What's the Buzz? 7/1/06
Let's start off today with a "Congratulations!!" to Angels OF Garrett Anderson who collected his 2000th career hit today. It looks like he would need a minimum of 5 more years for him to come close to 3000, but with his injuries of late and his current age, I don't think he'll reach that plateau. Even so, he's been a tremendous player who for years was one of the most consistent yet underrated outfielders in baseball.
In other news...
In what appears to be a growing trend in MLB, Chris Reitsma, who was activated recently from the DL, looks like he could be going back on. He left today's game in the eighth with numbness in his hand which stems from the ulnar neuritis that he suffered from before. Now I suppose you can admire these guys for wanting to play and coming back before they're 100% ready, but isn't it doing more harm than good to the team overall?
The Blue Jays officially placed OF Alex Rios on the disabled list with an infection in his leg. He's been hospitalized for it, but the Jays expect him to be ready to go when he's eligible to return just after the All Star Break. Reed Johnson and Eric Hinske should see an increase in regular playing time.
The Nationals ended up putting pitcher Shawn Hill on the DL with elbow stiffness, and get this...he'll be replaced in the rotation by none other than Pedro Astacio. I didn't even know he was still in baseball. If you thought guys like Oliver Perez and Glendon Rusch were bad, you ain't seen nothing yet!
You know, if you're looking for help at catcher....which isn't usually a priotiry to some, Angels backstop Mike Napoli has been pretty damn good. He hit his 9th and 10th HRs today and is hitting .310 with a .444 OBP in 116 at bats since taking over for Jeff Mathis. If I wasn't so set in all my leagues at the position, I'd be on him like white on rice.
The Padres activated veteran pitcher Woody Williams from the DL today so that he was able to start the second game of today's double header against San Francisco. He looked pretty good going 6 innings allowing 1 run on 8 hits with no walks. He did not factor in the decision though. It was an encouraging return, but you may want to give him another start before activating him, if you can.
Consider Orioles DH Javy Lopez day to day with a stiff neck. With the O's playing in and NL park this weekend, it'll be a good time for him to take a few days off and come back and DH this coming week.
Marlins starter Brian Moehler left today's start in the first inning with a sore right big toe. Rough day for this to happen what with playing the Red Sox and all. Moehler gave up 3 earned runs in 2/3 of an inning and then the team hung Anibal Sanchez out to dry until the 5th inning. Moehler was later put on the 15 day DL and may be relegated to bullpen duty when he returns.
For now you should consider Mets closer Billy Wagner day to day with a hurt ankle. There's been no official report, but it appeared that he twisted his ankle covering first for the last out of the game. This should enrage Mets fans nicely as Wagner wasn't even in a save situation with the score being 8-3.
The Giants put reliever Tim Worrell on the DL with a bulging disc in his back. Turns out that it's been the problem all along. When he was out in May they said it was a pinched nerve, but it was this apparently. Now we know...this is actually correctable, so you may see a new and improved Worrell after the Break.
Blah blah blah...Ben Sheets could start a rehab program soon...blah blah blah. I'm just waiting for the day they tell all you Sheets lovers that he's being shut down for the year. If Milwaukee's not contending there's no reson to rush him back.
Sticking with the Giants, the prognosis on Armando Benitez is real good and the team expects him to be their closer this weekend. Jeremy Accardo will probably be his primary set up man while Worrell is out.
After blowing yet another save opportunity, Ryan Dempster is once again in danger of losing his job as the Cubs' closer. Dusty Baker may pull him in favor of Bobby Howry, atleast until Dempster can get back on track.
And finally, if you were looking for Kerry Wood to come back to help you, you're waiting even longer now. He'll play catch for the first time this weekend -- the first he's been allowed to throw since June 26 -- but he won't return to the mound for atleast another week. The timetable you're looking at is an early August return at best. Evfen then, what's he goin gto do for you? You'll be lucky to even get 3 or 4 starts from him before they just shut him down for the season...again.
Catch you next time...
In other news...
In what appears to be a growing trend in MLB, Chris Reitsma, who was activated recently from the DL, looks like he could be going back on. He left today's game in the eighth with numbness in his hand which stems from the ulnar neuritis that he suffered from before. Now I suppose you can admire these guys for wanting to play and coming back before they're 100% ready, but isn't it doing more harm than good to the team overall?
The Blue Jays officially placed OF Alex Rios on the disabled list with an infection in his leg. He's been hospitalized for it, but the Jays expect him to be ready to go when he's eligible to return just after the All Star Break. Reed Johnson and Eric Hinske should see an increase in regular playing time.
The Nationals ended up putting pitcher Shawn Hill on the DL with elbow stiffness, and get this...he'll be replaced in the rotation by none other than Pedro Astacio. I didn't even know he was still in baseball. If you thought guys like Oliver Perez and Glendon Rusch were bad, you ain't seen nothing yet!
You know, if you're looking for help at catcher....which isn't usually a priotiry to some, Angels backstop Mike Napoli has been pretty damn good. He hit his 9th and 10th HRs today and is hitting .310 with a .444 OBP in 116 at bats since taking over for Jeff Mathis. If I wasn't so set in all my leagues at the position, I'd be on him like white on rice.
The Padres activated veteran pitcher Woody Williams from the DL today so that he was able to start the second game of today's double header against San Francisco. He looked pretty good going 6 innings allowing 1 run on 8 hits with no walks. He did not factor in the decision though. It was an encouraging return, but you may want to give him another start before activating him, if you can.
Consider Orioles DH Javy Lopez day to day with a stiff neck. With the O's playing in and NL park this weekend, it'll be a good time for him to take a few days off and come back and DH this coming week.
Marlins starter Brian Moehler left today's start in the first inning with a sore right big toe. Rough day for this to happen what with playing the Red Sox and all. Moehler gave up 3 earned runs in 2/3 of an inning and then the team hung Anibal Sanchez out to dry until the 5th inning. Moehler was later put on the 15 day DL and may be relegated to bullpen duty when he returns.
For now you should consider Mets closer Billy Wagner day to day with a hurt ankle. There's been no official report, but it appeared that he twisted his ankle covering first for the last out of the game. This should enrage Mets fans nicely as Wagner wasn't even in a save situation with the score being 8-3.
The Giants put reliever Tim Worrell on the DL with a bulging disc in his back. Turns out that it's been the problem all along. When he was out in May they said it was a pinched nerve, but it was this apparently. Now we know...this is actually correctable, so you may see a new and improved Worrell after the Break.
Blah blah blah...Ben Sheets could start a rehab program soon...blah blah blah. I'm just waiting for the day they tell all you Sheets lovers that he's being shut down for the year. If Milwaukee's not contending there's no reson to rush him back.
Sticking with the Giants, the prognosis on Armando Benitez is real good and the team expects him to be their closer this weekend. Jeremy Accardo will probably be his primary set up man while Worrell is out.
After blowing yet another save opportunity, Ryan Dempster is once again in danger of losing his job as the Cubs' closer. Dusty Baker may pull him in favor of Bobby Howry, atleast until Dempster can get back on track.
And finally, if you were looking for Kerry Wood to come back to help you, you're waiting even longer now. He'll play catch for the first time this weekend -- the first he's been allowed to throw since June 26 -- but he won't return to the mound for atleast another week. The timetable you're looking at is an early August return at best. Evfen then, what's he goin gto do for you? You'll be lucky to even get 3 or 4 starts from him before they just shut him down for the season...again.
Catch you next time...
posted by Howard Bender at
10:49 PM
