Hawkins activated from DL
May 22nd, 2007
Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - The Colorado Rockies activated pitcher LaTroy Hawkins from the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday.
Hawkins has been on the disabled list since April 21 with right elbow inflammation. He was 0-3 with an 8.59 earned-run average in nine relief appearances this season.
He made four relief appearances on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Colorado Springs, going 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA.
To make room on the roster for Hawkins, the club has optioned right-handed pitcher Darren Clarke to Double-A Tulsa of the Texas League. Clarke made two appearances for the Rockies after being recalled last Friday, tossing 1 1/3 scoreless innings in his first action in the big leagues.
Twins place Perkins on DL
May 22nd, 2007
Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - The Minnesota Twins placed pitcher Glen Perkins on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday with a mild muscle strain in the back of his left shoulder.
Perkins suffered the injury in the eighth inning of Minnesota's game against Texas on Monday. The southpaw had a 3.80 ERA in 12 games for the Twins this season.
To replace Perkins on the 25-man roster, the Twins purchased the contract of pitcher Carmen Cali from Triple-A Rochester. Cali was 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA and one save in 12 appearances for the Red Wings.
Royals activate Dotel, will ease him into closer's role
May 22, 2007
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -The Kansas City Royals activated Octavio Dotel on Tuesday and said they would ease him into the closer's role.
``What we're going to do with Dotel is probably pitch him in the seventh, eighth, maybe the sixth,'' manager Buddy Bell said before Tuesday night's game against the Cleveland Indians. ``The problem with just putting him into the closer's role right now is that we're not really sure of his durability.
``He hasn't pitched in a while, so putting him in that role, I didn't think was the right thing to do.''
The right-hander, who has pitched sparingly since undergoing reconstructive elbow surgery in mid-2005, has been out with a strained left oblique muscle since the last week of spring training.
The Royals signed him to a one-year, $5 million deal in the offseason, looking to shore up a bullpen that blew a majors-worst 31 saves last year.
``We plan on eventually getting him into the closer's role, but it could be one week, two weeks, I don't know,'' Bell said. ``It all depends on how comfortable he is and how comfortable we are with his durability.''
Dotel made three rehab appearances for Double-A Wichita, going 0-1 with two saves and a 3.00 ERA. Without him, the Royals have blown 13 of 22 save opportunities.
Bell said he hoped to have Dotel pitch at least one inning his first time out and planned to use him to start an inning, rather than bringing him in with someone on base.
``If we really need to win a game and we need a strikeout, I wouldn't be afraid to bring him in in the middle,'' Bell said.
The Royals also sent catcher Jason LaRue to Triple-A Omaha to begin a rehab assignment. LaRue has been on the disabled list since May 11 with a bruised left collarbone.
Kansas City designated right-hander Jason Standridge for assignment to make room for Dotel.
Another third baseman joins Dodgers
May 22, 2007
LOS ANGELES (AP) -The Dodgers added another third baseman Tuesday, purchasing the contract of switch-hitting Tony Abreu from Triple-A Las Vegas of the Pacific Coast League.
The 22-year-old Abreu arrived at Dodger Stadium some three hours before making his big league debut against the Milwaukee Brewers, hitting eighth in the batting order.
To make room for Abreu, the Dodgers optioned left-hander Hong-Chih Kuo to Las Vegas, where he'll join the starting rotation Wednesday night at Tacoma.
Wilson Betemit and rookie Andy LaRoche have been sharing third base for the Dodgers recently, with neither being very productive. Betemit is batting .190 with four homers and 14 RBIs in 35 games, and LaRoche is hitting .233 with no homers and three RBIs in 12 games.
``To get another hot hitter in the lineup,'' Dodgers manager Grady Little replied when asked why the move was made. ``We're looking for somebody who's going to get hot. He's earned the right to get an opportunity right now.
``The kid brings life, he brings energy, he brings productivity.''
Little said it's possible the Dodgers will keep all three third baseman, adding LaRoche could be used in the outfield.
Abreu, moved to third base at the end of spring training, hit .347 with two homers and 13 RBIs in 39 games at Las Vegas. Before that, he hit .340 with three homers and 13 RBIs in 23 exhibition games for the Dodgers, playing 79 2-3 innings at second base and 37 innings at shortstop.
``It was a pleasant surprise,'' Abreu said through a translator regarding his move to Los Angeles. ``Everybody was just so excited for me, and I'm just happy to be here.''
Abreu said he's played enough third base to be comfortable, although he's still learning the position.
Kuo appeared in two games in relief with the Dodgers this season, allowing six hits and four earned runs in 2 1-3 innings. He was a contender for the fifth spot in the rotation in spring training before going on the disabled list with a sore left shoulder.
``He's going to start tomorrow,'' Little said. ``It's to his benefit to get a couple starts down there. At this point in time, that's where we feel he's going to be the most productive for us. We're going to stretch him out.''
Kuo has no record in five games for Las Vegas - three of them starts. He walked five, struck out 19 and allowed four earned runs in 11 1-3 innings before the Dodgers recalled him May 15.
Pavano awaiting Yankees' permission for surgery
May 22, 2007
NEW YORK (AP) -All that remains between Carl Pavano and reconstructive elbow surgery is permission from the New York Yankees.
The pitcher is awaiting word from the team on whether he can go ahead with an operation that would sideline him for most if not all of what remains on his $39.95 million, four-year contract.
Pavano believes surgery is the only way to repair his elbow, and Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has been awaiting written diagnoses from the three specialists who looked at the 31-year-old right-hander's arm.
``We've received all the written reports from all the doctors that examined Carl over the several weeks,'' Pavano's agent, Gregg Clifton, said Tuesday. ``I'll be reaching out to Brian tomorrow in an effort to get all of us moving in the same direction with regard to Carl and the proper steps for his recovery.''
Pavano, who hasn't pitched since April 9, has seen Yankees physician Dr. Stuart Hershon, New York Mets medical director Dr. David Altchek, Dr. James Andrews and Los Angeles Angels medical director Dr. Lewis Yocum. Reconstructive surgery to replace his elbow ligament would sideline Pavano for at least a year and possibly until the 2009 season.
Since signing with the Yankees as a free agent before the 2005 season, Pavano is 5-7 in 19 starts, including 1-0 with a 4.76 ERA in two starts this year. He was sidelined from June 27, 2005, through the 2006 season by shoulder, back, buttocks, elbow and rib injuries, then returned this year. He felt forearm soreness during a win at Minnesota on April 9, an injury the Yankees didn't originally think was serious.
Pavano still has not held a formal meeting with the Yankees over his initial failure last year to tell the team about rib injuries sustained in an auto accident.
Pavano awaiting Yankees' permission for surgery
Why would he have to wait for permission to have surgery. ???
Cubs promote Marshall from Triple-A, change lineup
May 22, 2007
SAN DIEGO (AP) -The Chicago Cubs shook up their lineup and rotation Tuesday, putting Alfonso Soriano back in the leadoff spot and calling up Sean Marshall from Triple-A Iowa to replace Angel Guzman in the rotation.
Soriano was moved back to the top of the order against the San Diego Padres because Derrek Lee returned to the starting lineup for the first time since May 13, when he suffered neck spasms and left a game at Philadelphia in the second inning.
The Cubs were 3-4 in seven games with Soriano batting third. He went 5-for-28 with one double, one triple and one RBI.
``The only reason we moved him to the three hole was because Derrek Lee got hurt,'' Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. ``If that wouldn't have happened, we wouldn't have made a move.''
Marshall will start Wednesday at San Diego. He took the roster spot of left-handed reliever Neal Cotts, who was optioned to Iowa on Sunday.
Marshall's promotion means closer Ryan Dempster won't be moving into the rotation immediately, as he thought was the case over the weekend. Dempster told reporters Sunday that he was headed to the rotation, only to reverse himself when Piniella told him that plan was on hold.
``Nothing's changed,'' Dempster said Tuesday. ``I'm happy I'm going to get a chance sometime.''
Piniella pointed at himself for the confusion, explaining that he meant to tell Dempster before the right-hander talked to reporters but that he was sidetracked by having to tell Cotts of his demotion.
``I take responsibility for that,'' Piniella said. ``If there's anybody to blame, just blame me.''
Piniella said he knows Dempster, who has 162 career starts, wants to return to that role. He said he will reconsider the possibility ``down the road.''
Dempster entered Tuesday with nine saves in 10 opportunities this year.
``He's in the place right now that helps the ballclub win baseball games,'' Piniella said.
Guzman shifts to the bullpen after experiencing hamstring cramps that limited his ability to pitch deep into games.
Ted Lilly also was pushed back a day and will start Friday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Right-hander Jason Marquis will pitch Thursday against the Padres. Without the switch, the Cubs would be starting three straight lefties: Rich Hill, Marshall and Lilly.
The 24-year-old Marshall was 6-9 with a 5.59 ERA for the Cubs in 2006, making 24 starts. He pitched only one inning in spring training while rehabilitating a left shoulder injury and began the season in the minors. He was 3-0 with a 2.05 ERA in five combined appearances with Class-A Daytona and Iowa.
The 27-year-old Cotts was 0-1 with a 4.86 ERA in 16 relief appearances with Chicago.
Tigers option LHP Miller to Double-A Erie
May 22, 2007
DETROIT (AP) -The Detroit Tigers optioned left-hander Andrew Miller to Double-A Erie after Tuesday night's 6-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.
Miller, the team's No. 1 draft pick last June, made one start, going six innings Friday night against St. Louis for his first major league win.
He replaced the injured Jeremy Bonderman in the rotation. Bonderman is on the 15-day disabled list with a blister on the middle finger of his right hand, but is expected to be activated in time for his next scheduled start Thursday.
Izturis placed on DL, Kendrick activated
May 22, 2007
DETROIT (AP) -The Los Angeles Angels placed infielder Maicer Izturis on the 15-day disabled list with an injured right hamstring.
Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia said Izturis was injured Sunday. Izturis is hitting .245 with a home run and 14 RBIs in 29 games.
The Angels also activated second baseman Howie Kendrick from the disabled list after being sidelined since April with a broken middle finger on his left hand. Oakland's Chad Gaudin hit Kendrick with a pitch in the seventh inning of the Athletics' 4-1 victory on April 17. An MRI and CT scan the next day revealed a non-displaced fracture at the base of his middle finger.
Baseball Today - May 23
Wed, May 23, 2007
By Associated Press
SCOREBOARD Wednesday, May 23
Milwaukee at Los Angeles (10:10 p.m. EDT). Chris Capuano and Brad Penny square off.
STARS Tuesday
-Kyle Davies, Braves, gave up one run in eight innings and hit a three-run homer in Atlanta''s 8-1 rout of the Mets.
-Felipe Lopez, Nationals, hit a grand slam and had six RBIs to help Washington rally to an 8-4 victory over Cincinnati.
-Jim Thome, White Sox, hit a three-run homer and had five RBIs to lead Chicago past Oakland 10-4.
-Johan Santana, Twins, gave up one run and struck out a season-high 13 in seven innings in a 7-1 win over Texas.
-Mike Cameron, Padres, hit two homers in San Diego''s 5-1 win over Chicago.
BIRTHDAY BOY
Julian Tavarez improved his record to 3-4 on his 34th birthday in Boston''s 7-3 win over New York on Tuesday. Tavarez allowed two runs and three hits over 5 2-3 innings in winning his second straight start. The previous major league pitcher to start and win on his birthday was Derek Lowe of the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 1 last year.
NEARING MILESTONES
Sammy Sosa homered off Johan Santan in Texas'' 7-1 loss to Minnesota on Tuesday to move within two of becoming the fifth player in major league history with 600 career homers. ... Ken Griffey Jr. tied Harmon Killebrew for eighth on the career home run list with his second shot in two games in Cincinnati''s 8-4 loss to Washington. Griffey has 573 career homers, trailing Mark McGwire by 10.
DROUGHT
Barry Bonds has played in 12 games since his last home run - his longest homerless stretch since the first 13 games of 2006. He has gone 34 at-bats and 53 plate appearances without a homer, remaining 10 shy of tying Hank Aaron''s career home run record of 755. During that stretch since the homer, Bonds has drawn 19 walks with seven intentional free passes, struck out eight times and is batting .147 (5-for-34). He went 0-for-2 with two walks in San Francisco''s 4-2 win over Houston on Tuesday.
STREAKS
Derek Jeter pushed his hitting streak to 17 games in New York''s 7-3 loss to Boston on Tuesday night. Kevin Youkilis extended his hitting streak to a career-best 15 games for the Red Sox in the win. ... Ichiro Suzuki extended his hitting streak to 15 games in Seattle''s 5-2 win over Tampa Bay. He has a major league-best 23 hitting streaks of 10 or more games since his rookie season in 2001. ... Yadier Molina extended his hitting streak to 14 games in St. Louis'' 9-4 win over Pittsburgh.
SNAPPED
Randy Winn had his career-best 20-game hitting streak snapped in San Francisco''s 4-2 win over Houston on Tuesday. ... Toronto''s Matt Stairs went 0-for-3 in a 6-4 win over Baltimore to end his streak of consecutive games with a home run at three. ... St. Louis ended a five-game losing streak with a 9-4 victory over Pittsburgh. ... The Los Angeles Dodgers beat Milwaukee 3-2 to snap a season-high four-game losing streak.
SPEAKING
''If that''s what it takes, I''ll start screaming in the top of the first.'''' - Marlins hurler Scott Olsen, on getting angry with Philadelphia''s Chase Utley for calling timeout just as he was about to deliver a pitch in Tuesday''s game. Utley walked on the next pitch and Olsen angrily shouted at him as he trotted to first base. In the bottom of the inning, the Marlins totaled four extra-base hits to rally for a 5-3 win.
Cubs promote Marshall from Triple-A
Tue, May 22, 2007
By Associated Press
SAN DIEGO -- The Chicago Cubs recalled left-hander Sean Marshall from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday and moved him into the rotation.
Marshall will start Wednesday at San Diego. He took the roster spot of left-handed reliever Neal Cotts, who was optioned to Iowa on Sunday.
The 24-year-old Marshall was 6-9 with a 5.59 ERA for the Cubs in 2006, making 24 starts. He pitched only one inning in spring training while rehabilitating a left shoulder injury and began the season in the minors. He was 3-0 with a 2.05 ERA in five combined appearances with Class-A Daytona and Iowa.
The 27-year-old Cotts was 0-1 with a 4.86 ERA in 16 relief appearances with Chicago.
Dodgers: Tomko likely headed to bullpen
Manager Grady Little plans to shake up the starting rotation a bit, and Brett Tomko is the most likely candidate to lose his job, according to the AP. In nine games (eight starts), Tomko is 1-5 with a 6.28 ERA.
White Sox: DL stint possible for Crede
Joe Crede, who is day-to-day with pain in his back, missed his second straight game Tuesday. It's unclear when he'll be ready to return to action, and a DL stint is a possibility, according to the AP. "That's for Kenny (Williams) and us to decide. You can't be on the active roster and not be participating out there and not be available on the bench. It's something we will take care of really quickly and hopefully sooner than later," Crede said.
Devil Rays: Paul likely headed to DL
Josh Paul could go on the disabled list later this week with a sore left elbow. Manager Joe Maddon has stated that Paul is available only in an emergency, according to the AP.
Rangers RF Sammy Sosa (rest) is not expected to start in today's game.
Giants LF Barry Bonds (rest) is not expected to start tonight.
White Sox 3B Joe Crede (back) is not expected to start tonight.
Padres RF Brian Giles (knee) hasn't ruled out a trip to the DL, and is expected to still miss a couple of more days.
A's 3B Eric Chavez (elbow) is expected to sit out tonight's game.
A's RF Milton Bradley (hamstring) is doubtful
Devil Rays C Josh Paul (elbow) is doubtful.
Report: Devil Rays' Dukes threatened wife's life
May 23rd, 2007
St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - Tampa Bay Devil Rays rookie outfielder Elijah Dukes reportedly left a message on his wife's cell phone threatening to kill her and their children.
According to Wednesday's St. Petersburg Times, Dukes' wife, NiShea Gilbert, played a message that she said was from her husband.
"Hey, dawg," said an angry voice. "It's on, dawg. You dead, dawg. I ain't even bulls-------. Your kids too, dawg. It don't even matter to me who is in the car with you. N-----, all I know is, n-----, when I see your m-----f------- a-- riding, dawg, it's on. As a matter of fact, I'm coming to your m----- f------ house."
According to the paper, this is the latest in violent behavior by Dukes toward Gilbert, a middle school teacher in Ruskin, Florida. In late April, Dukes barged into her classroom at lunchtime, resulting in a restraining order that banned Dukes from the property. He has also sent a picture of a gun to her cell phone, the paper said and also displayed.
Gilbert, 26, has filed two requests for protection in the last month, the paper said.
"I just don't think I should live in fear," said Gilbert to the paper. "When (the Rays) go out of town, I come home. When they're at home, I go stay with my mother. I shouldn't have to live like that because he's a baseball player."
Despite a rocky relationship that started in 2003, the couple married in 2006 and they have two children -- a three-year-old son and nearly two-year-old daughter.
Citing court documents, the paper said that Gilbert received a year-long restraining order against Dukes in 2004. In 2003, Gilbert accused Dukes of throwing a remote at her, the next year he was accused of making harassing phone calls and in 2005 was charged with domestic battery.
The paper went on to say that Dukes has fathered five children with four different women, with two of them giving birth within eight days of each other in 2003.
The 22-year-old Dukes is tied with Cincinnati's Josh Hamilton among all rookies with eight home runs this season. In 35 games, Dukes is batting .231 with 13 RBI.
The St. Petersburg Times attempted to get a comment from Dukes prior to Tuesday night's game.
"I'm just going to play ball, that's it," he said. "I've got to go. I've got a video game to finish."
On Tuesday, the Devil Rays provided the paper with the following statement on behalf of Dukes:
"The end of our marriage is a personal matter for my wife and me," the statement read. "Out of respect for my family, especially my children, I wish to keep our proceedings private."
Dukes has also had on-field behavior problems. He was suspended 30 games while with Triple-A Durham for a confrontation with a teammate and coach.
Off the field, he was arrested in January for misdemeanor marijuana possession. A hearing is scheduled for June 4.
Dukes' father, Elijah Sr., is currently serving a 20-year sentence for fatally shooting a man that sold his wife $100 worth of fake crack cocaine over 10 years ago.
Seattle places Reitsma on DL
May 23rd, 2007
St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - The Seattle Mariners placed right-handed pitcher Chris Reitsma on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 19, with inflammation in his right elbow.
Reitsma, 29, is 0-1 with a 4.86 earned-run average in 16 relief appearances this season. He has given up nine runs in 16 2/3 innings with five walks and eight strikeouts.
To replace Reitsma on the roster, the club recalled pitcher Sean Green from Triple-A Tacoma. This will be his third stint with the club this season and he has appeared in three games and has a 5.06 ERA, giving up three runs in 5 1/3 innings of work.