What's the Buzz? 7/17/06
Remember yesterday when I said it didn't look like it could get any worse for the Twins outfield this year? Well....I was wrong. Word out of Minnesota is that Shannon Stewart could actually be done for the season after re-aggravating his heel injury and going out with another bout of plantar fasciitis. Further tests and more rest are necessary, but he wouldn't be back until September at the earliest. The only good thing the Twins have heard lately is that the MRI on Jason Kubel's knee showed no structural damage, just some fluid build up. He should be ready to return to the field in a day or so.
In other news...
It looks like it's one guy on and one guy off the DL for the Nationals again as Jose Vidro could find himself out of action with a hamstring injury. They're calling him day to day right now, but you never know with Vidro, let alone hamstrings. On the positive side, Tony Armas, Jr. was activated and looked pretty good out there. The defense let him down tonight against the Marlins as he took the loss.
The Cardinals, the fans and fantasy owners all held their breath a little tonight as Albert Pujols left today's game after the sixth inning. They are speculating a leg muscle cramp or his recurring foot problem, but I'm sure they're doing everything in their power to make sure he's ok. The game was a huge blowout at that point, so it could just be Tony LaRussa being extra cautious.
The Red Sox could be looking at putting Tim Wakefield on the DL after he left tonight's start after 4 innings with his chronic back problems. It started flaring up on him real bad before the break but the team thought that with some rest over the next 10 days, he would be fine. They thought wrong. Looks like the Sox have to stick with Jason Johnson in the rotation for a while...and that's never good.
Remember A's star Rich Harden? Difficult considering how much time he's missed. Well, he apparently won't have surgery, but the team won't let him resume throwing for atleast another two weeks. Harden won't return until late August/early September at the earliest. Maybe he and Mark Prior should quit baseball and form a wrestling tag team called "The Breakables".
Royals SS Angel Berroa has now missed 3 straight games with bruised ribs. Maybe picking up Tony Graffanino isn't such a bad thing considering how much playing time he's been getting. Between Berroa's ribs and Mark Grudzielanek's back, Tony G. could be looking at a lot of ABs in the second half.
Get your waiver money ready...Phillies pitcher Randy Wolf is coming. He'll make two more rehab starts and then should be ready to re-join the rotation. Call me crazy, but I've always been a huge fan. Either Ryan Madson gets bumped back to the bullpen or rookie Cole Hamels goes back to the minors. Something tells me Madson to the pen is most likely, especially if the team is really considering trading Tom Gordon.
Some concern for Chris Young owners...that's the Padres pitcher, not the Arizona outfield prospect. Already out with the flu, Young will have an MRI on his foot to see if there is a stress fracture there. He's dealt with some soreness and the club wants to be careful with him. If there is a fracture, expect him to go on the DL immediately. Results when I get them...
And finally, the Yankees are calling Alex Rodriguez day to day with a bruised foot. He hasn't had any x-rays yet and still thinks he's playing tomorrow, so maybe today's exit was more about his 0 for 4 and 3 errors tonight than it was his foot. I wouldn't worry about him missing any time.
Speacial thanks again to Keith and Elliot for jumping on board here.
Catch you next time...
In other news...
It looks like it's one guy on and one guy off the DL for the Nationals again as Jose Vidro could find himself out of action with a hamstring injury. They're calling him day to day right now, but you never know with Vidro, let alone hamstrings. On the positive side, Tony Armas, Jr. was activated and looked pretty good out there. The defense let him down tonight against the Marlins as he took the loss.
The Cardinals, the fans and fantasy owners all held their breath a little tonight as Albert Pujols left today's game after the sixth inning. They are speculating a leg muscle cramp or his recurring foot problem, but I'm sure they're doing everything in their power to make sure he's ok. The game was a huge blowout at that point, so it could just be Tony LaRussa being extra cautious.
The Red Sox could be looking at putting Tim Wakefield on the DL after he left tonight's start after 4 innings with his chronic back problems. It started flaring up on him real bad before the break but the team thought that with some rest over the next 10 days, he would be fine. They thought wrong. Looks like the Sox have to stick with Jason Johnson in the rotation for a while...and that's never good.
Remember A's star Rich Harden? Difficult considering how much time he's missed. Well, he apparently won't have surgery, but the team won't let him resume throwing for atleast another two weeks. Harden won't return until late August/early September at the earliest. Maybe he and Mark Prior should quit baseball and form a wrestling tag team called "The Breakables".
Royals SS Angel Berroa has now missed 3 straight games with bruised ribs. Maybe picking up Tony Graffanino isn't such a bad thing considering how much playing time he's been getting. Between Berroa's ribs and Mark Grudzielanek's back, Tony G. could be looking at a lot of ABs in the second half.
Get your waiver money ready...Phillies pitcher Randy Wolf is coming. He'll make two more rehab starts and then should be ready to re-join the rotation. Call me crazy, but I've always been a huge fan. Either Ryan Madson gets bumped back to the bullpen or rookie Cole Hamels goes back to the minors. Something tells me Madson to the pen is most likely, especially if the team is really considering trading Tom Gordon.
Some concern for Chris Young owners...that's the Padres pitcher, not the Arizona outfield prospect. Already out with the flu, Young will have an MRI on his foot to see if there is a stress fracture there. He's dealt with some soreness and the club wants to be careful with him. If there is a fracture, expect him to go on the DL immediately. Results when I get them...
And finally, the Yankees are calling Alex Rodriguez day to day with a bruised foot. He hasn't had any x-rays yet and still thinks he's playing tomorrow, so maybe today's exit was more about his 0 for 4 and 3 errors tonight than it was his foot. I wouldn't worry about him missing any time.
Speacial thanks again to Keith and Elliot for jumping on board here.
Catch you next time...
posted by Howard Bender at
10:27 PM
