MLB Player Notes

Thursday, April 5, 2007 - MLB Player Notes

American League

Shea Hillenbrand - DH - Angels
Shea Hillenbrand (groin) said Wednesday that he's not sure how long he'll be sidelined. The Los Angeles Times reports that Hillenbrand is not expected to be placed on the disabled list, but Hillenbrand said, "I've never done anything to my groin before, so I have no clue how long I'll be out."
Source: Los Angeles Times

Octavio Dotel - RP - Royals
Royals placed RHP Octavio Dotel on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 30, with a left oblique strain. David Riske is set to act as the Royals' closer until Dotel returns. The Royals hope to have him back as soon as his 15 days are up, but oblique injuries can be very tricky.

Francisco Rodriguez - RP - Angels
Francisco Rodriguez was photographed with what appeared to be a foreign substance under the bill of his cap following his first save of the season on Monday. K-Rod was seen rubbing his thumb in the area following several pitches. Derek Zumsteg, a former Baseball Prospectus writer who wrote about Monday's incident in his blog, says the Rangers noticed the apparent cheating and complained to the commissioner's office. We'll have to wait and see if anything comes of this.
Source: Zumsteg.net

Ramon Hernandez - C - Orioles
Ramon Hernandez likely will go on the disabled list with a strained oblique, according to the Baltimore Sun's Roch Kubatko. The Orioles, who have had Freddie Bynum pinch-hit in each of the last two games, could call up Jon Knott if Hernandez goes on the DL. Paul Bako would continue to get most of the playing time behind the plate.
Source: Baltimore Sun

Michael Cuddyer - OF - Twins
Michael Cuddyer left Wednesday's game in the fifth inning with a cut on his chin that required stitches. During the fourth, Cuddyer fouled off a ball that bounced in the dirt and caught him in the chin. He stayed in initially and singled in the at-bat, but he later left and got stitches. He should be back in the lineup after Thursday's off day.

Jose Contreras - SP - White Sox
Manager Ozzie Guillen is expected to have a "sit-down" with Jose Contreras before his scheduled start Sunday. Contreras was a mess in his first start, showing decreased velocity, and Guillen is said to be "concerned about his mental state." ''For Jose, it is a problem," Guillen said. "He takes things real personal, takes things real seriously. I don't think he was feeling good after the game.''
Source: Chicago Sun-Times

Chien-Ming Wang - SP - Yankees
Manager Joe Torre said Wednesday that Chien-Ming Wang (hamstring) could pitch a simulated game over the weekend. Wang tossed a 40-pitch bullpen session Sunday, but has yet to throw from the top of a mound.
Source: New York Post

Dan Johnson - 1B - Athletics
Rather than undergo surgery that could have sidelined him for three months, Dan Johnson (hip) is expected to rehab the injury and could return within a month. "I'm pretty excited,'' Johnson said. "Now I just have to get my strength back and get back to doing baseball stuff. If everything goes right, I could be (doing baseball activity) next week. It all depends on how much leg strength I have when I start moving again."
Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Al Reyes - RP - Devil Rays
Manager Joe Maddon indicated that Al Reyes would have been given the save opportunity if the Devil Rays had held a lead into the ninth inning Monday. Maddon shied away from saying that meant Reyes was the team's official closer, saying instead: "That was the way it was set up on Monday."
Source: Tampa Tribune

Eric Gagne - RP - Rangers
Eric Gagne (elbow) threw one inning in a simulated game Wednesday. The outing was reportedly "without incident" and Gagne is scheduled to pitch for Double-A Frisco Friday night.
Source: Dallas Morning News

Vernon Wells - OF - Blue Jays
Vernon Wells revealed that John Gibbons has given him the green light to steal bases whenever he wants. This is terrific news for owners who have been waiting for Wells to use his speed to become a major contributor in the stolen-base category. The 28-year-old center fielder has shown that he intends to take advantage of the opportunity presented to him, as he stole his second base of the year while going 2-for-5 with two RBIs on Wednesday.
Source: MLB.com

Rocco Baldelli - OF - Devil Rays
Rocco Baldelli and Dioner Navarro could sit out Thursday night's series finale with the Yankees. Baldelli and Navarro are nursing sore hamstrings. Though both players started in the Rays’ opener on April 2, the expected cold weather -- temperatures in New York could dip as low as 35 degrees -- could prompt manager Joe Maddon to err on the side of caution.
Source: MLB.com

Carl Crawford - OF - Devil Rays
Tampa Bay speedster Carl Crawford aims to spearhead a team effort to put pressure on opposing defenses with speed. "We're going to do what we have to do to win games," Crawford said, "because we're not really driving the ball like other teams. So we've got to go to that speed game." Crawford, who noted that he’d like to steal at least 60 bases this season, predicted that B.J. Upton could steal 50 bases, Elijah Dukes 30 and Delmon Young 25. He didn’t even mention center fielder Rocco Baldelli, who stole second on Opening Day and swiped 27 bags in his rookie season. Nobody has ever confused Crawford with Nostradamus, but owners in need of speed may want to see if any of these fleet-footed Rays are available in their league.
Source: MLB.com

Dan Haren - SP - Athletics
Starter Dan Haren, who who drew some brief medical attention in Monday's opener after tweaking his right hip flexor, threw his normal side session before Wednesday's game with no problems. This is good news but something to keep an eye on for Haren owners because he originally injured the same hip during his offseason workouts with bullpen catcher Brandon Buckley and stopped all stretching in the area for two weeks to allow it to calm down. Haren is scheduled to make his next start in Anaheim on April 7.
Source: MLB.com

National League

Lance Cormier - RP - Braves
Braves placed RHP Lance Cormier on 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 31, with a sore right shoulder. The Braves are hopeful of getting Cormier back on April 15. Kyle Davies will be called up to start in his place on Sunday.

Zach Duke - SP - Pirates
Zach Duke is having his start pushed back from Saturday to Sunday because of a cracked fingernail. "He has a little crack in his nail," manager Jim Tracy said. "He was supposed to throw a bullpen today [Wednesday], but rather than irritate that, we're not going to [have him] throw the bullpen today obviously. [He'll] get the day off [Thursday], throw the bullpen on Friday and pitch on Sunday." Tony Armas Jr.'s start is getting moved up to Saturday.
Source: Pirates.mlb.com

Eric Milton - SP - Reds
Eric Milton (back) threw 70 pitches in a simulated game Wednesday and also took batting practice with the rest of the rotation. If he's still feeling fine tomorrow, Milton will come off the DL and start Sunday's game. Victor Santos could be dropped from the roster.
Source: Reds.mlb.com

Barry Bonds - OF - Giants
Barry Bonds finished Wednesday's game despite an apparent hamstring injury. He was hitless in his last three at-bats after homering in the first. The apparent injury, sustained on a running catch to end the third, must have been just a cramp. Bonds' homer in the first off Chris Young was the 735th of his career. He was on deck when the game ended in the ninth.

Carlos Quentin - OF - Diamondbacks
Carlos Quentin (partially torn labrum) hit off a tee and took soft-toss prior to Wednesday's game. Quentin is still a couple weeks from being activated from the disabled list.
Source: East Valley Tribune

Mark Prior - SP - Cubs
The Iowa Cubs will place Mark Prior (shoulder) on the seven-day disabled list on Thursday. "He has to be accounted for by Opening Day," general manager Jim Hendry said. "He has to be on their roster or on the DL." Prior will continue to throw in extended spring training until he builds up enough arm strength to pitch five innings, at that point he will join Iowa for a few starts.
Source: Chicago Tribune

Luke Scott - OF - Astros
Luke Scott was out of the starting lineup for the second consecutive game due to a hyperextended elbow. "I feel better," Scott said. "I did a bunch of treatments on my arm, some stretching and just movements to get my range of motion back, and it's feeling a lot better." Scott had X-rays on the elbow and doesn't think he will need surgery. He will continue to be used as a pinch-hitter until he is able to throw without pain.
Source: Houston Chronicle

Rich Hill - SP - Cubs
Rich Hill wasn't bothered by the blister on his middle finger during a bullpen session on Wednesday. ''It took care of itself. It's fine,'' said Hill, who didn't throw at all Monday and played catch briefly Tuesday. ''I feel great. I'm ready to go Friday.'' The blister cut short Hill's final spring training start on Sunday.
Source: Chicago Sun-Times

Freddy Garcia - SP - Phillies
Freddy Garcia (biceps tendinitis) will make a minor league rehab start for Single-A Clearwater on Thursday night. If the start goes well Garcia is scheduled to make a second rehab start on Tuesday.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

Jon Lieber - SP - Phillies
Jon Lieber (strained oblique) was pain-free after a 42-pitch simulated game on Monday. Lieber will make his first minor league rehab appearance on Friday at Single-A Clearwater. he is still at least a week from joining the Phillies.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

Kyle Davies - SP - Braves
With Lance Cormier headed to the disabled list, Kyle Davies will take his place in the rotation on April 9 at home against the Mets. Avoid using Davies against the mighty Mets offense, as the right-hander was slated to begin the season in the Minors.

Willy Taveras - OF - Rockies
Willy Taveras was benched Wednesday in favor of Steve Finley, who batted leadoff in the Rockies lineup. Taveras has slumped over the first two regular-season games, going 1-for-9 with six strikeouts and a walk.
Source: MLB.com

Chris Young - OF - Diamondbacks
Center fielder Chris Young got a routine day off Wednesday. Eric Byrnes was shifted from right to center and Alberto Callaspo got the start in right. Callaspo, an infielder by trade, played some outfield during the spring, and figures to get more time out there as D-backs manager Bob Melvin tries to get his bat in the lineup. "Right-handed, left-handed, he's gotten hits," Melvin said of Callaspo.
Source: MLB.com