MLB Player Notes

Tuesday, April 17, 2007 - MLB Player Notes

American League

Victor Martinez - C - Indians
Victor Martinez is in the starting lineup Tuesday for the first time in 12 days. Martinez, recovered from a strained left quad, is doing the catching against the Yankees tonight.

Jered Weaver - SP - Angels
Angels activated RHP Jered Weaver from 15-day disabled list. Weaver will make his season debut against the A's tonight.

Scott Podsednik - OF - White Sox
White Sox placed outfielder Scott Podsednik on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 16, with a pulled groin muscle. We're guessing this is related to his offseason hernia surgery. Podsednik was off to a nice start at the plate, hitting .303/.378/.455. Still, the White Sox don't lose much by giving more at-bats to Rob Mackowiak and Brian Anderson against right-handers. Pablo Ozuna will likely continue to play against lefties.

Rich Harden - SP - Athletics
Rich Harden (shoulder) said Monday that he's "pretty sure" he'll make his scheduled start Saturday against the Rangers. Harden was pulled from Sunday's game after experiencing right shoulder tightness, but said Monday that he "feel[s] good about it."
Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Dan Johnson - 1B - Athletics
Dan Johnson (hip) homered Monday in an extended spring training game. He's expected to be re-evaluated at the end of the week and could begin a minor league rehab assignment soon after that.
Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Jeff Karstens - SP - Yankees
Jeff Karstens (elbow) threw four shutout innings in a minor league rehab start Monday at Single-A. The Yankees have an opening in the rotation Saturday against the Red Sox and Karstens may get the call.
Source: New York Times

Cliff Lee - SP - Indians
Cliff Lee (abdomen) threw three innings Monday in an extended spring training game. Assistant general manager Chris Antonetti said afterward that Lee "felt fine." The Indians have said previously that Lee's return won't be considered until he's able to throw at least five innings.
Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer

Andy Marte - 3B - Indians
Hitting coach Derek Shelton said Monday that Andy Marte is "progressing" at the plate despite a .179 batting average. Marte has hit just .201 in 249 career at-bats dating back to 2005 and has struggled defensively, but doesn't appear to be in danger of losing his starting spot. "I look at smaller stuff, such as how he takes pitches, and I'm seeing good signs," Shelton said. "He's putting the work in. He's going to be fine."
Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer

Bartolo Colon - SP - Angels
The Angels will have Bartolo Colon (shoulder) come off the DL and start Saturday against the Mariners. Colon was to pitch Friday before Sunday's game was rained out. Since he'll be facing the Mariners, he should probably be activated right away in AL-only leagues.

Troy Glaus - 3B - Blue Jays
Blue Jays placed third baseman Troy Glaus on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 13, with a bone spur in his left heel. Glaus doesn't want to have surgery to take care of the problem. Two weeks off should do him a fair amount of good, but it probably won't make him 100 percent. Jason Smith, John McDonald and Ryan Roberts can fill in at third base.

Zack Greinke - SP - Royals
Zack Greinke was pulled from Monday's game in the first inning after giving up a grand slam and walking three Tigers. Greinke was more just missing than all over the place, but since he was up to 49 pitches and still not out of the inning, manager Buddy Bell decided to remove him. The 23-year-old was pitching for the first time since his grandparents died last week. No one is going to hold this one against him.

Ramon Hernandez - C - Orioles
Ramon Hernandez (oblique) took part in a soft toss session Monday and will take batting practice Tuesday. The Orioles are hoping to get Hernandez back on Wednesday.

B.J. Ryan - RP - Blue Jays
The Blue Jays expect B.J. Ryan to miss 4-6 weeks due to a strained ligament in his left elbow. Ryan avoids Tommy John surgery for now, but that still may be a possibility if he doesn't recover as hoped. Jason Frasor is set to occupy the closer's role in his absence. Shaun Marcum and Victor Zambrano are the fallbacks.
Source: ESPN.com

Nick Punto - 3B - Twins
The MRI on Nick Punto's ankle showed only a sprain. He's expected to avoid the disabled list. The Twins hope that Punto will be able to return within the next few days. Luis Rodriguez could get a couple of more starts in his place.

Reed Johnson - OF - Blue Jays
Reed Johnson will undergo surgery for a herniated disc in his back and isn't expected to return before July. Back surgery can be tricky, so Johnson can't be counted on to show up at full strength after the All-Star break. Fortunately, the Jays have Adam Lind to cover for him in left field and should be fine there. However, now the only backup they have for the outfield, first base and DH is Matt Stairs. They'll want to add some depth, even if it's just a quad-A player. Alex Rios is likely to remain in the leadoff spot until Johnson returns, giving him some additional value.

Vladimir Guerrero - OF - Angels
X-rays on Vladimir Guerrero's right hand were negative. He's day-to-day with a soft tissue contusion. The Angels' season is saved. Reggie Willits will fill in if Guerrero needs to miss a few days after getting hit by a Josh Beckett pitch in the first inning of Monday's game.

Nelson Cruz - OF - Rangers
According to the Dallas Morning News, manager Ron Washington wants Nelson Cruz playing more often. Cruz has lost playing time to both Sammy Sosa and Brad Wilkerson early, but has impressed in whatever at-bats he's been given. Expect Sosa's at-bats to diminish.
Source: Dallas Morning News

Milton Bradley - OF - Athletics
Manager Bob Geren said Sunday that Milton Bradley (hamstring) may need a trip to the disabled list. "It gets to the point where you have to think about putting him on the disabled list," Geren said. "Our target date is Tuesday. If he's not ready, we'll have to make a decision."
Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Hideki Matsui - OF - Yankees
Hideki Matsui (hamstring) took fly balls prior to Sunday's game. Matsui is expected to return to the Yankees when he's eligible to come off the disabled list next Monday. "My guess is that he will be activated on the day he is scheduled to be activated," manager Joe Torre said. "Hopefully, that is the case but everything is going well."
Source: New York Daily News

Jaret Wright - SP - Orioles
Jaret Wright (shoulder) threw 30 pitches off flat ground Saturday and reported no problems. "It was a little bit stiff in the beginning, but I thought it loosened up pretty well in the end," Wright said. No timetable has been established yet for Wright throwing off a mound.
Source: Washington Post

National League

Jason Jennings - SP - Astros
Astros placed RHP Jason Jennings on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 9, with elbow tendinitis. Jennings, already scratched from a start over the weekend, will likely miss another two weeks. Matt Albers will fill in and make his first start of the season on Friday.

Alfonso Soriano - OF - Cubs
Alfonso Soriano hopes to return in a week or so after an MRI on his hamstring came back negative. There's still a chance that he'll land on the DL, but he avoids the assignment for now. Felix Pie has been called up to start in center field and hit leadoff in his place.

Freddy Sanchez - 2B - Pirates
Freddy Sanchez was out of the lineup Tuesday with a sore left wrist. Manager Jim Tracy said Sanchez hurt the wrist on a checked swing. "His grip strength is fine," Tracy said. "When he goes to finish his swing it's bothering him." Jose Castillo filled in.

Rodrigo Lopez - SP - Rockies
Rodrigo Lopez had no problems during a throwing session Monday and is scheduled to start Wednesday's game against the Dodgers. Lopez missed his last start with right elbow inflammation.
Source: Denver Post

Tony Armas Jr. - SP - Pirates
Tony Armas Jr. has had his next scheduled start pushed back until Friday, giving him 12 days between starts. "Ideally, you want to be out there every five days," Armas said. "But with the weather being so bad, what can you do but wait? It's part of the game." Armas is available out of the bullpen for middle relief on Tuesday.
Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Mark Mulder - SP - Cardinals
Mark Mulder (shoulder) is scheduled to check in with team doctors next week to see how his rehab is progressing. Mulder has just started a light throwing program. He hopes to return to the Cards' rotation around late July.
Source: St Louis Post-Dispatch

Juan Encarnacion - OF - Cardinals
Juan Encarnacion (left wrist) is scheduled to play in extended spring training games by the end of this week. If Encarnacion is pain-free during the extended spring training games he could move on to a minor league rehab assignment next week.
Source: St Louis Post-Dispatch

Oliver Perez - SP - Mets
Oliver Perez has had his next scheduled start pushed back until Saturday due to back-to-back rainouts. Perez will throw four bullpen sessions and might make an appearance out of the bullpen prior to Saturday's start. His last outing was Wednesday when he gave up three runs and walked seven in just 2 2/3 innings.
Source: New York Daily News

Matt Kemp - OF - Dodgers
Matt Kemp (shoulder) took batting practice prior to Monday's game. Kemp, who must remain on the disabled list for another seven days, said his shoulder is pain-free. It sounds like he will come of DL the first day he is eligible.
Source: Los Angeles Times

Jason Schmidt - SP - Dodgers
Jason Schmidt underwent an MRI on his right arm Monday even though he claims it isn't sore. "We are exploring every area," manager Grady Little said. "We've had coaches, players and his former coaches look at video of him, trying to reconstruct his mechanics from square one." Schmidt has lost velocity lately and was able to last just two innings in his start against the Padres on Saturday.
Source: Los Angeles Times

Josh Fogg - SP - Rockies
Josh Fogg, who is still scheduled to start on Thursday, pitched two scoreless innings of relief on Monday. This was the first relief appearance for Fogg since Sept. 26, 2005. He used Monday's relief outing as a substitute for his regular between starts bullpen session.
Source: Rocky Mountain News

Lance Cormier - RP - Braves
Lance Cormier (shoulder) had another pain-free bullpen session on Sunday. Cormier is scheduled to throw another bullpen session on Thursday and then leave for a minor league rehab assignment on Sunday. He is around two weeks away from possibly joining the rotation.
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Randy Johnson - SP - Diamondbacks
Randy Johnson will make one more rehab start Thursday for Triple-A Tucson. "I didn't feel I was ready," Johnson said. "I'm coming off back surgery. I didn't have a regular spring training, absolutely. I'm feeling good about everything, and I want to have one more productive start and know that it's my last start." Johnson is now set to make his season debut against the Padres on April 24.

John Maine - SP - Mets
John Maine's start has been pushed back to Wednesday following another rainout on Monday. Tom Glavine will start Tuesday as previously scheduled. Maine will be followed by Orlando Hernandez, Mike Pelfrey and Oliver Perez in the rotation.
Source: The Journal News

Carlos Quentin - OF - Diamondbacks
Diamondbacks activated outfielder Carlos Quentin from the 15-day disabled list. Quentin started in right field and batted fifth on Monday night. Brian Barden was sent down to make room on the roster, and Scott Hairston will return to the bench role he was supposed to occupy this year.

Tom Gorzelanny - SP - Pirates
Tom Gorzelanny limited the Cardinals to one run and four hits over 8 1/3 innings in Monday's victory. Gorzelanny has been dominant against the Cardinals in back-to-back outings, giving him a 1.33 ERA after three starts. It's still pretty early to be thinking about grabbing him in shallow mixed leagues, but he's capable of remaining an above average starter for the Pirates as long as his elbow holds up.

Adrian Gonzalez - 1B - Padres
Adrian Gonzalez went 4-for-7 with two doubles and an RBI as the Padres edged the Cubs 4-3 in 14 innings on Tuesday. Khalil Greene doubled over right fielder Ryan Theriot's head and Geoff Blum blooped a double to left to give the Padres to go-ahead run in the 14th. Trevor Hoffman then picked up the save. Gonzalez entered the game in a 2-for-20 slump, but he's back hitting .288 for the year. He's tied for sixth in the NL with 10 RBI.