Astros place rookie Pence on DL
July 23, 2007
HOUSTON (AP) -Astros center fielder Hunter Pence, one of the leading candidates for National League Rookie of the Year, was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of an injured wrist.
Pence hurt the wrist sliding into second base in the fourth inning Sunday at Pittsburgh. General manager Tim Purpura said Pence is expected to miss four-to-six weeks.
``He came in today with the wrist swollen and obviously very sore, so we had an MRI done and we got the results right before the game,'' Purpura said. ``It is very unfortunate to lose a young player who has had such an impact on this club to this point.''
Pence said the wrist didn't feel right when he woke up this morning.
``It didn't feel the way I wanted it to. It was disappointing,'' he said. ``Things happen and you have just got to deal with them and move on. Now I've just got to focus on what I can do to get better as fast as I can.''
Pence leads all Major League rookies in extra-base hits with 43, doubles (25), triples (6) and total bases (176). He leads NL rookies with 102 hits, 45 RBIs and 31 multi-hit games. His .330 average is second among NL rookies and eighth overall in the league.
The team recalled Jason Lane from Triple-A Round Rock to take Pence's place on the roster. Lane hit .308 with eight home runs for the Express this season. In 36 games with the Astros, he hit .165 with four homers and 10 RBI.
Devil Rays place Witasick on DL, option Howell; recall Hammel and Salas
July 23, 2007
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -The Tampa Bay Devil Rays retooled their struggling bullpen on Monday, placing Jay Witasick on the 15-day disabled list and sending J.P. Howell to Triple-A Durham.
A day after giving up 20 hits for the second straight game to the New York Yankees, the Devil Rays recalled pitchers Jason Hammel and Juan Salas from Durham.
Witasick, a combined 1-0 with a 6.15 ERA in 31 appearances for Oakland and Tampa Bay, was placed on the DL retroactive to Sunday because of a right elbow strain. He allowed five runs in an inning on Saturday.
Salas opened the season in Tampa Bay's bullpen and made 15 appearances before being suspended for 50 games after becoming the first player this year to flunk a drug test under Major League Baseball's testing program. He had a 3.95 ERA and had 10 walks and 12 strikeouts in 13 2-3 innings. The right-hander was reinstated from the restricted list on July 3 and optioned to Durham.
The left-handed Howell is 1-4 with a 7.36 ERA in eight starts for the Devil Rays this season.
Hammel, who was 1-0 with a 5.82 ERA in 11 appearances, was optioned to Durham after making a spot-start Saturday at New York in the first game of a doubleheader.
Angels' Colon leaves early with sore elbow
July 23, 2007
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -Angels right-hander Bartolo Colon left Los Angeles' game against Oakland with a sore right elbow after giving up four runs in the first inning Monday night.
Colon, the 2005 AL Cy Young winner, had won his first five decisions before going into a skid. He was 1-5 with an 8.67 ERA over his last nine starts, not counting the short outing against the A's.
A torn right rotator cuff shortened his 2006 season.
Colon, 34, had a 21-8 record during his Cy Young-winning season. He has gone 7-10 since.
He threw 33 pitches in the first inning against Oakland, giving up four hits, with one walk and one strikeout. It was the only the fourth time in his career he's pitched one inning or less.
He's scheduled to have his elbow examined Tuesday.
Notes from Monday's AL games
July 23, 2007
BOSTON: To make room for LHP Jon Lester, who made his first start for the Red Sox since beating cancer, the club designated RHP Joel Pineiro for assignment. Pineiro was 1-1 with a 5.03 ERA in 31 appearances. ``This doesn't mean the guy can't pitch,'' manager Terry Francona said. ``I would love to have 26 on the roster, but you can't.'' ... Former Indians OF Coco Crisp played his first game at Jacobs Field for the Red Sox. Traded to Boston before the 2006 season, Crisp was injured when the Red Sox played in Cleveland last year. He entered play Monday batting .384 (43-for-112) over his previous 30 games. Crisp declined an interview request before the game. ... The Red Sox play 15 of their next 18 and 25 of their next 35 games on the road. Boston had lost six straight road games entering the four-game series in Cleveland and had not won in an AL ballpark other than Fenway Park since June 7 in Oakland.
CLEVELAND: The Indians didn't take batting practice on the field after arriving home at 5 a.m. Monday from Texas, where they played on Sunday night. ... Manager Eric Wedge started C Kelly Shoppach in place of All-Star Victor Martinez. ``Victor needs a day off, Boston started a lefty, so we got Kelly in there and gave Victor a break,'' Wedge said. ... The Indians are in the midst of playing 17 straight days following the All-Star break. ``Victor can't play them all,'' Wedge said, adding that he is not looking forward to Cleveland's 23-day stretch without a break in August, either. ... LHP Aaron Fultz, sidelined since June 24 with a right ribcage strain, played catch on the sidelines before the game. ... Wedge denied reports that LHP Aaron Laffey would soon be called up from Triple-A Buffalo.
MINNESOTA: DH Rondell White played for the first time since going on the disabled list April 10 with a strained right calf. ... OF Torii Hunter started despite suffering from allergies. Hunter complained of watery eyes, a headache and nasal congestion. ... LHP Glen Perkins (strained left shoulder) flew to the Twins' complex in Fort Myers, Fla. Monday where he will begin a throwing program. Perkins, 0-0 with a 3.80 ERA in 12 games this season, was placed on the disabled list May 22.
TORONTO: C Curtis Thigpen made his first start since being recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday, while Matt Stairs started at first base in place of Lyle Overbay. ... DH Frank Thomas hot a two-run home run in the first inning of Monday's game and has 51 career homers against Minnesota. Rocky Colavito hit 52 career homers against the Twins, while Reggie Jackson and Mickey Mantle each hit 51. ... LHP Gustavo Chacin (sore shoulder) allowed three runs on five hits over three innings in his first rehab start with Triple-A Syracuse Monday. Chacin gave up a home run, walked none and struck out one. ... The Blue Jays held a moment of silence before Monday's game in honor of Tulsa Drillers coach Mike Coolbaugh, who died Sunday after being struck by a line drive. Coolbaugh, 35, was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 16th round in 1990.
NEW YORK: Yankees owner George Steinbrenner will meet with top team officials in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday to discuss possible moves ahead of the July 31 trade deadline. Yankees GM Brian Cashman and president Randy Levine planned to attend the session. ... RHP Scott Proctor went home to Florida to be with his wife and new son, Cooper, who was born Monday. Manager Joe Torre said Proctor will rejoin the team Wednesday. ... Torre said he had not decided who would pitch the resumption of the Yankees' suspended game at Baltimore on Friday. New York was leading 8-6 in the top of the eighth when the game was halted by rain on June 28. The scheduled game will follow.
KANSAS CITY: LHP Odalis Perez made his first AL start - and only the second start of his career - against the Yankees. His only previous start came with Atlanta on July 17, 1999. ... RHP Scott Elarton was scheduled to come off the DL to start Tuesday's game. Elarton has been sidelined since June 22 with a sprained right foot.
DETROIT: RHP Virgil Vasquez will be called up after the first game and will start the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader, manager Jim Leyland announced. Leyland said a reliever would be sent down to make room for Vasquez, who made his major league debut on May 13 and pitched 2 2-3 innings while giving up six runs against the Twins. ...RHP Joel Zumaya (right middle finger strain) threw off a mound before Monday's game and reported no problems. ``I felt really good,'' he said. Manager Jim Leyland said he was told that Zumaya's right hand has 99 percent of the strength of his healthy left hand. ... RHP Fernando Rodney (right shoulder tendinitis) was scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday and could start a rehab assignment soon. ``If it's as good as he was Sunday, he's going out,'' Leyland said.
CHICAGO: Manager Ozzie Guillen said the White Sox will activate OF Scott Podsednik (strained left ribcage) from the DL on Tuesday. Podsednik has only played 19 games this season. ... 3B Joe Crede was in the White Sox clubhouse before Monday's game. Crede is recovering from lower back surgery. ``I don't think they want (me) to come back this year. There is a chance of reinjuring or reherniating the disk is pretty high. We've just been doing a lot of minimal rotational stuff and just trying to take it easy. Everything feels great. I can definitely tell the difference already and the only thing right now there is a lot of stiffness right there,'' Crede said. ... Duane Shaffer, former senior director of amateur scouting, criticized GM Ken Williams on a Chicago radio show on Monday. Williams fired him in his 35th season with the White Sox on June 22. ``This won't be the first time someone rips me. I'm getting used it,'' said Williams. ... The White Sox planned to recall RHP Gavin Floyd to start in one of the games of a doubleheader against the Tigers on Tuesday. RHP Javier Vazquez was to start the other game.
SEATTLE: The Mariners' 12 hits at Toronto over the weekend were the fewest they've had in a three-game series since April 2002 against the New York Yankees. They were shut out the last two games in Toronto, also marking the ninth time in team history they were held to three hits or less in consecutive games. ... LHP Jarrod Washburn (8-7), who starts the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader, has pitched at least six innings in 15 of his 19 starts. This is the first time since 2004 that he had eight wins before the All-Star break.
TEXAS: C Gerald Laird, who left Sunday night's game after being hit on the left hand by a pitch while batting, expects to play in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader. Laird wasn't in the lineup Monday, but said he's just ``dealing with a bruise'' and waiting for the swelling to go down. ... Manager Ron Washington is no fan of doubleheaders. ``I hate them,'' he said emphatically Monday. ``I hated them, especially as a player. I could go 0-for-10.'' The Rangers play a doubleheader Tuesday, making up a game against Seattle that was rained out April 24. It will be the Rangers' second doubleheader of the season. They were swept by the Yankees on May 3, that also making up for a rained-out game.
Notes from Monday's NL games
MILWAUKEE: OF Bill Hall started a rehab assignment with Milwaukee's rookie team in Arizona. He expects to play a couple of games to see how his right ankle feels. Hall has been on the DL since July 6 with a sprained ankle. ... 3B Ryan Braun hit his 16th homer in the fourth inning. He has 16 homers in 51 games since he made his major league debut on May 25, the fastest pace for a rookie in franchise history. ... The solo homer extended Braun's hitting streak to six games.
CINCINNATI: RHP Aaron Harang rejoined the team after spending the last three days in San Diego following his grandfather's death. The Reds reinstated Harang off the bereavement list so he could start against the Brewers, and sent reliever Ricky Stone outright to Triple-A Louisville. ... LHP Eddie Guardado threw 30 pitches in the bullpen. He'll throw batting practice Tuesday. ``We'll see from there,'' he said. ``Hopefully, I'm real close. I feel good.'' Guardado had reconstructive elbow surgery last September. He had to end a minor league rehab assignment last month because of stiffness in his left forearm. The former closer hopes to pitch in the majors this season.
LOS ANGELES: Closer Takashi Saito, who has not been available the last four games, had an MRI exam on his ailing shoulder blade Monday morning. ``They didn't find any damage,'' manager Grady Little said. ``He's flying back here today and hopefully he'll be ready to pitch tomorrow. It does concern you, but I think he'll be fine.'' ... 3B Andy LaRoche hit two home runs in a doubleheader for Las Vegas on Sunday, giving him seven homers in his last eight games, and the Dodgers are watching. ``He knows if he continues to do that, his day will come,'' Little said. ``Since he came back from a shoulder injury, he has been tearing the cover off the ball and we're fully aware of that.'' ... With his bullpen wracked by injuries, Little said Brett Tomko will be available to pitch in relief either Monday or Tuesday but not after that because he is scheduled to start Friday against Colorado.
HOUSTON: RHP Brandon Backe, who has been out all season after Tommy John surgery on his right elbow last year, pitched a simulated game Monday afternoon. ``I felt good,'' Backe said. ``Now I need to face some live hitting.'' Manager Phil Garner said Backe would start the first of six rehab assignments a week from this Saturday. They are hoping Backe can return to the big leagues by Sept. 1. ``I think he's in a good spot right now but we're not going to rush it,'' Garner said. ... Roy Oswalt will miss his turn in the rotation Wednesday but said Monday he will pitch a bullpen session Friday or Saturday and expects to start again the following Tuesday. He left Friday's game with an upper chest injury. ... OF Hunter Pence left Sunday's game because of a right wrist injury after sliding into second hard against Pittsburgh, but the Astros expect him back soon. He's day-to-day. ``He's still a little sore,'' Garner said. ``He had x-rays and there was nothing broken. If he doesn't get better tomorrow, we'll see a doctor.''
SAN DIEGO: RHP Royce Ring was optioned to Triple-A Portland. ``As disappointed as he was to go down, I let him know that, hey, there's good opportunity, at some point you'll be back up,'' manager Bud Black said. ... LHP Justin Hampson, who is 2-2 with a 2.30 ERA in 16 relief appearances with San Diego this year, was recalled from Portland. ... The Padres don't expect the league to take any disciplinary action against Black, who bumped home plate umpire Chris Guccione and was later ejected for arguing a third strike call in the fifth inning of Sunday's game. ``The umpire said it was incidental,'' general manager Kevin Towers said.
COLORADO: LHP Brian Fuentes played catch before Monday's game. ``It's a step,'' manager Clint Hurdle said. ``It's a first step and we will move on from here.'' ... RHP Jason Hirsh made a 70-pitch rehab assignment start for Triple-A Colorado Springs. ... Hurdle had mixed feelings about the team's split of the recent 10-game road trip. ``We were a few pitches and hits from doing better,'' he said. ``When you don't hit everything else is magnified.'' ... The Rockies want RHP Ubaldo Jimenez to show one specific area of improvement in his start Tuesday. ``His command of his fastball has to be better.''
Biggio to hang up spikes after season
July 24th, 2007
Houston, TX (Sports Network) - The Houston Astros and second baseman Craig Biggio have called a news conference for Tuesday afternoon at which time the latest member of the 3,000-hit club is expected to announce that this will be his final season.
Biggio, who has played more games with the Astros than any other player in franchise history, became the 27th player in major league history to reach 3,000 hits back on June 28. However, the 41-year-old New York native has amassed just 14 hits since and has seen his playing time reduced since the All-Star break.
In 89 games this season Biggio, who holds franchise records for at-bats, runs scored, hits, doubles and extra-base hits, is hitting only .247 with five homers and 31 RBI.
A seven-time All-Star and a career .282 hitter, Biggio is also the only player in MLB history to reach all of the following milestones: at least 600 doubles (661), 250 home runs (286), 3,000 hits and 400 stolen bases (413). He also holds the National League record for most lead-off home runs in a career with 52 and his doubles total is the sixth-best in league history and the most-ever by a right-handed hitter.
He also owns the modern record in one painful category - he has been hit by a pitch 285 times.
Biggio's best season came in 1998 when he hit a career-best .325 with 20 homers and 88 RBI. He also became the second player to have 50 stolen bases and 50 doubles in the same season that year.
White Sox take Podsednik off DL, put Terrero on DL
July 24th, 2007
Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - The Chicago White Sox removed outfielder Scott Podsednik from the 15-day disabled list and recalled him from his rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday.
Podsednik went on the disabled list earlier in the month when he was injured during Chicago's 3-1 win against Kansas City on July 2.
The 31-year-old has played in only 19 games this season, as he was also sidelined from April 17-June 22 with a right groin strain. Prior to his latest stint on the DL, he was batting .269 with a homer, two RBI with four stolen bases.
To make room on the roster, the White Sox placed outfielder Luis Terrero on the 15-day disabled list.
He is suffering from a strained right groin injury that occured in the ninth inning of Monday's 9-6 loss against Detroit.
In 48 games this season, Terrero is hitting .224 with five home runs and 10 RBI.
Also, prior to Game 2 of Tuesday's day/night doubleheader, Chicago will recall pitcher Gavin Floyd from Charlotte. A corresponding roster move will be made at the time.