Rumors for Houston Astros
Roger Clemens pleads not guilty to purjury charges
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The Associated Press reports that former Major League right-handed pitcher Roger Clemens has entered a not guilty plea Monday to charges of lying to Congress about whether he used steroids or human growth hormones.
If convicted, Clemens could face up to 30 years in prison and a $1.5 million fine in addition to damages to his reputation, future earning potential and chances of getting into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
In 24 seasons with the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees and Houston Astros, Clemens was 354-184 with a 3.12 ERA.
Brandon Inge unlikely to be traded by Tuesday’s deadline
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A source close to FOXSports’ Jon Paul Morosi says that he would be very surprised if the Detroit Tigers traded third baseman Brandon Inge before Tuesday’s deadline.
The St. Louis Cardinals were tracking Inge earlier this month, but any deal was nixed once the team acquired Pedro Feliz from the Houston Astros.
Inge, 33, is in the final year of a four-year contract. He’s making $6.6 million this season and hitting .257/.335/.409 with 8 home runs and 51 RBIs in 111 games for the Tigers this season.
Join PRO Rumors on ESPN 1420am with The Sports Animals
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Join PRO Rumors on ESPN 1420 AM Honolulu, Hawaii tonight at 8:35pm PST (5:35pm Hawaii Time) with The Sports Animals Chris Hart and Gary Dickman. You can listen live at http://www.espn1420am.com
Houston Astros claim INF Matt Downs from San Francisco Giants
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MLB.com’s Alyson Footer tweets that infielder Matt Downs was claimed by the Houston Astros from the San Francisco Giants. Footer adds that Downs will report to Triple-A Round Rock.
Downs was designated for assignment by the Giants on Tuesday in order to make room for outfielder Cody Ross. Ross was claimed via waivers over the weekend.
Downs, 26, was hitting .244/.318/.372 in 29 games for the Giants this season.
VIDEO: Roy Oswalt plays left field against his former teammates
Posted by: | CommentsTraditionally a right-handed pitcher, Roy Oswalt went above the call of duty on Tuesday evening against his old teammates. In the bottom of the 14th inning, the Philadelphia Phillies’ Ryan Howard was ejected from the game which forced left fielder Raul Ibanez to move to first base and Oswalt taking over in left. Check out the video of his putout:
Jayson Stark of ESPN says that Oswalt is the last “pure” pitcher to play outfield for the Phillies since Joe Bowman did on August 21, 1935.
Check out this link for a video of all the events that lead to Oswalt playing left field.
Arizona Diamondbacks sign Mike Hampton to a minor league deal
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According to a team press release, the Diamondbacks have signed Mike Hampton to a minor-league contract. Hampton will be assigned to Arizona’s Triple-A franchise in Reno. Jack Magruder of FOXSportsArizona.com added that GM Jerry DiPoto played with Hampton in Colorado, loves the makeup, believes it will be positive influence on young Dbacks’ pitchers. Hampton will be used only as a relief pitcher. Hampton will make his first appearance on Monday and will pitch one inning.
Hampton is better known for signing a six year $121mm contract with Colorado prior to the 2001 season and not living up to to the high expectations. Prior to 2001, Hampton had gone 7 seasons with an ERA of 3.83 or lower.
In 2009, Hampton pitched for the Houston Astros going 7-10 with a 5.30 ERA. Check out his complete stats here.
Ken Rosenthal on Dan Uggla, Chicago Cubs, Arizona Diamondbacks and Manny Ramirez
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Here are a few pieces of news to ponder on your Saturday afternoon courtesy of Ken Rosenthal’s Full Count:
The negotiations between Dan Uggla and the Florida Marlins are not off to a great start. The Marlins are offering Uggla three years, but Uggla wants five years (his final year of arbitration plus four more). Uggla is 30-year-olds and is currently making $7.8 million, and in a five-year deal, he’ll want something in the $55-60 million range. That dollar amount is obviously pretty high for the tight budgeted Marlins, but Rosenthal points out that Uggla has 149 career home runs – the most by any second baseman in history in their first five years.
The Chicago Cubs’ number one need is a left-handed slugger at one of two positions: first base or right field. Internally, the Cubs can go to Tyler Colvin. If they go elsewhere, Adam Dunn, Carlos Pena and Lance Berkman are free agents after the season and Prince Fielder could be available by trade. The team’s options to add to right field are slim. Rosenthal adds that Chicago will also want to add a starting pitcher regardless of what they do with Carlos Zambrano. They could reunite with Ted Lilly, who will be a free agent after the season.
Arizona Diamondbacks’ president Derrick Hall is very pleased with interim GM Jerry DiPoto and interim manager Kirk Gibson. However, Hall will start the interview process for general managers at the beginning of September rather than wait for the off-season. DiPoto will be at the top of the list, but Hall figures to interview former Padres’ GM Kevin Towers, Dodgers assistant GM Logan White and Yankees’ vice president Damon Oppenheimer (if New York grants permission). The next GM will then have the say as to who the next manager will be.
Manny Ramirez of the Los Angeles Dodgers is expected to come off the disabled list this weekend or early next week, but the team will not place him on waivers immediately. Other teams will want to see him play and make sure he is healthy and productive. The Chicago White Sox still loom as a team that will likely put in a claim. Chicago doesn’t like Brad Hawpe too much, and they don’t think the Tigers will trade them Johnny Damon.
VIDEO: Foul Ball Friday – Oakland A’s ballboy woos girl with his balls
Posted by: | Comments8/21 08:19: Looks like there’s more to this story. 21-year-old ball boy, Kevin Fennell, ended up giving the girl, Jacki Lynch, five balls that evening. The last ball read, “How about a phone number for our Ball Man, Kevin?”
According to Jane Lee of MLB.com, the two are going out for drinks next week.
Not a bad night for Lynch who was attending her first A’s game with her college friends.
8/20 01:46: Okay.. bad headline, but it’s FRIDAY!!!
Maybe Bo Wyble from last week’s Houston Astros‘ game could learn a few things here (hint: catch the ball then give it to the girl). Check out Kevin the ball boy at the Oakland A’s game on Thursday night trying to make friends with a girl in the stands – twice.
Maybe it was because the Tampa Bay Rays and Evan Longoria was in town. Longoria has creative ways to find girls too.
Former Yankee Mark Melancon takes shot at old fans
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Houston Astros right-handed pitcher Mark Melancon was not shy to show his appreciation of his new fan base, at the expense of his old ones from the Bronx.
“You feel like (the fans) have your back [in Houston],” said Melancon, who picked up his first career versus the New York Mets “It’s nice to pitch in that circumstance.”
Melancon was involved in the July 31st trade that sent Lance Berkman to the Yankees in July. Melancon was 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA in two appearances for the Yankees. With this Astros, he is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in three appearances.
