Padres' Wells suspended seven games
July 12th, 2007
New York, NY (Sports Network) - Major League Baseball suspended San Diego Padres pitcher David Wells seven games and fined him an undisclosed amount for his inappropriate actions on Saturday, July 7th after being ejected for arguing balls and strikes with home plate umpire Ed Hickox.
Wells walked Andruw Jones of the Atlanta Braves to start the fourth inning before Jeff Francoeur sent a 1-2 pitch over the left-field wall that gave Atlanta a 3-1 lead.
Wells approached Hickox as Francoeur rounded the bases and Hickox eventually tossed him from the game.
The burly 44-year-old, who had to be restrained by three coaches and Padres catcher Josh Bard, slammed a ball against the screen as he exited the field.
Doug Brocail took over for Wells and San Diego rallied for an 8-5 win.
Unless Wells appeals, his suspension is slated to start on Friday, July 13 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Orioles activate Baez from DL
July 12th, 2007
Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - The Baltimore Orioles activated reliever Danys Baez from the 15-day disabled list on Thursday, and optioned left-hander Kurt Birkins to Triple-A Norfolk.
Baez was placed on the DL on June 16 with a strained right forearm. He struggled prior to then, going 0-4 with a 6.52 ERA in 31 relief appearances.
Birkins was no better, posting an 0-1 record with a 10.00 ERA in four games over three separate stints with the Orioles.
The Orioles also announced that starter Steve Trachsel will make a rehab start on Saturday for Class-A Frederick against Lynchburg. Trachsel was placed on the DL on June 30 with a strained gluteus muscle. He is 5-6 with a 4.95 ERA in 17 starts this season.
Astros activate Lidge
July 12th, 2007
Houston, TX (Sports Network) - The Houston Astros activated reliever Brad Lidge from the 15-day disabled list on Thursday. The on-again, off-again closer has been sidelined since June 16 because of a strained left oblique muscle.
Lidge, 30, who had returned to the closer's role in early June, has a record of 2-1 with a 2.34 earned run average and no saves in 34 appearances on the season. Lidge, who recorded 103 saves for the Astros from 2004-06, lost his job as closer late in 2006, a season in which he had a gaudy 5.28 earned run average.
Reds place Hamilton on 15-day DL
July 12th, 2007
Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - The Cincinnati Reds placed outfielder Josh Hamilton, Rookie of the Year candidate and feel-good story of the year in the majors, on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with a a sprained right wrist. The move is retroactive to July 8.
Hamilton, the number one overall pick in the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, left Saturday's eventual 5-4 victory against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the third inning with the injury.
Hamilton had one at-bat in the first inning, reaching safely on a fielding error by Arizona shortstop Stephen Drew. Hamilton was also on deck in the third before he returned to the dugout, and was replaced by Edwin Encarnacion.
Encarnacion remained in the game at third base and clubbed a two-run home run in the fifth inning. Ryan Freel moved from third base to center field.
Hamilton is batting .279 with 14 homers and 30 RBI in 63 games for the Reds this season, his first in the majors. His journey to the big leagues has been a long and arduous one, with a substance-abuse problem that led to multiple suspensions by MLB.
In other moves on Thursday, the Reds selected the contract of catcher Chad Moeller from Triple-A Louisville and claimed pitcher Alexander Smith off waivers from Minnesota.