Rumors for April, 2010
Orioles RHP Brad Bergesen optioned to Triple-A
Posted by: | Comments
Bailey Stephens of MLB.com reports that Baltimore Orioles right-handed pitcher Brad Bergesen has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday. The team has not recalled a player to take Bergesen’s place on the roster, but Stephens says it’s likely to be a reliever. Candidates include Jason Berken and Jake Arrieta.
Bergesen, 24, was 0-2 with a 12.19 ERA in 10 1/3 innings this season. You can see Bergesen’s statistics here.
Red Sox place OF Mike Cameron on the DL
Posted by: | Comments
Bailey Stephens of MLB.com says that Red Sox outfielder Mike Cameron will be placed on the disabled list due to an abdominal strain.
Stephens says the abdominal strain may be related to an earlier groin pull sustained in Spring Training. On a side note, Cameron passed a kidney stone last week.
Candidates to replace Cameron on the roster include Darnell McDonald or Josh Reddick, both at Triple-A Pawtucket.
Cameron, 37, is hitting .233 (7-for-30) in 11 games with the Red Sox this season. You can see Cameron’s statistics here.
Rockies president Keli McGregor found dead in hotel room
Posted by: | Comments
According to the Denver Post, Colorado Rockies president Keli McGregor was found dead in a hotel room in Salt Lake City Tuesday morning.
“We didn’t see anything suspicious,” Wall said. “He did pass away of natural causes. The official cause of death will be investigated by the Salt Lake City Medical Examiner’s Office.”
McGregor was in Salt Lake City on a Rockies’ business trip. According to The Denver Post, an associate tried reaching McGregor this morning, but was unable to get an answer and had the hotel check on him.
Police responded to the Grand America Hotel in downtown Salt Lake City and found McGregor in his room.
McGregor, 48, was named president of the club on October 18, 2001 and was beginning his 17th season with the organization. He is survived by his wife Lori and four children.
PRO Rumors: Ike Davis, Jermaine Dye, Padres, Madison Bumgarner, Dodgers
Posted by: | CommentsHere are your Tuesday morning water cooler PRO Rumors:
- Some guy named Ike Davis made his Major League debut on Monday night for the New York Mets. He went 2-for-4 with 1 RBI.
- Hank Schulman of The San Francisco Chronicle tweets that the Giants have no interest in free agent Jermaine Dye.
- Corey Brock of MLB.com, says the Padres could add a second left-handed pitcher to the bullpen. The Padres currently have Cesar Ramos as the only left-hander. Joe Thatcher could be a candidate when he become eligible to come off the DL.
- Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury says that the horrible spring that prospect Madison Bumgarner happened because the pitcher was “ill-prepared.” Giants GM Brian Sabean says that the pitcher was preoccupied this winter with personal stuff such as getting married. Sabean said the team should have kept better track of him.
- Former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley, spotted walking through the Wynn Las Vegas casino with his family on Saturday. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Orioles ownership against Cal Ripken Jr. working with team?
Posted by: | Comments
Is Hall of Famer and longtime Oriole Cal Ripken Jr. being blocked from returning to the organization? There’s been conflicting stories about what’s going on at Orioles’ headquarters.
Last week, Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com said that Orioles’ owner Peter Angelos declined to hire the living legend in a baseball capacity because he did not want Ripken to get any credit in the event the team returns to their winning ways. I say they cross that bridge when they get there. Angelos is reluctant to create a position where Orioles’ president, Andy McPhail, is not in charge.
Rosenthal’s report seems to be denied by the Oriole’s owner. “Cal could make a contribution to any ballclub. I just don’t see Cal Ripken as being an assistant to anyone in a baseball context,” Angelos told The Baltimore Sun on Saturday. “If he expressed the wish to do that in some secondary position with the Orioles, which I think he’d never do, obviously that would be something that will be considered seriously. But Cal has many interests and is a very busy guy. I don’t think he’s ever considered himself available to play some secondary role with the ballclub and appropriately so.” Angelos adds that Rosenthal’s report are “inaccurate and grossly incorrect.”
Sounds like a guy that is trying to dance around truth.
Ripken and Angelos have successfully worked together in a business capacity since Ripken’s retirement from baseball in 2001. Ripken owns the Orioles’ Short-A affiliate Aberdeen IronBirds and has partnered with Angelos in several projects and charity events.
In my opinion, I think Angelos could use all the help he can get. Get Ripken on board and worry about the PR when he crosses that bridge. The team is currently in last place with a 2-12 record.
Yankees to visit Obama next Monday in Washington
Posted by: | Comments
The Yankees have not been to the White House since winning the 2000 World Series, but that drought will end next Monday when the team takes a trip to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave in Washington D.C. to visit President Obama. The team will use their day off to visit the White House before they open a three-game series against the Orioles the next night, according to George A. King III of the New York Post.
It is not known if Obama will wear his White Sox gear in the presence of Joe Girardi and company.
Jason Bergmann rumors: Blue Jays have interest in RHP
Posted by: | Comments
4/19 21:26: Ben Goessling of MASNSports.com says that Nationals have “taken a few calls” on Bergmann, but there’s no immediate deal for the right-hander.
GM Mike Rizzo said, “We’ve taken a few call. We’re still in the inquiry stage. We still have a few days to do something. Nothing to announce.”
4/18 14:12: Bill Ladson of MLB.com tweets, “Three days after the Nats designated Jason Bergmann for assignment, the Blue Jays have expressed interest in the right-hander.”
On Thursday, Ladson said, “the Nats were set to send LHP Jesse English to the Minor Leagues, but Jason Bergmenn’s performance Wednesday changed their minds.”
Bergman, 28, was 0-1 in 4 games for the Nationals in 2010. He has give up 3 hit and 2 earned runs, including 2 home runs. You can see Bergman’s contract history and statistics here.
PRO Rumors: Ron Villone, Dodgers bullpen and Twins Scouts
Posted by: | CommentsHere are a few PRO Rumors to round out another Monday night:
-Adam Kilgore of The Washington Post noted that Ron Villone was re-signed to a minor league contract and assigned to Extended Spring Training. Villone was released in March by the Nats after only 3 spring training appearances. Villone also led the Nats in appearances last season.
-After taking 2 of 3 from the Giants, the Dodgers are looking at making more changes to the bullpen says Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times. Russ Ortiz was sent packing yesterday and Ramon Ortiz could be next as Hong-Chih Kuo and Ronald Belisario are expected to return to the bullpen which ranks 28th with an ERA of 5.93 sometime this week.
-The Twins have a scout at the Padres Giants game tweets Tom Krasovic. Could they be scouting Heath Bell who we have heard rumors about since Joe Nathan went down for the year? Krasovic does add though that it is a “Routine visit”. But with all the Bell rumors that swirled around during spring training one has to think that the scout might save some of his batteries in his radar gun just in case Bell gets to take the mound.
Orioles OF Felix Pie could miss 3 months; recall OF Lou Montanez
Posted by: | Comments
Evan Brunell of NESN.com says that Felix Pie could miss up to three months due to a the latissimus dorsi muscle separating from his bone.
Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com reported earlier that the Baltimore Orioles have placed the outfielder on the 15-day disabled list due to a left rotator cuff strain, but it turned out that the injury was more serious than what was originally expected.
“I have faith in God that I can pick up where I left off,” Pie said. “But it’s disappointing the way the team is playing. They need me and I got off to the best start in my career and now I have this setback.”
To take Pie’s place on the active roster, the Orioles have recalled outfielder Lou Montanez from Triple-A Norflk. Montanez hit .319 in 20 Grapefruit League games.
Pie, 25, was hitting .400 (8-for-20) in 8 games for the Orioles in 2010. You can see Pie’s statistics here.
Conor Jackson placed on DL; RHP Vazquez recalled
Posted by: | Comments
Jack Magruder of FOXSportsArizona.com says the Arizona Diamondbacks have placed left fielder Conor Jackson on the disabled list due to a right hamstring injury. In a parallel move, the team recalled right-handed pitcher Esmeeling Vasquez to take Jackson’s place on the roster.
Steve Gilbert of MLB.com says that Jackson injured his hamstring when he ran to catch Will Venable’s fly ball in San Diego on Sunday.
Jackson, 27, was hitting .200 (6-for-30) in 7 games with the Diamondbacks in 2010. You can see Jackson’s statistics here.
