What's the Buzz? 4/29/06
For Eric Gagne owners, a small silver lining, as he threw today for the first time since elbow surgery. It was about 30 tosses from 40 feet away, but hey...baby steps to rehab. He hopes to return in about a month.
The Tampa Bay closer situation remains murky at best with the newly acquired Tyler Walker blowing the save today with a few walks and a single. His pitching line of 4 ER though is the result of incumbent closer Dan Miceli allowing 2 inherited runners to score. This situation will be a train wreck to deal with if you own either or were looking to pick them up. Give it a little while lonnger before making a move.
Texas' new closer Akinori Otsuka picked up his first save today. It started just like a Francisco Cordero type save, but Otsuka rallied from giving up a walk and a single to get the double play to end the game. He will continue to close until Cordero can get back on track. And if you saw his pitching line last night, then you know that could be a while.
More tinkering in the bullpen for Pittsburgh as Jim Tracy again called upon Roberto Hernandez to relieve closer Mike Gonzalez today. We saw Tracy play the matchups before, so don't read into it too much. Gonzalez remains the closer.
While OF Rocco Baldelli probably won't return until mid-May, it looks like the Devil Rays will have both 3B Aubrey Huff and SS Julio Lugo returning at the end of next week. This will mark the end of SS Tomas Perez' starting role and should push Ty Wigginton into a platoon at second with Nick Green until Jorge Cantu returns. Russell Branyan should still see some OF action for the next 2 weeks.
If OF Corey Patterson continues this hot streak, I may have to eat my own words...but don't go serving me up just yet...
Anyone see how sharp Juan Cruz looked in his first start for the Diamondbacks today? He may be worth a look in NL only leagues.
The Orioles let SS Miguel Tejada take the fiels today after hyperextending his knee. He played well going 2 for 4 at the plate, but was removed in the sixth inning with soreness. Look for him to either get the day off on Sunday or be the team's DH.
The Royals put OF Shane Costa on the 15 day DL with a strained hamstring. It looks like Esteban German and Kerry Robinson will fill in until David DeJesus returns at the end of next week. Costa pretty much loses any and all value he had.
A-HA!!!!! Now there's the Glendon Rusch I know...2 1/3 with 7 ER, giving up 4 HR.
Congratulations to Albert Pujols who set a MLB record today with his 14th HR in the month of April. Nationals reliever Jon Rauch served up the honors in the 8th inning of a tie game.
While the rest of the normal world knows that it is probably his back or his knees giving him trouble, Randy Johnson will almost certainly find a way to blame today's debacle on catcher Jorge Posada. That's just Randy.
Blue Jays 1B Shea Hillenbrand will have a CT scan done to see if there are any lingering affects to being kneed in the head by Gary Sheffield today. He probably has a concussion, so look for Eric Hinske to play some first in his absence while Alex Rios gets regular time in right field.
Twins future star Francisco Liriano gave up 5 ER today in 3 2/3 innings today. He just didn't have it and it coincided with a day when the Tigers put up 18 runs. He probably should have been pulled earlier, but the Minnesota pen was spent from bailing out Brad Radke yesterday. We'll have to see how Liriano bounces back from this one, but I'm sure he'll be fine.
As expected, Ken Griffey, Jr. was not activated from the disabled list. He should return to action some time in the next week or so, so keep him reserved for now.
Rumors are swirling around Seattle that Jamie Moyer has asked to not be caught by Kenjii Johijima. Manager Mike Hargrove denies it. What's up with these friggin prima donnas? Do you think Johnny Bench or Thurman Munson or Carlton Fisk would've put up with this kind of crap? If the rumor is true, then Moyer's an idiot in my book. How doesn't a pitcher realize that he is hurting his run support and the respect of his peers by demanding the backup catcher be his personal guy.
Ugh. Ron Gardenhire now has a platoon going at first base as Justin Morneau was sat for the third straight game against a left hander in favor of Michael Cuddyer. Oh please, don't let this last. Cuddyer should be nothing more than a bench player. He has proven that year in year out.
And finally, watch out for Kelvim Escobar; he seems to be developing Beckett-itis. He was removed today after developing a blister on the same finger that has been giving him trouble the past few years.
Catch you next time...
The Tampa Bay closer situation remains murky at best with the newly acquired Tyler Walker blowing the save today with a few walks and a single. His pitching line of 4 ER though is the result of incumbent closer Dan Miceli allowing 2 inherited runners to score. This situation will be a train wreck to deal with if you own either or were looking to pick them up. Give it a little while lonnger before making a move.
Texas' new closer Akinori Otsuka picked up his first save today. It started just like a Francisco Cordero type save, but Otsuka rallied from giving up a walk and a single to get the double play to end the game. He will continue to close until Cordero can get back on track. And if you saw his pitching line last night, then you know that could be a while.
More tinkering in the bullpen for Pittsburgh as Jim Tracy again called upon Roberto Hernandez to relieve closer Mike Gonzalez today. We saw Tracy play the matchups before, so don't read into it too much. Gonzalez remains the closer.
While OF Rocco Baldelli probably won't return until mid-May, it looks like the Devil Rays will have both 3B Aubrey Huff and SS Julio Lugo returning at the end of next week. This will mark the end of SS Tomas Perez' starting role and should push Ty Wigginton into a platoon at second with Nick Green until Jorge Cantu returns. Russell Branyan should still see some OF action for the next 2 weeks.
If OF Corey Patterson continues this hot streak, I may have to eat my own words...but don't go serving me up just yet...
Anyone see how sharp Juan Cruz looked in his first start for the Diamondbacks today? He may be worth a look in NL only leagues.
The Orioles let SS Miguel Tejada take the fiels today after hyperextending his knee. He played well going 2 for 4 at the plate, but was removed in the sixth inning with soreness. Look for him to either get the day off on Sunday or be the team's DH.
The Royals put OF Shane Costa on the 15 day DL with a strained hamstring. It looks like Esteban German and Kerry Robinson will fill in until David DeJesus returns at the end of next week. Costa pretty much loses any and all value he had.
A-HA!!!!! Now there's the Glendon Rusch I know...2 1/3 with 7 ER, giving up 4 HR.
Congratulations to Albert Pujols who set a MLB record today with his 14th HR in the month of April. Nationals reliever Jon Rauch served up the honors in the 8th inning of a tie game.
While the rest of the normal world knows that it is probably his back or his knees giving him trouble, Randy Johnson will almost certainly find a way to blame today's debacle on catcher Jorge Posada. That's just Randy.
Blue Jays 1B Shea Hillenbrand will have a CT scan done to see if there are any lingering affects to being kneed in the head by Gary Sheffield today. He probably has a concussion, so look for Eric Hinske to play some first in his absence while Alex Rios gets regular time in right field.
Twins future star Francisco Liriano gave up 5 ER today in 3 2/3 innings today. He just didn't have it and it coincided with a day when the Tigers put up 18 runs. He probably should have been pulled earlier, but the Minnesota pen was spent from bailing out Brad Radke yesterday. We'll have to see how Liriano bounces back from this one, but I'm sure he'll be fine.
As expected, Ken Griffey, Jr. was not activated from the disabled list. He should return to action some time in the next week or so, so keep him reserved for now.
Rumors are swirling around Seattle that Jamie Moyer has asked to not be caught by Kenjii Johijima. Manager Mike Hargrove denies it. What's up with these friggin prima donnas? Do you think Johnny Bench or Thurman Munson or Carlton Fisk would've put up with this kind of crap? If the rumor is true, then Moyer's an idiot in my book. How doesn't a pitcher realize that he is hurting his run support and the respect of his peers by demanding the backup catcher be his personal guy.
Ugh. Ron Gardenhire now has a platoon going at first base as Justin Morneau was sat for the third straight game against a left hander in favor of Michael Cuddyer. Oh please, don't let this last. Cuddyer should be nothing more than a bench player. He has proven that year in year out.
And finally, watch out for Kelvim Escobar; he seems to be developing Beckett-itis. He was removed today after developing a blister on the same finger that has been giving him trouble the past few years.
Catch you next time...
posted by Howard Bender at
10:56 PM
