MLB Player Notes
Tuesday, April 10, 2007 - MLB Player Notes
National League
Nick Johnson - 1B - Nationals
Nick Johnson (broken leg) will travel with the Nationals so that he can continue to rehab with head trainer Lee Kuntz. Johnson has resumed throwing and running, but hasn't started taking batting practice. He is expected to miss the first two months of the season.
Source: Washington Post
Andre Ethier - OF - Dodgers
Manager Grady Little said prior to Monday's game that Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp are in a competition to be the starting right fielder. "They have never said one word to me," said Ethier. "But you have competition on every team. I guess the writing is on the wall for me, at least. If I want this spot, I have to not only earn it, but keep it." Kemp is expected to miss a few games after injuring his shoulder on Monday. After Tuesday's game, which Ethier will start, both players will have started four games at the position.
Source: Los Angeles Daily News
Carlos Quentin - OF - Diamondbacks
Carlos Quentin (shoulder) took batting practice again on Monday. Quentin is scheduled to take more batting practice on Tuesday and could get some at-bats in extended spring training on Wednesday. The outfielder could begin a minor league rehab assignment as soon as Friday.
Source: East Valley Tribune
Kevin Kouzmanoff - 3B - Padres
Kevin Kouzmanoff is day-to-day after suffering a bruised left elbow when he was hit by a pitch during Monday's game. Russell Braynan figures to start in his place on Tuesday, but Kouzmanoff shouldn't miss much time.
Chris Young - SP - Padres
Chris Young pitched seven scoreless innings in a 1-0 win over the Giants on Monday night. Cla Meredith and Trevor Hoffman finished up. Young allowed four hits, walked two and struck out five.
Matt Cain - SP - Giants
Even though he allowed just one run and one hit in seven innings, Matt Cain took a loss to the Padres on Monday night. Cain had a no-hitter going until Khalil Greene doubled to begin the seventh. He later came around to score on a sac fly. Cain walked five and hit a batter, so he threw 115 pitches in the seven innings. It'd be nice if he were more efficient, though it's still hard to complain about the results.
Hanley Ramirez - SS - Marlins
Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said Hanley Ramirez would likely return for Tuesday's game. Ramirez didn't play Monday because of a right hamstring injury.
Chris Young - OF - Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks are hopeful of getting Chris Young back in the lineup for Tuesday's game. Alberto Callaspo got a start with Young resting a minor groin injury on Monday.
Anibal Sanchez - SP - Marlins
Anibal Sanchez surrendered three runs over six innings in a defeat of the Brewers on Monday night. Sanchez hasn't been sharp in either of his starts, but neither has he gotten lit up. He allowed eight hits, walked three and struck out one tonight. Expect his WHIP to come down soon.
Josh Willingham - OF - Marlins
Josh Willingham went 1-for-4 with an RBI on Monday after missing a game with a stiff back. Cody Ross started in Willingham's place on Sunday.
Miguel Olivo - C - Marlins
Miguel Olivo returned to action on Monday and went 0-for-3 with a walk. Amazingly enough, that's two walks already for Olivo, who finished with a 103/9 K/BB ratio last year. Olivo missed two starts because of a bruised right thumb.
Geoff Jenkins - OF - Brewers
Geoff Jenkins homered in a third straight game Monday in a loss to the Marlins. Jenkins is hot enough right now that he might begin getting some starts against left-handers. Manager Ned Yost already seems perfectly willing to bench Corey Hart against righties, so why not against lefties, too? Jenkins wouldn't be a bad pickup in mixed leagues right about now.
Henry Owens - RP - Marlins
Henry Owens pitched a scoreless ninth with a two-run lead to earn a save for the Marlins on Monday night. Manager Fredi Gonzalez said after Sunday's game that Jorge Julio was still his closer, but that he'd get Monday off. So, all this really does is seem to establish Owens as the No. 2 option in the pen. Maybe he'll have a chance to take over the closer's role if Julio struggles again next time out. He's worth owning in all formats.
Rafael Furcal - SS - Dodgers
Rafael Furcal (ankle) will begin a two-game rehab assignment at Single-A Inland Empire on Tuesday and rejoin the Dodgers on Friday. A bit of a disppointment, as it appeared he could play Wednesday. However, since the Dodgers have Thursday off, he'll have to wait a little longer. Furcal will DH tomorrow and play shortstop on Wednesday.
Kerry Wood - RP - Cubs
Kerry Wood has started working out with a physical therapist to build up strength in his right shoulder. The converted reliever is believed to be about two weeks away from pitching in a Minor League game, meaning he'll likely return at some point in May.
Source: MLB.com
Matt Murton - OF - Cubs
Matt Murton has started four games in left field while Cliff Floyd has started three, including back-to-back starts at Wrigley Field. Murton was thought to have won the majority of playing time in left, but that doesn't appear to be the case. "I like Murton, and he's going to get playing time," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "This team [the Astros] has only one lefty. It has nothing to do with Murton. Murton will get some playing time, too." Bottom line: look for Floyd and Murton to continue sharing time.
Source: MLB.com
Clay Hensley - SP - Padres
Clay Hensley is determined to make his scheduled start Tuesday against the Giants, though a blister on his right middle finger may prevent that from happening. As of Monday night, Padres manager Bud Black said there was a 50-50 chance Hensley would be able to make Tuesday’s start, so it looks like the team will wait until the last minute before determining whether to make any pitching changes.
Source: MLB.com
Bronson Arroyo - SP - Reds
Bronson Arroyo allowed two earned runs, four hits and two walks with two strikeouts in seven innings to earn a no-decision Monday night vs. Arizona. Arroyo had a no-hitter going until Conor Jackson broke it up with a fifth-inning single. The righty is a must-start at Wrigley Field his next time out, as he went 4-0 with a 1.01 ERA in 35 2/3 innings over five starts against the Cubs last season.
Randy Johnson - SP - Diamondbacks
Randy Johnson (back) is scheduled to start for Triple-A Tucson April 13. The Big Unit started for Class A Visalia on Sunday, allowing allowed two earned runs on four hits over six innings. He's on track to start for the Diamondbacks by April 19, but given how Edgar Gonzalez and Micah Owings have impressed in the fourth and fifth spots in the rotation, the club will have difficult decision to make when it comes time to make room for him.
American League
Esteban Loaiza - SP - Athletics
Esteban Loaiza (neck) said Monday that he's still 3-6 weeks away from throwing. "I'm trying to make it three weeks,'' Loaiza said. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Loaiza will "miss a minimum of a month and possibly as many as two."
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
Chien-Ming Wang - SP - Yankees
General manager Brian Cashman said Monday that the Yankees are still hoping to get Chien-Ming Wang (hamstring) back at the end of the month. Wang is expected to make two minor league rehab appearances before returning. "He's coming along," Cashman said. "We’re lining him up for sometime in late April."
Source: New York Times
Octavio Dotel - RP - Royals
Manager Buddy Bell said Monday that Octavio Dotel's strained oblique is "still bothering him." Dotel is scheduled to test the injury Wednesday, but Bell said he hasn't "heard anything too positive, to be honest." If things go well, he could pitch in extended spring training Friday and potentially return from the disabled list Sunday. "We’re still holding out for that," Bell said.
Source: Kansas City Star
Cliff Lee - SP - Indians
With his scheduled minor league rehab appearance Monday canceled due to bad weather, Cliff Lee (abdominal) is expected to pitch Tuesday at Single-A. Lee, who said Monday that he's feeling good and has had no addition issues with the injury, is scheduled to throw just two innings.
Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer
Mark Buehrle - SP - White Sox
Mark Buehrle (forearm) has been cleared to start Wednesday against the A's. Buehrle was reportedly sore after throwing on the side Monday, so he's a somewhat risky fantasy play. ''I think he's ready to do it,'' manager Ozzie Guillen said. ''We're going to keep our eyes close on him. I worry about him getting tight because that's the muscle running [through his arm]. He says he's ready.''
Source: Chicago Sun-Times
Chone Figgins - OF - Angels
Chone Figgins (fingers) was examined Monday and cleared to begin range-of-motion exercises. Figgins could be throwing by the end of the week, but isn't expected back for at least another two weeks.
Source: Los Angeles Times
Jose Contreras - SP - White Sox
Jose Contreras yielded one run and four hits over six innings to outduel Rich Harden and pick up a win over the A's on Monday. Lowering his ERA from 63.00 to 10.29. Conteras' numbers won't recover quickly from a shelling on Opening Day, but Monday night's performance suggests that he is on the correct path. He needs to be left active in mixed leagues.
Scott Podsednik - OF - White Sox
Scott Podsednik went 3-for-4 with a home run off Rich Harden on Monday night. He also swiped his second base. The homer just over the high wall in right field was his fourth in 273 games since joining the White Sox.
Ian Kinsler - 2B - Rangers
Ian Kinsler went 4-for-4 with a double and two RBI to lead the Rangers to an 8-4 win over the Rays on Monday night. Kinsler entered 2-for-14, though both of those hits were homers. He had also walked four times.
Brandon McCarthy - SP - Rangers
Brandon McCarthy earned his first win for the Rangers by allowing two runs in six innings Monday against the Rays. McCarthy allowed seven homers in 16 innings this spring, but he's yet to give up one in 12 innings since leaving Arizona. He'll face the Mariners in Seattle next, one of the best matchups for him during intraleague play.
Carl Crawford - OF - Devil Rays
Carl Crawford hit his second home run Monday off the Rangers' Kameron Loe. The run he scored was his 401st, moving him past Aubrey Huff into first place on the Rays' all-time list.
Rondell White - OF - Twins
Twins placed outfielder Rondell White on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 5, with a strained right calf. As injury-prone as White is, the Twins should have been better prepared for this scenario. They will use Jason Tyner, Jason Kubel and Josh Rabe in left field while White is out, with Kubel and Rabe also getting most of the time at designated hitter. Tyner is a solid play in AL-only leagues, and Rabe might also have a little value.
Jeff Cirillo - DH - Twins
Twins placed third baseman Jeff Cirillo on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 8, with a sore left knee. Cirillo is expected to undergo surgery and miss a month or so. It wouldn't normally be much of a loss, but he was clearly the best hitter on the impotent Twins' bench.
A.J. Burnett - SP - Blue Jays
A.J. Burnett bounced back from an ugly loss to Detroit to limit the Royals to one run in 6 2/3 innings in a victory on Monday night. Burnett walked three and hit a couple of batters, but the Royals failed to take advantage of his command problems. He'll have to throw more strikes if he expects to exact some revenge against the Tigers this weekend.
Troy Glaus - 3B - Blue Jays
Troy Glaus returned to action on Monday and went 2-for-3 with a walk against the Royals. Glaus didn't play Sunday because of left heel soreness.
Ivan Rodriguez - C - Tigers
Ivan Rodriguez is scheduled for his first day off of the year on Thursday. Mike Rabelo will catch Mike Maroth.
Sidney Ponson - SP - Twins
Sidney Ponson was tagged for eight runs in 5 2/3 innings Monday in a loss to the Yankees. The Twins shouldn't have been expecting anything else. They'll just keep biding time until they think Matt Garza is ready to help.
Carl Pavano - SP - Yankees
Carl Pavano earned his first win since May 22, 2005 by allowing two runs over seven innings against the Twins on Monday night. He allowed six hits, walked none and struck out two. Pavano hasn't displayed more than fourth- or fifth-starter stuff at any point since the beginning of the spring, but if he pitches with confidence and throws strikes, there's no reason he can't win 13-14 games for the Yankees. Fantasy leaguers just shouldn't expect him to help much in ERA or WHIP.
Bobby Abreu - OF - Yankees
Bobby Abreu went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer and four RBI in the Yankees' victory on Monday night.
Johnny Damon - OF - Yankees
Johnny Damon went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and two runs scored in his return to the starting lineup on Monday. Damon hadn't started since Opening Day because of a calf injury.
Brandon Inge - 3B - Tigers
Third baseman Brandon Inge is off to a 0-for-20 start the season. Though he'll likely turn things around, Inge owns a career batting average of just .239, so you shouldn't expect a huge turnaround, either.
Jermaine Dye - OF - White Sox
Jermaine Dye went 0-for-3 with a sacrifice fly for his first RBI of the season Monday night. Dye is off to a terrible start with just two singles and no runs scored in 20 at-bats, but it’s way too early to pronounce him a bust following his MVP-caliber 2006 campaign. Look for him to start turning things around once the unseasonably cool weather passes and the ball begins carrying again at U.S. Cellular Field.
Alex Rodriguez - 3B - Yankees
Alex Rodriguez homered in his third consecutive game Monday at Minnesota, going 1-for-4 with two RBIs. Rodriguez leads the Majors with five home runs and broke a Yankees franchise record for most long balls in the first six games of the season. The All-Star third baseman is batting .360 (9-for-25) with nine runs scored, 13 RBIs and a stolen base.
