Rumors for April, 2010
Keep your signs out of Wrigley
Posted by: | CommentsA Toyota sign is expected to be erected behind the left-field bleachers of Wrigley Field, and the rooftop owners aren’t too happy about it. They’re so upset, they went to the trouble of creating a video about how the signage can get out of control:
It looks like in 2004 with the granting of the landmark status to Wrigley Field and the “uninterrupted ’sweep’ and contour of the grandstands and the bleachers, signage like the planned one from Toyota is prohibited unless you’re the Cubs and override the law. We’ll see if the YouTube prophecy comes true.
Information from ChicagoLandmarksMatter.com was used in this article.
Texas Rangers call up 1B Justin Smoak
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com
, the Texas Rangers have called up first baseman Justin Smoak.
Richard Durrett of ESPN.com adds that Smoak was hitting .326 (15-for-46) with two home runs and 15 RBIs while at Triple-A Oklahoma City.
“Justin has been having really quality at-bats at Triple-A and we just felt we could use more production out of that spot in the lineup,” Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. “We want to see if he can continue to have those high quality at-bats in the big leagues.”
Jay Bruce can count so count on him for the US Census
Posted by: | CommentsI guess the US Census has been recruiting Major League Baseball players to help them with the official tally. I’m glad they picked a guy with experience – Jay Bruce of the Cincinnati Reds. Check out his 2010 Census Message here:
So what experience does Bruce have? Let’s not forget he can count to at least 2 as seen last week:
Jay Bruce of the Cincinnati Reds shows two birds to his teammates
PRO Rumors: Brewers make history
Posted by: | CommentsToday the Pirates were on the bad end of history as their 20-0 loss made history on many levels with the Brewers looking like World Series Champs! Milwaukee graciously gave Pittsburgh its worst loss in 124 years as a franchise and finished MLB’s most lopsided three-game sweep in 17 years. It was the only 20-0 game since 1900 and, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, the fifth-most lopsided shutout in Major League history.
The Brewers outscored the Pirates in the series by a whopping 36-1 margin, matching the largest run differential in a three-game series since the Tigers handled the Twins in a three-game sweep, 45-10, in April 1993.
PRO Rumors thoughts on the series: Ouch! Well look on the bright side Pittsburgh fans……ok your right there isn’t a bright side for the series. Good news is tomorrow you don’t face the Brewers!
Info from MLB.com was used in this article.
Cal Ripken Jr. on Dancing with the Stars?
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According to CYInterview.com (via TMZ), Iron Man Cal Ripken Jr. was asked if he had any interest in becoming the first baseball player to appear on ABC’s hit show “Dancing with the Star. Ripken responded, “probably not”.
The article says that he admits he has “two left feet” (obviously not on the diamond) and he is still “uncomfortable with the attention away from the field.”
Last week, Orioles ownership was accused of blocking Ripken from returning to the organization in an official baseball position. The team owner, Peter Angelos is believed to be reluctant on creating a position for Ripken because he does not want him to get any credit in the event the team returns to their winning ways.
PRO Rumors: Weaver, Strasburg, Wellemeyer, Happ, Ortiz, July Trade Market
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Thursday afternoon PRO Rumors madness:
- Rob Bradford of WEEI.com says the Red Sox will send Tim Wakefield to the bullpen when Daisuke Matsuzaka returns to the rotation.
- According to Tony Jackson of ESPN, the Dodgers have placed reliever Jeff Weaver on the 15-day disabled list because of a strain on the right side of his lower back. The team activated Hong-Chih Kuo from the 15-day DL.
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post says that the Met’s Mike Jacobs has accepted assignment and will report to Triple-A. Jacobs was DFA’d by the team on Sunday which opened up a spot on the 40 man roster for Ike Davis.
- ESPN Insider says that the Washington Nationals Stephen Strasburg is not going to replace injured pitcher Jason Marquis. Marquis was placed on the 15-day disabled list with bone chips in his elbow. The Nats will call up Luis Atilano from Triple-A Syracuse to start against hte Dodgers.
- Giants manager Bruce Bochey said Todd Wellemeyer’s recent poor outings (13 ER in 14/13 innings over three starts) is a “hiccup”. Possibilities to replace Wellemeyer include Madison Bumgarner, Joe Martinez and Kevin Pucetas. Bochey has no indications that hey’ll replace Wellemeyer. (Henry Schulman of the San Francsico Chronicle)
- Todd Zolecki of MLB.com says that J.A. Happ is headed to the disabled list. The team has activated J.C. Romero to take Happ’s place on the active roster.
- Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times said that former Dodgers pitcher Russ Ortiz has elected to become a free agent rather than be sent to the Minor Leagues.
- Jayson Stark of ESPN.com says that Adrian Gonzalez and Heath Bell would “crush both the bat and bullpen markets” in July – meaning that as long as the Padres are out of the race, they could fetch a huge bounty for trading one or both of these players.
- Stark also adds that the following bats may be in play come the July trading deadline: Josh Hamilton, Adam Dunn, Adam LaRoche, Rick Ankiel, Paul Konerko and Manny Ramirez.
Johnny Damon brings the Mohawk to Detroit
Posted by: | Comments
4/22 15:15: We’d like to correctly cite the source of the pictures of Damon’s Mohawk. Thanks to Kurt Mensching of BlessYouBoys.com.
4/21 14:01: Facebook Fan Rob has provided a picture of Damon’s Mohawk for our viewing pleasure. Thanks Rob!
PRO Rumors was hoping for a wilder ‘do.
4/21 05:30: Jason Beck of MLB.com reported on Monday that Detroit Tigers Johnny Damon has ditched the clean-cut Yankee look and abandoned any chance of the long hair by sporting a fresh Mohawk at Angel Stadium.
“I’ve been wanting one of these for a long time,” Damon said. “That long hair is long gone out of my system.”
Steve Kornacki of MLive.com asked Damon about any tattoos.
“No, no,” Damon said. “My mom would kill me. I don’t have a single tattoo.”
No picture is available of Damon’s new ‘do, but if you have one send it over. We’re thinking it looks like the picture to the left.
HoF Andre Dawson sued in dispute over prepaid funerals
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to David Ovalle of the Miami Herald
, a publicly funded organization that cares for the poor and disabled adults is suing Hall of Famer Andre Dawson for $15,000 in damages because Dawson’s family business reneged on a deal to provide prepaid mem0rial services and burials for deceased clients.
The lawsuit says that one man’s corpse lay in limbo for weeks because Dawson’s Grace Memorial Funeral Home refused to accept the body.
The suit names Dawson and his brother, lawyer Vincent Brown, co-owners of the funeral home in North Miami-Dade.
Brown insisted that their company did not break an existing contract because the prepaid funerals and cemetery plots were sold illegally by a previous owner.
“We are victims and just as innocent” as the Guardianship Program, Brown told The Miami Herald.
The lawsuit includes seven prepaid funerals for more than $40,000 each from 2004-2006. The sales occurred during the home’s ownership by the previous owner, but the lawsuit said that the transfer of the business included the agreement to assume the prepaid services.
Buster Posey Rumors: Not coming up this homestand
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Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News thinks now is not the right time to bring up prized prospect Buster Posey to the Big Leagues. He says that the team trusts first baseman Aubrey Huff against left-handers and Bengie Molina as their catcher, so Posey will not bring any added value to the team.
The San Francisco Giants are facing a tough nine-game homestand against the Cardinals, Phillies and Rockies starting Friday night. The Giants have a .274 team batting average through 15 games this season ranking 12th out of the 30 MLB teams.
Baggerly adds that the Giants may want to pick the right spot to bring Posey to the Big Leagues and when he comes up, he can stay up there for good. With the upcoming homestand and facing the probables of Adam Wainwright and Roy Halladay, it may not set Posey up for a positive start. The Giants will have a six game homestand in mid-May against the Padres and Astros, so that may be a good time to bring the future up.
Oakland Athletics DFA outfielder Jai Miller
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According to John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Oakland Athletics have designated for assignment outfielder Jai Miller.
Miller was claimed by the A’s earlier this month after being let go by the Florida Marlins.
Miller, 25, has one game (in 2008) under his belt in his Major League career. In his only at-bat Miller struck out. You can see Miller’s contract history and statistics here.
