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| Paul Konerko hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the 15th inning Wednesday night, helping the Chicago White Sox to a 6-4 victory against the Kansas City Royals.
Konerko, who has Jimmy Gobble's number, was batting only .198 when he hit the game winning shot. |
Our View: It was the second time this season that Konerko has hit a game winning home run of the Royals left-handed specialist, Gobble.
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| J.D. Drew, batting third in place of the injured David Ortiz, continued his offensive onslaught with an RBI double and a single. |
Our View: Drew had a two-run homer and a double in Tuesday win over the Rays. With Wednesday's performance -- Drew raised his average over the .300 mark.
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| Edwin Jackson allowed four runs on six hits, walked three and struck out four in the Rays 5-1 loss to the Red Sox. |
Our View: Jackson's ERA took a small hit moving from 3.70 to 3.95 in the loss.
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| Josh Beckett allowed one run in six innings of work, and the Red Sox won their 12th consecutive home game. Beckett issued seven hits, no walks and struck out five in the win. |
Our View: Beckett left the game after only 92 pitches spiking internet blogs with rumors of "injury". The 20-game winner slipped on the wet mound and suffered a slight foot sprain. Red Sox manager Terry Francona and assistant trainer Mike Reinold went to the mound and Beckett stayed in the game to finish the six inning, his final frame in the win.
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| Sidney Ponson, who was starting on three days rest for the first time in his career, was the victim of shoddy defense and funny bounces and the Ranger lost to the Indians 15-9 in embarrassing fashion. Ponson allowed six runs (two earned because of three errors by his teammates) and eight hits. |
Our View: Texas is the graveyard for castoff pitchers, and Ponson fits the bill. His 3.63 ERA coming into the game is a typo. His 1.50 WHIP, however, rings true. It is just a matter of time before Ponson's earned runs near five per game.
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| Cliff Lee needed 112 pitches and an aspirin after his five innings on the mound against the Rangers Wednesday night. Lee somehow salvaged a win as he watched his teammates rally for five runs in the sixth to take the lead for good. Lee allowed six runs on nine hits, walked two and struck out eight. The win is Lee's ninth of the season. |
Our View: Everything ball that could bounce funny, did so on Wednesday night. The Rangers keep the dirt in their infield dry and the grass cut so low that the surface plays more like artificial turf. The outfield corners are an added nightmare to command -- balls rattle around with no rhyme or reason. And even when the wind is blowing in, balls carry in Arlington. The stadium is a pitcher's hell.
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| Ryan Garko drove in a career-high six runs and the Cleveland Indians won an ugly game against the defenseless Texas Rangers 15-9 on Wednesday night. |
Our View: The Rangers might be able to score runs, but their pitching is easily the worst in the league, and one is almost embarrassed to watch them kick the ball around park. Their first error lead to three unearned runs by Sidney Ponson, and of the nine runs allowed by Elizardo Ramirez, four of them could have been prevented if the fielders had just the basic understanding of Baseball 101.
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| Wilson Betemit starting at first base for the ailing Jason Giambi (foot) on Wednesday night. Giambi took a foul ball off his foot in Minnesota on Monday night. |
Our View: The Yankee slugger is considered day-to-day.
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| Blue Jays catcher Rod Barajas, who is now the everyday starter for the injured Greg Zaun, left in the sixth with tightness in his lower back and was replaced by Curtis Thigpen. The team didn't announce Barajas' status for Thursday's game. |
Our View: The Jays are down to their third-string catcher, utility second baseman (Marco Scutaro) and a castoff starting in right field (Brad Wilkerson). Yet they're three games over .500 and only 4.5 games out of first place.
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| Jesse Litsch, who had a 18 inning scoreless streak entering tonight's game against the Yankees, gave up a third inning run to the Yankees ending the streak at 20. The right-hander, 5-0 with a 1.67 ERA in his previous six starts, lost for the first time since April 22 at Tampa Bay. Litsch allowed four runs on 10 hits, walked two and struck out one. |
Our View: Litsch has been a fantasy windfall this year. The right-handers task was tough, facing a Yankee lineup that is patient against right-handers, felt the return of Jorge Posada, and didn't like the taste of a three-game losing streak.
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| Jorge Posada didn't start in the Yankees Wednesday night win, but he will be in the starting lineup on Thursday. Posada, who been out since April 28 with right rotator cuff tendinitis, is slated to catch Chien-Ming Wang on Thursday in the series finale against Toronto.
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Our View: Jose Molina owners need to find another option for their starting lineups next week. He will return to his backup role and see action once or twice a week.
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| Vernon Wells is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a broken left wrist, according to the AP. He is taking batting practice and could be back within 10 days, Gibbons said. |
Our View: The return of Wells would be a huge lift for a Jays offense that has been barely good enough to keep the team within striking range of the Rays and the Red Sox.
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| Wilson Betemit homered off Jesse Litsch helping the Yankees snap a three-game losing streak. Betemit, starting at first base for ailing Jason Giambi (foot), hit a solo homer in the fourth. |
Our View: The Yankees projected top reserve has spent time on the disabled list twice this year. In 15 games Betemit is hitting .238 with four RBI, four runs scored and two home runs.
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| Mike Mussina tied for the American League lead in wins pitching the New York Yankees to a 5-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night. |
Our View: It is difficult to believe, but it appears that Mussina has taken on the Jamie Moyer arsenal and found a way to be successful doing so. Mussina's fastball topped out at 87 mph tonight, but the difference between his fastball and change-up (76-78 mph) is enough to fool even the best major league hitters.
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| Cincinnati outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. wasn't in the starting lineup this evening, but his chase for home run got a shot with a pinch-hit appearance in the eighth inning, according to CBSSports.com. |
Our View: Griffey got on base and pitcher Bronson Arroyo came in to run for him. Leaving the field, the fans in Philadelphia gave him a standing ovation. We hope the chase for #600 will pick back up tomorrow.
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| Glen Perkins was only able to last four innings in his Wednesday night start against the Orioles. The left-hander allowed five runs (four earned) on nine hits, walked two and struck out two. |
Our View: This is the second straight start where Perkins has lasted but four innings. His last was against a Yankees offense that typically struggles against left-handers. Needless to say Perkins' future in the rotation could hinge on his Monday start in hitter-friendly Comerica Park against the White Sox. Not a favorable venue for a struggling pitcher.
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| Joe Mauer homered and drove in three runs as the Minnesota Twins defeated the Baltimore Orioles 7-5 on Wednesday night. |
Our View: The home run was Mauer's second of the season in 191 at-bats. Not what fantasy owners expected from one of the top offensive catchers in the league.
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| Daniel Cabrera lost for the first time in six starts as the Minnesota Twins defeated the Baltimore Orioles 7-5 on Wednesday night. The right-hander allowed six runs on eight hits, walked none and struck out three. |
Our View: Another start where the enigmatic Cabrera didn't walk a batter. While that's the positive note in the outing, his line drive percentage was high as the Twins squared up on the ball most of the night. The right-hander didn't have the typical movement on his fastball, which might be part of the reason he didn't walk a batter in the loss.
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| Francisco Rodriguez pitched a perfect ninth inning securing a victory for Jered Weaver and the Angels. K-Rod leads the league in saves and recorded his 24th in a 5-4 win over Seattle on Wednesday. |
Our View: Reports surfaced in early May that Rodriguez was pitching hurt, but he's showed no signs of that with his 2.00 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 24 saves.
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| Following up on an earlier report, according to the Boston Globe, the Red Sox announced that Josh Beckett is OK. The report noted that the right-hander did not leave the game due to an injury. |
Our View: There was some concern that Beckett left the game after 92 pitches because of a leg injury. The fact that the Red Sox rebuked the report is good news for the Red Sox Nation and his fantasy owners.
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| Travis Buck hit his second home run of the season Wednesday and the A's scored a 10-2 win over the Tigers. Buck went 2-for-5 in the game with two runs scored and the one RBI. |
Our View: Since Buck has returned from Triple-A he's been productive. He's a solid option in AL-only formats moving forward.
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| Josh Beckett went six innings in Thursday's night battle with first place Tampa Bay. The right-hander allowed seven hits and one run. He struck out five and walked none -- and left with a 4-1 lead. Manny Delcarmen replaced Beckett in the seventh inning.
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Our View: Beckett left after 92 pitches. The 20-game winner was favoring his leg in the sixth inning and his removal might be due to a undisclosed leg injury. More information on Beckett when the information is available.
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| Cincinnati outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. was once again held out of the lineup this evening as the Reds face the Phillies, according to the Miami Herald. |
Our View: This is the third consecutive game the Reds have held Grif on the bench due to general soreness and a bum left knee. Griffey is just one homer shy of #600 for his career, and fans are forced to wait for the big moment.
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| Carlos Silva allowed five runs on eight hits, walked two and struck out two in a 5-4 loss to the Angels. |
Our View: Silva actually lowered his ERA with his lackluster performance, from 6.00 to 5.96. Outside of an occasional favorable start in H2H formats, Silva has no fantasy value.
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| Jeff Weaver allowed 10 hits for the fifth time in 13 starts this season -- but won for the third time in four starts. He allowed four runs, struck out three and walked one. |
Our View: Weaver is hot and cold. He's either bad or really good, unfortunately this year he's been bad more often than good, as evident in his 6.14 ERA.
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| The Chicago White Sox announced the addition of free-agent right-handed pitcher Esteban Loaiza to their bullpen on Wednesday, this according to the team website. The veteran signed a one-year contract through the 2008 season. |
Our View: The team optioned right-handed pitcher Ehren Wassermann to Triple-A Charlotte. At this point Loaiza has no fantasy value. His switch from the NL to the AL doesn't favor his already huge 5.63 ERA.
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| Fox Sports reports that Yankee catcher Jorge Posada was activated from the disabled list Wednesday. He won't start but he will be available off the bench against Toronto. Posada had been out since April 28 with right rotator cuff injury. "I don't think it's going to be 100 percent, but it's good enough," he said. "I think it's good enough to get going. |
Our View: The All-Star catcher didn't start because he caught the previous two days while rehabilitating his throwing shoulder at extended spring training in Florida.
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| Shortstop Ramon Santiago had to leave today's game in Oakland after appearing to injure his left shoulder while diving at a Rob Bowen single to center. There is no word yet on the severity of the injury. |
Our View: Santiago rolled around on the ground and appeared to be wincing in serious pain. The trainer came out to look at the shortstop, touched his shoulder, setting off a jerk reaction from Santiago. At first glance, one should expect the shortstop to spend some time on the disabled list.
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| Justin Duchscherer allowed three hits during his 6.2 innings of work on Wednesday and helped the Oakland Athletics beat the Tigers 10-2, completing a three-game sweep of Detroit.
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Our View: Wow. See, I said it louder. What can one really say about Duchscherer. He struck out three and faced only one batter over the minimum through the first five innings while winning his fifth game of the season. The right-hander has yet to give up over three earned runs in nine starts this season, yet his record is only 5-4. He did walk a season-high five batters today, but he is so confident right now in his breaking ball he believes he can get out of any walk-fest he contributes to.
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| The Rangers optioned reliever Travis Metcalf to Triple-A Oklahoma on Wednesday, this according to the Star-Telegram. |
Our View: Kameron Loe and Elizardo Ramirez were promoted from the Oklahoma City RedHawks today to assist a tired Rangers bullpen.
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| The Rangers added arms to their weary bullpen today by recalling Kameron Loe from Oklahoma City and purchasing the contract of Elizardo Ramirez, this according to the Star Telegram. |
Our View: The Rangers optioned Travis Metcalf to Triple-A and put A.J. Murray on the disabled list.
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| A.J. Murray, who has been diagnosed with a left rotator cuff strain, was placed on the disabled list Wednesday, according to the Star Telegram. Murray missed the 2006 season to shoulder surgery and didn't throw a pitch in 2004 to a torn labrum. |
Our View: The Rangers purchased the contract of Elizardo Ramirez from the RedHawks. He will join the team tonight for the game against the Indians.
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| Jensen Lewis, who was promoted to the 25-man roster on Tuesday, was optioned to Buffalo today to make room for reliever Rick Bauer, notes the Cleveland Plain Dealer. |
Our View: Jenson has no fantasy value in traditional formats, and neither does the recently promoted Bauer.
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| Tom Mastny, who was called up from Buffalo to made his first big league start Tuesday, was optioned back to Buffalo today, this according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. |
Our View: Mastny was moved when the Indians decided to bolster their heavily used bullpen. Reliever Brian Slocum took Mastny's spot on the 25-man roster.
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| Kameron Loe was recalled from Oklahoma City. He was added to the 25-man roster to bolster a bullpen that has been depleted in the Rangers current series against the Indians, this according to the Star-Telegram. |
Our View: The Rangers optioned Travis Metcalf to Oklahoma and put A.J. Murray (last night's spot starter) on the disabled list. Loe has no fantasy value in traditional formats, as a starter or reliever.
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| Reliever Brian Slocum was promoted from Triple-A Buffalo today to bolster a depleted Indians bullpen, this according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The promotion is a result of the Jake Westbrook injury.
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Our View: Slocum was on the 40-man roster and had just been moved to the pen from the rotation. He will serve in long-relief.
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| The Rangers expect Vicente Padilla back from his bereavement leave tomorrow, and he will make a start Friday, notes the Star-Telegram. Scott Feldman will pitch Saturday and Doug Mathis Sunday. |
Our View: The Rangers had said Padilla needed to throw a bullpen before starting, but he did that while in Nicaragua on his bereavement leave.
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| Reliever Rick Bauer was promoted from Triple-A Buffalo, N.Y., to patch the Indians' battered pitching staff, this according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. |
Our View: The promotion is a result of the Jake Westbrook injury.
Bauer was a non-roster player and had to be added to the 40-man roster.
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| Carlos Pena has been placed on the 15-day DL due to a fractured left index finger, according to the St. Petersburg Times. To fill his spot on the roster, the team recalled outfielder Justin Ruggiano. |
Our View: Pena suffered the injury during the first at bat of Tuesday's game against the Red Sox, when he was struck by a pitch. He later doubled and homered. Pena commented that he was fine after the game but will be reevaluated.
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| Scot Shields has left the Angels' in Seattle to be examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum in Southern California, according to the OC Register. Shields felt tightness in his left side while warming up Saturday. He pitched a scoreless inning that night but has not pitched since.
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Our View: He is yet to undergo an MRI, but Mike Sciosca plans to have him back this weekend. He added that it wouldn't surprise him if Shields landed on the DL, however.
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| Vladimir Guerrero has left the Angels in Seattle to be examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum in Southern California, according to the Orange County Register. Guerrero has not played since suffering a hyperflexion of his right knee Sunday.
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Our View: He hasn't underwent an MRI yet, and Manager Mike Sciosca plans to have him available for this weekend, but added that he wouldn't be surprised if he landed on the DL.
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| Chone Figgins, who is battling right hamstring irritation, is not expected to begin his rehab assignment this weekend, according to the Orange County Register. Figgins said he ran the bases before Tuesday’s game and was a little sore in the ailing area of his hamstring. Coach Mike Sciosca said, "He’s probably not progressing enough to be in games this weekend but he’s definitely moving in the right direction." |
Our View: Figgins wants to get the soreness out before he plays again. He doesn't want to resume playing, just to have to sit out some more due to soreness. Fantasy owners shall remain patient.
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| Reliever Chris Britton is believed to be the likely candidate to be sent down to make room for Jorge Posada on the roster when he gets activated from the DL this week, according to the NY Daily News. |
Our View: Britton only allowed one run on three hits over seven innings while operating out of the Yankees' bullpen this season.
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| Jason Giambi was forced out of Tuesday action in the seventh inning after being struck on the left foot by a pitch, according to the NY Daily News. |
Our View: X-rays on his foot were negative, and manager Joe Girardi noted that Giambi is day-to-day.
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| GM Theo Epstein said that slugger David Ortiz will be in a cast for two-to-three weeks as he recovers from his wrist injury, according to the Boston Herald. Epstein noted, "The integrity of Ortiz’ tendon hasn’t been compromised at all. That’s why the doctors are pretty confident that to immobilize it in this hard cast for a period of time, there’s a pretty significant chance it will heal itself in that time period, and we’ll know it will have because David will be pain-free and not tender."
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Our View: Epstein did not speculate how long Ortiz will be out of action. He doesn't know when Ortiz will be able to swing the bat with sufficient torque, and his prognosis depends solely upon how he feels once the cast is removed.
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| Mark Kotsay stated on Tuesday that his back spasms have not gotten better in nine days and there remains no timetable for his return to action, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Kotsay said, "It's day-to-day. We're doing all the necessary treatments, trying to get me back as soon as possible. It's a mental grind. I'm sure everybody's wondering what's going on." |
Our View: Kotsay was hitting .294 with four homers, 21 RBI, and 23 runs scored over 47 games. Gregor Blanco will continue to cover for Kotsay in the Braves' outfield.
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| Jake Westbrook is going to head to Los Angeles to see arm specialst Dr. Lewis Yocum, according to IndiansConfidential.com. |
Our View: Westbrook landed on the DL due to a sore right elbow, and Yocum is considered an expert in the field of ligament transplant surgery for pitcher’s elbows. We will keep you posted on his trip to LA.
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| Andrew Brown, who is recovering from an appendectomy, is scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment for Class-A Stockton on Wednesday, according to the SF Chronicle. |
Our View: He is healing quickly, and could be back in Oakland by the end of the week or early next week. Brown held a 1.20 WHIP over 18.1 innings, with 15 strikeouts, and will provide a boost to the Athletics' pen upon his return.
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| Vladimir Guerrero missed his second consecutive game with hyperflexion in his right knee, according to the AP. Vlad was injured when he slid into a base Sunday. Manager Mike Scioscia said Guerrero was "much better" and may return to the lineup Wednesday. If Vlad's not back Wednesday, he'll definitely be back Friday after the team's off day Thursday, Scioscia said. |
Our View: Vlad's batting average has tumbled to .249, so perhaps a few days off will do him some good.
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