MLB Player Notes

Sunday, April 8, 2007 - MLB Player Notes

American League

Kevin Youkilis - 1B - Red Sox
Kevin Youkilis said he expected to be fine to play Sunday after tweaking an ankle during Saturday's game. Youkilis left Saturday's game in the eighth inning.
Source: Boston.com

Sammy Sosa - OF - Rangers
Sammy Sosa went 2-for-5 with the first home run of his comeback as the Rangers beat the Red Sox 8-4 on Saturday night. 11 to go until No. 600. Sosa's homer was a two-run shot off J.C. Romero in the sixth inning, doubling the Rangers' lead to four runs. Sammy is now 4-for-15 with three RBI and a 5/1 K/BB ratio in four games.

John Lackey - SP - Angels
John Lackey surrendered one run in seven innings to beat Dan Haren and the A's on Saturday night. Haren, who was outpitched by Felix Hernandez on Opening Day, was a hard-luck loser again in the 2-1 game. Lackey allowed seven hits, walked none and struck out six. He snapped a string of poor Aprils by getting off to a good start last year, and he seems poised for an even better first month this season.

Bobby Crosby - SS - Athletics
Bobby Crosby (back) was healthy enough to pinch-run in the ninth inning of Saturday's game against the Angels. Unfortunately, he wasn't healthy enough to break up the double play that Eric Chavez hit into immediately after Crosby entered the game. Crosby could rejoin the starting lineup on Sunday.

Kevin Youkilis - 1B - Red Sox
Kevin Youkilis said he expected to be fine to play Sunday after tweaking an ankle during Saturday's game. Youkilis left Saturday's game in the eighth inning.
Source: Boston.com

Frank Thomas - DH - Blue Jays
Frank Thomas went 2-for-3 with a grand slam and two walks to lead the Jays to an 8-5 win over the Rays on Saturday night. It was the ninth career slam for the Big Hurt and 488th homer overall. The four RBI moved him into a tie with Al Kaline for 32nd on the career list with 1,583.

Casey Fossum - SP - Devil Rays
Casey Fossum was lit up by the Blue Jays on Saturday, surrendering seven runs in 3 2/3 innings. Fossum hit two batters, something that's hardly a new problem for him. However, one of them was Reed Johnson, who is typically far enough over the plate to get drilled on borderline strikes. Fossum will have his share of good starts and he's capable of sporting a decent WHIP, but that he'll mix in outings like this and he may not get wins even when he pitches well makes him a weak play in AL-only leagues.

Eric Gagne - RP - Rangers
Pitching on back-to-back days for the first time, Eric Gagne gave up a run in an inning Saturday for Double-A Frisco. The run scored on a homer. Gagne threw 17 pitches. "There was a little stiffness, but it felt good the first time throwing back to back in two years," he said. "I was trying to work everything. The curveball and changeup was not as good as (Friday). I hit some spots and I missed some spots. These were positive outings." Gagne is expected to pitch again Tuesday before coming off the DL on Friday.

Troy Glaus - 3B - Blue Jays
Troy Glaus is day-to-day after leaving Saturday's game with soreness in his left heel. Jason Smith would likely start at third base if Glaus needs Sunday off.

C.C. Sabathia - SP - Indians
The Indians are scheduled to start C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona in Sunday's doubleheader against the Mariners. Today's matchups will carry over, with Jeff Weaver and Sabathia facing off in the first game and Felix Hernandez and Carmona going later. That's assuming they even try to get both games in. Once again, it looks like the teams might be fortunate to play one game.

Milton Bradley - OF - Athletics
Milton Bradley is back in center field on Saturday after missing a day with soreness in his right side. Todd Walker returns to the bench with Nick Swisher back at first base.

Ian Kinsler - 2B - Rangers
Ian Kinsler was out of the starting lineup for Saturday's game because of flu-like symptoms. Jerry Hairston Jr. is filling in at second base. Kinsler could return Sunday.
Source: Dallas Morning News

Hideki Matsui - OF - Yankees
Hideki Matsui is likely to miss at least four games after straining his left hamstring on Saturday. They're looking to get him back against the A's on Friday. "Hopefully, it's only a few days," manager Joe Torre said. "It's not a full-blown hamstring, but again, it's something you have to keep an eye on." The Yankees expect to have Johnny Damon in center field on Sunday, so Melky Cabrera will move over to left field.

Bobby Abreu - OF - Yankees
Bobby Abreu is expected to play Sunday after getting hit in the knee by a pitch in the ninth inning of Saturday's game. Erik Bedard versus Darrell Rasner, with Hideki Matsui out and Abreu, Johnny Damon and Derek Jeter all nursing aches and pains; we're guessing the Yankees won't hesitate to call off Sunday's game if the weather gives them half a chance.

Javier Vazquez - SP - White Sox
Javier Vazquez yielded just one hit in 6 2/3 shutout innings in a victory over the Twins on Saturday. The pitchers seemed to benefit from temperatures in the low-30s, as Vazquez and Carlos Silva combined to allow just one run. Vazquez walked four and hit a batter, but the Twins never could capitalize. They threatened in the second inning, loading the bases with one out, but Michael Cuddyer, who had the lone hit, was doubled off third base after apparently forgetting how many outs there were.

Bobby Jenks - RP - White Sox
Bobby Jenks recorded his first save by throwing a scoreless ninth Saturday versus the Twins. Jenks gave up a double, but he struck out two of the other three batters he's faced. Manager Ozzie Guillen hasn't ruled out giving chances to other people, but Jenks should be good for 35-40 saves this year as long as he remains healthy and effective.

Juan Uribe - SS - White Sox
Juan Uribe went 2-for-3 with a homer Saturday against the Twins. White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen had Juan Uribe removed for a pinch-hitter after three at-bats on Wednesday, but Uribe has started all four games so far. There's just not going to be any reason to use Alex Cintron over him except when he needs a rest.

Cliff Lee - SP - Indians
Cliff Lee is scheduled to make his first rehab start at Double-A Akron on Monday. Lee is likely to make three or four rehab starts as he comes back from a strained abdominal muscle.
Source: Indians.mlb.com

Victor Martinez - C - Indians
The Indians got an extra day to decide on Victor Martinez's status following Saturday's postponements, but they may yet place him on the DL on Sunday. An MRI confirmed the diagnoses of a strained left quad. "He's certainly going to miss some time," GM Mark Shapiro said. "The good thing is it doesn't appear to be serious." Expect Martinez to go on the DL, opening up a roster spot for Mike Rose.
Source: Indians.mlb.com

John Danks - SP - White Sox
The White Sox confirmed that John Danks would make his major league debut Sunday, with Jose Contreras being pushed back to Monday. Jon Garland will follow on Tuesday, with Mark Buehrle hopefully going Wednesday. With Danks up against Johan Santana, it's almost like the White Sox are sacrificing the game. Still, it is April Santana, as opposed to August Santana.

Rondell White - OF - Twins
Rondell White was scratched from Saturday's lineup due to a strained right calf. Won't be the last time. Jason Tyner is starting in his place, with Jason Kubel moving up from eighth to seventh in the lineup.
Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune

Rocco Baldelli - DH - Devil Rays
Rocco Baldelli is back in center field for Saturday's game against the Blue Jays. Baldelli had been limited to DH duties by a hamstring injury. With Baldelli back, Elijah Dukes is on the bench tonight. However, manager Joe Maddon indicated that Dukes would play center field on Sunday.
Source: Tampa Tribune

Gary Sheffield - DH - Tigers
Gary Sheffield went 2-for-2 with a homer and two walks as the Tigers edged the Royals 6-5 on Saturday. Sheffield, Ivan Rodriguez and Curtis Granderson all homered off Gil Meche. Sheffield had been 1-for-11 to start the year.

Mike Maroth - SP - Tigers
Mike Maroth surrendered four runs in five innings Saturday in a victory over the Royals. It got the job done. The Tigers would have felt more confident with Maroth as their fifth starter, but at least he'll eat innings and keep the team in games most of the time. He's probably not going be of much help in AL-only leagues.

Gil Meche - SP - Royals
Gil Meche gave up six runs in seven innings to take a loss to the Tigers on Saturday. Get use to Meche's inconsistency if you picked him up based on his Opening Day performance. He could have been a decent option in shallow mixed leagues had he signed with an NL team, but it's doubtful that he'll contribute much outside of AL-only leagues as a Royal.

Alex Rodriguez - 3B - Yankees
Alex Rodriguez's second homer of Saturday's game was a walk-off grand slam to give the Yankees a 10-7 win over the Orioles. Rodriguez first had a two-run homer off Steve Trachsel in the first. Still, the Yankees entered the eighth inning down 7-3 before Jason Giambi's three-run homer off Danys Baez. The Orioles held a 7-6 lead with two outs and the bases empty in the bottom of the ninth before Chris Ray decided to follow Baez's lead. A hit, a walk and a HBP loaded the bases, and Ray grooved a 1-2 pitch to end the game. It was Rodriguez's 14th career grand slam. Hopefully, this will buy him at least three or four strikeouts before the booing resumes.

Kei Igawa - SP - Yankees
Kei Igawa was rocked in his major league debut, getting tagged for seven runs in five innings by the Orioles on Saturday. It was still the longest outing by a Yankee through four games. Just 53 of Igawa's 97 pitches were strikes. He's not going to get away with that kind of command while pitching in the American League East.

Steve Trachsel - SP - Orioles
Steve Trachsel was effective in his Orioles debut, allowing three runs in 6 2/3 innings. Trachsel deserved a win for the performance and should have gotten it after leaving with a four-run lead. Unfortunately for him, Jason Giambi and Alex Rodriguez had other ideas. Trachsel still isn't recommended in AL-only leagues.

Chris Ray - RP - Orioles
After Danys Baez gave up a three-run homer in the eighth, Chris Ray blew a save in the ninth inning of Saturday's game against the Yankees when he gave up a grand slam to Alex Rodriguez. Ray got two quick outs in the inning, but he allowed a single to Robinson Cano, walked Derek Jeter and then hit Bobby Abreu on the knee. With a 1-2 count on Rodriguez, Ray threw a belt-high fastball that was clobbered to center. Baez deserves at least as much blame as Ray for taking a four-run lead and shinking to one by walking Abreu and A-Rod in front of a Jason Giambi home run. Maybe the Orioles can spend another $40 million on their pen next winter.

Johnny Damon - OF - Yankees
Johnny Damon struck out as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning Saturday and remained in the game to play center field. He had been out with a strained right calf. Hideki Matsui seems certain to miss one day at least, so the Yankees would surely like to be able to start Damon in center field on Sunday. It looks like it will probably happen.

Miguel Tejada - SS - Orioles
Miguel Tejada went 0-for-5 and committed his third error in two games Saturday against the Yankees. Tejada made defense a priority in the offseason, but he seems poised to become a bigger liability than ever this year. At this rate, he might be better off as a first baseman or left fielder by the final year of his contract in 2009. Putting him at third base and moving Melvin Mora to left field could eventually be another possibility.

Melvin Mora - 3B - Orioles
Melvin Mora had a two-run homer and a three-run double Saturday against the Yankees. Mora was a disappointment last year after getting his three-year, $25 million contract extension in May, but with two homers and seven RBI in five games, he's off to a fine start in 2007. He totaled eight homers over the final four months of last season.

Mark Buehrle - SP - White Sox
Due to the postponement of Friday's game the White Sox will push their rotation back one day giving Mark Buehrle extra time to heal his bruised forearm. ''He felt better today [Friday],'' pitching coach Don Cooper said. ''We'll see how he is [Saturday], but I think it's 70-30 he'll be OK to pitch [his next start].'' Buehrle's is scheduled to start Wednesday's game against Oakland.
Source: Chicago Sun-Times

Ramon Hernandez - C - Orioles
Ramon Hernandez (strained oblique) has yet to take batting practice and is unlikely to play in this weekend's series against the Yankees. "It's close; they don't want to take a chance that I take one swing and then go all the way back," Hernandez said. "I think they want to make sure that when I swing the bat I have no pain at all." Paul Bako will continue to get most of the time behind the plate while Hernandez is out.
Source: Washington Post

Jered Weaver - SP - Angels
Jered Weaver gave up one run in four innings Friday in his rehab start for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga. Weaver topped out at 93 mph while throwing 77 pitches, 47 for strikes. "I felt great out there," Weaver said. "My pitches were there and I feel like I'm ready to get back out there." Weaver will make one more start in the minors before facing the Red Sox on April 16.

National League

Chris Carpenter - SP - Cardinals
Chris Carpenter (elbow) is likely to start Tuesday following a successful bullpen session on Saturday. "It went really well. We'll just have to see tomorrow, make sure he didn't have any kind of reaction from it," manager Tony La Russa said.
Source: Cardinals.mlb.com

Josh Willingham - OF - Marlins
Josh Willingham homered, tripled and doubled in his first three at-bats Saturday in the Marlins' 8-5 win over the Phillies. Unfortunately, he only had one chance to go for the cycle and he ended up striking out against Ryan Madson in a 10-pitch at-bat. Willingham collected four RBI against Brett Myers with his three hits. He has seven RBI through five games.

Dontrelle Willis - SP - Marlins
Dontrelle Willis yielded three runs in six innings and struck out nine Saturday in a win over the Phillies. The runs scored on Jimmy Rollins' inside-the-park homer in the third inning. Willis is now 2-0, giving him one more win than he had in the first two months of last season.

Jorge Julio - RP - Marlins
Working with a five-run lead, Jorge Julio gave up two runs in the ninth before finishing off the Phillies on Saturday. Lowering his ERA to 19.29. Julio gave up two doubles, walked one and sent a run home on a balk. The Marlins have absolutely no reason to demonstrate patience with him if this keeps up. Julio just isn't a very good pitcher.

Jimmy Rollins - SS - Phillies
Jimmy Rollins had a three-run, inside-the-park homer, a double and a walk Saturday against the Marlins. Center fielder Alejando De Aza misplayed Rollins' liner into a homer. Rollins also has two traditional homers in five games, suggesting his 25-homer season in 2006 was no fluke. If this keeps up, the Phillies could reconsider batting him fifth behind Ryan Howard. However, they probably shouldn't take that step as long as he's showing this kind of approach. Along with a .350 average, he's already walked five times.

Brandon Webb - SP - Diamondbacks
Brandon Webb limited the Nationals to one run in seven innings and struck out eight to earn a win on Saturday. The run was controversial. Austin Kearns hit a homer to left in the sixth that may have been foul -- replays were inconclusive. Webb gave up six other hits and walked three. As on Opening Day, he wasn't at his best. Still, he was more than a match for the Nationals.

John Patterson - SP - Nationals
John Patterson gave up three runs in five innings Saturday in a defeat at the hands of the Diamondbacks. Patterson pitched four scoreless innings after a lackluster first frame, but the damage was already done and the Nationals weren't coming back against Brandon Webb. Expect slow progress from Patterson as he continues to work his way back from shoulder surgery. He probably shouldn't be used in mixed leagues right now, but he is likely to have some value eventually.

Stephen Drew - SS - Diamondbacks
Stephen Drew rejoined the starting lineup for Saturday's game and went 1-for-2 with two walks. Drew missed games a sore right quad and an upset stomach.

Roy Oswalt - SP - Astros
Roy Oswalt went the distance and threw a five-hitter Saturday in a 5-1 win over the Cardinals. Just what his team needed. Oswalt needed just 86 pitches, so he could have finished the game regardless of whether the score was 2-1 or 9-1. It was the first win of the season for the Astros, who like the Cardinals, now have a 1-4 record.

Carlos Lee - OF - Astros
Carlos Lee went 2-for-3 with his first homer as an Astro in Saturday's win over the Cardinals. The Houston offense got off to an awful start, but there was never much chance of Lee and Lance Berkman struggling for long. Berkman joined Lee in homering tonight. It's the top and bottom of the lineup that the Astros need to worry about.

Albert Pujols - 1B - Cardinals
Albert Pujols went 0-for-4 on Saturday and is off to a 1-for-17 start this season. This after he hit just .277 in spring training. Maybe it's time for the Cardinals to start thinking about playing Scott Spiezio over him.

John Smoltz - SP - Braves
John Smoltz allowed two runs over six innings to outduel Tom Glavine and hand the Mets their first loss of the season on Saturday. Glavine, hurt by errors on routine plays from Carlos Delgado and Shawn Green, gave up five runs -- two earned -- in 5 1/3 innings. The Braves and Mets are now tied atop the AL East at 4-1.

Shawn Green - OF - Mets
Shawn Green went 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI Satruday against the Braves. He nearly had a fourth hit that would have tied the game in the bottom of the ninth, but his liner was snared by first baseman Adam LaRoche. Green, who has started all five games in right field so far, is 8-for-20 with three RBI. The Mets aren't going to be able to keep Lastings Milledge on the roster for much longer if manager Willie Randolph intends to keep using Green as an everyday player.

Derek Lowe - SP - Dodgers
Derek Lowe limited the Giants to one run and four hits over seven innings to pick up a win on Saturday. Lowe, who struggled in a loss to the Brewers on Opening Day, got 15 groundball outs against a lineup missing Barry Bonds and Omar Vizquel. Jonathan Broxton and Takashi Saito finished up the 4-1 victory, with the latter picking up his third save.

Russ Ortiz - SP - Giants
Russ Ortiz took a loss in his return to the Giants after giving up three runs in five innings Saturday against the Dodgers. He allowed seven hits and walked three, including Wilson Betemit with the bases loaded. Even if Ortiz has a respectable ERA, his WHIP is likely to be a major problem for fantasy purposes. He's not worth owning in Nl-only leagues.

Freddy Sanchez - 3B - Pirates
Pirates activated second baseman Freddy Sanchez from the 15-day disabled list. Sanchez's return will push Jose Casillo into a utility role. He'll be joined there by Don Kelly, as the Pirates elected to keep a sixth infielder and send down Ryan Doumit to make room for Sanchez. Manager Jim Tracy didn't commit to starting Sanchez on Sunday, but the reigning batting champ will likely be back in the lineup by Monday anyway.

Miguel Olivo - C - Marlins
Miguel Olivo was out of the lineup for Saturday's game after leaving with a bruised right thumb Friday night. Olivo is available in an emergency. Matt Treanor is starting.
Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Edwin Encarnacion - 3B - Reds
Edwin Encarnacion went 3-for-4 with two RBI, a walk and a stolen base as the Reds topped the Pirates 7-5 on Saturday. Encarnacion is 6-for-16 with four walks while batting fifth against righties and fourth versus lefties. It'd make sense for the Reds to have him switch spots with No. 3 hitter Brandon Phillips against right-handers. Phillips may be faster, but Encarnacion has an obvious edge everywhere else.

David Weathers - RP - Reds
David Weathers turned in a perfect ninth Saturday for his second save in two tries. Kirk Saarloos set him up with a perfect eighth. Except for when the Reds think they'd particularly benefit from using a left-hander in the ninth in a given situation, Weathers is going to get the team's save chances, even if he hasn't been named the closer.

Tony Armas Jr. - SP - Pirates
Tony Armas Jr. gave up six runs and walked five in four innings Saturday in a loss to the Reds. Xavier Nady should have caught Adam Dunn's two-run homer, but Armas has no one but himself to blame the walks. His solid spring doesn't make him a good bet in NL-only leagues this year. The Pirates would likely be better off with Shawn Chacon occupying the fifth spot in their rotation.

Adam Dunn - OF - Reds
Adam Dunn had a two-run homer and walked three times as the Reds' No. 2 hitter on Saturday. The homer went off the glove of right fielder Xavier Nady and over the fence in right field. Dunn is batting .353 with three homers in the early going. He even swiped a couple of bases today, as the Reds ran wild against Tony Armas Jr. and Humberto Cota.

Adam LaRoche - 1B - Pirates
Adam LaRoche homered and doubled in a run Saturday against the Reds. LaRoche, no stranger to slow starts, entered the day 1-for-15 with no RBI and nine strikeouts.

Carlos Zambrano - SP - Cubs
Carlos Zambrano bounced back from a rough Opening Day start to allow three runs over seven innings Saturday in a win over the Brewers. Rickie Weeks and Geoff Jenkins homered, but Zambrano gave up just three other hits and struck out six. Bobby Howry and Ryan Dempster followed with perfect innings to finish the 6-3 victory.

Ben Sheets - SP - Brewers
Ben Sheets, who threw a two-hitter on Opening Day, gave up five runs in six innings Saturday in a loss to the Cubs. Sheets went a second straight start without a walk, but he gave up nine hits today, including a two-run homer to Aramis Ramirez. He'll get the Cardinals next time out.

Derrek Lee - 1B - Cubs
Derrek Lee went 3-for-4 with a double Saturday against the Brewers. The double was the 500th extra-base hit of his career. Lee, who batted .471 this spring, has hit in five straight to open the season and is 9-for-22 overall.

Jon Lieber - SP - Phillies
Jon Lieber (strained oblique) allowed two runs -- one earned -- on four hits during a 3 2/3-inning rehab appearance with Single-A Clearwater on Friday. Lieber could be activated from the DL as soon as Monday. He will be used as a reliever.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

Rafael Furcal - SS - Dodgers
Rafael Furcal took batting practice and some ground balls on Friday, but he was still favoring his ankle. Furcal won't be ready when he is eligible to be activated from the disabled list on Saturday. Ramon Martinez will continue to play shortstop while Furcal is out.
Source: Los Angeles Times

Josh Johnson - SP - Marlins
Josh Johnson (elbow) has been playing catch and will begin throwing on back-to-back days this week. The Marlins don't expect Johnson to be activated from the disabled list until early-June.
Source: Miami Herald

Mark Prior - SP - Cubs
Mark Prior (shoulder) still hasn't made a start at extended-spring training. Prior last pitched in a game situation on March 28. The Cubs want Prior to have enough stamina to throw at least five innings before making a rehab start for Triple-A Iowa. There is currently no timetable for his return.
Source: Chicago Sun-Times

Carlos Quentin - OF - Diamondbacks
Carlos Quentin (partially torn labrum) took about 30 swings during early batting practice on Friday. Quentin is expected to take regular batting practice prior to Saturday's game. "We're building up endurance," he said. "I'll be out there with these guys (Saturday) and I'll keep doing that and see what they want to do when we get home. I'm pretty confident it'll go well." He could leave for a minor league rehab assignment next week.
Source: Arizona Republic