Rumors for May, 2011
Chipper Jones may need knee surgery
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Third baseman Chipper Jones underwent an MRI during yesterday’s game that revealed he has a small meniscus tear in his right knee, reports David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
Jones received an injection in his right knee when he returned to Turner Field Sunday and hopes to avoid surgery. O’Brien says though that if the pain hasn’t subsided in a few days he could be facing arthroscopic surgery.
“We’ll know in a couple days,” Jones said. “If the shot helps then I’ll play as long as I can. If the shot doesn’t help then they’ll go in and clean it up.”
The Braves third baseman underwent a similar procedure on his left knee back in 1996, but he only missed a little more than two weeks.
Jones has missed five games this season adds O’Brien, two for injury, and three for scheduled days off. “Today was awful,” he said. “I took about five swings in the cage and walked out, still thought I might loosen up, maybe some of the pain medication might kick in. But 10 minutes from starting the game, suited up, went out to run and I just couldn’t do it today.”
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Does Pete Rose deserve a second chance?
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Former Cincinnati Reds player and manager Pete Rose, was banned for life in 1989 for betting on baseball games, including Reds games. The all time hit king (4,256) has admitted his mistakes and has petitioned MLB and commissioner Bud Selig to reinstate him but has not had any success.
In his second autobiography in 2004, Rose admitted that he bet on baseball, something he had adamantly denied until then. “I’ve taken responsibility for my life,” Rose said. “Baseball isn’t good for second chances — not for gamblers. They are for people who take drugs. They are for people who beat up their wives. They are for people who drink a lot of alcohol. I screwed up. I wish I could change it.”
Rose was recently the keynote speaker at a gala of the Ohio Justice & Policy Center. There, he said he did not care about being inducted into the Hall of Fame but only wanted to manage again to share his knowledge with the younger generation of ball players.
“It’s a like a singer getting caught running a red light and not being able to sing again,” Rose said. “That’s not America. I’m a baseball player. I can go on every talk show and say I’m sorry and some people don’t want to hear you. That’s not fair.”
One of the guests at the banquet was the federal judge who sentenced him to five months in jail in 1990 for failing to report income from gambling on his taxes. Rose made light of it but blamed only himself for the situation that he put himself in.
If you take a step back and look at the big picture with everything else that is going on in baseball, Rose does have a small compliant. Manny Ramirez was caught cheating as he was using PEDs and received a 50-game suspension and was rightfully suspended once and then for a second time. But if he served his now 100-game suspension, he would be able to come back and play again or manage like Rose wants to.
DUIs have become a dime a dozen. It’s now easier to ask who hasn’t had a DUI than who has. Baseball needs to address this issue and will hopefully in the next collective bargaining agreement but in some regards they are no different than Rose as they all broke the law. If anything, what they did was worse as they put innocent people in danger as they (DUI boys) got behind the wheel and made the decision to drive impaired.
Lets not forget Alfredo Simon of the Orioles who on January 1st, killed an innocent human being as he recklessly discharged a firearm into the air. Whether it was an accident or not, Simon’s actions resulted in a life being lost. Baseball has not taken any action against him as he is back in the States pitching in the minor leagues.
Though, the big difference in the situations is that Rose gave baseball a black eye by betting on the games that he was involved in (kinda like referee Tim Donaghy of the NBA). He violated the trust factor and the honesty factor of the game. But with that said, Rose has come forward and admitted that he did gamble on baseball games, just not ones that he was involved in like he was alleged to have done.
Almost 22-years later and nothing has changed for Rose as he sits on the outside looking in. So if you were the commissioner, would you reinstate Rose?
Information from the Associated Press was used in this article?
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Injury updates: Heyward, Cruz, Hamilton, Beachy and Bailey
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Here’s a running list of injury updates around the Major Leagues:
– Braves outfielder Jason Heyward took his first swings Sunday since receiving a cortisone shot in his right shoulder reports David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Heyward says he will be ready to return on Tuesday.
– According to the Associated Press (via NBCSports.com), Nelson Cruz will begin a rehabilitation assignment Monday at Double-A Frisco. Manager Ron Washington says Cruz will be the DH for a couple of games and then he’ll play in the outfield.
– Josh Hamilton will have an MRI exam on Wednesday to see how his broken bone is healing. Hamilton and Cruz could be back in the Rangers lineup together during the next home stand, which begins a week from Monday.
– Braves manager, Fredi Gonzalez, said that Brandon Beachy will be out at least a month with a significant oblique injury according to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
– According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, A’s closer Andrew Bailey had a good outing on Saturday morning at an extended Spring Training game. He threw all his pitches, registered 92 to 94MPH with his fastball and threw 18 pitches for four outs.
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Twins designate catcher Steve Holm for assignment
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According to a team press release, the Minnesota Twins have designated catcher Steve Holm for assignment.
The 31-year-old catcher played in six games for the Twins this season. He was 2-for-17 with .118/.167/.176 average. Holm was previously brought up to the big league club when Joe Mauer was placed on the disabled list.
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Dodgers team would be the same even without money problems
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The Los Angeles Dodgers’ team would be the same even if they were not going through financial issues, Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times reports.
When owner Frank McCourt was asked if the roster was a reflection of the economic problems, he said, “no”.
“Yeah, I think we have a very, very good team,” McCourt added.
The Dodgers currently have a payroll of about $110 million that ranks 12th in the Majors. There’s currently a $3 billion television deal on the table with FOX, but commissioner Bud Selig has yet to approve the deal. His decision will come after his office has completed an investigation of the team’s finances.
“I’m not going to get into the specifics, but I will say in very general terms that the media transaction, in whatever form, is a critically important component for this organization,” he said. “It always has been. This is something that other teams have the benefit of and it’s time for the Dodgers to have the benefit of it, so that we’re able to have the additional resources that other teams enjoy.”
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Nick Cafardo on players that could be traded
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Here’s the latest from the Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo:
– “I guess it’s never too early,’’ said an American League general manager about looking at possible moves to improve their roster. “Sometimes you have to wait things out to see how well the team you’re trying to deal with is doing at the time you’d want to make the deal, and that part is always tricky. And then there are those who become available that you had no idea would be available, so it’s not perfect.”
– Yankees’ GM Brian Cashman could be a player in the trade market. “I’d like to think we have pieces to deal, but I’d also rather keep those chips and have them help our team,’’ Cashman said. “I know we have excellent talent in our system that other teams would like, because that’s been expressed to us. But you do everything you can to see if you can fill a need organizationally first before you think about the trading of young prospects.’’
– The Yankees have extra catching help in Jesus Montero, Austin Romine and Gary Sanchez.
– The Atlanta Braves would consider dealing Derek Lowe if they could find a good outfielder that can produce runs.
– The Braves, Phillies and Rays could use another hitter.
– The Phillies could be a likely destination for Padres’ closer Heath Bell.
– The Twins could unload Jason Kubel, Michael Cuddyer, Francisco Liriano and Carl Pavano.
– A team source close to the Astros said that the club occasionally field inquiries about Hunter Pence, Michael Bourn and Brett Myers.
– The Orioles would likely move designated hitter Luke Scott or outfielder Felix Pie and Cesar Izturis is drawing interest from the Braves.
– The Nationals could make Adam LaRoche available.
– The Indians could deal Fausto Carmona, Grady Sizemore or designated hitter Travis Hafner.
– The Red Sox could make a deal with Mike Cameron and Marco Scutaro and even J.D. Drew (if he approves a deal).
– Jose Reyes of the Mets has been linked to the San Francisco Giants and the Boston Red Sox. He could also help the St. Louis Cardinals. Jason Bay could also be dealt.
– Lyle Overbay, Chris Snyder and Ryan Doumit could be possible trade candidates for the Pirates.
– The Cubs could deal Kosuke Fukodome, Alfonso Soriano or Carlos Pena.
– The Angels could be in the market for a hitter with one of their catchers (maybe Jeff Mathis) a trade candidate.
– Marlins’ manager Edwin Rodriguez could find himself as the team’s long-term manager unless Ozzie Guillen remains a possibility for South Florida.
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Pirates release LHP Scott Olsen
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According to Colin Dunlap of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates have released left handed pitcher Scott Olsen.
Olsen agreed to terms with the Pirates back in December. He was set to make about $500,000 in 2011 with a chance to earn $3 million more in incentives based on starts.
In 2010, Olsen was 4-8 with a 5.56 ERA in 81 innings throughout 17 games, 15 starts with the Washington Nationals
Randy Flores opts out of his contract with the Padres
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Left handed pitcher Randy Flores has opted out of his Minor League deal with the San Diego Padres according to Sarah Trotto of the Arizona Daily Star.
Earlier this week, we learned that the 35-year old was leading the Pacific Coast League with seven holds with 18 appearances by May 11. He also has held lefties to a .205 BA. His ERA in 12.1 innings 0.73.
Flores had an out-clause in his contract with the Padres if he wasn’t promoted to the Majors by today. The left hander agreed to terms with the Padres back in February. He was 2-0 with a 3.19 ERA and 20 SO in 31 innings throughout 58 games with the Rockies and Twins combined in 2010.
One possible destination for Flores could be his hometown team the Dodgers. The Dodgers’ bullpen has seen numerous injuries and currently lack a lefty who has had success in the majors.
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Is Jorge Posada going to retire?
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New York Yankees’ designated hitter Jorge Posada was dropped to ninth in the batting order and unexpectedly refused to play in today’s game versus the Boston Red Sox. Speculation started to brew regarding his possible retirement, but Buster Olney of ESPN says that the Yankees have not given any indication that Posada may call it a career.
The Yankees are looking at their options with the Commissioner’s office regarding a potential termination of Posada’s contract. Posada is owed $11 million for the 2011 season, so it’s not an easy decision if the Yankees are responsible for that amount.
“Posada said to reporters at 4 p.m. that he understood move to 9th spot, blamed himself.At 6 pm, he told Girardi something else.”
“The Yankees believe they have the ground to suspend Posada right now, but will wait for more developments before making decision.” (Twitter source)
If Posada decides to part ways with the Yankees, the catcher and designated hitter will be walking away after a 17-year career and five World Series championships.
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Rosenthal on: Pence, Twins and Braves
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Here’s the latest from FOXSports’ Ken Rosenthal via his Full Count video:
– Astros outfielder Hunter Pence is earning $6.9 million this season and he still has two arbitration eligibility years. GM, Ed Wade, said he wants to build the team around his “young nucleus”. Although the franchise is changing the ownership, Rosenthal doesn’t believe Jim Crane’s first act as the team owner will be to have a “sell-off”.
– If the Twins continue to struggle, they may become sellers, and potential free agents Michael Cuddyer, Jim Thome, Matt Capps, Joe Nathan and Jason Kubel could be on the market.
– Rosenthal believes that the depth the Braves have in starting pitchers could give them a very good position at the trade deadline. They could trade a veteran such as Derek Lowe or one of their young assets. They have more prospects coming up besides Julio Teheran, Brandon Beachy and Mike Minor who are already pitching in the Majors.
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