Fri Jul 08 08:53am EDT
Phillies' Lidge slowly working way back
The Philadelphia Phillies have put three different closers on the disabled list this year: Brad Lidge(notes), Jose Contreras(notes), and Ryan Madson(notes). Young Antonio Bastardo(notes) is holding down the fort for now, finishing off five games.Lidge, though, is working his way back from a strained rotator cuff and had his second outing for the Phils' Class-A Lakewood BlueClaws Thursday night.
The Philadelphia Daily News reports that Lidge faced three batters, striking out two and getting the third on a groundout. "Every time I go out, I want to progress," said Lidge, the paper reports. "I know it won't be an exact straight line. Tonight, I felt good about my control, about my slider. I want to keep working on my fastball. I knew I still have some work yet to still do on that."
The Daily News has it that Lidge's fastball only topped out at 88 mph. "When I had a few rehab games [last year], I started at 87 mph and it went up a mile per hour each game," Lidge said, the Daily News notes. "I got it up to 90, 91 mph. And then when I got back to Philly, it magically jumps up 2 miles per hour when I get into those situations."
Lidge noted that the team had told him it would take seven to 10 outings to get him back to being ready for the bigs. "I am hopeful it is on the shorter side of that," he said, according to the Daily News. "It's going to be very hard to be patient. It's been a long time, and I want to get back."
Let the rumors come to you. Follow Scoop du Jour on Twitter or Facebook.
Source: Philadelphia Daily News
Fri Jul 08 07:50am EDT
Mets "very unlikely" to trade Reyes
New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes(notes) is getting paid a lot of dough and having a phenomenal season in the last year of his contract. So it stands to reason that a team that's had some very public financial troubles would be looking to trade him before the deadline at month's end.But General Manager Sandy Alderson says it is "very unlikely" the Mets will trade Reyes this year, according to the New York Daily News. The Mets are currently 7 ½ games back in the wild-card race and 10 games behind in the National League East.
Reyes just went on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring and the team hopes for him to return by July 22, the News reports. "The Mets plan an effort to re-sign Reyes this winter - although, contrary to a published report about 'secret negotiations,' they do not expect to engage Reyes' agents again before then," the paper notes.
Don't forget to follow Scoop du Jour on Twitter or Facebook.
Source: New York Daily News
Fri Jul 08 06:33am EDT
Cardinals extending Jaime Garcia?
Lefty Jaime Garcia(notes) is in his second full season as a starting pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals. He won 13 games in 2010 and has gone 8-3 so far this season. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that it's looking like Garcia could be with the team for a few more seasons.The word is that Garcia is getting close to signing an extension that would keep him in St. Louis for four more years (plus two option years) at a cost of $27 million, the paper reports.
"If something happens, obviously, it's exciting," Garcia said, the paper notes. "But I'm not really focusing on that right now. I'm not going to lie to you, some security is always good. Right now all I'm worried about is pitching and that's it."
The paper reports that the Cards don't make such deals without giving the player a physical. A source tells the Post-Dispatch that Garcia "is scheduled for a physical in the next few days."
Let the rumors come to you. Follow Scoop du Jour on Twitter or Facebook.
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Fri Jul 08 05:48am EDT
Yankees scouting Nationals' Burnett
The New York Yankees are, as usual, one of the best teams in the American League but that isn't stopping the team from looking for trade-deadline deals to get even better.FOXSports reports that the Yanks have had internal discussions about adding Washington Nationals reliever Sean Burnett(notes), who is 5-9 this season with a 5.59 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 29 innings pitched.
FOXSports notes that the Yanks had a scout at Nationals Park Thursday night whose "focus (was) believed to be" on the left-handed Burnett, even though the Nationals "have not yet made Burnett available."
Burnett didn't make it into the game Thursday.
Let the rumors come to you. Follow Scoop du Jour on Twitter or Facebook.
Source: FOXSports
Thu Jul 07 08:29am EDT
A-Rod might not play in All-Star game but will be there
New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez(notes) has had a sore right knee since June 19 when he was injured on the basepaths against the Chicago Cubs. Even though the knee has been improving, it may be enough to keep him out of this Tuesday's All-Star game, according to the New York Post.
The paper notes that Rodriguez looked better Wednesday than he has in recent days, hitting two singles and diving to catch a pop foul.
Rodriguez said he will likely attend the game even if he decides not to play in it, the paper reports.
What are you waiting for? Follow Scoop du Jour on Twitter or Facebook.
Source: New York Post
Thu Jul 07 06:35am EDT
Twins' Mauer to start at first base Thursday
The Minnesota Twins' Joe Mauer(notes) has played 864 games in the big leagues as catcher or DH, but it appears that he'll be playing a new position when he takes the field Thursday: first base. The St. Paul Pioneer Press writes: "Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Wednesday that Joe Mauer almost certainly will start at first base tonight against the Chicago White Sox, a move that keeps Mauer in the lineup while allowing Drew Butera(notes) to catch Carl Pavano(notes) and Jim Thome(notes) to be team's designated hitter."
Mauer didn't start Wednesday due to "general soreness," the paper notes. In 27 games this season, the 28-year-old has hit .223 with no home runs. He's in the first year of an eight-year deal that pays him $23 million per season.
Don't forget to follow Scoop du Jour on Twitter or Facebook.
Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press
Thu Jul 07 06:21am EDT
Leyland: Tension level with umps needs to decrease
Detroit Tigers pitchers Justin Verlander(notes) and Rick Porcello(notes) were both thrown out of the game in the eighth inning Tuesday when they argued with the umpire. This prompted Tigers manager Jim Leyland to say that tensions in general between the umps and everybody else in the league are way too high. "The tension level is much more than it should be," Leyland said, according to the Detroit Free Press. "For the better of the game, something has to happen to tone this stuff down a little bit. All of us have to work harder to somehow ease this tension."
Leyland went on to say that he doesn't want his team to make excuses or blame the umps for things. "We can't blame an umpire instead of taking care of our business -- getting hits, knocking people in, making plays -- just because we felt we had a call go against us," Leyland said, the paper reports.
Follow Scoop du Jour on Twitter or Facebook.
Source: Detroit Free Press
Thu Jul 07 05:57am EDT
Several teams interested in Rockies' Ian Stewart
Colorado Rockies third baseman Ian Stewart(notes) rejoined the team on Tuesday after batting .269 with 14 home runs in Triple-A. His major league season hasn't gone so well: After 54 at-bats, he's hitting a dismal .074. Last year, he played 121 games for the Rocks, pounded out 18 homers, and ended the season with a .256 batting average. The Denver Post reports that several other teams are interested in Stewart as the trading deadline approaches. The Post points out that if Stewart can do well in the short run, it will help his stock with the team or a trade.
Drafted out of high school in 2003, Stewart made his big league debut in 2007 for the Rockies.
What are you waiting for? Follow Scoop du Jour on Twitter or Facebook.
Source: Denver Post
Thu Jul 07 05:50am EDT
Mets likely to send Reyes to DL
New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes(notes) leads the majors in batting average (.354), hits (124) and triples (15). He's second overall in stolen bases (30) and third in runs scored (65). Unfortunately, Reyes is of no help to the Mets right now. He strained his left hamstring Saturday against the New York Yankees and he's been sitting ever since. That hasn't stopped the surprising Mets from winning four straight. But it looks like they'll have to continue winning without Reyes, who will be out for an extended time.
ESPN New York reports that all indications are that Reyes is headed to the disabled list. After taking ground balls and working on a stationary bicycle and treadmill earlier this week, Reyes was unable to do any physical activity on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium, the site reports. If Reyes can't run when he gets to the park Thursday, which is the expected scenario, he'll be place on the disabled list, ESPN reports.
"I didn't do anything today. ... Probably tomorrow I don't do anything, either," Reyes said Wednesday, the site reports.
This will mark the third time Reyes has been to the All-Star game but has been unable to play, ESPN notes.
Let the rumors come to you. Follow Scoop du Jour on Twitter or Facebook.
Source: ESPN New York
Thu Jul 07 05:36am EDT
Target date for Prado's return to Braves is July 15
Atlanta Braves left fielder Martin Prado(notes) has already been on the disabled list for a month, recovering from surgery for a staph infection. He won't have to wait much longer to make it back to the big leagues. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Prado will reunite with the Braves on July 15, the first game after the All-Star break.
The paper reports that Prado is now headed off to play five games for the Triple-A Gwinnett Braves this weekend before possibly playing a game for the Double-A Mississippi Braves or another affiliate Monday.
"Give him five or six games, and hopefully coming out of the All-Star break he's good to go," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said, the Journal-Constitution notes.
In 61 games this year, Prado has hit .277 with eight homers.
Don't forget to follow Scoop du Jour on Twitter or Facebook.
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution
No comments:
Post a Comment