Lidge gets cortisone shot in elbow
March 31, 2010
CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP)—Philadelphia Phillies closer Brad Lidge(notes) has received acortisone shot in his surgically repaired right elbow.
The reliever is rehabilitating from offseason surgeries on his elbow andknee and likely won’t be ready to pitch until mid-April at the earliest.
The shot was given to Lidge in hopes that it would “jump start” his rehab.
Philadelphia team physician Dr. Michael Ciccotti says because Lidge startedthrowing later than usual this year, the “soreness has lingered a little bitlonger.”
Dr. Ciccotti said an MRI wasn’t needed and there is not correlation betweenthe soreness Lidge is feeling now and the elbow surgery he had in November.
Fantasy Baseball registration is now open. Join today!
Astros place 1B Berkman on 15-day DL
March 31, 2010
HOUSTON (AP)—Houston first baseman Lance Berkman(notes) has been placed on the 15-daydisabled list with a nagging left knee injury.
Berkman had arthroscopic surgery on March 13 after the knee swelled in thefirst days of spring training. The team initially said Berkman would miss two tofour weeks.
The 34-year-old All-Star, in the last year of his contract, has had kneeproblems before. He had arthroscopic surgery on the left knee in 1999 and hadsurgery following the 2004 season on his right knee after tearing his anteriorcruciate ligament.
The Astros also placed right-handed pitchers Alberto Arias(notes) and YormanBazardo(notes) on the disabled list with shoulder injuries.
Fantasy Baseball registration is now open. Join today!
Mets’ Murphy day to day with knee sprain
March 31, 2010
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP)—Mets first baseman Daniel Murphy(notes) is day to day afterspraining his right knee in a rundown.
General manager Omar Minaya said on Wednesday that doctors will evaluateMurphy, who twisted his knee after getting caught while trying to score on agroundout against the Cardinals on Tuesday.
Mike Jacobs(notes) will play first against the Marlins on Wednesday.
In other news, the Mets sent outfielder Fernando Martinez(notes) down to Triple-ABuffalo. He hit .383 with three home runs and 11 RBIs in 21 games this spring.
Minaya said he wouldn’t hesitate to call up Martinez if a spot openedbecause of injury.
He made his major league debut last May, batting .176 in 29 games before aknee injury ended his season.
Fantasy Baseball registration is now open. Join today!
Brewers place RHP Suppan on 15-day DL
March 30, 2010
PHOENIX (AP)—Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Jeff Suppan(notes) has been placed on the15-day disabled list with neck pain retroactive to March 26.
Suppan went 7-12 with a 5.29 for the Brewers in 2009. He was in the mix forthe fifth starting spot in the rotation or would be considered for long relief.
Suppan’s $12 million contract made him just about a certainty to stick withthe team in some fashion. This spring, Suppan is 1-1 with a 7.71 ERA in fiveappearances over 16.1 innings.
In his last appearance, Suppan allowed two runs in 4 1-3 innings on March 25against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Fantasy Baseball registration is now open. Join today!
Cubs cut Millar, Tracy gets final spot
March 30, 2010
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP)—The Chicago Cubs released Kevin Millar(notes) on Tuesday,giving their final roster spot to infielder Chad Tracy(notes).
The 38-year-old Millar hit .242 in 18 games this spring. He batted .223 withseven home runs and 29 RBIs for Toronto last year. He has also played forFlorida, Boston and Baltimore.
The 29-year-old Tracy made the opening day roster because he hitsleft-handed and has been a regular at third base. After spending all of hiscareer with Arizona, he joined the Cubs as a non-roster invitee. He is hitting.243 in 20 games.
The Cubs also sent outfielder Sam Fuld(notes) and infielder Micah Hoffpauir(notes) toTriple-A Iowa and sent catcher Chris Robinson to their minior league camp forreassignment.
Fantasy Baseball registration is now open. Join today!
Moyer named Phillies’ fifth starter
March 30, 2010
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP)—Jamie Moyer(notes) has won the fifth spot in the PhiladelphiaPhillies’ rotation, a decision the team announced Tuesday after its 5-2 loss tothe Houston Astros.
Moyer is the oldest player in the majors at 47. Kyle Kendrick(notes), who wasMoyer’s competition for the spot, started against Houston and allowed one run intwo innings. Manager Charlie Manuel assured Kendrick that he has a roster spotand would be an important part of the bullpen for the two-time NL champions.
Michael Bourn(notes) had four hits, including two doubles and a triple for Houston.Carlos Lee(notes) had two doubles and four RBIs and J.R. Towles(notes) drive in a run. TheAstros said Towles would be their starting catcher.
Astros starter Bud Norris(notes) struck out seven in five innings.
Cardinals’ Holliday hits first 2 homers
March 30, 2010
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP)—Matt Holliday(notes) hit his first two home runs thisspring and the St. Louis Cardinals roughed up Oliver Perez(notes) in a 9-4 win over theNew York Mets on Tuesday.
The Cardinals homered three times off Perez. Ryan Ludwick(notes) hit a two-run shotin the first inning and Holliday followed with a long drive.
Brendan Ryan(notes) added a two-run homer the next inning, and Perez made itthrough just 2 1-3 innings before being pulled. The left-hander, coming backfrom knee surgery late last season, gave up seven runs on six hits and twowalks.
Holliday added his second home run in the seventh inning off Kiko Calero(notes).
Cardinals opening-day starter Chris Carpenter(notes) walked six in five innings. Heallowed one earned run and four hits in five innings.
Twins start waiting list for season tix
March 30, 2010
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)—The Minnesota Twins have stopped selling 2010 season ticketsin most areas of their new ballpark and started a waiting list for next year.
The Twins announced Tuesday they’ve sold the equivalent of more than 24,000season tickets, which include 40-game and 20-game packages. Target Field’scapacity is just under 40,000 seats. Season tickets are still available inspecial club areas.
Single-game tickets have gone fast, too, with a total of 2.5 million ticketsalready sold two weeks before the home opener.
Fantasy Baseball registration is now open. Join today!
Twins name Liriano fifth starter
March 30, 2010
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP)—Francisco Liriano(notes) locked up the final spot in the Twins’rotation on Tuesday, striking out eight in six shutout innings of Minnesota’s4-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Liriano also walked three, and said later he’d been told he will be theTwins’ fifth starter. He was competing with Brian Duensing(notes) for the job and alsowas discussed as a possible replacement for injured closer Joe Nathan(notes).
Liriano says he will pitch in a minor league game on Sunday and make hisfirst start at the Chicago White Sox on April 9. He has struck out 30 in 20innings this spring.
Pirates starter Charlie Morton(notes) gave up one run and five hits in six innings.
Fantasy Baseball registration is now open. Join today!
Mets SS Reyes plays in minor league game
March 30, 2010
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP)—New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes played in minorleague game Tuesday, his first action since being sidelined with a thyroidproblem.
Reyes, who returned to camp last Wednesday, went 1 for 5 with a doubleagainst the Cardinals’ Triple-A team and played three innings in the field. Hetook batting practice for the first time Monday.
“I felt like I was in a real game today,” Reyes said. “They didn’t wantme to run the bases too much, but I played in a game today and hopefullytomorrow I can do a little more.”
Jose Reyes poses during photo day at Tradition Field on February 27, 2010.(Doug Benc/Getty Images)
He was not supposed to run past first, but he did in his first at-bat afterhitting a ball over the center fielder’s head. Reyes jogged easily into second.
Reyes flew out once and grounded out three times, but perhaps the biggesttest was a grounder down the first-base line that he ran hard to beat out.
“I ran a little faster on that one, so that’s a good test for me,” Reyessaid. “That means my leg is good and there’s nothing to worry about. I am goingto get ready as soon as I can and keep working hard.”
Reyes missed most of last season with a hamstring injury. A thyroid issuehas kept him from playing in any spring games so far and his status for openingday is uncertain.
Fantasy Baseball registration is now open. Join today!
