MLB Player Notes

Wednesday, April 4, 2007 - MLB Player Notes

National League

Chris Carpenter - SP - Cardinals
The Cardinals decided against performing an MRI on Chris Carpenter's elbow. He'll miss his next start with what the team is calling inflammation. Carpenter said his elbow wasn't bothering him during Sunday's game, though he did notice some swelling later that night. "Everybody I've talked to, the doctors and trainers, are not alarmed," he said. "They're trying to make sure I know everything will be OK." Carpenter will be evaluated over the next three days before the Cardinals decide when he'll pitch next.

Rafael Furcal - SS - Dodgers
Rafael Furcal (ankle) was again limited to playing catch on Tuesday. He won't be ready Saturday as hoped. "He's having a hard time getting from jogging to running," trainer Stan Conte said. "It's a transition, and we expected it. If you push at the wrong time, you can irritate it and cost more days. It was a significant ankle injury, and this is not very much time when you're talking about an ankle. He hasn't had any setbacks." Furcal is probably at least a week away.
Source: Dodgers.mlb.com

Randy Johnson - SP - Diamondbacks
Randy Johnson threw 60 pitches over four innings in a minor league game for Triple-A Tucson on Tuesday. The Diamondbacks didn't say how he performed, but they indicated he didn't have any problems in the start. Johnson will make two official starts in minor league games before rejoining the Arizona rotation on April 19.

Lastings Milledge - OF - Mets
Lasting Milledge admitted that his hand is still sore and he will need to wear protective padding on it to prevent further injury. Milledge is expected to make his first start of the season on Friday against the Braves.
Source: Newsday

Barry Bonds - OF - Giants
Barry Bonds felt strong enough to steal a base during Tuesday's opener, but he doesn't think he will play more than the 130 games he appeared in last year. "I'm 42, not 22," Bonds said. "I'll get out there if my body allows me to get out there. If it doesn't, I'm not. That's just life. That's nothing to do against anybody or the team. ... If my body doesn't, too damn bad."
Source: Contra Costa Times

Dave Roberts - OF - Giants
An MRI performed Monday on Dave Roberts' shoulder showed no structural damage. Roberts was in the Giants' lineup for Tuesday's game. He injured the shoulder running into the outfield wall during Sunday's exhibition game against Oakland.
Source: Contra Costa Times

Matt Chico - SP - Nationals
Matt Chico will make his major league debut on Wednesday. "To tell you that kid is going to step on the mound and act and pitch like he's been here 10 years, I'd be lying to you," Nats' manager Manny Acta said. "He's going to have some butterflies." The 23-year-old has never made a start above Double-A.
Source: Washington Post

Mike Jacobs - 1B - Marlins
Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez plans to alternate Mike Jacobs and Josh Willingham in the fourth and fifth spots of the lineup. The left-handed-hitting Jacobs will bat cleanup when a right-hander's on the mound, and right-handed-hitting Josh Willingham will move into the four-hole when a lefty takes the hill. Florida's top three hitters -- Hanley Ramirez, Dan Uggla and Miguel Cabrera -- promise to provide a good deal of RBI chances for the middle of the order. After the first two games, in four of Jacobs' first nine at-bats, he had runners in scoring position. And Willingham, in his first 10 at-bats, was hitting with runners in scoring position five times.
Source: MLB.com

Kevin Mench - OF - Brewers
Starting in left field Tuesday against the Dodgers, Kevin Mench hit a go-ahead, two-run homer off left-hander Randy Wolf in the sixth inning. Brewers manager Ned Yost said he plans to platoon the right-handed-hitting Mench and the left-handed hitting Geoff Jenkins in left this season.
Source: MLB.com

John Patterson - SP - Nationals
John Patterson studied videotape of his less-than-stellar Monday debut and found what he believes were mechanical flaws in his delivery. The Nationals ace said that his shoulder was pointed toward third base, when it should have been facing the plate. "It's a pretty simple fix," Patterson said. "It's speeding up my delivery a little bit and getting my direction a little bit more in line." Hopefully the discovery will help him -- and his owners -- avoid future meltdowns.
Source: MLB.com

Brad Penny - SP - Dodgers
Brad Penny (shoulder stiffness) came through his bullpen session on Tuesday with no problems as he prepares for his season debut April 6 in San Francisco. Penny missed a Spring Training start two weeks ago but said he’s felt fine since.

American League

Johan Santana - SP - Twins
Johan Santana will get a fifth day of rest between starts and pitch on Sunday. Santana could have come back on four days' rest Saturday if he wished. Instead, Sidney Ponson will go then.

Esteban Loaiza - SP - Athletics
Esteban Loaiza won't throw again for at least a week after being diagnosed with a bulging disk in his neck. That's what caused the soreness near his shoulder. "It's not herniated. Not surgical. It's something that can be treated," assistant GM David Forst said. Chad Gaudin is now expected to make two or three starts in place of Loaiza. The plan is for Loaiza to return before the end of the month.

Jorge Cantu - 2B - Devil Rays
As expected, Jorge Cantu will report to Triple-A Thursday after initially demanding a trade and saying he wouldn't accept his demotion. Cantu's agent told reporters Tuesday that his trade request "was firm" and added that Cantu is "focused on going to Durham and working hard." Cantu can force the issue by hitting well at Durham, but his lack of offense last season along with his defensive struggles makes it difficult to play him regularly. A long stint at Triple-A could push back Cantu's arbitration eligibility, which was set to kick in next year.
Source: St Petersburg Times

Jay Payton - OF - Orioles
Jay Payton (hamstring) is expected to begin running later this week. Payton is eligible to return from the disabled list next Wednesday, but will likely need a brief minor league rehab assignment before then.
Source: Baltimore Sun

Johnny Damon - OF - Yankees
Johnny Damon had more than just cramps in his calf Monday and wasn't going to start Wednesday's game as planned. Damon, who was having a bigger problem with the right calf, showed up in the clubhouse Wednesday barely able to walk. There's a chance he might end up on the disabled list, putting Melky Cabrera in center field for a couple of weeks.
Source: Newsday

Andy Pettitte - SP - Yankees
Andy Pettitte is now scheduled to start Thursday after Wednesday's game against the Devil Rays was rained out. Mike Mussina and Kei Igawa have each been backed up one day. Darrell Rasner remains Sunday's scheduled starter, and Carl Pavano will now make his next start Monday.
Source: Newsday

Bobby Crosby - SS - Athletics
Shortstop Bobby Crosby will likely get a day or two off each week throughout the first month of the season. Crosby's first day off, according to Oakland manager Bob Geren, probably will be Thursday in Anaheim. Crosby might not play Sunday, either, because it's Oakland's first day game after a night game of the year.
Source: MLB.com

Joe Nathan - RP - Twins
Expecting his second child, Joe Nathan could possibly miss Wednesday night's game against the Orioles. Nathan's wife Lisa is scheduled to be induced for labor on Wednesday morning. If all goes according to schedule, Nathan plans on being back in the bullpen by the middle innings to be available to pitch, if necessary. Nathan has even talked to his wife about leaving for a bit to come to the game if the labor is taking longer than expected, and then returning before the birth. Such unbelievable ambition is yet another reason why the Twins reliever can be called the game’s top fantasy closer.
Source: MLB.com

Ramon Hernandez - C - Orioles
Ramon Hernandez, who's nursing a strained left oblique, elected to skip batting practice Tuesday and may be held out of the lineup a little longer than expected. The backstop was hoping to make his season debut in the April 7-9 weekend series against the Yankees, but if he can't swing in the next few days, the Orioles may do without his services. "Obviously, you have some concern about it or otherwise, he'd be in there playing," manager Sam Perlozzo said. "My biggest concern is we don't want something to happen that is going to be long-term. That's our major concern. It's early in the season. ... We're going to hope that he is 100 percent before we feel comfortable to put him back in there."
Source: MLB.com

Octavio Dotel - RP - Royals
Octavio Dotel had an MRI on his strained left oblique on Tuesday. Dotel remains listed as day-to-day and is expected to throw on Wednesday but will not be available to pitch against the Red Sox that night. “We’ll see how he feels,” said Royals manager Buddy Bell. “If he can’t pitch on Thursday, more than likely, we’ll put him on the disabled list. We’ll wait until [Wednesday] to make a more solid decision on that.” This is not good news for Dotel owners. Bell said that primary setup man David Riske would assume the closer role should Dotel hit the DL.
Source: MLB.com