5/22, 6:20 PM CT |
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Eric Gagne has rotator cuff tendinitis and as a result he will be out indefinitely, according to the Associated Press. Gagne received a cortisone shot and will not throw for three days at which point he will once again be re-examined. Currently the Brewers don't plan on placing Gagne on the DL.
Our View: This is as good of news as could be expected considering how Gagne has been doing of late, but the bottom line is that Gagne likely will be out of action for at least a week and quite possibly longer. In the meantime Salomon Torres will continue to be the team's top option to finish off games though he has by no means locked up that role. |
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| Ramirez back in leadoff role | Thursday 5/22, 4:24 PM CT |
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Hanley Ramirez has struggled at the plate hitting just .268 since being moved to the third spot in the order on May 2nd, so he will be returning to his customary leadoff spot on Thursday, according to the Associated Press. Jorge Cantu received a nice little bonus as he moves into the third hole.
Our View: Nothing like a manager overreacting to a small sample size. It's clear that Hanley is the team's best hitter, and given his skill set he should be batting third. However, he seems to have a mental block that keeps him from excelling unless he bats leadoff, so leadoff he will bat. |
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| Livan comes up short | Thursday 5/22, 4:17 PM CT |
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Livan Hernandez allowed 10 hits and two walks to the Rangers, and though five of the six runs that scored were earned, he still managed to escape with a no decision.
Our View: Livan has a shining record at 6-2, but that's about all you have to look forward to here. More often than not he gives the Twins a chance to win, but with a K/9 below three and with a WHIP north of 1.40, he just isn't worth trotting out there in most mixed leagues. |
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| Kearns placed on DL | Thursday 5/22, 3:13 PM CT |
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Austin Kearns has been placed on the 15-day DL due to his right elbow injury, according to the AP.
Our View: Kearns will undergo arthroscopic surgery Friday to remove loose bodies in the joint, and is expected to miss three to four weeks. He won't be missed by fantasy owners, as he was only hitting .187 with 16 RBI over 42 games.
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| Gorzelanny tries to even record to 4-4 | Thursday 5/22, 2:59 PM CT |
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Tom Gorzelanny will try to even his record to 4-4 when the Pirates host the Brewers tonight, according to MLB.com. Gorzelanny is 3-4 with a 6.64 ERA and 1.72 WHIP over 40.2 innings, with 24 strikeouts.
Our View: Gorzelanny should not be considered for your lineup tonight, especially against the intimidating Brewers' lineup that features the hot hitting Ryan Braun. Gorzelanny was rocked for seven runs in his last start, and that was the third time he allowed seven over eight starts. |
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| Reyes looks to extend streak | Thursday 5/22, 2:48 PM CT |
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Jose Reyes has reached base safely in 21 straight games dating back to April 27, according to MLB.com. He will look to keep the streak going tonight against hurler Tim Hudson and the Braves.
Our View: Reyes is hitting .315 over 18 games in May, with 11 runs scored, two homers, nine RBI, and eight stolen bases. |
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| Hudson aiming for seventh win | Thursday 5/22, 2:43 PM CT |
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Tim Hudson will be aiming for his seventh win of the season when the Braves host the Mets tonight, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Hudson is 6-3 with a solid 3.06 ERA and 1.07 WHIP over 61.2 innings, with 38 strikeouts. Hudson was rocked for five runs in his last start, but only allowed three runs (two earned) over his previous three starts in May. Keep him in your lineup tonight. |
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| Santana to make 10th start with Mets | Thursday 5/22, 2:36 PM CT |
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Johan Santana will make his 10th start with the Mets tonight against Atlanta, according to MLB.com. Santana has already allowed 11 home runs this season, but holds a solid 5-2 record with a 3.30 ERA and 1.12 WHIP over 60 innings, with 57 strikeouts.
Our View: Santana allowed four earned runs in his last start (against the Yankees), but only surrendered eight total earned runs over his previous four starts. |
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| Bard likely headed to DL | Thursday 5/22, 2:26 PM CT |
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Starting catcher Josh Bard is likely headed to the DL after sustaining a high ankle sprain during battle with the Cardinals on Wednesday night when Albert Pujols slid into him at home plate, according to the SD Union-Tribune.
Our View: The team has yet to determine how long Bard will be out of action. They will likely bring Colt Morton back to the roster. Also of note, there is still no set target date as to when Michael Barrett will return to the team. |
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| Young could land on DL | Thursday 5/22, 2:20 PM CT |
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Chris Young could land on the DL after he sustained a fractured nose Wednesday night when struck in the face by a third-inning line driver off the bat of Albert Pujols, according to the SD Union-Tribune.
Our View: The team already lost ace Jake Peavy due to an elbow injury, and now Young may go on the shelf as well. He was 4-4 with a 4.50 ERA over 54 innings, with 51 strikeouts over 10 starts. |
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| Karstens optioned to Scranton | Thursday 5/22, 1:51 PM CT |
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Jeff Karstens has been activated from the DL and optioned to Triple-A Scranton, according to MyPinstripes.com.
Our View: Considering that Karstens was only up to 65 pitches, it's strange that the Yankees ended his rehab assignment already. He held no fantasy value prior to today's move.
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| Martinez not retiring | Thursday 5/22, 12:29 PM CT |
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Pedro Martinez is not retiring at the end of this season (as was previously speculated), according to ESPN deportes. Martinez returned to the Dominican Republic to attend to his ailing father, but said, "I feel great physically and for the record I haven't considered retirement. Retirement would only take place if my arm is badly hurt and if I have to face surgery or something near that nature." He added that he wants to pitch two or three more seasons. His arm feels great, and he is throwing over the 90 MPH mark.
Our View: Martinez had planned to rejoin the Mets for a bullpen session Wednesday. However, because of the family matter, he was forced to delay his plans to test his ailing hamstring.
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| Hawkins suspended three games | Thursday 5/22, 11:28 AM CT |
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LaTroy Hawkins has been suspended for three games and fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Baseball on Thursday for throwing at the Orioles' Luke Scott, according to the AP. In the sixth inning at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night, Hawkins fired a pitch over Scott’s head and was ejected without warning by plate umpire Chuck Meriwether. Scott and Hawkins began gesturing at each other, and both benches and bullpens emptied as players burst onto the field. No punches were thrown.
Our View: Hawkins has appealed and the suspension is delayed until a decision is reached. The suspension had been set to begin Thursday, when the Yankees host the Orioles.
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| Baek designated for assignment | Thursday 5/22, 10:42 AM CT |
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Pitcher Cha Seung Baek has been designated for assignment, according to the Miami Herald. The Mariners also recalled RA Dickey from Triple-A Tacoma.
Our View: Baek held little fantasy value prior to his demotion, as he only registered 15 strikeouts over 30 innings, with a 1.37 WHIP. |
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| Jones update | Thursday 5/22, 9:55 AM CT |
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Andruw Jones said that based on the way his ailing knee felt after two days of rest, he felt he could have played on Wednesday, according to the LA Times. Jones, who has torn cartilage and a cyst in his right knee, rode a stationary bicycle for around 10 minutes and spent time hitting off a tee. He rested for about 40 minutes and when he didn't experience any swelling in his knee, went into the batting cage and hit about 60 balls. The plan is for Jones to run the bases and catch fly balls in center field today, which is a day off for the Dodgers. If the swelling that he had Sunday evening doesn't come back, he said he should be ready to play in the Dodgers' series opener against the Cardinals on May 23.
Our View: Whether he will have to undergo surgery will be determined by how his knee responds over the next couple of days to physical activity, which he started Wednesday.
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| Furcal could be activated Friday | Thursday 5/22, 9:46 AM CT |
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Rafael Furcal remained on the DL Wednesday, the first day he was eligible to be activated, according to the LA Times. Furcal, who is nursing a lower back strain, stated there was no chance he would play in a minor league rehab game today, a possibility that was mentioned by Manager Joe Torre. He could be activated on Friday. Furcal hasn't played in more than two weeks, but noted he doesn't think he has to go to the minors to regain his timing and would prefer to be put in the Dodgers lineup right away when he's healthy enough to play. Furcal added, "The game is the same everywhere. If you're healthy, you can play."
Our View: Furcal holds a .366 average with 34 runs scored and eight stolen bases over 32 games, and hopefully Torre will let him return right away without having to serve a rehab assignment first. |
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| Carpenter update | Thursday 5/22, 9:39 AM CT |
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Chris Carpenter threw 48 pitches on Wednesday and is scheduled to work a simulated game Monday in Jupiter after experiencing what one team source described as a recent "hiccup" in his recovery from elbow ligament replacement surgery, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Carpenter disclosed mild discomfort around the elbow to club trainers after a recent throw and was shut down for several days, according to the team source. He has rebounded favorably and is once again throwing without discomfort. GM John Mozeliak stated, "It's been pretty seamless so far. I don't know if I would even call this a hiccup."
Our View: Since Carpenter is still throwing in simulated situations, which is a step before facing hitters in extended spring games, Mozeliak believes his potential return is still pretty far away. The Cardinals' ace is not expected to begin a rehab assignment for at least another month. He was previously projected to return at around the All-Star Break.
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| Isringhausen to throw off mound Fri. | Thursday 5/22, 9:32 AM CT |
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Jason Isringhausen is scheduled to throw off a mound on Friday, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He landed on the DL last Friday with a laceration and infection of his pitching hand.
Our View: Friday's session is considered the first step in what could be as much as a six-week rehabilitation from his hand condition and mental strain associated with a rough couple of weeks. Cardinals' GM John Mozeliak last week estimated the process would take two to six weeks. Manager Tony La Russa then voiced optimism that Isringhausen could be available after 15 days, but others within the organization have described La Russa's view as overly optimistic.
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| Byrnes not yet at full strength | Thursday 5/22, 9:26 AM CT |
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Eric Byrnes is still not back to full strength as he continues to be slowed by his hamstring ailment, according to the Arizona Republic. Manager Bob Melvin said that Byrnes aggravated his legs in his first at-bat Friday night against the Tigers, and added, "He's a guy that can play hurt as much as anybody we have here. But he's still not 100 percent yet, and part of his game is running. We won't see all of Eric Byrnes until he's able to use all his weapons."
Our View: He is only hitting .213 over 42 games, with four homers and 17 RBI, and he should remain on your bench until he can recover and put an end to his slump. |
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| Church never had a concussion? | Thursday 5/22, 7:59 AM CT |
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Ryan Church told reporters on Wednesday that he never had a concussion, is fine, and expects to be back in the lineup during Thursday's battle against the Braves, according to MetsBlog.com. Coach Willie Randolph wants to be more cautious however, and he said, "We’re going to be ultra cautious with him. When you’re dealing with the head injuries you don’t want to mess with that. We want to make sure he can do physical things, get up and down and give us an honest feeling of where he is. If he feels any type of lightheadedness or wooziness, then we won’t take a chance with him. He’s too important to us."
Our View: It sounds like he will be alright, but Randolph could hold him out until the weekend to play it safe. |
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| Alou headed to NY for MRI | Thursday 5/22, 7:53 AM CT |
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Moises Alou is headed to New York for an MRI to confirm a possible mild-strain to his left calf, according to MetsBlog.com. Alou later stated to reporters that while he is not optimistic, he doesn’t expect to land on the DL and hopes to miss just a few days.
Our View: Alou was off to a strong start with a .340 bating average and seven RBI over 14 games, and hopefully he won't miss much time. We will keep you posted on his status. |
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| Savery pitches like top pick at High-A | Thursday 5/22, 12:46 AM CT |
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2007 first-round pick Joe Savery allowed one run on five hits in seven innings for his second win of the season on Wednesday. He also struck out seven batters.
Our View: Savery’s performance for High-A Clearwater could be better with a 4.71 ERA, but he is still learning how to pitch after being a two-way star at Rice. His strikeout numbers and groundball rates are excellent, so it is far too early to come to any conclusions on his long-term potential. |
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| Tabata picks up first homer | Thursday 5/22, 12:41 AM CT |
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Jose Tabata went 3-for-6 with his first home run of the season for Double-A Trenton on Wednesday.
Our View: Tabata has been one of the biggest disappointments in all of the minors this season, as he entered the year as a top prospect for the Yankees. Still, we must keep in mind that he is only 19 and has faced more advanced competition at Double-A. He is hitting only .235, but let’s not give up on him yet. |
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| De la Cruz continues pitching clinic | Thursday 5/22, 12:40 AM CT |
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Eulogio De la Cruz came just one out away from throwing a complete game for Triple-A Albuquerque on Wednesday while allowing two unearned runs on five hits. He walked one and struck out four.
Our View: De la Cruz needs more attention, so we’re giving it to him. He now has a 4.35 ERA and six wins in a hitter-friendly ballpark, and he has been on fire since struggling in his first two starts of the season. It is looking more and more like he will see the majors at some point this season, so NL-only owners may want to stash him. |
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| Mientkiewicz starts again at third | Thursday 5/22, 12:03 AM CT |
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Doug Mientkiewicz started at third base Wednesday for the fifth time in the last six games. Jose Bautista, who is in a 3-for-21 slump, was on the bench again. "What we've done since Day One is put the lineup out there that we feel gives us the best chance to win that night," manager John Russell said in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "(Mientkiewicz's) swing is more conducive to getting more at-bats."
Our View: It's not as if Doug has set the world on fire, but apparently Russell feels he's a better option than Bautista. Neither player has much fantasy value. |
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