MLB News and Notes June - 6

Nationals pitcher Wagner out for season after shoulder surgery
June 5, 2007

WASHINGTON (AP) -Washington Nationals reliever Ryan Wagner is out for the season following surgery on a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder.

Wagner had the surgery Tuesday in Birmingham, Ala., where he had traveled on Monday to get a second opinion. The injury has already sidelined him for nearly a month.

The right-hander was originally diagnosed with inflammation in his right rotator cuff when he was placed on the 15-day disabled list on May 8.

Wagner appeared in 14 games this season, going 0-2 with a 5.74 ERA. Shoulder problems also cost him much of the 2005 season, when he was with the Cincinnati Reds.

Wagner was acquired 11 months ago in a seven-player trade with the Reds.

Reds activate Hamilton, recall Coffey, set Bailey debut
June 5, 2007

ST. LOUIS (AP) -The Cincinnati Reds activated outfielder Josh Hamilton from the 15-day disabled list Tuesday and recalled righty reliever Todd Coffey from Triple-A Louisville.

The Reds also set top prospect Homer Bailey's major league debut for Friday. The seventh overall pick in the 2004 draft, the righty will start at home against the Cleveland Indians.

The 21-year-old Bailey was the team's minor league player of the year last season. He was 6-1 with a 2.31 ERA in 10 starts at Louisville this year.

Hamilton had been on the DL since May 22 with gastroenteritis, an inflamed digestive tract. He was batting .261 with eight home runs and 18 RBIs.

Hamilton hit .333 with four homers and six RBIs in six rehab games at Louisville, and was batting second in the opener of a three-game series against the Cardinals.

Coffey began the season with the Reds and was 1-1 with a 4.94 ERA in 26 appearances before being optioned to the minors on May 24. In six games covering 5 2-3 innings with Louisville he didn't allow a run and had nine strikeouts.

The Reds optioned right-hander Brad Salmon to Louisville. Outfielder Dewayne Wise cleared waivers and was outrighted to Louisville.

Baseball Today - June 6
Wed, Jun 6, 2007
By Associated Press

SCOREBOARD

Wednesday, June 6

Detroit at Texas (8:35 p.m. EDT). In search of his sixth win of the season, Justin Verlander faces off against Kevin Millwood.

STARS Tuesday

-C.C. Sabathia, Indians, threw a complete-game shutout, giving up five hits and striking out eight in Cleveland's 1-0 victory over Kansas City.

-Chase Utley, Phillies, homered in the 11th inning and drove in three runs to lift Philadelphia over the New York Mets 4-2.

-Alex Rodriguez, Yankees, hit his major league-best 21st home run and had three RBIs to help the New York Yankees beat the Chicago White Sox 7-3.

-Kelvim Escobar, Angels, pitched a three-hitter for his second complete game of the season to help the Los Angeles Angels defeat Minnesota 5-1.

-Chris Young, Diamondbacks, hit a game-ending homer in the 10th inning to lift Arizona over San Francisco 4-3.

PITCHING DUELS

Jorge De La Rosa was the hard-luck loser in Kansas City's 1-0 loss to Cleveland on Tuesday. De La Rosa struck out a career-high seven and gave up one run in 7 1-3 innings, but was outdueled by C.C. Sabathia, who pitched a complete game to improve to 9-1 on the season. ... Jason Schmidt returned from the DL for Los Angeles and tossed six shutout innings, retiring 13 of the last 14 batters he faced, but the Dodgers lost 1-0 to San Diego. Padres starter Chris Young gave up three hits in seven scoreless innings. Neither starter figured in the decision.

HIT THE SHOWERS

Detroit starter Nate Robertson did not record an out in the Tigers' 6-4 loss to Texas on Tuesday. He threw 30 pitches and gave up six runs on four hits and two walks. The big blow was a Victor Diaz grand slam, which Marlon Byrd followed with a triple. Byrd scored on a sacrifice fly by Ian Kinsler. Sammy Sosa drove in the other run with a single. Robertson dropped to 4-6 on the season with the loss.

STUNG

Matt Stairs scored the winning run on a bases-loaded walk and the Toronto Blue Jays put up six runs in the ninth to beat Tampa Bay 12-11 on Tuesday night. The Devil Rays lost despite collecting a season-high 17 hits.

STREAKS

The Los Angeles Angels defeated Minnesota 5-1 on Tuesday for their fifth straight victory. ... Casey Blake extended his hitting streak to 14 games in Cleveland's 1-0 win over Kansas City. ... Matt Holliday and Willie Taveras extended their hitting streaks to 13 and 10 games, respectively, in Colorado's 4-1 victory over Houston.

SPEAKING

''I just bought a bottle of champagne two months ago for him. Now it's frozen. I'm going to drink it tonight.'' - Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, on starter Mark Buehrle failing in his seventh attempt for his 100th career victory. Buehrle gave up five runs in a 7-3 loss to the New York Yankees on Tuesday.

Notes from Tuesday's AL games
June 5, 2007

KANSAS CITY: RHP Joakim Soria, out since May 23 with an inflamed shoulder, threw a bullpen session Tuesday. ``I felt fine,'' said the rookie, who is expected to be activated Thursday. Everything is OK.'' Soria was the closer when he went out and will be the setup man when he returns. Manager Buddy Bell is using RHP Octavio Dotel as his closer. Dotel got his first save since May 16, 2005, when he closed out a 4-1 win over Tampa Bay on June 1. Dotel had 36 saves for Houston in 2004, but missed most of the last two seasons with elbow problems. ... 3B Alex Gordon, hitless in his last 18 at_bats, didn't start Tuesday against Indians LHP C.C. Sabathia. ... OF Mark Teahen, in a 3-for-17 slump, did start. ... C John Buck had the third multi-homer game of his career Monday in Tampa. With 10 homers in 40 games, he is the quickest catcher in team history to reach that plateau. Mike Macfarlane hit 10 in 42 games in 1993.

CLEVELAND: Entering Tuesday, the Indians had hit .300 with 44 homers and 199 runs in their last 33 games since May 1. ... OF Trot Nixon took grounders at first base during batting practice. ``Maybe it will extend my career,'' said Nixon, who has played first once - in the minors in 1998 - in 14 years as a professional. ... RHP Jake Westbrook, sidelined since May 3 with an abdominal strain, threw a bullpen session Tuesday. ``I felt pretty good,'' he said. ``I got after it. I threw all my pitches. I felt fine.'' Westbrook is scheduled to make a rehab start Friday at Double-A Akron. ... 3B Andy Marte, who opened the season with the Indians, went 2-for-3 with his fourth homer Monday night at Triple-A Buffalo, where's he's hitting .237. ``He's had a couple good days,'' Indians manager Eric Wedge said. ``Right now, being there is the best thing for his career and best thing for the Cleveland Indians.''

TAMPA BAY: C Raul Casanova got the start Tuesday for RHP Andy Sonnanstine's major league debut because the two have worked together at triple-A Durham. ``There's more of a comfort zone,'' manager Joe Maddon said. ``It just seemed like the right thing to do today.'' ... Casanova joined the Devil Rays Tuesday when C Shawn Riggans (right elbow) was placed on the 15-day disabled list. ... Maddon said RHP Gary Glover's breaking ball makes him effective against left-handed batters. ``I'm comfortable bringing him in against tough left-handers because of the curveball,'' Maddon said. ... Tampa Bay has a major league-leading 19 come-from-behind wins this season.

TORONTO: 1B Lyle Overbay (broken right hand) had surgery Monday and was placed on the 15-day disabled list. He's expected to miss four to six weeks. Toronto purchased the contract of C/IF Curtis Thigpen from triple-A Syracuse and transferred RHP John Thomson (sore shoulder) from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL ... C Gregg Zaun (broken right thumb) is expected to join the team in Los Angeles Friday for the start of a three-game series against the Dodgers. ... RHP Shaun Marcum, who left Sunday's start after three innings with a stiff back, is feeling better and is expected to make is next scheduled start Saturday in Los Angeles.

NEW YORK: Roger Clemens resumed his workouts at the minor league complex, still aiming to make his 2007 debut Saturday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The seven-time Cy Young Award winner threw in the outfield and briefly off a bullpen mound Tuesday, one day after an MRI exam showed a scar-tissue injury in his right groin. He also ran for 12 minutes during the 2-hour, 50-minute workout. ... Manager Joe Torre reiterated his desire to give 3B Alex Rodriguez a day off or have him DH. He wants to do the same for SS Derek Jeter, too, but got ``a really ugly look'' when he broached the subject. Rodriguez was at the center of several controversies recently. Photos of him with a woman who is not his wife were published recently, and Rodriguez angered the Toronto Blue Jays when he yelled something as he passed between two infielders, causing one to back off and let a popup drop. Chicago's Jerry Owens stepped on Jeter's left foot on a play at second base in the second inning Monday, but Jeter stayed in the game. ... RHP Carl Pavano underwent surgery to repair the ulna collateral ligament in his right elbow on Tuesday, likely bringing his unproductive stint with the New York Yankees to an end. The right-hander will be sidelined for most - if not all - of what remains on the $39.95 million, four-year deal he signed before the 2005 season. ... The Yankees recalled LHP Sean Henn and purchased the contract of INF Chris Basak from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, while sending OF Kevin Thompson back to Triple-A.

CHICAGO: OF Scott Podsednik (groin) will join Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday for a rehab assignment, although he's not 100 percent. ``I've definitely improved,'' he said. ``I'm close to 80 percent. I'm not 100 percent but I've still got some work to do. But it's time to move forward and get on the baseball field.'' Manager Ozzie Guillen said Podsednik would move back into his starting spot in left field once he returns. ``You're not going to lose your job because you're hurt. It's not fair,'' Guillen said. ``I'm going to give him a shot and he's going to dictate how much he's going to play.'' 3B Joe Crede was out of the starting lineup Tuesday with tightness in his back and a trip to the DL is possible, manager Ozzie Guillen said. ``I'd rather lose him for 15 days than lose him for three, four or five months,'' Guillen said. ``I talked to him and I told him, 'You have to think about your life after the game.'''

DETROIT: C Vance Wilson began a rehab assignment for Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday night. Wilson has been on the DL since March 30 due to a sore right elbow. ...The Tigers' game on June 24 at Atlanta has been changed from a day to a night game and will air on ESPN. ...Former Tiger relievers Willie Hernandez and Aurelio Lopez and current C Ivan Rodriguez are among the nominees for ESPN's Latino Dream Team.

TEXAS: Manager Ron Washington is keeping a roster spot open until the club learns about the availability of RHPs Brandon McCarthy and Vicente Padilla. McCarthy is scheduled to start Saturday night against Milwaukee but has been bothered by a blister on his right hand. Padilla was scratched from Tuesday night's start against Detroit due to right triceps irritation and his ability to make Sunday night's scheduled start against Milwaukee is in doubt. Washington would have to call up a minor league starter to fill the open roster spot if McCarthy or Padilla can't take the mound.

MINNESOTA: Rookie LHP Justin Miller waxed philosophical the day after he retired only one of 10 batters in the eighth inning of the Twins' 16-3 loss and saw his ERA to from 0.00 to 18.00. ``You knew eventually you're going to give up some runs, but you don't think you're going to give up eight runs in one-third of an inning,'' said Miller, who has made only four appearances in the big leagues. ``It happened so quick, there was nothing I could really do about it. I guess it's a lesson learned that up here you have to make quality pitches and you can't get behind hitters because they'll hit your mistakes. But it happens to everybody at least a couple of times in a career, so you have to put it behind you. Once I felt the park, it's over and done with. Today's a new day. You can't really let it affect you, because you can be in the game tonight and it could affect your performance if you let it.''

LOS ANGELES: Manager Mike Scioscia will bolt from Angel Stadium as quickly as possible after Wednesday's matinee to attend Game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals across the street with his family. ``Having the Stanley Cup finals going on 200 yards away is exciting for Southern California,'' said Scioscia, who still has his commemorative medallion from the Flyers' inaugural game at the Philadelphia Spectrum and has fond memories of their back-to-back Stanley Cup titles in 1974-75. ``I remember watching the finals at home with about half our neighborhood. That was a great time to be a hockey fan growing up in Philadelphia. I liked Bobby Clarke, just because of the way he played and the way he smiled with no teeth. I liked Moose Dupont, too - and Bob Kelly, who was like liquid excitement on the ice because of his short strides and the way he hit people. You couldn't get a ticket back then because they were sold out every game, and to get in to watch a hockey game was almost an act of Congress.''

Notes from Tuesday's NL games
June 5, 2007

FLORIDA: The Marlins recalled RHP Rick Vanden Hurk from Double-A Carolina to start the second game of the doubleheader. Vanden Hurk made his first appearance for the Marlins since April 24, when he lasted one inning against the Braves. He was sent down after surrendering six runs, four hits and four walks. ... OF Todd Linden was designated for assignment. He was batting just .174 in 43 games. ... Hanley Ramirez argued briefly about the final pitch of Game 1, a high breaking ball that he took for a called strike three. Manager Fredi Gonzalez didn't bother making much of a stink since the game was over. ``You can't complain,'' he said. ``It's a tough call. There's no sense ... moaning.''

ATLANTA: RHP Blaine Boyer got a surprising phone call about lunchtime. It was the Atlanta Braves: Catch the next flight, you're coming back to the majors. The Braves recalled Boyer from Triple-A Richmond between games of the doubleheader. Concerned that ailing Game 2 starter John Smoltz might have further problems with his injured shoulder and finger, Atlanta wanted an extra arm in the bullpen. Boyer was glad to fill the role, even though he had to hustle to make it to Atlanta for the nightcap. ``I don't even have my equipment,'' he said. ``I found an old glove and borrowed some spikes.'' ... C Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit a two-run homer in Game 1 that put the Braves ahead, but he was more excited about his defense. The rookie threw out two runners attempting to steal second. ``The home run is fun, but my job is behind the plate,'' he said. ``That was obviously the better of the two.''

PITTSBURGH: CF Rajai Davis batted leadoff Tuesday in his first game following his recall from Triple-A Indianapolis late Monday. 3B Jose Bautista, who had been batting .316 in the leadoff spot, dropped to second. ... LF Jason Bay entered the game with 22 RBIs since May 13, tops in the NL and third in the majors behind Minnesota's Torii Hunter (24) and Cleveland's Victor Martinez (23). ... On Wednesday, representatives from the Pirates, Nationals and the Negro Leagues will unveil an exhibit at a Washington hotel featuring Hall of Fame pitcher Josh Gibson, who played for both the Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawfords.

WASHINGTON: RHP Ryan Wagner is out for the season following surgery on a torn labrum in his shoulder. He had been on the DL since May 8. He went 0-2 with a 5.74 ERA in 14 games. ... Levale Speigner will have to wait an extra day before his next start. Manager Manny Acta said Jason Simontacchi will start Friday when Washington opens an interleague series with Minnesota, with Speigner moving back to Game 2 on Saturday. Speigner has struggled as a starter, but he settled down to throw three scoreless innings after a defense-marred six-run first-inning in his last outing. ``He threw the ball well,'' Acta said. ``It wasn't his fault.'' ... The franchise is scheduled to start left-handers - Mike Bacsik, Micah Bowie and Matt Chico - in three consecutive games for the first time since Kirk Rueter, Rheal Cormier and Jeff Fassero started for the Montreal Expos in 1996.

PHILADELPHIA: Injured reliever Tom Gordon was set to begin a light throwing program at the team's complex in Clearwater, Fla. Fellow RHP Brett Myers (strained shoulder) was slated to start a light throwing program, at Shea Stadium. Both are on the DL. ... Abraham Nunez started at 3B. He entered 10-for-26 (.385) against Mets LHP Tom Glavine. ... RHP Jon Lieber, not scheduled to pitch in the series, went home for family reasons. He was expected to rejoin the team Friday in Kansas City and start Saturday against the Royals. ... Mets SS Jose Reyes stole second base in the seventh inning, the first steal the Phillies allowed in three weeks. New York entered with 65 steals, most in the majors.

NEW YORK: CF Carlos Beltran returned to the lineup for the first time since bruising his right knee last Thursday night in a collision with San Francisco's Rich Aurilia at first base. Beltran said he felt about 80-85 percent. ``That's good enough for me to go out there,'' he said. ``I feel better.'' Beltran looked comfortable running down Pat Burrell's drive to deep right-center in the second. ... The Mets are still missing LF Moises Alou (strained left quadriceps) and RF Shawn Green (broken right foot), both on the DL. Alou had fluid drained from his quadriceps and isn't sure when he'll be able to play again. ``We want to make sure that he's as close to 100 percent as he can be,'' manager Willie Randolph said. Green is eligible to come off the DL on Sunday, but Randolph said there was ``no way of knowing'' whether Green would be ready by then. ... 2B Jose Valentin (partially torn ligament in right knee) was slated to play nine innings Tuesday night in his second rehab game for Class-A St. Lucie. The Mets hope Valentin can return in the next few days. ... In Port St. Lucie, Fla., injured OF prospect Lastings Milledge (sprained foot) said he should be back on the field soon with Triple-A New Orleans. After raising eyebrows with his behavior on and off the field last year, Milledge recently irked the Mets by making a rap CD that included offensive language. ``I'm not really worried about what anybody says or what anybody writes,'' Milledge said. ``Everything's OK, and it's just something I have to deal with.''

CHICAGO: Cubs bench coach Alan Trammell knows his role as manager is temporary as Lou Piniella serves his four-game suspension. ``When Lou comes back on Thursday, we'll welcome him,'' Trammell said. ``It's his team. He's the captain of the ship. We'll try to hold the fort down until he comes.'' ... LF Alfonso Soriano had five hits, including a three-run homer Monday night, but said that he's still not 100 percent healthwise. His left hamstring has been bothering that past couple of weeks, but not enough to keep him out of the game. ``It's more important to be in the lineup,'' he said. ... Chicago needs a win Tuesday or Wednesday at Milwaukee to snap a four-series losing streak.

MILWAUKEE: LF Geoff Jenkins took batting practice and reported that he was fine. Cubs pitcher Jason Marquis hit him in the ankle during the fifth inning of Monday night's game. Jenkins stayed in the game until the seventh when he left with a right ankle contusion. Brewers manager Ned Yost said that Jenkins could play, if needed. ... C Damian Miller was behind the plate for the first time since taking a foul tip off his wrist in a game against the Atlanta Braves on May 30. Johnny Estrada, who normally starts, got the night off after taking several hard foul tips during Monday night's game. ... The Brewers have the seventh overall pick in the 2007 first-year player draft that begins Thursday.

CINCINNATI: SS Alex Gonzalez, who left Sunday's game with a strained right hamstring, was out of the lineup with Juan Castro getting the start and batting eighth. Gonzalez was 8-for-13 against St. Louis with two homers and five RBIs. ... OF Norris Hopper's hot bat kept him in the lineup, with Ken Griffey Jr. getting a day off. Hopper was 12-for-25 the first six games of a nine-game trip. ... Reds pinch hitters led the majors with 24 hits. ... The Reds are the only team in the NL with four 10-homer players (Adam Dunn 14, Griffey 12, Gonzalez 11, Brandon Phillips 10). ... RHP Bronson Arroyo, who starts Wednesday, is 0-2 with a 16.36 ERA in his last three starts. ... RHP Todd Coffey, recalled from Triple-A Louisville, was tied for the major league lead with 26 appearances before being optioned on May 24 to make room for RHP Gary Majewski.

ST. LOUIS: LF Chris Duncan was back in the lineup after missing six games with an infection in his left knee. He was a .524 career hitter against the Reds in 42 at_bats with six homers and 10 RBIs. ... 3B Scott Rolen, out since Friday with a straight right hamstring, went through a full workout and will return to the lineup Wednesday if there are no problems with his recovery. ``I'll sit and watch the game, and wake up tomorrow and see if I can walk,'' Rolen said. ... LHP Mark Mulder, out since shoulder surgery last September, threw in the bullpen before the game but there's no timetable for his return. ... To make room for C Kelly Stinnett on the roster, C Brian Esposito was optioned to Triple-A Memphis and RHP Josh Kinney (elbow) was moved to the 60-day DL.

HOUSTON: RHP Jason Jennings will miss pitching in the three-game series in Colorado. ``I'll miss it and it was strange coming back in here for the first time,'' said Jennings, who was acquired from the Rockies in the offseason. ``I did go to the right clubhouse.'' ... Manager Phil Garner had mixed feelings about the deal. ``It was a deal that helped both teams and we got the pitcher we needed,'' he said, ``but I really liked Willie Taveras and Jason Hirsh and Taylor Buchholz are going to be good.'' ... The Astros began a seven-game road trip.

COLORADO: SS Troy Tulowizki had his right groin taped tightly. Tulowitzki had missed two games with a strained right groin. ``We taped him, worked him out before the game and thought he was OK,'' manager Clint Hurdle said. ... OF Steve Finley was designated for assignment. ``When we brought John Mabry and Steve up from spring training we were hoping for more,'' Hurdle said. ``I still think they added some things for us.'' ... The contract of OF Sean Barker was purchased from Triple A Colorado Springs to fill the roster spot. ``He plays all three outfield positions and has some usable speed,'' Hurdle said.

Chipper may be on DL longer
MLB.com

ATLANTA -- Chipper Jones won't be healthy enough to come off the disabled list on Friday. But while wearing splints on both of his hands, he's hoping the healing process is expedited enough to allow him to return to the Braves lineup some time the following week.

Jones, who is eligible to come off the 15-day DL on Friday, had a CT scan performed on both his hands on Monday. Braves associate physician Dr. Gary Lourie confirmed that the veteran third baseman hadn't suffered any fractures or tears as a result of the rough fall that he suffered in a May 11 collision with Pirates third baseman Jose Bautista.

But the scan did show Jones' prolonged discomfort is a result of the fact that there was some bleeding where one of the bones in his hands meets a ligament. Laurie told the Braves third baseman that the healing process could take up to six weeks and recommended that he either wears casts for 10 days or the splints that he chose.

"With the casts, I wouldn't have been able to do anything," said Jones, who, while wearing the splints, won't experience any of the muscle atrophy that the casts would have brought.

Although there has been further aggravation to the hands over the course of the past three weeks, Jones is hopeful that the healing process is at least halfway complete. In addition, he believes the immobilizing splints combined with the multiple cortisone shots he received Monday will further speed the process.

The cortisone shot that Jones received in his right hand on May 23 didn't provide much improvement. He received three more -- two in his left hand and one in his right -- on Monday.

"Everything bugs it," Jones said. "If I bend my hand all the way down or all the way back... The doctor says every time that I feel it, I am hurting it."

With the splints, Jones won't be experiencing the discomfort that came from almost any everyday activity, including removing his socks or playing with his children.

Jones expects to be re-evaluated over the weekend. At that time, he'll have a better understanding of how much of an effect the immobilization has had. Obviously, his hope is to begin playing again during the next road trip, which spans June 12-17.

"I've got to see how I feel when he lets me out of these splints," Jones said. "Then it will be a matter of being able to tolerate the bat rolling around the [injured] area."