Notes from Wednesday's games
September 12, 2007
CLEVELAND: Manager Eric Wedge rested DH Travis Hafner and SS Jhonny Peralta on Wednesday with an off-day Thursday. ``They each needed a day off,'' Wedge said. Ryan Garko hit third and Franklin Gutierrez fifth, each for the first time this season. Kenny Lofton hit sixth for the first time since rejoining the club. ... In the 7-4 loss, the Indians picked up 10 hits, but went 4-for-14 with runners in scoring position. ... Two years ago, the Indians nearly took the AL Central from the front-running White Sox during a second-half surge. This season the Indians have been in front and Wedge thinks the experience the remaining players got from that season might be benefiting the club. ``That experience is part of who we are today,'' the manager said. ``What we've gone through the last four years is part of who we are.'' ... Asdrubal Cabrera singled in the first Wednesday to extend his hitting streak to 11 games.
CHICAGO: DH Jim Thome hit his 499th homer Wednesday in a 7-4 win over the Cleveland Indians. Like he's done recently, Thome traded some memorabilia for the ball. He plans a bigger reward for the fan who catches 500 and said he'll announce it on Friday, when the team plays host to the Los Angeles Angels for a three-game series. ``It'll be neat,'' he said. ... White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper laid out the team's starting rotation for the next couple weeks and one name was missing: John Danks. The rookie left-hander is 6-13 with a 5.50 ERA in 26 starts. He gave up three runs in 2 2-3 innings Tuesday after a 10-day rest, probably his last start of the season. ``We're not mentioning Danks right now,'' Cooper said. ``We're going to talk to him and have him do some sidelines. He's going to be in the bullpen, but it's more about we're going to be working on some things.'' ... Closer Bobby Jenks is the only reliever with a guaranteed job next season after a horrendous run by the bullpen. Chicago's relievers were 17-24 before Wednesday with a 5.44 ERA and 21 blown saves. White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen isn't sure who else will be in the bullpen when the team reports to spring training in five months. ... Guillen said he asked rookie reliever Heath Phillips to do one thing Tuesday night when he brought him in the game - don't make him go back out to the mound to change pitchers, again. ``It's embarrassing,'' Guillen said. Phillips did what Guillen asked, pitching 2 1-3 innings of scoreless relief. ... Scott Podsednik started in center for the first time this season. He played there once before this season and in seven games in 2005.
MINNESOTA: Wednesday's loss was the first in Kauffman Stadium for Carlos Silva. He had been 3-0 in five career starts. ... Glen Perkins pitched one inning Wednesday, his first appearance since May 21 at Texas. He had been on the DL with a shoulder strain and missed 100 games. ... The Twins' 106 home runs are the second-fewest in the AL, ahead of only the Royals' 95. ... With his run-scoring double Wednesday, Torii Hunter moved to within one RBI of his career-high of 102 set in 2003. His 705 RBIs are seventh all-time for the Twins. Rod Carew is next with 733.
KANSAS CITY: The Royals and Twins broke even in their season series at 9-9. It's the first time the Royals have finished .500 or better against Minnesota since they went 11-8 in 2003, their only winning season since 1993. ... The Royals are 20-7 when rookie Billy Butler has at least one RBI. ... Mark Teahen had his 10th three-hit game of the year. Six of Teahen's seven home runs this year have come at home. ... Alex Gordon's double was his 34th, breaking the team's rookie record. The mark had been shared by Kevin Seitzer in 1987 and Mark Quinn in 2000. ---
TEXAS: RP Scott Feldman flew back to Texas Wednesday to have his right knee examined. ``He didn't feel it was getting any better, so we decided the best thing was for him to get an MRI,'' said Rangers manager Ron Washington. ... The Rangers' bullpen threw 7 1-3 innings in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader. Texas relievers have pitched at least seven innings in three of its previous four games, a first in team history. ... Michael Young's first-inning single extended his hitting streak to a career-best 12 games and matched Mark Teixeira for the longest this year by a Ranger. Young needs 22 hits to reach 200 for the fifth straight year. ... Edinson Volquez entered Wednesday's start with an 0-4 record and a 16.50 ERA in four career starts against the AL Central.
DETROIT: Tigers owner Mike Ilitch had a rare meeting with the media Wednesday. ``It's been a big jump, but we finally got to the highest level last year, and we're learning how to stay there,'' he said after posing for the Tigers' annual photo. ``It's the same thing I had to learn in the other sport, and that's the outcome I want - to be like the Red Wings and have more wins than anyone over a 16- or 17-year period.'' ... Jim Leyland announced Wednesday that Yorman Bazardo will start Saturday in Minnesota, with Kenny Rogers moving back to Monday's series opener in Cleveland. Rookie Jair Jurrjens is expected to pitch Sunday's game. ... The Tigers pulled off a rare 3-4-3 putout in the second inning against Texas. Jarrod Saltalamacchia's hard grounder hit off 1B Carlos Guillen's glove, but deflected right to 2B Placido Polanco, who threw to Guillen for the out.
TAMPA BAY: B.J. Upton, who began the game as the majors' top road hitter with a .352 batting average, hit a two-run homer in the first inning. ... The Devil Rays' 16-10 loss Tuesday night was the eighth time in their 10 seasons that they scored at least 10 runs and lost. ... Jonny Gomes stole his 10th base of the season in the first. He's been thrown out just once. ... Tampa Bay's four-run first was the third time in a span of nine innings that it scored exactly four runs. It did it in the second and fourth Tuesday.
BOSTON: 3B Mike Lowell missed the game because of illness after getting four hits Tuesday. ``You do worry'' that other players might get sick, manager Terry Francona said. ``When that happens, it never fails. It goes through the whole team.'' ... LF Manny Ramirez took about 30 swings in batting practice, the last sending the ball into the center-field bleachers. Afterward, he had ice wrapped on the left side of his midsection. Ramirez missed his 15th straight game with a strained muscle in his left side. ... OF Jacoby Ellsbury was not in the starting lineup after banging his right wrist against the outfield wall Monday. He homered Tuesday to extend his hitting streak to all 11 games he's played since being called up from Triple-A Pawtucket on Sept. 1.
LOS ANGELES: INF Chone Figgins made his first start of the season in the outfield, playing right field on Wednesday. It was the 13th time in 648 career starts that he played in right field. ... OF Gary Matthews Jr. was in a soft cast and on crutches after leaving Tuesday's game in the third inning with a right ankle sprain. Though X-rays were negative, manager Mike Sciosia said no timetable had been set for his return, but that Matthews would not play before the end of the road trip Sunday ... Vladimir Guerrero was the DH for the second straight night after missing four games due to an inflamed right triceps. Sciosia said Guerrero wasn't quite ready to play the field. ... OF Tommy Murphy was recalled from Triple-A Salt lake City. It is his third stint with the Angels this season.
BALTIMORE: OF Corey Patterson (sprained left ankle) missed his sixth straight game, but ran in the outfield. Manager Dave Trembley said Patterson ``was close'' to being ready to play. ... RHP Jeremy Guthrie said Wednesday that he wants to pitch again this month despite being hindered by a strained rib cage muscle. ``I would be very excited to be able to pitch in two starts. It could be irrational to feel that way, or it could be right on the money,'' he said. ``We'll just have to see.'' ... Daniel Cabrera, who entered Wednesday's game with a career 5.02 ERA against Los Angeles, yielded six runs in the first two innings.
NEW YORK: OF Shelley Duncan underwent an MRI in New York on Wednesday that revealed a bone bruise in his left pelvis and a small hernia. Duncan was expected to rejoin the team in Toronto during Wednesday's game. He's listed as day-to-day. ... RHP Luis Vizcaino's sore back felt better Wednesday, manager Joe Torre said. Vizcaino, who has also been bothered by a sore shoulder, threw a side session Wednesday and could be ready to pitch Thursday or Friday. ... Torre said C Jorge Posada will likely get the day off Thursday, then catch all three games when the Yankees visit Boston over the weekend. Posada started behind the plate Wednesday, his 131st game of the season. ... Torre said the Yankees might use six starters for the remainder of the season once RHP Roger Clemens (sore elbow) is healthy again. ``We may find an extra day here or there won't hurt anybody,'' Torre said.
TORONTO: Blue Jays 3B Troy Glaus will undergo surgery next week to repair a sore nerve in his left foot and will miss the remainder of the season. Glaus is expected to be healthy in time for spring training. Russ Adams and Hector Luna will split time at third in Toronto's remaining 18 games. ... OF Matt Stairs is batting .414 (29-for-70) with 19 extra-base hits (14 doubles and five homers) in his past 27 games. ... Toronto pitchers have issued a major league-low 143 walks since the all star break.
MILWAUKEE: LHP Brian Shouse wasn't available for the final two games in Pittsburgh as he returned home to be with his wife, Trish, for the birth of their third child. Shouse is expected to rejoin the Brewers on Friday. ... The Brewers are a combined 8-4 at home against the Reds and Astros, the two opponents on their upcoming homestand. ... Manager Ned Yost on reliever Derrick Turnbow, who gave up three runs in the eighth Wednesday after Milwaukee had rallied from four runs down in Pittsburgh: ``When he got the first guy out, I thought he was going to roll, but it was just one of those days.'' Turnbow said he couldn't control his fastball, which led to the difficult inning.
PITTSBURGH: LHP Paul Maholm (lower back stiffness) looked sharp during a sideline throwing session Tuesday night, according to manager Jim Tracy. If Maholm has no problems during another session on the Pirates' off day Thursday, he is expected to return to the rotation for the first time in two weeks Sunday in Houston. ... If Maholm does return, rookie RHP Bryan Bullington may not start during the upcoming 10-game road trip to Houston, Chicago and San Diego. Bullington, the No. 1 draft pick in 2002, was 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in his first two career starts this month, losing 16-4 to St. Louis and 6-1 to Milwaukee. ... C Ronny Paulino (.261) isn't having the offensive season he had a year ago when he hit .310 as a rookie. But manager Jim Tracy plans to start him most of the way down the stretch as the Pirates play mostly against contenders. Paulino had the go-ahead single in the eighth inning Wednesday and is 16-for-38 (.421) this month.
WASHINGTON: OF Austin Kearns did not start Wednesday's game because of swelling in his left elbow. Kearns was hit by a pitch from Matt Lindstrom in Tuesday night's game. He pinch-hit in the 12th inning on Wednesday and struck out. ... RHP John Patterson was scheduled to have surgery Thursday to repair a damaged nerve in his right elbow. He has only 15 starts the past two seasons due to injury.
FLORIDA: SS Hanley Ramirez did not play Wednesday afternoon to be at the hospital with his wife, who is expecting their second child. Doctors planned to induce labor. He is expected to travel with the team for this weekend's series at Colorado. ... C Matt Treanor will likely return to the lineup this weekend, according to manager Fredi Gonzalez. Treanor has been nursing a bruised knee since Sept. 2. ... LHP Renyel Pinto, who pitched a simulated game on Tuesday, might join the join in its upcoming road trip. Pinto has been on the DL since Aug. 3 because of a shoulder strain.
COLORADO: C Yorvit Torrealba was ejected in the second inning after getting called out on strikes by plate umpire Bill Welke. ... Todd Helton extended his hitting streak to nine games with a second-inning double. ... Denny Bautista was the 12th different starting pitcher used by the Rockies this season. He escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the first inning.
PHILADELPHIA: Ace Cole Hamels threw 30 pitches in the bullpen and could return to the mound Tuesday in St. Louis. The All-Star lefty has been sidelined since Aug. 22 with an elbow strain. ``It was completely different. That was the best I've felt,'' Hamels said. Hamels will throw a simulated game Saturday. If all goes well, he'll return to the rotation. ... RF Shane Victorino was out of the lineup again after tweaking the calf injury that's hampered him since early last month. Victorino said he's fine, but manager Charlie Manuel wasn't buying it. ``Every time he gets in a game, he keeps grabbing it,'' Manuel said.
ST. LOUIS: Manager Tony La Russa adjusted his pitching plans for the next few games. He moved RHP Adam Wainwright from Thursday against Cincinnati to Friday against the Cubs at St. Louis and substituted in RHP Kip Wells. Friday's starter, RHP Braden Looper, was moved to the first game of Saturday's day-night doubleheader against Chicago, with RHP Joel Pineiro pitching the second game. ``We just looked at it and put some factors together, and we think this sets up better for us,'' La Russa said. ... La Russa has been told that IF-OF Scott Spiezio, on the restricted list since Aug. 9 after admitting abuse of an unidentified substance, has been working out at Busch Stadium. ``I expect to see him Friday,'' La Russa said. ... RF Rick Ankiel struck out and flied out in his first two at_bats Wednesday to extend to 19 his streak of consecutive hitless at bats.
CINCINNATI: RHP Kirk Saarloos will start Saturday at Milwaukee in place of LHP Phil Dumatrait, who gave up three consecutive home runs to lead off the game in his last start Sunday against Milwaukee. Saarloos' start will be his third of the season in 33 appearance and first since May 27. ``He's been stretched out, and I saw some movement in his changeup and sinker and slider his last time out,'' manager Pete Mackanin said. ... SS Alex Gonzalez returned to the lineup. Gonzalez missed two games after fouling two balls off of his lower left shin last Saturday. ... With two home runs and five RBIs Tuesday, Dunn matched in one game his production for the entire month of September last season.
CHICAGO: Manager Lou Piniella changed his lineup after the Astros announced they were starting RHP Matt Albers instead of LHP Troy Patton. Piniella would've started C Geovany Soto and SS Ronny Cedeno, but went with regular starters Ryan Theriot and Jason Kendall. ``They changed, so we changed,'' Piniella said. ... The Cubs stranded 15 runners in Tuesday's loss, but Piniella wasn't suggesting his hitters make any drastic changes. ``You look for approaches in April and May,'' he said. ``Now, what counts are results. You can have approaches, good or bad or indifferent. But you want results this time of the year.'' ... Piniella said he's got his pitching rotation mapped out for the rest of the season, except for two days - Sept. 22, against Pittsburgh and Sept. 27, against Florida. ``The rest of the time, we're slotted pretty well, just the way we want it,'' he said. Carlos Zambrano and Ted Lilly, both 15-game winners, will each make one start on three days' rest before the end of the regular season.
HOUSTON: Rookie LHP Troy Patton missed his scheduled start on Wednesday with soreness in his throwing shoulder. Patton, who turned 22 on Sept. 3, gave up a hit with a strikeout in one inning of relief in New York last Friday. He could hardly throw a pitch after that and felt soreness in his biceps tendon. ``It's weak,'' he said, ``and when I try to throw hard, it hurts.'' Patton, called up from the minors on Aug. 24, is taking anti-inflammatory medication and manager Cecil Cooper wasn't sure when Patton would pitch again. ``We're just going to kind of wait and see how he progresses,'' Cooper said. ``We can't take any chances.'' ... Cooper said LHP Stephen Randolph will be evaluated at the end of the week, about a month after an MRI test showed a right knee strain. Randolph was placed on the disabled list on Aug. 16. ... Cooper and pitching coach Dave Wallace were mapping out a schedule for RHP Dennis Sarfate, acquired on Tuesday from Milwaukee. ``I just had a chance to say hello to him,'' Cooper said before Wednesday's game.
Mariners 1B Sexson has tendinitis in hamstring; will miss 10 days
September 12, 2007
SEATTLE (AP) -Seattle Mariners first baseman Richie Sexson, who has missed nine of the last 11 games, has been diagnosed with tendinitis in his left hamstring and will likely be out for another 10 days.
Sexson had an MRI on Tuesday, and doctors discovered the cause of the pain and discomfort he has been experiencing in his left leg. The source of the tendinitis is in Sexson's hamstring, but near his hip at the origin of his hamstring. Trainer Rick Griffin said it's a rare area for tendinitis to develop, and Sexson was told to do nothing for 10 days.
``He was relieved he found out what it is. It was hurting his back and down his leg,'' manager John McLaren said. ``He's not going to be back anytime soon. At least we found out what it is.''
Sexson has struggled all season at the plate, hovering around .200. Griffin speculated that the extra work Sexson put in before games trying to break out of his hitting slump could have contributed to the tendinitis developing.
Sexson, who is hitting .205 with 21 homers and 63 RBIs, could return for the final week of the season.
``If we get things going he would like to contribute somewhere, somehow, sometime,'' McLaren said. ``He's always been that way. I do appreciate that about the veteran players wanting to get back out there.''
Lowe sidelined until at least Saturday
September 12, 2007
LOS ANGELES (AP) -A bruised hand forced right-hander Derek Lowe out of Wednesday night's start against the San Diego Padres, and will keep him on the sidelines until this weekend at the earliest.
Right-hander Chad Billingsley replaced Lowe, and left-hander David Wells will be moved up to pitch Thursday night in the finale of a crucial three-game series. San Diego took a 3 1/2-game lead over the Dodgers in the NL wild-card race into Wednesday night's game.
Lowe, 11-12 with a 3.80 ERA and three complete games, was injured while playing catch with fellow pitcher Jonathan Broxton before Tuesday night's game.
``I missed the ball,'' said Lowe, wearing a blue wrap on his right hand. ``We weren't messing around. Broxton never lobs anything. I just missed it. It had been a long time since I missed one.''
Lowe pointed to where the ball hit - on the meaty part of his hand between his thumb and forefinger.
Lowe underwent treatment throughout Tuesday night's game, won by the Padres 9-4.
``We were hoping the swelling would go down last night. It didn't go down as much as we hoped,'' he said. ``It's bruised and sore. I think they're going to get me a red jersey, like NFL quarterbacks - get somebody to catch the ball for me.
``Horrible timing. It caps off the year for me so far. It's been a real thriller.''
Manager Grady Little said he hoped Lowe would be ready to go Saturday in the second game of a three-game series against the NL West-leading Arizona Diamondbacks, with Brad Penny moving up from Saturday to Friday night to pitch the opener.
``I don't think it can be any sooner from what I saw,'' Little said. ``It's an unfortunate thing. There's so much swelling that he had trouble gripping the ball.''
Because of Monday's day off, Billingsley pitched on his normal four days' rest, and so will Wells and Penny.
Lowe said he wasn't sure whether he'd be ready by Saturday.
``I don't know anything about this stuff,'' he said. ``It's a deep bone bruise.''
Baseball Today - September 13
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SCOREBOARD
Thursday, Sept. 13
Colorado at Philadelphia (7:05 p.m. EDT). Jeff Francis tries for his 16th win in a matchup of NL wild-card contenders.
STARS Wednesday
-David Ortiz, Red Sox, hit two homers, including a game-winning two-run shot in the ninth inning to push Boston past Tampa Bay 5-4.
-Todd Linden, Marlins, singled home the winning run in the 12th inning to lift Florida over Washington 5-4.
-Garret Anderson, Angels, homered and had five RBIs in an 18-6 victory over Baltimore.
-Shawn Green, Mets, hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning to help New York hold off Atlanta 4-3.
TRIPLE PLAY
Philadelphia turned their second triple play of the season in the first inning of a 12-0 loss to Colorado on Wednesday. Cory Sullivan led off the game with a single and Troy Tulowitzki bunted for a single. Matt Holliday followed with a hard shot that third baseman Greg Dobbs caught inches above the ground. Dobbs threw to second baseman Chase Utley for the second out, and Utley tagged Tulowitzki to complete the trifecta. The Phillies also turned a triple play at Cincinnati on April 21.
WINNING 17 AGAIN
Justin Verlander struck out seven and allowed one run to pick up his 17th victory in Detroit's 5-1 win over Texas on Wednesday. Verlander (17-5) became the first Detroit pitcher to win at least 17 games in consecutive seasons since Jack Morris in 1986-87. He has won four straight starts, combining to allow just three runs.
HAPPY HOLLIDAY
Matt Holliday lined into a triple play, then hit a three-run homer his next time up Wednesday night to start Colorado on a 12-0 rout over Philadelphia. Holliday, who homered twice Tuesday night, connected for the fourth straight game and leads the NL with 119 RBIs. The win was the Rockies' most-lopsided road shutout in team history.
WOEFUL BIRDS
The Los Angeles Angels pounded Baltimore 18-6 on Wednesday and have outscored the Orioles 28-11 in the first two games of the three-game series. Baltimore issued 13 walks and committed three errors. The loss was the Orioles' 18th in their last 21 games, a streak that started on Aug. 22 when the team announced manager Dave Trembley would return in 2008. Baltimore has been outscored 196-96 during that span.
CARDS SLIPPING
Cincinnati defeated St. Louis Cardinals 5-1 on Wednesday to hand the Cardinals their season-high sixth straight loss and prevent them from gaining ground in the NL Central. Anthony Reyes (2-14) went 3 1-3 innings, allowing four hits and three runs with two walks and a strikeout in his first start since Aug. 31.
STREAKING
Mike Mussina pitched shutout ball into the sixth inning in his return to the rotation and the New York Yankees won their seventh straight game, beating Toronto 4-1 on Wednesday. Mussina improved to 22-11 in 40 career starts against the Blue Jays, who have lost five in a row. ... Moises Alou extended his hitting streak to 17 games in the New York Mets' 4-3 win over Atlanta, tying David Wright for the longest streak by a Met this season.
SPEAKING
''Every time Thome hits a home run, it makes it easy for me to come and talk about the game. Not many players in the clubhouse have seen a milestone like that.'' - Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, on slugger Jim Thome hitting his 499th career homer in a 7-4 win over Cleveland on Wednesday.
Blue Jays 3B Troy Glaus needs surgery, will miss remainder of season
ASSOCIATED PRESS
TORONTO -- Blue Jays third baseman Troy Glaus will undergo season-ending surgery next week to repair a nerve in his left foot, the latest blow in an injury-filled season that has also included accusations he received performance-enhancing drugs.
''The surgery is a nerve decompression surgery,'' general manager J.P. Ricciardi said. ''He's going to have a consultation later this week, just to kind of get ready for it, then he's going to have the surgery Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.''
The surgery will be performed in Los Angeles by Dr. Phillip Kwong. Glaus will need to rest for about a month afterward but is expected to be healthy in time for spring training.
It has been a difficult month for Glaus, whose name surfaced in a report last week accusing him of receiving performance-enhancing drugs from a Florida pharmacy under investigation for illegally distributing prescription medications. Glaus has declined to comment on the report.
Ricciardi said he has spoken privately with Glaus about the accusations, but refused to discuss details of the conversation.
''That conversation was private, between he and I,'' Ricciardi said. ''I'm not going to really share anything. I felt like what he told me is fine. It's not my place to pass judgment.''
Glaus has been hobbled by a variety of foot and leg ailments throughout the season, including a painful heel condition called plantar fasciitis. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list on April 12, missing 14 games, then sat out games in May and August.
Ricciardi said Glaus visited Kwong while the Blue Jays were in California late last month and underwent a procedure to freeze the nerve in his foot, helping him to deal with the pain.
''It started in spring training,'' Ricciardi said. ''He could play two weeks, and then you'd have to back him off, then he'd play two weeks, then you'd back him off. He just couldn't have a healthy season.''
The news comes one day after the Blue Jays revealed that outfielder Vernon Wells will require offseason surgery to remove a cyst caused by a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Like Glaus, Wells is expected to be healthy in time for spring training.
A four time All-Star, Glaus led the AL with 47 homers in 2000 and was MVP of the 2002 World Series for the Anaheim Angels, then missed large stretches in 2003 and 2004 because of shoulder problems.
Glaus is batting .262 with 20 home runs and 62 RBIs in 115 games this season. He left Monday's game at Detroit in the second inning after experiencing pain while running the bases.
Russ Adams started at third base for Toronto on Wednesday and is expected to split time with Hector Luna in the Blue Jays' final 18 games.
Chipper Jones misses third straight start with strained muscle
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK -- Chipper Jones missed his third straight start for the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday night because of a strained muscle on his right side.
The star third baseman said he felt pretty good after taking batting practice indoors before Atlanta's series finale against the New York Mets, adding that he might be able to play this weekend at Washington. His entire waist was wrapped, with a large ice pack on the right side.
The switch-hitting slugger said swinging left-handed felt better than right-handed.
Yunel Escobar started at third base again for the Braves, and manager Bobby Cox said Jones might be available off the bench.
Jones also sat out the first two games of the series against the NL East-leading Mets. He was a late scratch before Monday night's loss after hurting himself during batting practice.
Jones was hitting .330 with 25 home runs, 39 doubles and 87 RBIs. The Braves began the day five games behind front-running San Diego in the wild-card race with 17 to play.
Yankees' OF Shelley Duncan listed as day-to-day
September 12, 2007
TORONTO (AP) -Yankees outfielder Shelley Duncan underwent an MRI exam in New York on Wednesday that revealed a bone bruise in his left pelvis and a small hernia.
Duncan flew back to Toronto following the exam and was expected to rejoin the Yankees during Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays. He is listed as day-to-day.
``That was the best news we could possibly get on him,'' said Yankees manager Joe Torre. ``I know he was concerned when he left here (Tuesday) night.''
Duncan has been bothered by lower abdominal discomfort for the past month, an injury that dates back to a hard slide he made in a game at Toronto on Aug. 7, when he collided with shortstop John McDonald while breaking up a double play.
The 27-year-old rookie, the son of St. Louis pitching coach Dave Duncan, has just one hit in his past 12 at_bats and has not homered since Aug. 15 against Baltimore.
A second-round pick in the 2001 draft, Duncan is batting .259 with six homers and 15 RBIs in 26 games since his contract was purchased from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on July 20.
Twins general manager Terry Ryan decides to resign
September 13, 2007
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -Minnesota Twins general manager Terry Ryan has decided to resign, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Thursday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement had not been made. The Twins scheduled a news conference for 2 p.m. to announce a ``major'' reorganization of its baseball operations.
Ryan was in a meeting Thursday and didn't immediately return a telephone call.
The Star Tribune also reported Ryan's plan to resign, citing three unnamed sources with the team.
The Twins won the American League Central last season, but are two games under .500 this season and out of the playoff chase.
Ryan, 52, is in his 12th season as GM. He has been highly regarded throughout baseball for his work in crafting a contender with a limited payroll. The Twins have received several awards for Organization of the Year this decade, but Ryan began to take some heat this year for the signings of some unproductive veterans and failures to lock up some of the team's stars to long-term contracts.
Assistant general manager Wayne Krivsky, who was long lauded for his behind-the-scenes work as Ryan's right-hand man, left before last season to take over as Cincinnati's general manager.
Krivsky was never replaced, though director of baseball operations Rob Antony added ``contracts'' to his title earlier this year and became more involved with assistant general manager Billy Smith in the negotiating with players' agents.
Manager Ron Gardenhire signed an extension last fall that takes his contract through 2009.