Notes from Tuesday's games
August 21, 2007
TEXAS: LHP Kason Gabbard will start the first game of Wednesday's scheduled doubleheader so he can maintain his usual pregame routine, manager Ron Washington said. ``(Gabbard) works on a routine. We don't know when that second game will start,'' Washington said. LHP John Rhienecker will pitch the nightcap. ... C Gerald Laird batted second for the first time this season Tuesday as Washington stacked his lineup against Baltimore LHP Erik Bedard with right-handed hitters. ``When you look at what else I got here, there wasn't nothing else I could do,'' Washington said. ... If they are not needed in relief Wednesday, RHPs Jamey Wright and Mike Wood would be candidates to start Saturday versus Seattle.
BALTIMORE: Tike Redman started in left field Tuesday, his sixth start and second straight since being recalled from the minors on Aug. 9. Manager Dave Trembley said Jay Payton, the usual starter in LF, would likely play in both games of a doubleheader Wednesday. ... LHP Garrett Olson will make his fifth major league start in Wednesday's second game. He has a 6.38 ERA, in part because he's issued 18 walks in 18 1-3 innings. ``He's got to throw strike one a whole lot more consistently,'' manager Dave Trembley said. ... Through their first 122 games, the Orioles outscored the opposition 554-553 but were eight games under .500.
OAKLAND: Manager Bob Geren said RHP Esteban Loaiza will not be on a pitch count when he makes his season debut against Toronto on Wednesday afternoon. Loaiza missed the entire season to date because of neck and knee injuries, but has twice thrown more than 100 pitches in minor league rehab starts. ... Geren said INF Donnie Murphy is still bothered by a sore oblique muscle and cannot swing without pain, but is available to play defense. ... The Athletics have posted a team batting average of .268 on the road this season, fifth best in the American League. At home, however, the Athletics have hit an AL-low .236. .
TORONTO: Manager John Gibbons said he and general manager J.P. Ricciardi have started discussing September call-ups. No decisions have been made, but Gibbons said the Blue Jays will definitely add an extra catcher. ... Toronto relievers have worked 18 2-3 consecutive scoreless innings since Aug. 13, a span of seven games. In that time, they have allowed just six hits and three walks while striking out 13. ... As a staff, Toronto pitchers have recorded a major league-low 3.20 ERA since the All-Star break.
BOSTON: Red Sox DH David Ortiz is selling his 2005 Mercedes on eBay. After being informed the current bid price was $169,000, manager Terry Francona said ``pass'' when asked if might make a bid. ``Count me out,'' Francona said with a smile. ... Ortiz, who was rested Monday, was back in the starting lineup. ... LF Manny Ramirez might get a day off Wednesday. ``Probably,'' Francona said. ``He could use it.'' ... C Doug Mirabelli (strained right calf) is still wearing a boot and hasn't resumed baseball related activities.
TAMPA BAY: LHP Scott Kazmir has expressed some frustration with the Devil Rays looking to keep his pitch count down during the final weeks of the regular season. Manager Joe Maddon said the move is designed with a long term approach for both the team and Kazmir. ``Right now we totally believe it's the right thing to do,'' Maddon said. ... Tampa Bay is 2-1 against Boston RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka, who is the Red Sox scheduled starter Wednesday. Dice-K allowed six runs and eight hits over six innings in his last outing against the Devil Rays on August 15. ``We were just working better at_bats,'' Maddon said. ``We were more patient I thought. Made him throw more strikes.''
CLEVELAND: Indians' DH Travis Hafner, who has been bothered by a hamstring injury, said it felt better after a day off Monday. ``I feel like I'm running closer to normal,'' he said. ``We'll see today after running the bases (in batting practice).'' . ... Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said that LHP Aaron Laffey would start on Saturday against Kansas City. Laffey, currently with Triple-A Buffalo, is 1-1 with a 5.73 ERA in two starts with Cleveland. His record in Buffalo is 9-3, with a 3.08 ERA.
DETROIT: RHP Joel Zumaya is available in the bullpen for Tuesday night's game against Cleveland after being out since May 3 because of a right middle finger sprain. The 22-year-old, second-year set-up man had surgery on May 10. ``I'm excited, man,'' Zumaya said. ``I'm really excited ... It's been a while.'' . ... 2B Placido Polanco also returned to the lineup on Tuesday night after missing the last six games with a viral infection that swept through the Tigers' clubhouse.
SEATTLE: Manager John McLaren said he might sit CF Ichiro Suzuki for one game during the team's upcoming series in Texas. Ichiro has yet to miss a game this season and missed only one in 2006. ... McLaren said he tried to stay awake and watch the finish of last night's game between the Angels and Yankees, but fell asleep. Seattle trails Los Angeles by two games in the AL West and leads the Yankees by 1 1/2 games in the wild card race. ``I've never found myself cheering for either the Angels or the Yankees, but you always want teams in your division to lose,'' he said. ... The Mariners scored four times in the first inning of last night's game and have scored in the first in eight of their last 12.
MINNESOTA: Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said SS Jason Bartlett, out since Aug. 15 because of a strained left hamstring, should be available to play tomorrow. ``He feels really good and looks good, too,'' Gardenhire said. ... The Twins have pegged LHP Carmen Cali to replace Ramon Ortiz, who was traded to Colorado on Aug. 15, as the team's long reliever. Cali entered yesterday's 9-4 loss in the third inning and pitched 3 2-3 shutout innings. ``He kind of changed the pace of the game,'' Gardenhire said. ``That's what you hope for in that situation. Once Ortiz was traded, we decided that would be his role.'' ... 3B Tommy Watkins took extra fielding drills before Tuesday's game to work on his defensive positioning.
KANSAS CITY: OF Joey Gathright was 3-for-4 on Monday night and broke White Sox closer Bobby Jenks' consecutive batters retired streak at 41. ``That was a great at-bat. Great at-bat,'' said Royals manager Buddy Bell. Gathright is also 10-for-15 in his last four games. ``I was locked in. I just feel good at the plate,'' said Gathright, who didn't know Jenks was attempting to set the record for most consecutive outs recorded by a pitcher. ``I thought he had it already.'' ... Emil Brown, who hit a two-run homer on Monday night, is batting .373 (25-for-67) with 17 RBIs in the fifth spot of the batting order compared to .187 in other spots of the batting order.
CHICAGO: The White Sox placed INF Alex Cintron on the bereavement list and recalled OF Andy Gonzalez from Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday. Cintron was also on the bereavement list April 22-26 and May 12-15. He is hitting .217 on the season with 14 RBIs. Gonzalez, who was optioned to Charlotte after Sunday's game, is hitting .223 with two home runs and 11 RBIs in 41 games with the White Sox this season. ... Rookie 3B Josh Fields leads all AL rookies with 14 home runs in just 67 games, but Fields has struck out 87 times in 249 at_bats. ``I think he strikes out too much,'' said White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. ``I think that comes with experience also. I think you see him strike out because he gets so deep in the counts. I think with experience and time it should come down.'' ... Guillen never expected to be 13 1/2 games out of first place in the AL Central. ``I would be shocked if you asked me this question on April 1. Nobody believed we would be in this situation on April 1. But we earned to be here, we played the way to be here and everybody needs to take the blame,'' Guillen said.
SAN DIEGO: The Padres pitching staff came into Friday night's game leading the majors with a 3.49 ERA and had allowed just 83 home runs. At that pace, San Diego would allow 109 homers for the season, the lowest total since World Series champion Atlanta allowed 107 in 1995. ... RHP Trevor Hoffman needed five strikeouts entering the night to reach 1,000 for his career. ... The Padres lead the majors with 17 shutouts this season, most for any team since the Dodgers had 17 in 2003. San Diego is two shy of the franchise record 19 shutouts set in 1985.
NEW YORK: To make room for 1B-OF Jeff Conine on the roster, the Mets optioned INF Anderson Hernandez to New Orleans. Conine at first was assigned the locker belonging to RHP Pedro Martinez, who is rehabbing from shoulder surgery, then moved across the room to Hernandez's vacated locker. ... Martinez pitched five innings in his third rehab start Monday night, allowing two unearned runs and one hit. ... OF Endy Chavez (hamstring) went 3-for-4 with three singles in his rehab game Monday night. ... Entering Tuesday night's game, LHP Billy Wagner had 998 career strikeouts. ... The Mets led the majors with 153 stolen bases before Friday night.
LOS ANGELES: C Mike Lieberthal and LHP Randy Wolf made their first trip to Philadelphia as visitors. Lieberthal spent 13 seasons with the Phillies and Wolf was here for eight. Both seemed unlikely to get any action. Wolf has been on the disabled list with a sore shoulder since July 4. Wolf said he hoped to return to the Dodgers the first week or two of September, but expected to pitch out of the bullpen. Lieberthal has only 60 at_bats this season and joked before the game he was hoping for a rainout because a doubleheader would be his only chance to play this series. Both players still follow the Phillies. ``He tailgates, I follow from a safe distance,'' Wolf said.
PHILADELPHIA: RHP Ryan Madson, out since late July with a strained right shoulder, holds out hope that he can return to the bullpen and help the Phillies make the playoffs. Madson (2-2, 3.05 ERA) suffered the same injury that sidelined closer Brett Myers for two months. ``I'd just like to come back and show them I'm at 100 percent before next year,'' Madson said. ``I want to show them that I'll be the same and they'll be able to rely on me again.'' ... All-Star 2B Chase Utley took some practice cuts for the first time since his right hand was struck by a pitch nearly a month ago. Utley split about 50-60 swings between his regular bat and a fungo bat, and hoped to take batting practice some time this week. He hopes to return next week. ... Manager Charlie Manuel said he might start using RHP Tom Gordon in back-to-back games.
ATLANTA: LHP Chuck James went on the 15-day DL with tightness in the back of his pitching shoulder. He gave up a career-high four homers last Thursday. Although he hasn't felt pain, he hasn't been able to bring his shoulder all the way up in his delivery. ``I've been having a lot of trouble trying to hit spots. I've been missing over the middle (of the plate) and haven't had life on my fastball,'' he said. ... RHP Tanyon Sturtze was given his unconditional release. He had rotator cuff surgery May 23 last year, and the Braves signed him to a one-year deal hoping he could make a comeback. He hasn't pitched for them.
CINCINNATI: OF Norris Hopper led off the first with his 14th bunt single. ... LHP Phil Dumatrait was optioned to Triple-A Louisville a day after he gave up eight runs in two innings. The rookie gave up 13 runs in his last two starts, lasting a total of only four innings. ``For me, he's not ready to pitch here,'' interim manager Pete Mackanin said. ... The Reds replaced Dumatrait by calling up RHP Kirk Saarloos from Louisville. He had an 8.19 ERA in 29 games for Cincinnati. ``Apparently he's found his sinker again,'' Mackanin said. ... Mackanin isn't sure who will start Saturday's game against Philadelphia.
HOUSTON: CF Hunter Pence returned to the lineup Tuesday night and manager Phil Garner was expecting nothing less than the level of play he was at before he went on the disabled list. Pence, 23, was a leading candidate for NL Rookie of the Year before spraining his right wrist while making a slide on July 22. He was hitting .330 in 73 games this season, second only to Milwaukee's Ryan Braun (.341) among NL rookies. He also ranked in the top 10 among NL rookies in home runs (12), RBIs (45), runs (42) and multi-hit games (31). ``He was certainly playing well,'' Garner said. ``Hopefully, he can get back in there and do what he was doing.'' ... Garner expects RHP Roy Oswalt to miss only one start with a strained oblique muscle. ... RHP Juan Gutierrez will start Thursday's series finale against Washington. ... RHP Chris Sampson will make two rehab appearances at Triple-A Round Rock over the next week. Sampson has been on the disabled list since Aug. 1 with a sprained elbow. Garner said Sampson will pitch an inning on Thursday, then pitch again on Monday before the Astros evaluate his recovery.
WASHINGTON: LHP Micah Bowie tweaked a left groin injury that pushes back his recovery from a left hip injury that's had him on the disabled list since late June. ``It's going to delay his return,'' said Washington manager Manny Acta. ``He had the little setback and we're just going to have to wait until he's ready to go.'' Bowie was 4-3 with a 4.39 ERA in 28 games, including eight starts, this season. ... Acta said RHP Jason Bergmann will need at least one more minor-league start with Triple-A Columbus before he's cleared to return to the Nationals. Bergmann has been on the disabled list since July 25 with a left hamstring injury. He was 2-5 with a 4.56 ERA in 14 starts this season. Acta was hoping Bergmann would rejoin the Nationals by early September. ... RHP Jason Simontacchi is ``still very, very early'' in his rehab from right elbow tendinitis, Acta said. He is at the Nationals spring training complex in Viera, Fla. Simontacchi was 6-7 with a 6.37 ERA in 13 starts this season.
FLORIDA: The Marlins began a six-game trip with a 29-31 road record, much better than the team's 27-38 showing at home. ``It's just one of those stats,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said. ``It's mind-boggling.'' ... RHP Ricky Nolasco (right elbow inflammation) was activated from the DL, where he had been retroactive to May 18, and optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque. Gonzalez said it was likely Nolasco would be used as a starter in the minors. ... Josh Willingham needed one homer to give the Marlins four 20-homer players for the second straight season. No team has done it yet this year. ... C Miguel Olivo, who returned to the lineup on Monday after missing two games with a groin injury, was back on the bench. Gonzalez said he'd slowly try to work Olivo back into regular duty.
ST. LOUIS: 3B Scott Rolen got a scheduled day off to rest a sore left shoulder that has bothered him the last month or so. Rolen, who has undergone three surgeries on the shoulder, also is scheduled to get Sunday off. ``Mix one in and lighten the load,'' Rolen said. ... Manager Tony La Russa managed in his 4,409th career game, passing Bucky Harris for third. He was five wins shy of tying Red Schoendienst's franchise record of 1,041 victories. ``The only way you can survive this game is to stay in the moment, the present,'' La Russa said. ``You don't really stop and think about that very much.'' ... La Russa expected closer Jason Isringhausen, who needed only 16 pitches in his first two-inning save since 2002 on Monday, to be available. ``He's had one-inning appearances when he threw 26 or 27 pitches,'' La Russa said. ``I'd be surprised if he has any kind of stiffness.'' ... Rick Ankiel started in LF for the second straight game after starting in RF his first six games. ``I like Rick in left, center and right,'' La Russa said.
PITTSBURGH: LHP Zach Duke (left elbow tendinitis) will throw a 35-40 pitch bullpen session on Wednesday. ... OF Chris Duffy (sprained left ankle) is experiencing discomfort in his left shoulder. ``We'll have an MRI on the shoulder tomorrow,'' manager Jim Tracy said. ``He only has discomfort throwing.'' ... Tracy is looking for ways to get INF Josh Phelps more playing time. ... 3B Matt Kata had no swelling in his left arm a day after being hit by a pitch by Brian Fuentes in the 11th inning of Monday's game.
COLORADO: Manager Clint Hurdle kept 3B Garrett Atkins and 2B Kaz Matsui out of the starting lineup Tuesday to let them get a breather and try to ignite the Rockies offense. ``Just trying to juggle the lineup offensively. See if we could put a powder keg out there,'' Hurdle said. Atkins was 2-for-16 in the previous four games while Matsui had been hitless in 14 at_bats, dropping his average from .300 to .287. ``It looks like he's a little tired right now,'' Hurdle said of Matsui. ``His offensive game isn't what it's been, and we'll give him a chance to get a blow and recharge his batteries.''
All-Star Utley could return to Phillies lineup next week
August 21, 2007
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -Chase Utley was about to swing for the first time since a broken hand knocked him out of the Phillies' lineup when he stopped manager Charlie Manuel for a favor.
``Put me in the lineup!'' the All-Star second baseman shouted from down the clubhouse.
``Yeah, he's in the lineup,'' Manuel chuckled. ``He's hitting 10th.''
The Phillies might not have to wait much longer for Utley to rejoin the team as they make a push in the NL East. Utley, batting .336 with 17 homers and 82 RBIs, took some practice cuts before Tuesday's game against Los Angeles for the first time since his right hand was struck by a pitch nearly a month ago.
``I swung pretty hard and I feel fine,'' Utley said. ``We'll see how it feels tomorrow. If it feels the same tomorrow, we'll try again with more swings, harder swings.''
The Phillies, who opened a 10-game homestand trailing San Diego by only one game in the wild-card race, hope Utley can return for next week's series against the Mets. Utley said he was going ``stir crazy'' watching the Phillies drop two of three at Pittsburgh.
Utley split about 50-60 swings between his regular bat and a fungo bat, and hoped to take batting practice some time this week. Utley wore protective padding under his batting glove.
``My hands were a little weaker than it was prior to the injury, but it wasn't that bad,'' he said.
Utley was injured when he was hit by Washington's John Lannan in the fifth inning of a 7-6 loss on July 26. Utley stayed in the game, going 2-for-4 with an RBI, but had surgery the next day to put a pin in the fourth metacarpal of his right hand. He was replaced in the lineup by Tadahito Iguchi, who was acquired from the Chicago White Sox shortly after Utley went down.
While the Phillies still lead the National League in runs scored, they sorely need one of their top run producers as they chase their first playoff appearance since 1993. First baseman Ryan Howard leads the NL in RBIs (98) entering Tuesday, but was in a 3-for-24 slump.
``He's not seeing the ball good,'' Manuel said. ``I don't plan on giving him any rest. He's going to play through it.''
Astros activate Pence, place Jennings on DL
August 21, 2007
HOUSTON (AP) -The Houston Astros activated outfielder Hunter Pence from the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday and placed struggling starter Jason Jennings on the 15-day disabled list with a torn flexor tendon in his right elbow.
Pence started in center field for Houston on Tuesday night against Washington.
The 23-year-old was a leading candidate for NL Rookie of the Year before spraining his right wrist while making a slide on July 22. Pence was hitting .330 in 73 games this season, second only to Milwaukee's Ryan Braun (.341) among NL rookies. He also ranked in the top 10 among NL rookies in home runs (12), RBIs (45), runs (42) and multi-hit games (31).
Jennings, the 2002 NL Rookie of the Year, has been a disappointment since the Astros acquired him last offseason in a trade with Colorado for outfielder Willy Taveras and pitchers Jason Hirsh and Taylor Buchholz.
Jennings, who spent time on the disabled list with elbow tendinitis earlier this season, is 2-9 with a 6.45 ERA in 18 starts and hasn't won in six starts. He gave up 11 runs in the first inning against San Diego on July 29 and was pulled after getting just two outs.
Cubs reinstate Floyd, activate Blanco
August 21st, 2007
San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - The Chicago Cubs activated outfielder Cliff Floyd from the restricted list and activated catcher Henry Blanco from the 60-day disabled list on Tuesday.
Floyd was originally placed on the bereavement list on August 12 and moved to the restricted list August 19. The 34-year-old is batting .290 with four homers and 36 RBI in 79 games this season.
Blanco hit just .194 in 14 games before going on the disabled list May 31 with a herniated disc in his neck.
In corresponding moves, the Cubs optioned infielder Ronny Cedeno to Triple-A Iowa, and designated catcher Koyie Hill for assignment.
Baseball Today - August 22
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
SCOREBOARD
Wednesday, Aug. 22
Milwaukee at Arizona (9:40 p.m. EDT).
Brandon Webb tries to extend his streak of 42 straight scoreless innings for the Diamondbacks.
STARS
Tuesday
-Garret Anderson, Angels, drove in a team-record 10 runs, hitting a grand slam and a three-run homer in an 18-9 rout of the New York Yankees.
-Gabe Gross, Brewers, hit a grand slam to cap a five-run seventh inning and Milwaukee beat Arizona 7-4.
-Ian Stewart, Rockies, hit a grand slam in his ninth career at-bat to help Colorado overpower Pittsburgh 9-2.
-Brandon Phillips, Reds, homered and hit a tiebreaking single in an 8-7 win over Atlanta.
-Carlos Beltran, Mets, went 3-for-3 with a two-run homer and five RBIs in a 7-6 win over San Diego.
POWER OF 10
Garret Anderson drove in a team-record 10 runs with four hits in the Los Angeles Angels' 18-9 rout of the New York Yankees on Tuesday night. Anderson hit a grand slam, a three-run homer, a two-run double and an RBI double to become the 12th player in major league history to have 10 RBIs in a game. He was the first to reach double digits since Yankees star Alex Rodriguez also had 10 against the Angels on April 26, 2005. The major league record of 12 RBIs is shared by the St. Louis Cardinals' Jim Bottomley (1924) and Mark Whiten (1993). The AL record of 11 was set by Tony Lazzeri of the Yankees on May 24, 1936.
POWER SURGE
Albert Pujols homered for the fourth straight game in St. Louis' 5-2 win over Florida on Tuesday night. Pujols, whose solo shot in the sixth extended his RBI streak to six games, went 10 days between homers before beginning his long-ball binge. He has 29 homers on the year, and six RBIs in the last six games.
FAN FRIENDLY
Arizona's Mark Reynolds tied the major league record for consecutive strikeouts by a non-pitcher when he fanned in his ninth straight plate appearance in a 7-4 loss to Milwaukee on Tuesday night. Reynolds struck out in his first two at-bats against Dave Bush to match the record set five times before, most recently by Kansas City's Bo Jackson in 1988. Bush hit Reynolds with a pitch in the sixth, ending the streak.
PAYBACK
Jair Jurrjens allowed one hit in 6 2-3 innings in his second major league start and carried a no-hit bid into the sixth inning of Detroit's 2-1 win over Cleveland on Tuesday night. Fausto Carmona, who beat Jurrjens in his big league debut Wednesday, lost the rematch, allowing two runs and three hits over eight innings.
SUPER SAVER
Jonathan Papelbon pitched a perfect 1 1-3 innings with three strikeouts for his 30th save in 32 opportunities in Boston's 8-6 win over Tampa Bay on Tuesday night. Papelbon is the first Red Sox pitcher to have at least 30 saves in two different seasons.
STRONG IN DEFEAT
Frank Thomas homered twice, giving him 508 career homers, in Toronto's 6-4 loss to Oakland on Tuesday night. ... Craig Biggio homered and drove in four runs for Houston in an 11-6 loss to Washington.
STREAKS
Erik Bedard struck out 11 over seven innings to win his ninth straight decision in Baltimore's 6-2 victory over Texas on Tuesday night. Bedard (13-4) increased his AL-leading strikeout total to 218, matching Mike Mussina's club record in 1997. ... Jarrod Washburn snapped a three-game losing streak and won for the first time in seven starts in Seattle's 7-2 victory over Minnesota.
SPEAKING
''When it starts getting attention from other places than my head, you know it's been too long. When you guys start writing about how long it's been since I won it becomes an issue. Obviously you'd like to get that out of the way.'' - Jarrod Washburn, on recording his first win since July 4 in Seattle's 7-2 victory over Minnesota on Tuesday night.
Giants place RHP Ortiz on DL
August 21st, 2007
San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Russ Ortiz was placed on the 15-day disabled list prior to Tuesday's 5-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs.
Ortiz started Monday's game in Florida but left in the bottom of the fifth inning. He threw three pitches to Florida's Hanley Ramirez to begin the frame but exited the mound with pain in his right pitching elbow.
On Tuesday, that pain was deemed as a tear in the flexor tendon following an MRI exam. Ortiz might need surgery upon further examination by team doctors, and if that occurs, his season would be over. This marked Ortiz' third trip to the DL this season.
To fill the roster spot, the Giants activated young starter Tim Lincecum, who pitched a brilliant game against the Cubs but lost after a ninth-inning meltdown.
In 12 games this season, including eight starts, Ortiz is 2-3 with a 5.51 ERA.
A's activate Loaiza from DL
August 22nd, 2007
Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - The Oakland Athletics reinstated pitcher Esteban Loaiza from the 15-day disabled list Wednesday in time for his start against the Blue Jays.
This will be the first start of the season for Loaiza, who began the year on the DL with back spasms and was later transferred to the 60-day DL with a bulging disc in his neck and torn meniscus in his right knee. Surgery was eventually performed on his knee May 31.
In four rehab starts for Triple-A Sacramento, Loaiza went 2-0 with a 2.93 ERA. To make room for him on the 40-man roster, the A's transferred pitcher Rich Harden to the 60-day disabled list.
Despite Loaiza's return, the injury bug continued to hit Oakland. Also on Wednesday, the A's placed infielder Donnie Murphy on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right rib cage muscle.
Murphy was hitting .221 with four home runs and 14 RBI in 30 games this season. The A's tied an Oakland record by using the disabled list 22 times this season, equaling the mark set in 1992.
Trembley will return to O's in 2008
August 22nd, 2007
Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - The Baltimore Orioles announced Wednesday that manager Dave Trembley will return to the team for the 2008 season, with an option for 2009.
Trembley was initially promoted from his position as bullpen coach to manager on June 18, replacing the dismissed Sam Perlozzo. Baltimore has since gone 29-25 under Trembley, who spent 20 years as a manager in the minor leagues.
Orioles president of operations Andy MacPhail announced three weeks ago that Trembley, then the interim manager, would finish the 2007 season at Baltimore's helm.
"Like I've said many times before - and I think most people agree - that certainly Dave has done a very nice job with the team," MacPhail said after removing the interim label.
Baltimore is currently 58-65, and in fourth place in the American League East, 22 games behind the division-leading Boston Red Sox and 13 games out of the wild card lead.
Phillies place Hamels on DL, activate Victorino
August 22nd, 2007
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The Philadelphia Phillies placed left- hander Cole Hamels on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a mild left elbow strain and activated outfielder Shane Victorino from the DL.
Hamels (14-5) has already pitched 167 1/3 frames this season, striking out 156 batters and posting a 3.50 earned run average. The southpaw last pitched on August 16 against Washington, winning the game with 6 2/3 scoreless frames.
A precautionary MRI showed no structural or ligament damage to Hamels' elbow, and the stint on the DL is retroactive to August 17, making him eligible to return on September 1.
J.D. Durbin will fill in for Hamels Wednesday night against the Dodgers. The right-hander is 4-1 with a 4.11 ERA in six starts for Philadelphia this season.
Victorino has been on the DL since July 31 with a right calf strain. He played in three minor league outings during rehab assignments with Double-A Reading and Single-A Lakewood, hitting a combined .273 with an RBI, a stolen base and a run scored.
Royals place Perez on DL
August 22nd, 2007
Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - The Kansas City Royals placed starting pitcher Odalis Perez on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a strained left knee.
In 26 starts this season, the left-handed Perez is 8-11 with a 5.57 earned run average.
To take his spot his spot on the 25-man roster, the Royals recalled outfielder Shane Costa from Triple-A Omaha.