What's the Buzz? 4/28/06
So a little bit of fallout from the Rockies/Giants affair a few days ago as Jose Mesa was suspended for 4 games for intentionally throwing as Omar Vizquel. Giants pitcher Matt Morris, who retaliated the next day by hitting Matt Holliday in the first inning, only received a fine and will miss no time at all.
Speaking of the Giants...they traded reliever Tyler Walker to the Devil Rays for RHP Carlos Hines. I don't figure for Hines to do too much....maybe a little middle relief at best if he stays witht he big club. Walker on the other hand may be intriguing. While he has looked like garbage this year, we can't forget his 20+ saves last season. Even better was that Dan Miceli was removed from his second straight save opportunity today and Walker was inserted and got his first save of the year. If you have Miceli, you might want Walker as insurance.
Staying with the D-Rays, manager Joe Maddon has announced that while his starters are out, Russell Branyan, Nick Green and Ty Wigginton will be mixed in regularly. Green will play 2nd against lefties with Branyan getting the start at 3rd and move Wigginton to second against righties.
Word out of Cincinnati is that Ken Griffey, Jr. will not be activated from the disabled list today. It is not clear when he will return, so Ryan Freel will stay in center for now. However, when Junior gets back, don't count on Freel playing 2nd base regularly. He's definitely cooled off from his fast start and there's no reason to bench the surging Brandon Phillips.
Cardinals 3B Scott Rolen will probably miss this weekend's games as weel. He is still recovering from bronchitis and may need a few extra days off to regain his strength.
The Diamondbacks have given their open rotation spot to Juan Cruz who has been very impressive so far this season. Give him a couple of starts to get going, but he could have value in NL only and large mixed leagues.
Contrary to yesterday's reports, the Mets put pitcher Brian Bannister on the DL with his hamstring injury. Victor Diaz was called up with Carlos Beltran injured, but could go back down soon when the Mets need a fifth starter.
Royals DH Mike Sweeney's back is at it again. He is undergoing an MRI to see what's causing the spasms and whether or not he needs to go on the DL. Matt Stairs should take over primary DH duties with an outside chance that the team calls up Justin Huber. Again, it's an outside chance, but if he does come up, Huber makes for a possible pick up.
The Cubs have contacted the Orioles regarding the availability of 1B/OF Jeff Conine. He would make for a nice replacement for Derrek Lee, but it doesn't look like the O's want to deal him just yet.
Congratualtions to Cards 1B Albert Pujols who tied the major league record for most HR in April with his 13th off of Felix Rodriguez. Look for him to break the record this weekend as he has 2 games to do so.
Orioles' SS Miguel Tejada hyperextended his knee chasing down a foul ball tonight. He is listed as questionable for Saturday's game which would put his "ironman" streak of 942 straight games in jeapordy. He says he wants to play so maybe they'll use him as a DH and let Chris Gomez play short.
Pirates OF Chris Duffy has improved as of late and remains the favorite for playing time in center field. Nate McLouth still waits in the wings...
While Royals reliever Mike MacDougal probably won't be back until mid June, center fielder David DeJesus expects to be back by the end of next week. That'll mean more bench time for Shane Costa and Esteban German.
Marlins OF and pre-season ROY candidate Jeremy Hermida has had his return pushed back yet again, to May 5th. The club is debating whether a rehab assignment is necessary before they activate him.
The much hyped Rich Harden will be out for 3 to 6 weeks with a torn muscle in his back. Probably closer to the six. It hasn't been determined whether or not last year's problems from his strained oblique led to the more long term problem. Brad Halsey will probably replace him in the rotation.
Also for the A's, it appears that Huston Street will not return before Saturday now. He is still recovering from a strained pectoral muscle.
The Giants placed 2B Ray Durham on the 15 day DL with a left hamstring injury. Look for Jose Vizcaino and maybe Kevin Frandsen to pick up the slack.
And finally, as expected, the Nationals put SP John Patterson on the DL with a strained flexor muscle in his right forearm. The team apparently underestimated this injury and it could be more serious than they thought. Zach Day will take his spot in the rotation, atleast for Sunday. An update on Patterson's condition should come over the weekend.
Catch you next time...
Speaking of the Giants...they traded reliever Tyler Walker to the Devil Rays for RHP Carlos Hines. I don't figure for Hines to do too much....maybe a little middle relief at best if he stays witht he big club. Walker on the other hand may be intriguing. While he has looked like garbage this year, we can't forget his 20+ saves last season. Even better was that Dan Miceli was removed from his second straight save opportunity today and Walker was inserted and got his first save of the year. If you have Miceli, you might want Walker as insurance.
Staying with the D-Rays, manager Joe Maddon has announced that while his starters are out, Russell Branyan, Nick Green and Ty Wigginton will be mixed in regularly. Green will play 2nd against lefties with Branyan getting the start at 3rd and move Wigginton to second against righties.
Word out of Cincinnati is that Ken Griffey, Jr. will not be activated from the disabled list today. It is not clear when he will return, so Ryan Freel will stay in center for now. However, when Junior gets back, don't count on Freel playing 2nd base regularly. He's definitely cooled off from his fast start and there's no reason to bench the surging Brandon Phillips.
Cardinals 3B Scott Rolen will probably miss this weekend's games as weel. He is still recovering from bronchitis and may need a few extra days off to regain his strength.
The Diamondbacks have given their open rotation spot to Juan Cruz who has been very impressive so far this season. Give him a couple of starts to get going, but he could have value in NL only and large mixed leagues.
Contrary to yesterday's reports, the Mets put pitcher Brian Bannister on the DL with his hamstring injury. Victor Diaz was called up with Carlos Beltran injured, but could go back down soon when the Mets need a fifth starter.
Royals DH Mike Sweeney's back is at it again. He is undergoing an MRI to see what's causing the spasms and whether or not he needs to go on the DL. Matt Stairs should take over primary DH duties with an outside chance that the team calls up Justin Huber. Again, it's an outside chance, but if he does come up, Huber makes for a possible pick up.
The Cubs have contacted the Orioles regarding the availability of 1B/OF Jeff Conine. He would make for a nice replacement for Derrek Lee, but it doesn't look like the O's want to deal him just yet.
Congratualtions to Cards 1B Albert Pujols who tied the major league record for most HR in April with his 13th off of Felix Rodriguez. Look for him to break the record this weekend as he has 2 games to do so.
Orioles' SS Miguel Tejada hyperextended his knee chasing down a foul ball tonight. He is listed as questionable for Saturday's game which would put his "ironman" streak of 942 straight games in jeapordy. He says he wants to play so maybe they'll use him as a DH and let Chris Gomez play short.
Pirates OF Chris Duffy has improved as of late and remains the favorite for playing time in center field. Nate McLouth still waits in the wings...
While Royals reliever Mike MacDougal probably won't be back until mid June, center fielder David DeJesus expects to be back by the end of next week. That'll mean more bench time for Shane Costa and Esteban German.
Marlins OF and pre-season ROY candidate Jeremy Hermida has had his return pushed back yet again, to May 5th. The club is debating whether a rehab assignment is necessary before they activate him.
The much hyped Rich Harden will be out for 3 to 6 weeks with a torn muscle in his back. Probably closer to the six. It hasn't been determined whether or not last year's problems from his strained oblique led to the more long term problem. Brad Halsey will probably replace him in the rotation.
Also for the A's, it appears that Huston Street will not return before Saturday now. He is still recovering from a strained pectoral muscle.
The Giants placed 2B Ray Durham on the 15 day DL with a left hamstring injury. Look for Jose Vizcaino and maybe Kevin Frandsen to pick up the slack.
And finally, as expected, the Nationals put SP John Patterson on the DL with a strained flexor muscle in his right forearm. The team apparently underestimated this injury and it could be more serious than they thought. Zach Day will take his spot in the rotation, atleast for Sunday. An update on Patterson's condition should come over the weekend.
Catch you next time...
posted by Howard Bender at
10:11 PM
