MLB Player Notes
Monday, April 9, 2007 - MLB Player Notes
American League
Victor Martinez - C - Indians
Indians manager Eric Wedge said Victor Martinez (quad) was feeling a little better on Monday and could be carried on the active roster for the beginning of Tuesday's series. The one plus for the Indians after four straight postponements is that they've been able to avoid putting Martinez on the DL. He's still likely to miss most of this week, but the Indians could decide not to disabled him if they think he'll be ready in 5-7 days.
Daniel Cabrera - SP - Orioles
Daniel Cabrera yielded two runs in 7 2/3 innings in a victory over the Tigers on Monday. We're not pleased that Cabrera was left in to throw 122 pitches in a game that was 6-1 after seven innings. Still, it's not a big problem unless it becomes a trend. Cabrera walked none today. The Tigers never attempted a steal after the Twins were 4-for-4 against him and Alberto Castillo six days ago.
Chad Durbin - RP - Tigers
Chad Durbin was roughed up by the Orioles on Monday, allowing six runs in 4 2/3 innings to take a loss. Let the Andrew Miller countdown begin. Durbin figures to get at least one more start, but there's no reason for the Tigers to be too patient with him. Even if they don't want to go to Miller yet, Wilfredo Ledezma, who has thrown four scoreless innings out of the pen so far, would be a better choice as a fifth starter.
C.C. Sabathia - SP - Indians
Felix Hernandez - SP - Mariners
Even though the snow had stopped, the Indians called off a scheduled doubleheader with the Mariners for a third straight day on Monday. The grounds crew was unable to get the field in shape for the games after three days of snow. There's been no announcement as of yet on how the Mariners and Indians are going to make up the four games lost this weekend. Fitting them all into the schedule later this season is likely to damage the Indians' playoff chances.
Mike Sweeney - DH - Royals
Manager Buddy Bell said Sunday that Mike Sweeney and Mark Grudzielanek will likely both sit out two of the three games in Toronto. With Grudzielanek fresh off knee surgery and Sweeney always nursing a bad back, Bell wants to keep them off the Rogers Centre turf.
Source: Kansas City Star
Chone Figgins - OF - Angels
Chone Figgins (fingers) is scheduled for a "checkup" Monday. Figgins is expected to miss 2-3 more weeks with two fractured fingers on his right hand. "Chone is going to see the doctor and be evaluated Monday morning and after that, he'll join us on our flight," manager Mike Scioscia said. "Hopefully, he'll have good range of motion in his right hand and he'll start throwing in a handful of days."
Source: Long Beach Press Telegram
Eric Gagne - RP - Rangers
Rangers manager Ron Washington said Eric Gagne's first few appearances back from the DL may come in non-save situations. Gagne is expected to be activated Friday. If Akinori Otsuka continues to close initially, it is expected to be a temporary situation. "If Gagne is here, he's going to be the closer," Washington said.
Source: Rangers.mlb.com
Troy Glaus - 3B - Blue Jays
Troy Glaus said he might play Monday after leaving Sunday's game with a sore left heel. Don't count on him being in the lineup tomorrow, but it sounds like he's healthy enough that he has to be left active this week.
Johnny Damon - OF - Yankees
Johnny Damon (calf) entered Sunday's game after seven innings and went 2-for-2 with a double against the Orioles. Damon didn't start because the Yankees didn't want him playing nine innings in the cold. He is expected to be in the lineup for Monday's game.
Hideki Matsui - OF - Yankees
Yankees placed outfielder Hideki Matsui on the 15-day disabeld list with a strained left hamstring. Kevin Thompson will be called up prior to Monday's game. It's the second DL trip in two years for Matsui, who played in 1,768 consecutive games between Japan and the U.S. before suffering a broken wrist in 2006. Melky Cabrera will be the Yankees' primary left fielder for the next two weeks.
Ramon Hernandez - C - Orioles
Orioles placed catcher Ramon Hernandez on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 31, because of a strained oblique. Hernandez was scratched from last Monday's opener, so the move can be backdated until the day after his last spring training game. Paul Bako and Alberto Castillo will fill in behind the plate for another week.
Rocco Baldelli - DH - Devil Rays
Rocco Baldelli, who made his first start in center field in 18 days Saturday against Toronto, will resume playing in the outfield more regularly this week. Baldelli returned to DH Sunday and could play center field Monday in Texas. "As Rocco is ready to go, we're going to start utilizing him," manager Joe Maddon said. "But as I told him, now that we have options, the biggest thing is to keep his leg well and keep him involved in the lineup." With center fielder Elijah Dukes hitting well, Maddon will be cautious using Baldelli in the field.
Source: St Petersburg Times
National League
Jason Schmidt - SP - Dodgers
Jason Schmidt left his start in the fifth inning Monday with a right hamstring injury. Schmidt had to speed up on the way to cover first base after Nomar Garciaparra bobbled a routine grounder and injured his hamstring in the process. Mark Hendrickson replaced him and likely would move into the rotation if Schmidt lands on the DL.
Ricky Nolasco - RP - Marlins
Marlins placed RHP Ricky Nolasco on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 8, with a tender right elbow. He's probably going to miss at least three weeks. Ryan Vanden Hurk will take Nolasco's roster spot and start Tuesday
Chris Carpenter - SP - Cardinals
Chris Carpenter will be placed on the disabled list because of moderate arthritis and a mild impingement in his pitching elbow. Carpenter had an MRI scan and exam today by team physician Dr. George Paletta in St. Louis. "Chris will be placed on the disabled list (retroactive to April 2)," the Cardinals said in a statement, "and will rest and be re-evaluated in the next 10-14 days." An arthritic elbow hardly seems like a good condition for a pitcher, but the team is pleased Carpenter doesn't have any ligament damage. Maybe he'll be back sometime around the end of the month. Randy Keisler will be called up to start in his place on Tuesday.
Mike Hampton - SP - Braves
Mike Hampton has a torn flexor tendon in his elbow that will require surgery, knocking him out for the season. Hampton will need 6-9 months to recover from surgery, so he should be ready for next year. This means either Lance Cormier or Kyle Davies is now going to have a permanent rotation spot. Odds are the Braves will need considerable innings from both to get through the season.
Dan Wheeler - RP - Astros
Astros newly named closer Dan Wheeler pitched a perfect ninth inning Monday to earn his first save against the Cubs. Rick White pitched the eighth in front of him. Wheeler finished with ERAs of 2.21 and 2.52 the last two years, so he should be fine if the Astros need him to close all year long. Even if Brad Lidge turns it around over the next month or two, the Astros could be content to use him as a setup man.
Carlos Delgado - 1B - Mets
Carlos Delgado went 3-for-3 with a sac fly, two RBI and a walk to help the Mets beat the Phillies 11-5 on Monday. After getting into the bullpen, the Mets scored once in the seventh and then, aided by a Jimmy Rollins error, exploded for seven runs off Geoff Geary and Jon Lieber in the eighth. Delgado came alive today after opening the year with a .185/.241/.222 line in 27 at-bats. Every member of the starting lineup had at least one hit, and David Wright, Moises Alou and Jose Valentin joined Delgado with two RBI apiece.
Cole Hamels - SP - Phillies
Cole Hamels yielded three runs -- two earned -- and struck out seven in six innings Monday against the Mets. Hamels left with a two-run lead, but that was blown by Geoff Geary. Hames has a 1.38 ERA and 15 strikeouts after two starts. Even though he doesn't have a win to show for it, the fast start is very encouraging following his poor spring.
Ryan Howard - 1B - Phillies
Ryan Howard's first homer of the season was a three-run shot off Ambiorix Burgos in the sixth inning on Monday. The Mets had first base open, but they pitched to Howard anyway and he made them pay. Odds are they would have employed a different strategy had Howard not entered the game with a .217 average and one extra-base hit in 23 at-bats.
Wade Miller - SP - Cubs
The Cubs are again pushing back fifth starter Wade Miller, who won't make his next start until April 18. We thought he was a poor bet anyway, but the Cubs are barely giving Miller a chance of succeeding by using him like this. The right-hander gave up six runs in four innings Sunday in his season debut.
Source: Cubs.mlb.com
Braden Looper - SP - Cardinals
Braden Looper won for the first time as a starter by throwing seven shutout innings Monday versus the Pirates. He walked three and hit a batter, but he gave up just two hits, a double to Chris Duffy and a single to Jason Bay. Looper should have his most luck against teams with right-handed-heavy lineups, and Pirates started just two left-handers today. The Brewers will go with four or five left-handers against him this weekend.
Ian Snell - SP - Pirates
Ian Snell took a loss despite limiting the Cardinals to one run in seven innings on Monday. Considering he finished with a 4.74 ERA, Snell was very lucky to win 14 games lousy Pirates team last year. Now he's finding out about life on the other side. He's currently 0-1 with a 2.08 ERA.
Brad Lidge - RP - Astros
The Astros have decided to pull Brad Lidge from the closer's role and use him earlier in games. Dan Wheeler is the new favorite for saves in Houston. "I'm going to change the bullpen configuration a little bit," manager Phil Garner said. "Brad is not going to close as a general rule. ... As of right now I'm going to pitch him earlier in the game, sixth inning area, sixth-seventh inning area 'cause I want to pitch him more often, give him more consistent work. As it stands right now I'll probably close with Wheeler, set up with [Chad] Qualls and [Rick] White." It had to be done. Lidge's fastball is still there, so he could turn things around if he gets his head on straight. In the meantime, Wheeler will likely do a fine job saving games.
Source: Houston Chronicle
Clay Hensley - SP - Padres
Clay Hensley, who is still bothered by a blister on the middle finger of his throwing-hand, will start Tuesday's game against San Francisco. "My finger would have to be cut off," said Hensley. "I'm just going to have to figure out a way to pitch with it." Hensley has had the blister since his final start of spring training.
Source: San Diego Union-Tribune
Rafael Furcal - SS - Dodgers
Dodgers' manager Grady Little thinks that Rafael Furcal (ankle) will return from the disabled list in two or three days. Furcal is working on hitting left-handed and running the bases without feeling any pain in his ankle. He was eligible to come off the DL on Saturday so he will be activated as soon as he is pain-free.
Source: Los Angeles Times
Miguel Olivo - C - Marlins
Miguel Olivo (thumb) is expected to return to the starting lineup on Monday. Olivo has been out since jamming his thumb during Friday's game.
Source: Miami Herald
Troy Tulowitzki - SS - Rockies
Troy Tulowitzki could be given a game or two off this week. "I'm going to let his actions play out," manager Clint Hurdle said. "I think there are going to be spots where Carroll matches up a little better against some pitchers. But I want to continue to push (Tulowitzki) into some growth and some leadership out there." Tulowitzki has started the season .208 with nine strikeouts in 24 at-bats. Jamey Carrol would start shortstop if Tulowitzki sits.
Source: Denver Post
Ken Griffey Jr. - OF - Reds
Ken Griffey Jr. is still bothered by the left hand he broke this winter. "I'm adjusting to the hand, trying to work through it. It's cold and it's just something you've got to go through," Griffey said. "I still have some pain here and there. You just have to work through it." Griffey is batting .250 and hasn't hit a home run yet this season.
Source: Cincinnati Post
Mark Prior - SP - Cubs
Mark Prior (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session on Monday and could make his first start at extended spring training on Wednesday or Thursday. Prior maintains his arm feels fine even though he hasn't thrown in a game situation since March 28. After the poor performance that Wade Miller had on Sunday, the Cubs are hoping to get Prior back in the rotation as soon as possible.
Source: Chicago Sun-Times
Lance Cormier - RP - Braves
Lance Cormier (shoulder) had a pain-free throwing session prior to Sunday's game. "Today was definitely the best it's been [since the March 26 injury]," said Cormier, who threw the ball with some zip from about 90 feet. "I didn't let it go, but ... I kept it on a line, not floating it." Cormier should resume throwing off a mound later this week, and baring a setback, should be activated from the disabled list around April 19.
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Chris Young - OF - Diamondbacks
Chris Young suffered a minor groin injury in the eighth inning of Sunday's game and left the following half-inning. Young said he didn't think it was serious. Alberto Callaspo will probably get a start if Young needs Monday off.
Jorge Julio - RP - Marlins
Jorge Julio will get Monday off, but manager Fredi Gonzalez said he's still the Marlins' closer for now. "We've got to show confidence with Julio," Gonzalez said. "He's our guy, and we need him. We've got to get him right, and I think he can do it." If the Marlins have a save chance tomorrow, it could go to Henry Owens.
Randy Johnson - SP - Diamondbacks
Randy Johnson allowed two runs and four hits in six innings for Single-A Visalia on Sunday. Johnson struck out four while typically throwing in the low-90s. "I think I'm yet (to be) convinced that I'm ready to pitch at the major league level," Johnson said. "I'd like to get my velocity going here a little, but I feel comfortable with everything else. Not content by any means. It's kind of hard to gauge how successful you really are when you're pitching against minor league kids because they're so aggressive, it's hard to set people up. But overall, I feel comfortable." Johnson is expected to make one more start before rejoining the Diamondbacks.
Hanley Ramirez - SS - Marlins
Hanley Ramirez could return Tuesday after tweaking his right hamstring in the first inning of Sunday's game. "It was pretty tight, like a cramp," Ramirez said. "It's way better. I'm OK. I'm going to try to be in there Monday." Manager Fredi Gonzalez, though, said Ramirez would likely get Monday off as a precaution. Alfredo Amezaga will fill in.
Josh Willingham - OF - Marlins
Josh Willingham didn't start Sunday's game due to a stiff back. Cody Ross was a late addition to the lineup in his place. Willingham should be OK in a day or two.
Source: Marlins.mlb.com
