What's the Buzz? 5/25/06
Slow baseball day today, but still plenty of news...
First off, we'll start with Braves catcher Brian McCann who tweaked his hurt ankle while pinch hitting the other night. Listen, the Braves should be thankful that they didn't lose him for the season. I know he has the hot bat right now, but pushing the ankle doesn't seem like the best way to handle your catcher. He still won't go on the DL, but a few more days off are not only likely, but necessary.
Because of that, the Braves will probably keep an extra catcher on the roster right now. That means they probably will not activate Horacio Ramirez for a weekend start against the Cubs. Jorge Sosa will start on 3 days rest and Ramirez will probably have another rehab start coming.
Rumors in Chicago have Tony Womack making a comeback as the new starting 2B for the Cubs. Regardless of how well he is doing in the minors, do the Cubs really think that he will be any better than the already light hitting tandem of Jerry Hairston, Jr. and Neifi Perez.
If you're still waiting on Mark Prior, it could still be some time. He threw 64 pitches in a simulated game, and will probably have one of those again on Monday. After that he will need a minimum of 2 rehab starts in the minors before being declared healthy. It sounds like somewhere like 3 or 4 weeks before he starts in the majors again.
Cortisone shots for all in the Dodgers clubhouse as both Dioner Navarro (wrist) and Jayson Werth (wrist also...hmmm) received them. Werth will end up in a cast for 3 or 4 weeks now and is becoming very doubtful for the rest of the season. Navarro, on the other hand, will probably need just another week off before starting a rehab assignment.
People waiting on Twins OF Shannon Stewart will have to wait longer. His heel problem persists and he will not come of the DL on June 4th as previously thought.
The Pirates are hoping to see 1B Sean Casey return to the lineup May 29th. He began his rehab assignment in AA ball today.
If you thought you were slick picking up 1B Daric Barton because the A's couldn't possibly go with Dan Johnson for much longer, oops! He will be out for a minimum of 6 to 8 weeks after fracturing the radial head of his left elbow. Ouch! Kinda hurts just thinking about it.
The Devil Rays received great news as OF Rocco Baldelli is looking pretty goos in his rehab assignment and 2B Jorge Cantu played in his first extended spring training game today. The Rays hope to have both back in the lineup during the first week of June.
So basically Buck Showalter said to 2B Ian Kinsler, "OK rook, you're coming off the DL today. If you don't hit, you ain't staying." Kinsler needs to outhit Mark DeRosa to remain the starting second baseman. In his first game back he jacked 2 HR and went 2 for 3. So far, so good.
The Phillies have bumped Jimmy Rollins from the leadoff spot, in favor of rookie Shane Victorino. He'll be back there eventually, but for as long as he is out-produced by hustling, hungry rookies, his numbers will suffer.
The Blue Jays signed infielder Edgardo Alfonzo to a minor league contract today. He is starting at AA ball where he will compete for time with the recently demoted Russ Adams. It doesn't look like he has any real value right now, but he will probably be one of the first to be called up in the event of an injury.
Astros' OF Lance Berkman will likely miss the next few days suffering from a hyperextended knee. He said he hurt it on Wednesday initially, but aggravated it again tonight.
Some sympathy for Nationals catcher Matthew LeCroy please. He had to be removed in the seventh after 2 throwing errors and 7 stolen bases for the Astros tonight. The Nats are ecstatic that Brian Schneider will be back soon.
The Nationals may also need to put OF Jose Guillen on the DL as he is suffering from tightness in his hamstring to go along with his corneal abrasion from the other night.
The Mets picked up Dave Williams from the Reds tonight in exchange for RHP Robert Manuel. Williams will start off in AAA and will eventually be called up if they need bullpen help or maybe even an emergency spot start. Also, with newly acquired Orlando Hernandez scheduled to make a start over the weekend, Jeremi Gonzalez was demoted to AAA as well.
Bad news for the Yankees as Jorge Posada will be sidelined with a torn hamstring tendon in his left knee. They say he won't need to go on the DL and will likely just be out for a few games. But I don't know.....I'm not a doctor here but when the words torn, tendon, hamstring and knee are used in the same sentence it doesn't sound minor. Watch this as it creates yet another hole in a banged up lineup. Guaranteed out Kelly Stinnett will fill in for now.
And finally, within the Giants system, Abraham Nunez was suspended for 50 games for testing positive for a performance enhancing drug. Um, really? I can't imagine how bad he would have been had he not been juiced.
Catch you next time...
First off, we'll start with Braves catcher Brian McCann who tweaked his hurt ankle while pinch hitting the other night. Listen, the Braves should be thankful that they didn't lose him for the season. I know he has the hot bat right now, but pushing the ankle doesn't seem like the best way to handle your catcher. He still won't go on the DL, but a few more days off are not only likely, but necessary.
Because of that, the Braves will probably keep an extra catcher on the roster right now. That means they probably will not activate Horacio Ramirez for a weekend start against the Cubs. Jorge Sosa will start on 3 days rest and Ramirez will probably have another rehab start coming.
Rumors in Chicago have Tony Womack making a comeback as the new starting 2B for the Cubs. Regardless of how well he is doing in the minors, do the Cubs really think that he will be any better than the already light hitting tandem of Jerry Hairston, Jr. and Neifi Perez.
If you're still waiting on Mark Prior, it could still be some time. He threw 64 pitches in a simulated game, and will probably have one of those again on Monday. After that he will need a minimum of 2 rehab starts in the minors before being declared healthy. It sounds like somewhere like 3 or 4 weeks before he starts in the majors again.
Cortisone shots for all in the Dodgers clubhouse as both Dioner Navarro (wrist) and Jayson Werth (wrist also...hmmm) received them. Werth will end up in a cast for 3 or 4 weeks now and is becoming very doubtful for the rest of the season. Navarro, on the other hand, will probably need just another week off before starting a rehab assignment.
People waiting on Twins OF Shannon Stewart will have to wait longer. His heel problem persists and he will not come of the DL on June 4th as previously thought.
The Pirates are hoping to see 1B Sean Casey return to the lineup May 29th. He began his rehab assignment in AA ball today.
If you thought you were slick picking up 1B Daric Barton because the A's couldn't possibly go with Dan Johnson for much longer, oops! He will be out for a minimum of 6 to 8 weeks after fracturing the radial head of his left elbow. Ouch! Kinda hurts just thinking about it.
The Devil Rays received great news as OF Rocco Baldelli is looking pretty goos in his rehab assignment and 2B Jorge Cantu played in his first extended spring training game today. The Rays hope to have both back in the lineup during the first week of June.
So basically Buck Showalter said to 2B Ian Kinsler, "OK rook, you're coming off the DL today. If you don't hit, you ain't staying." Kinsler needs to outhit Mark DeRosa to remain the starting second baseman. In his first game back he jacked 2 HR and went 2 for 3. So far, so good.
The Phillies have bumped Jimmy Rollins from the leadoff spot, in favor of rookie Shane Victorino. He'll be back there eventually, but for as long as he is out-produced by hustling, hungry rookies, his numbers will suffer.
The Blue Jays signed infielder Edgardo Alfonzo to a minor league contract today. He is starting at AA ball where he will compete for time with the recently demoted Russ Adams. It doesn't look like he has any real value right now, but he will probably be one of the first to be called up in the event of an injury.
Astros' OF Lance Berkman will likely miss the next few days suffering from a hyperextended knee. He said he hurt it on Wednesday initially, but aggravated it again tonight.
Some sympathy for Nationals catcher Matthew LeCroy please. He had to be removed in the seventh after 2 throwing errors and 7 stolen bases for the Astros tonight. The Nats are ecstatic that Brian Schneider will be back soon.
The Nationals may also need to put OF Jose Guillen on the DL as he is suffering from tightness in his hamstring to go along with his corneal abrasion from the other night.
The Mets picked up Dave Williams from the Reds tonight in exchange for RHP Robert Manuel. Williams will start off in AAA and will eventually be called up if they need bullpen help or maybe even an emergency spot start. Also, with newly acquired Orlando Hernandez scheduled to make a start over the weekend, Jeremi Gonzalez was demoted to AAA as well.
Bad news for the Yankees as Jorge Posada will be sidelined with a torn hamstring tendon in his left knee. They say he won't need to go on the DL and will likely just be out for a few games. But I don't know.....I'm not a doctor here but when the words torn, tendon, hamstring and knee are used in the same sentence it doesn't sound minor. Watch this as it creates yet another hole in a banged up lineup. Guaranteed out Kelly Stinnett will fill in for now.
And finally, within the Giants system, Abraham Nunez was suspended for 50 games for testing positive for a performance enhancing drug. Um, really? I can't imagine how bad he would have been had he not been juiced.
Catch you next time...
posted by Howard Bender at
10:52 PM
