Rumors for April, 2011
Joe Mauer placed on DL with bilateral leg weakness
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According to LaVelle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Twins’ catcher Joe Mauer has been placed on the Disabled List. Mauer has a bilateral leg weakness adds Kelsie Smith of TwinCities.com.
Apparently, his leg weakness is causing him to compensate and now he has soreness in his shoulder and elbow adds Smith. Mauer was scheduled to see a Dr. in Baltimore on Tuesday, but his appointment has been moved to tomorrow.
Mauer was off to a slow start with the Twins in 2011. He’s hitting .235/.289/.265 with 4 RBI’s in 34 AB’s in 9 games.
Injury updates: Utley, Tejeda and Phillips
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Here’s a running list of injury updates for several Major league players:
– Second baseman Chase Utley did some running yesterday, but there’s still no timetable for his return reports David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News.
“It’s still the same,” manager Jerry Manuel said. “It’s a day-to-day thing. He’s slowly getting better. He’s slowly feeling better. Hopefully, he keeps going that way.”
– According to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star, right handed pitcher Robinson Tejeda was placed on the Disabled List with right shoulder inflammation.
– Reds’ Brandon Phillips received a day off today because of groin soreness reports John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
– Right handed pitcher Boof Bonser will undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the rest of the season according to Matthew Poulliot of NBCSports. Bonser failed to make the Major League roster with the Mets and was pitching in Triple-A Buffalo.
Yankees may pursue a left-handed reliever
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Yesterday, we learned that Pedro Feliciano has a “damaged shoulder” that may require surgery. Today, Brian Cashman said that “it’s a strong possibility” the Yankees won’t have Feliciano this season. (via Jack Curry of YESNetwork).
Feliciano has a capsular tear in his shoulder which usually requires a significant recovery period.
Cashman was also asked about the possibility of pursuing another left-handed reliever. “Yeah, I’ll look,” said Cashman. “But I’m not going to find [a quality left-hander] too easily.” (via Curry).
Feliciano led the Majors in appearances the last three seasons with 86, 88 and 92 games respectively, including becoming only the fifth pitcher in Major League history to make 90 or more appearances. In 2010, he was 3-6 in 92 relief appearances over 62 2/3 innings pitched.
Yankees sign 24-year old Reinier Casanova
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According to Matt Eddy of Baseball America, the New York Yankees have signed right handed pitcher Reinier Casanova. The 24-year old is a Cuban defector.
Casanova was 3-3 with a save and a 6.47 ERA in the 2007-2008 season. He improved to 6-5 with four saves and a 3.22 ERA in 21 games in the 2008-2009 season.
Is Aroldis Chapman hurt?
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Left handed pitcher Aroldis Chapman, who made his debut in the Majors last year with the Reds, has apparently experienced a drop in his velocity which is generating some concerns among the team.
In yesterday’s game, according to John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Reds catcher Ramon Hernandez called the trainer and pitching coach to check on Chapman. “Yesterday, he threw what 93, 94 MPH,” Hernandez said. “Then today, he’s throwing 91. He’s throws almost 100 over every pitch. Now, he can’t get up to 93. There’s got to be something. You can’t lose it in one day.”
After Chapman walked Jason Bartlett in the eighth, the trainer and pitching coach came out to check the pitcher, but he said he was OK.
“He’s young kid,” Hernandez said. “My guess is he wants to battle through it. Like anybody who’s a player will do. You got some pain you won’t say nothing. You’re trying to tough it out.”
The Reds took out Chapman after he retired the next batter.
“He said he was OK,” Dusty Baker said. “But that’s Cuban baseball. We took him out as a precaution.”
Hernandez, who came out at that moment as part of a double-switch and went with Chapman to the dogout and talked to him.
“I told him, ‘you know what, I know you want to go through it,’” Hernandez said. “I understand that You one of the main guys for seventh and eighth. . . if you have something sore, let them know. They’ll give you one or two days off. It’s better that you take two or three days.’”
“He was mad he came out the game. He’s young. He’ll learn. It’s better to miss two or three days than a month.”
Yesterday, was the fourth time in five days that Chapman took the mound. “He’s got to be a little tired. He’s been use to going back-to-back, three days in a row,” Hernandez said, “especially him. He’s got a lot of stress. . . I think he’s going to be OK.”
Chapman showed last season that he could be effective as a reliever. He went 2-2 with a 2.03 ERA in 15 games.
Pedro Feliciano may need shoulder surgery
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Left handed pitcher Pedro Feliciano, who has been on the Disabled List since the start of the season, has a “damaged shoulder” that may require surgery reports Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News.
Earlier this month, Brian Cashman called the Mets’ usage of Feliciano abusive.
“He was abused,” Cashman said. “It’s a thin market when you’re looking for lefties, and he’s one of the better ones out there. But you don’t typically go after a guy who’s been used like that.
“The use pattern was abusive.”
Feliciano led the Majors in appearances the last three seasons with 86, 88 and 92 games respectively including becoming only the fifth pitcher in Major League history to make 90 or more appearances.
The Yankees signed Feliciano to a two-year contract with a club option for 2013 over the Winter. The deal is reportedly for $8 million over the two guaranteed years.
In 2010, Feliciano was 3-6 in 92 relief appearances over 62 2/3 innings pitched. He made $2.9 million last year.
Blue Jays option Brad Mills to Triple-A
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The Toronto Blue Jays have optioned left handed pitcher Brad Mills to Triple-A Las Vegas reports Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com. The lefty took one of the two roster spots yesterday after the team designated David Purcey for assignment and placed Rajai Davis in the Disabled List.
Mills was 1-0 with a 5.64 ERA in 22.1 inning throughout 7 games, 3 starts with the Blue Jays in 2010.
Injury uptdates: Greinke, Morales, Sizemore
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Here’s a running list of injury updates for several Major league players:
– According to George Von Benko of MLB.com, right handed pitcher Zack Greinke’s first simulated game went “OK”. Greinke threw a simulated game indoors on Tuesday for the first time since beginning the season on the Disabled List with a cracked rib. It was an indoor game because of inclement weather in Pittsburgh.
“It went OK,” Greinke said. “I threw and I was healthy, so that’s good. I’ve got another [simulated game], and then I’m going to throw a game. It was nothing special, it was in the batting cages, so you couldn’t really get as good a feel for it as you normally would.”
– Angels first baseman Kendry Morales ran on the field with spikes before Tuesday’s game for the first time since March reports Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times.
“It was baby steps,” manager Mike Scioscia said. “It was less-than-100% effort. He’s working on his stride, getting out there in his spikes. Hopefully, as the week goes on, the intensity will pick up. When he’s running full speed and can get on the bases, he’ll be ready to go out and play.”
The team hopes Morales could make a comeback in early May.
– According to Paul Hoynes of the Plain Dealer, center fielder Grady Sizemore made his second straight rehab start Tuesday in center field for Double-AA Akron. It was a big step for Sizemore as he recovers from microfracture surgery adds Hoynes.
“He felt very happy after Monday’s game,” said Manny Acta. “He tested his legs out by going for a triple, but he was thrown out. He got a couple of hits.”
Hoynes says that although the team hasn’t said anything Sizemore could be joining the team sometime on the next trip.
“He’s getting closer every day,” said Acta.
Acta still won’t say where Sizemore will hit when he comes back, but he has been hitting leadoff in Akron.
Barry Bonds guilty of obstruction of justice
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Former MLB star Barry Bonds was found guilty of obstruction of justice Wednesday reports NBCSports.com. Bonds was facing four charges of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice.
The jury failed to reach a verdict on three perjury charges. Following a 12-day trial and almost four full days of deliberation, a jury could not reach a unanimous vote on three of four counts.
Next up is Roger Clemens, a seven-time Cy Young Award winner, scheduled for trial in federal court in Washington, D.C., starting July 6, on three counts of making false statements, two counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of Congress.
Blaine Boyer becomes a free agent
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According to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com, Blaine Boyer has cleared waivers and elected to become a free agent rather than go to Triple-A Buffalo.
Boyer took the loss in the Mets game versus the Washington Nationals over the weekend. In two innings pitched, Boyer gave up four hits and four runs. He was designated for assignment shortly after that appearance.
Through the first week of the season Boyer was 0-2 with a 10.80 ERA.
