Rumors for April, 2010
Rockies call up LHP Joe Biemel
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The Colorado Rockies did not announce the transaction, but left-handed pitcher Joe Beimel knew. He arrived in the Rockies’ clubhouse wearing a suit for the charter flight to Atlanta according to Troy E. Renck and Jim Armstrong of The Denver Post.
“Ready to go,” Beimel said. “I feel great. Everything felt good. All my pitches are working, so it’s definitely time.”
Said Beimel, “I’m just going to try to fit in and help the team win a few games.”
Pitcher Esmil Rogers was optioned to Triple-A to make room for Joe Beimel. Coincidentally, Rogeres pitched two scoreless innings on Thursday.
Beimel, 33 in a couple of day, pitched in 26 games for the Rockies in 2009 after he was traded from the Washington Nationals last July. He allowed two hits and no runs in 2 2/3 innings at Triple-A. You can see Beimel’s statistics here.
Mariners looking at infielder Ramon Vazquez
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Shannon Dryer of 710 ESPN Seattle says that the Mariners are looking at infielder Ramon Vazquez. She adds that a deal has yet to be signed but could happen shortly as the team looks to add Minor League depth.
The Pirates unconditionally released Vazquez last week. The team is reponsible for his $2 million salary as part of the two-year, $4MM deal they gave him last season.
The 33-year-old Vazquez hit just .230 in 239 plate appearances last year, playing all over the infield. You can see Vazquez’s statistics here.
Royals designate RHP Roman Colon for assignment
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Bob Dutton of The Kansas City Star tweets that the Royals have designated right handed pitcher Roman Colon for assignment and purchased the contract of right-handed pitcher Josh Rupe from Triple-A Omaha.
Colon, 30, was 0-0 in five appearances with the Royals this year. He had an 18.00 ERA in 2 innings pitched. You can see Colon’s statistics here.
Rupe, 27, spent his four year career with the Texas Ranger. He accumulated a 4-2 record with a lifetime 4.95 ERA. You can see Rupe’s statistics here.
Security guard beats up fan at Dodgers Opening Day
Posted by: | CommentsThe Associated Press is reporting that a security guard was caught pushing a fan at Dodger Stadium on the team’s Opening Day on Tuesday, then kicking him and tackling him to the ground. With camera’s almost everywhere and YouTube, the footage has appeared online:
You can clearly hear somebody from the security staff saying “don’t have that recording please.”
The Los Angeles police are reviewing the tape and the team is looking into the altercation surrounding the event. Police arrested 132 people on Tuesday’s game, mainly for drinking-related offenses.
Here are your end of the work week PRO Rumors:
- The Boston Red Sox could have a couple injury problems with center fielder Mike Cameron and Jacoby Ellsbury. Cameron may have a lower abdominal strain, but it could be something else such as an appendicitis. Ellsbury is feeling discomfort from bruised ribs sustained in a collision last weekend. (Associated Press)
- Philadelphia Phillies reliever Brad Lidge is targeting the Phillies next homestand as a possible return date. When he does come back, Lidge may not come back in the closer role immediately. Rather, the team may ease him in as Ryan Madson continues to close for the team. (Associated Press)
- ESPN Insider says that Texas Rangers catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia took batting practice on Wednesday for the first time since being placed on the disabled list with a stiff upper back. The team is currently evaluating his progress.
- ESPN Insider suggests that Cleveland Indians catcher Lou Marson may have his starting job in jeopardy. Marson is hitting 1-for-13 on the season and top prospect Carlos Santana is 11-for-26 at Triple-A Columbus.
- Mike Lupica of the New York Daily News suggests that the Mets hire former manager Bobby Valentine if current Manager Jerry Manuel and GM Omar Minaya can’t do the job.
Jay-Z suing Red Sox David Ortiz over club name
Posted by: | CommentsThe Associated Press
reports that rapper Jay-Z and a business partner are suing Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz saying that Ortiz is infringing on the artists’ chain of 40/40 clubs.
Ortiz has a club in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and has named it Forty-Forty and the lawsuit accuses him of trading in on the rap star’s fame.
The string of clubs can be found in Manhattan, Las Vegas and Atlantic City.
“David Ortiz is fully aware of Plaintiff’s Manhattan 40/40 club, since he had been a patron there on several occasions before he opened his Infringing Forty/Forty club,” the lawsuit states.
Ortiz should consider concentrating on baseball. The left-handed DH is hitting .154 (4 for 26). You can see Ortiz’s statistics here.
PRO Rumors: Yankees, Dodgers and Alfonso Soriano
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Here are a few Thursday night PRO Rumors as the weekend quickly approaches:
-Barry Bloom of MLB.com reports that Hal Steinbrenner (surprise surprise) wants Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter and Joe Girardi to remain Yankees, but isn’t willing to break the club’s policy of in-season contract negotiations to work on extensions no matter who they are. “I hope everybody is reasonable and we can work it out easily. But there’s no doubt I want them here,” Steinbrenner said.
All three have been with the Yankess for a long time. They are all aware of the policy that is in place and I do not see it as an issue. Rivera and Jeter will each sign one last contract which will allow them to finish their careers with the Yankees.
- As the Dodgers bullpen continues to struggle, help may be on the way (maybe). Ken Gurnick of MLB.com is reporting that Hong-Chih Kuo pitched an impressive one-inning stint at Single-A. He made it through the inning with only 12 pitches striking out 2 and needed to go throw another 8 in the bullpen. In addition, Ronald Belisario also had an impressive 12 pitching inning at extended Spring Training. The Dodgers are in desperate need of decent bullpen arms as they continue to lose games due to the bullpen being unable to hold a lead.
-Rob Neyer of ESPN.com thinks that there is a 50/50 chance that the Cubs will breaking down and decide to release Alfonso Soriano and his $18 mm a season through 2014 contract. Soriano has been terrible in the field and has never produced like the Cubs expected him to. Check out Alfonso Soriano’s contract history and statistics here.
Jose Guillen 'almost died' from blood clots
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“I almost died last year from blood clots in my legs,” Kansas City Royals slugger Jose Guillen said. “Both of my legs. I had to stay in St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City for 20 days (in the off-season) just lying in bed.
Last September the Royals described Guillen’s absence as “right leg injuries.” In reality, the designated hitter was experiencing blood clots so severe that the “doctor started talking about dying.”
“I went to the hospital, and I was crying because I couldn’t feel my leg. I was thinking, ‘What’s going on here?”
Guillen lost a lot of strength and muscle. His weight plummeted to 180 pounds and his activities were limited. He was on medication until a week before Spring Training.
The Royals thought his career was done, so much so that the team signed Rick Ankiel and Scott Podsednik in the off-season.
“I know this: I never thought I was going to come back. I swear, I never thought I was going to play this year. I swear on my three kids’ lives, I didn’t think I was going to play.”
Guillen, 33, is hitting .361 this season. You can see Guillen’s statistics here.
San Francisco Giants trade Fred Lewis to the Toronto Blue Jays
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According to a news release. the San Francisco Giants have traded outfielder Fred Lewis to the Toronto Blue Jays for a player to be named later or cash.
The news was first reported by Henry Schulman of the San Francsico Chronicle. He notes that this is the same deal the team got for Kevin Frandsen.
Lewis has been on the disabled list since the beginning of this season, and is at a point where he will need to be activated. The Giants needed to trade him, or make another personnel move in order to activate him. The outfielder was out of options and the team was not in need of an extra outfielder.
Lewis, 29, hit .258 with 4 home runs and 20 RBIS in 122 games with the Giants in 2009. You can see Lewis’ contract history and statistics here.
PRO Rumors: Congress Wants Tobacco Out of Baseball
Posted by: | CommentsThe Associated Press is reporting that the United States Congress is pressuring Major League Baseball and the players association to ban players from using chewing tobacco during games. The request is being spearheaded by House Energy and Commerce Committee chairman Henry Waxman, a California Democrat, and Health Subcommittee chairman Frank Pallone, a New Jersey Democrat.
There has been a ban in the minors since 1993 for smokeless tobacco. A similar ban in the majors would first have to be collectively bargained.Baseball’s current labor contract is due to expire in December 2011.
“For them to pull it off in the minors really surprised me,” Twins reliever Pat Neshek told the AP. “We’ll see if that gains much traction.”
