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| Xavier Nady got a pinch-hit single in Saturday's loss to Colorado. Nady had been away from the team due to the birth of his son. |
Our View: When should see X back in the starting lineup on Sunday.
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| Jarrod Saltalamacchia will probably return on Monday, according to the AP. He is recovering from a groin strain and more recently from the flu. |
Our View: Taylor Teagarden will likely be sent down once Salty is ready.
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| Manager Ron Washington plans to wait until at least Monday before playing Milton Bradley in the outfield, according to the AP. Bradley's time in the outfield has been limited this year as he is coming back from knee surgery. |
Our View: Milton has played 19 games in the outfield this year, so unless you require a crazy number of games to be eligible at a position, he'll be eligible in the outfield next season.
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| David Ortiz belted his third home run Saturday in as many rehab games for Triple-A Pawtucket. Big Papi has been sidelined since he partially tore the tendon sheath in his left wrist. |
Our View: Ortiz will take tomorrow off and then go to Double-A Portland for three rehab games. He should be back with the Sox by late next week.
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| Ramon Hernandez hit a game-tying solo homer off the Tigers' Joel Zumaya in the ninth inning Saturday. It was Ramon's second hit of the game, which was won by the O's in the 10th. |
Our View: A lot of people like Hernandez to bounce back this year. It hasn't happened, but hopefully this will get him turned in the right direction.
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| Nate Robertson was staked to a 6-0 lead before he even toed the rubber Saturday, but the southpaw squandered it, allowing seven runs on eight hits over 2 1/3 innings. |
Our View: Given Nate's performance this year, this outing isn't altogether surprising. His ERA sits at 5.69, and he's fallen a long ways since his solid 2006 season.
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| Joel Zumaya was given a chance to close out the win for the Tigers Saturday. Whoops. The flamethrower served up a game-tying homer to Ramon Hernandez, and Detroit ultimately lost the game in the 10th. |
Our View: In fairness, Joel was mowing 'em down before giving up the tater, as he struck out four of the first five batters he faced. His ERA still sits at a nifty 1.77, but he has been prone to wildness (13 walks in 14 1/3 innings). It's possible Zumaya could see some more save opportunities in the second half if the Tigers realize that Todd Jones is, in fact, Todd Jones.
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| Matt Harrison was ripped for eight runs on nine hits and three walks over five inning Saturday. His ERA ballooned to 9.20. |
Our View: The lefty looked good in his first big league outing but has been shelled the last two times out. A demotion could be coming.
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| Delmon Young was 3-for-5 with a homer, two runs and two RBI Saturday. The dinger was just his fourth of the year. |
Our View: Young has two homers this month, which we suppose could be considered a power surge for him. He is batting .350 since June 1, but his lack of pop this year has been discouraging.
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| Justin Morneau homered and drove in five runs in Saturday's blowout win over Texas. He it hitting .325-15-72 on the year. |
Our View: The 15 bombs are a bit of a low total for Justin, but his owners certainly can't be upset at the level of production he's given them.
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| Chris Davis went deep again Saturday, hitting a two-run shot off the Twins' Livan Hernandez in the second inning. Davis has seven bombs in just 64 at-bats since being recalled. |
Our View: Davis is batting just .250, but he's certainly made up for it with power. The team has decided to put Hank Blalock back at third, so Davis' job is safe for now.
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| Gil Meche mowed down the White Sox Saturday, allowing just one run on two hits and a walk while striking out six over 6 1/3 innings. |
Our View: Maybe Gil was peeved that manager Trey Hillman "demoted" him to the No. 2 starter role.
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| Billy Butler went deep Saturday for the second straight game, a three-run shot of White Sox reliever Nick Masset. He also added a single. |
Our View: Butler has been a big disappointment at the plate this year, so hopefully this is a sign of things to come.
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| Roy Halladay was knocked around by the Rays Saturday, allowing five runs on eight hits and three walks over six innings. |
Our View: Even Doc is human. Expect him to be back in top form next week in Baltimore.
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| Matt Garza shut out the Blue Jays over 7 2/3 innings Saturday, allowing just two hits and no walks while striking out six. |
Our View: It's good to see Matt rebound from his poorest outing of the year. He's been terrific since May.
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| Evan Longoria hit his first career grand slam in Saturday's 6-4 win over Toronto. The rookie now has 17 dingers and 57 RBI on the year, to go along with a .272 batting average. |
Our View: Longoria has been all the Rays and fantasy owners could have hoped for in his rookie season. The 17 homers are even more impressive when you consider he spent the first couple weeks in the minors.
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| Gary Matthews Jr. has a slight tear in his left knee, but at this point there are no plans for surgery or to place him on the disabled list, according to the AP. "The plan now is to continue to treat it and strengthen it," Matthews said. "Sooner or later, hope it gets better; probably a little more aggressive with the treatment. It's a lengthy surgery to have, we don't feel the surgery is completely necessary. If it blows out and becomes detached, you have to have the surgery, no choice." |
Our View: Matthews has started only one of the last seven games and is five for his last 36, so this has clearly affected him at the plate. He'll play through it, but don't expect a big second half.
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| Wes Bankston began cramping up late in Saturday's game and was pulled for a pinch-hitter, according to the AP. |
Our View: This shouldn't be anything that would keep Bankston out of the lineup, but we'll keep you posted.
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| Johnny Damon pronounced himself ready to come off the disabled list Sunday as a DH after a successful batting practice session Saturday, according to the AP. However, the Yankees are still undecided as to whether to activate him. He's been out with a shoulder injury. |
Our View: It sounds like you'll be able to stick Johnny back into your lineups for the upcoming week.
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| Shin-Soo Choo had two doubles and a two-run homer in the Indians' win Saturday. |
Our View: Choo needed this, as he hasn't been hitting a lick this month.
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| Miguel Batista was blasted for eight runs on seven hits and a walk in just two innings Saturday. |
Our View: Batista came out of his last outing with a groin injury, so perhaps it was still bothering him a bit. Or it could just be that Miguel is simply not very good.
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| Jose Arredondo vultured his fourth win of the season Saturday, as he allowed a walk and struck out one batter in a third of an inning. |
Our View: Arredondo has been quite a find this year. He sports a nifty 1.11 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 24/8 K/BB rate over 24 1/3 frames.
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| Josh Beckett completed his first game of the season Saturday. Unfortunately, he also picked up his sixth loss of the season. Becket allowed four runs on nine hits and a walk while striking out six over eight frames in a loss in Anaheim. |
Our View: Beckett was undone by a four-run seventh inning, which included a Vlad Guerrero homer and Erick Aybar base-clearing triple.
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| Robinson Cano had four hits, including two doubles, in the Yankees' 4-3 win Saturday. He is batting exactly .300 since his woeful April. |
Our View: Cano is a great buy low candidate for anyone looking to add punch to their middle infield for the second half.
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| Victor Martinez, recovering from right elbow surgery, is closer to resuming drills. "[He's] getting close to baseball activity. I think that hopefully towards the end of this week he can start getting more involved in baseball activity," manager Eric Wedge said on MLB.com. Wedge added: "He's still two or three weeks away, though. It's where we are." |
Our View: The floundering Indians aren't about to rush V-Mart back into the lineup. We should see him sometime next month.
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| Adam Loewen has decided he wants to be the next Rick Ankiel. After three injury-filled seasons with the O's, Loewen has decided to reinvent himself as an outfielder/first baseman, perhaps as early as the fall instructional league, according to the Baltimore Sun. "I'm always going to be a pitcher," he said. "I've been doing it since I was 9 years old. It's going to be hard to let it go, but God has a plan for me." |
Our View: Loewen was a highly regarded prospect, so it's disappointing he didn't make it as a pitcher. He had been due for another elbow surgery but won't need the operation as a position player.
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| The Rockies designated Jayson Nix for assignment Saturday. He batted .125 over a couple stints with the team. |
Our View: Nix was the opening day second baseman but just hasn't hit enough to stick in the show.
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| Greg Aquino was placed on the DL Saturday with a left hamstring strain. The move was retroactive to July 13. |
Our View: Considering Aquino held a 12.54 ERA in nine games, the O's likely aren't upset about making this move. Randor Bierd replaces him on the roster.
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| The Orioles activated Randor Bierd from the DL Saturday. He had been out with a shoulder impingement. |
Our View: The Rule 5 pick was throwing well before the injury, holding a 2.03 ERA in nine outings.
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| The Orioles acquired Juan Castro from the Rockies Saturday in exchange for minor league infielder Mike McCoy. The veteran was 0-for-10 for the Reds this year before hitting .300 in 50 at-bats with Triple-A Colorado Springs. Freddie Bynum was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk to clear a roster spot. |
Our View: The O's have gotten no production from their shortstop position this year. Apparently they think Castro can change that. We disagree.
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| Jason Bartlett's next test in his rehab of a right knee sprain will run the bases Monday or Tuesday, according to the St. Petersburg Times. Manager Joe Maddon said Bartlett may need a rehab assignment before coming back. |
Our View: Ben Zobrist had the game-winning homer for the Rays last night while filling in at short for Bartlett, but the team will be eager to get their starter back.
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| Troy Percival, on the DL with a strained left hamstring, had no problems Saturday, throwing 10 pitches and fielding balls from the mound. He also was able to cover first base without any limping, according to the St. Petersburg Times. |
Our View: Manager Joe Maddon said he plans to talk to Percival again before deciding when his closer will return, but it appears the veteran will be back soon.
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| B.J. Upton, mired in a 8-for-42 (.190) slump, is hitting seventh in the Rays' order tonight. He had yet to hit lower than fourth this year. |
Our View: Upton's power this year has been down, but he's added more steals to his game, so owners can't be too disappointed. Hopefully this new spot in the order will allow him to refocus and get back on track.
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| Despite some questionable fielding, Juan Rivera's hot bat is keeping him as the right fielder in the Angels' starting lineup. He went 1-for-3 in last night's victory over the Red Sox and is in the lineup once again on Saturday. |
Our View: Rivera won't likely keep up his July damage (he's hitting .375). There are better long term options in the outfield.
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| Jed Lowrie is in Saturday's starting lineup at short and the expectation is that he will get the majority of the playing time at the position in the coming weeks, according to the Providence Journal. "I want to play this kid a little bit," said Terry Francona, "because I'm excited. He's steady and has good at-bats."
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Our View: Francona compared Lowrie to former Red Sox third baseman Bill Mueller -- a switch-hitter who will hit a lot of doubles -- if not for much power -- and "grind out at-bats."
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| Joba Chamberlain struck out eight batters in six innings against the A's on Saturday. He allowed one earned run but did not factor in the decision. |
Our View: Chamberlain continues to be a strikeout machine but he has not gotten much run support in his first nine starts.
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| J.J. Putz could be activated Sunday according to the Seattle Times. |
Our View: Putz has not pitched since June 11 and he was not very effective before going down. He was one of the game's most dominating closers last season and should have a better second half.
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| Ben Zobrist's seventh inning two-run home run was the difference in Friday night's game against the Blue Jays and moved the Rays back into first place. |
Our View: Zobrist is simply filling in for Jason Bartlett who may come back soon.
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| MLB.com reports that Johnny Damon (shoulder)took batting practice with the rest of the Yankees prior to Saturday's game against the A's. He was able to take several balls deep into the outfield. |
Our View: Manager Joe Girardi said that it's possible Damon could return to the lineup without playing in a Minor League rehab game. He was hitting .319 prior to his injury.
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| Clay Buchholz was tagged for eight runs, four earned, in 4.2 innings. He gave up eight hits and two walks in his abbreviated outing. |
Our View: Buchholz has not lived up to the promises the team made when they brought him back from his extended stay in the minor. He is 0-2 in his two starts since his return.
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| Carlos Quentin was 2-for-4 on Friday with a homer and a double. |
Our View: That's four home runs in six games for Quentin. He is tied for the AL lead and is showing no signs of slowing up.
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| David Robertson struck out all three batters he faced on Friday against Oakland. |
Our View: Robertson may become a good candidate for holds in the second half. To this point he looks like one of the more reliable arms in the Yankees bullpen. He has 12 strikeouts in nine innings.
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| Delmon Young was 4-for-4 with an RBI in Friday nights game. His average is up to .294. |
Our View: Young hit .321 in June and is now .373 in July. He appears to be coming around and could be on his way to living up to his potential.
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| Wes Bankston has been recalled from Triple-A to take the roster spot of Daric Barton who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained neck. |
Our View: Bankston hit .294 in nine games on his previous tour. If he can produce during this stretch, the A's will have to consider keeping him in the lineup over Barton, who has been very ineffective this season.
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| Daric Barton has been placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 14, with a neck strain. |
Our View: Barton should come back once he is eligible, but this is a good opportunity for Wes Bankston or Jack Hannahan to show they belong in the everyday lineup.
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| The San Francisco Chronicle reports that LHP Dallas Braden has been moved into the A's rotation in place of the departed Joe Blanton. |
Our View: Braden has not started in the majors this season. Given the other young pitchers that the A's have had in their rotation in recent memory, Braden bears watching.
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| Ryan Sweeney was back in the lineup from a dislocated finger. He went 1-for-4. |
Our View: He hit third in the lineup and outfielder Matt Murton did not start. Sweeney has been a good contact hitter all season but he has come up short in the power department when healthy.
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| Frank Thomas on the disabled list with right quadriceps tendinitis, took batting practice Friday. |
Our View: No word yet on when the Big Hurt is targeting a comeback.
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| Hideki Matsui met with team doctors recently, according to MLB.com. The outfielder/DH said through an interpreter he had been told to "avoid activities and stay quiet" through the weekend. Matsui, who has had continued swelling in the knee, said the possibility of surgery was still "out there," though no timetable has been discussed. |
Our View: On Monday, Matsui will visit Dr. Scott Rodeo, who performed the arthroscopic surgery on Matsui's right knee last November. Following that appointment, the Yankees should have a better idea of Matsui's status.
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| Ozzie Guillen spent some time with free agent Freddy Garcia over the All-Star break. According to MLB.com, he does not expect him back anytime soon. "When I saw him and where he's at right now, I don't see that happening. I don't think by August, maybe September. Freddy hasn't even thrown off the mound yet. He's throwing flat and he's throwing good and he said his velocity is coming around." |
Our View: Hopefully Garcia does not rush back. The once effective pitcher carried a 5.90 ERA thru 11 starts last season.
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| Rumors out of Seattle suggest several teams have contacted the Mariners and may be interested in trading for the services of LHP Jarrod Washburn , according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. |
Our View: Washburn presents an intriguing commodity, touting one of the hotter hands in the league that happens to be attached to a left arm. Philly had called but is out of the picture following the trade for Joe Blanton. Any team in need of a solid lefty starter (and that's any team in contention for the playoffs) may be on that list as well. We'll keep you posted as more news becomes available.
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| The Angels report outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. has undergone an MRI exam, hoping to clearn worries about the slugger's left knee, according to the LA Times. |
Our View: Matthews' test was given on Thursday and will he will be giving a follow-up examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum on Sunday, according to manager Mike Scioscia. Matthews irritated his patellar tendon last September, an injury that knocked him out of the American League division series against the Boston Red Sox. The knee continues to bother the outfielder in 2008, a disappointing campaign in which he is batting .235 with seven home runs, 34 RBIs and a .310 on-base percentage. Whenever the team announces the official diagnosis, we'll be passing it along to you.
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| King Felix Hernandez is starting to round into form for the Mariners, tonight earning his seventh win in leading his Mariners to the 8-2 victory over Cleveland. Hernandez pitched six innings, allowing two runs on four hits with two walks and eight strikeouts. |
Our View: Felix moves to 7-6 on the season with a 2.95 ERA, touting five wins and just one loss over his last seven starts.
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| Cleveland couldn't get the offense moving but Seattle sure did, posting 13 hits (more than double that of the Indians) to earn the 8-2 win. Tonight it was outfielder Raul Ibanez leading the way, going 3-for-4 with his 12th homer of the season, posting four RBIs and two runs scored on the night. |
Our View: Ibanez has hit well, posting a .314 average in June, though is power numbers are down with just nine homers through the start of July.
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| The Indians found frustration at the park this evening, falling 8-2 to the Mariners. With only six total hits on the night, the team failed to post the bats needed to win, though their starting pitcher didn't help the cause. LHP Aaron Laffey pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowing eight runs (only three earned) on nine hits with two walks and one strikeout. |
Our View: Laffey is still young and growing but had shown great promise over recent starts. Tonight only proves there is work to be done before Laffey realizes his full potential.
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