Reds’ Bruce scratched with pain in side
August 31, 2010
CINCINNATI (AP)—Right fielder Jay Bruce(notes) was a late scratch from the CincinnatiReds’ lineup because of pain in his right side.
Bruce has been one of the Reds’ hottest hitters lately, going 8 for 15 withfive homers in his last four games. Bruce homered three times during a 7-1 winover the Cubs on Friday. He led off Monday’s 5-4 win over Milwaukee with ahomer, then ended it with an RBI single in the 10th.
Bruce had some of the best career numbers off Milwaukee starter YovaniGallardo(notes), going 4 for 8 with a homer.
The Reds began play on Tuesday with a six-game lead over St. Louis in the NLCentral.
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Strasburg’s Tommy John surgery Friday
August 31, 2010
MIAMI (AP)—Washington Nationals rookie ace Stephen Strasburg(notes) will have TommyJohn surgery on Friday to rebuild his injured right elbow, an operation that isexpected to sideline him for 12 to 18 months.
The ligament replacement surgery will be in Los Angeles and performed by Dr.Lewis Yocum, with Nationals team doctor Dr. Wiemi Douoguih assisting.
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A Washington Nationals trainer talks with pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) just prior to him leaving the game with an injury in the fifth inning against the Phillies.(Howard Smith/US Presswire)
“He is dealing with it like a professional,” Nationals general managerMike Rizzo said before Tuesday night’s game against Florida. “He’s verydetermined to get it done and start the process.”
Strasburg will begin his recuperation the day after the surgery, recoveringat the Scripps Clinic in his hometown of San Diego.
Strasburg hurt himself while pitching Aug. 21 in Philadelphia. Theright-hander who created such a buzz all through baseball was 5-3 with a 2.91ERA.
The 22-year-old Strasburg was the overall No. 1 pick in the 2009 draft andquickly climbed through the minor leagues this season.
With a fastball that reached 100 mph and wicked curves, he struck out 14during his major league debut in June and had many fans saying he should be onthe NL All-Star team in July.
Strasburg was scratched from a start in late July after he had troublegetting loose in the bullpen. He went on the disabled list two days later withinflammation in the back of his right shoulder.
The Nationals were worried when Strasburg grimaced, shook his wrist andwalked off the mound during his last start against the Phillies. An extensiveMRI exam last Thursday revealed the severity of the injury, a devastatingsetback for the last-place team.
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Jays’ Overbay does not have concussion
August 31, 2010
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)—Toronto first baseman Lyle Overbay(notes) does not have aconcussion, but is feeling as if he did.
Overbay was out of the lineup for the fourth straight game Tuesday nightbecause of post-concussion symptoms. He did resume on-field work before Torontoplayed at Tampa Bay and hopes to play again in the next few days.
Overbay was hurt last week when he collided with Blue Jays pitcher BrianTallet(notes). After having no problems for a couple days, Overbay was taken out oflast Friday’s game because he was not feeling well.
“I was struggling to concentrate, to focus,” Overbay said. “It was neverdizziness. I never really had a headache. Just a heavy head. Maybe like thesinus’ are sore right there.”
A CT scan was normal.
Also, Toronto infielder Yunel Escobar(notes) is expected to be out until Friday dueto a stiff back. He hasn’t played since Saturday.
Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said left-hander David Purcey(notes), out with aright foot injury, will be reinstated from the 15-day disabled list and catcherJ.P. Arencibia(notes) will be recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas when rosters can beexpanded on Wednesday.
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Doctors tell Morneau to stay at home
August 31, 2010
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)—Justin Morneau(notes) was absent at Target Field when his MinnesotaTwins returned home to open a three-game series against Detroit, and he may beout for a while as recovers from a concussion that happened nearly two monthsago.
Doctors told Morneau to stay at home until at least Friday, manager RonGardenhire said Tuesday. Gardenhire said it wasn’t a setback and that Morneauwould continue to do some cardio work and other workouts from home.
“He’s following doctors’ orders,” Gardenhire said. “He’s doing exactlywhat they want him to do.”
The manager declined to go any further into a condition that doesn’t appearto have improved considerably since the All-Star first baseman was injuredsliding into second base in Toronto on July 8. Morneau has experienced lingeringsymptoms from the concussion ever since, but many were encouraged when hestarted taking swings and joining the team in the dugout for some home games afew weeks ago.
The former AL MVP’s return sure would be a boon to the Twins, who startedthe day four games ahead of the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central race.
Right fielder Michael Cuddyer(notes) has filled in admirably at first base forMorneau, just as he did a year ago when Morneau missed most of September and theplayoffs with a back injury.
The White Sox added slugger Manny Ramirez(notes) from the Dodgers on Tuesday,giving them another big bat as they try to chase down the Twins in the division.
Minnesota has added relievers Randy Flores(notes) and Brian Fuentes(notes) to bolster itsbullpen, and getting Morneau back would add some more firepower to an alreadypotent lineup.
But there is still no timetable for a return, and the Twins have said allalong they won’t rush one of their biggest stars back to action.
Jim Thome(notes) has also helped pick up the slack, emerging as the everyday DHwhile he slugs his way up the career home run chart. But Thome was not in thelineup on Tuesday night because of a stiff back. He is listed as day-to-day.
Delmon Young(notes) got his first start of the season at DH in Thome’s absence andJason Repko(notes) was inserted as the left fielder.
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Texas’ Hamilton to get shot in sore knee
August 31, 2010
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)—Texas Rangers star Josh Hamilton(notes) is going to get a shotto help his sore right knee.
Hamilton leads the majors with a .359 batting average and has 31 home runsand 95 RBIs. He was in the starting lineup as the designated hitter Tuesdaynight at Kansas City.
Hamilton was set to get the shot after the game and then sit out Wednesdayfor the AL West leaders.
Rangers assistant general manager Thad Levine said Hamilton had a similarshot, called Synvisc, in April for discomfort in the same knee.
Hamilton was originally listed as the center fielder Monday, but was movedto DH.
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Rays set to purchase Baldelli’s contract
August 31, 2010
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)—Rocco Baldelli(notes) is about to get another chance toplay in the majors.
The Tampa Bay Rays are planning to purchase the contract of theoutfielder-designated hitter from Triple-A Durham when rosters can be expandedon Wednesday.
Baldelli rejoined the Rays as a special instructor during spring trainingand was also rehabbing an injured shoulder this year. He missed the 2005 seasonand most of 2007 and ’08 because of injuries and a medical condition that sappedhis energy.
The 28-year-old Baldelli was part of the Rays’ AL championship team in 2008.He played for Boston last season, hitting .253 with seven homers and 23 RBIs in62 games.
Catcher Dioner Navarro(notes) and pitcher Jeremy Hellickson(notes) are among the otherminor leaguers expected to join the Rays on Wednesday.
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Lowe gets cortisone shot for arm problem
August 31, 2010
ATLANTA (AP)—Pitcher Derek Lowe(notes) has received an injection to deal with a soreright arm but says he should be able to make his next start for the AtlantaBraves.
Lowe came out of his last start Sunday after giving up five runs in onlythree innings against Florida. He now says he’s been struggling with pain behindhis right elbow for the last six weeks.
The NL East leaders learned of the problem about three weeks ago and triedto handle it with medication and treatment. Finally, the pain became unbearable,so Lowe had a cortisone shot. He doesn’t believe it’s anything serious and hopesto have his regular off-day throwing session Wednesday.
If that goes OK, Lowe says he’ll be ready to start on Friday against theMarlins.
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Ramirez joins White Sox, not in lineup
August 31, 2010
CLEVELAND (AP)—Manny Ramirez(notes) is not in the starting lineup for his first gamewith the Chicago White Sox.
A little late but with all his hair, Ramirez finally joined his new teamTuesday. The White Sox were playing at Cleveland a few hours later.
The White Sox claimed the 12-time All-Star slugger on waivers this week tohelp their AL playoff push. He arrived at Progressive Field at 3:15 p.m.,entering from the Indians players’ parking lot, where he used to park during hiseight seasons with the Indians. His dreadlocked hair was at its usual length,but could soon be shorter.
The White Sox have an appearance policy, and they expect Ramirez to conformto it and get his dreadlocks trimmed.
A barber was set up in a room adjacent to Cleveland’s clubhouse.
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BoSox deal reliever Delcarmen to Rockies
August 31, 2010
BALTIMORE (AP)—Having lost his spot in the Boston bullpen, Manny Delcarmen(notes) wastraded with cash from the Red Sox to the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday for minorleague pitcher Chris Balcom-Miller.
The Red Sox have faded in the AL playoff race while the Rockies are tryingto stay close in the NL wild-card chase.
Delcarmen was 3-2 with a 4.70 ERA in 48 games for Boston this season. Theright-hander had been especially tough on lefty hitters, holding them to a .165batting average.
The 28-year-old Delcarmen had been a key member of the Red Sox bullpen forseveral years, and pitched in Boston’s sweep of Colorado in the 2007 WorldSeries.
“Manny wasn’t necessarily pitching in the highest leverage situations withus anymore,” Boston general manager Theo Epstein said. “We had a couple ofguys that passed him on the depth chart.”
Epstein said that the Rockies claimed Delcarmen on waivers and the teamswere able to work out a deal.
“Manny had a nice career with us,” Epstein said. “At times he would goout there with closer stuff.”
The Red Sox began Tuesday in third place, seven games behind the Yankees andRays, who were tied for the AL East lead.
“We need to get really hot make this thing interesting,” Epstein said.“Really hot—hotter than we’ve been at any point during the year.”
To replace Delcarmen, Boston recalled right-handed pitcher Robert Manuel(notes)from Triple-A Pawtucket. He was 8-2 with a 1.68 ERA and 12 saves with Pawtucketand 0-0 with a 3.86 ERA in five games with the Red Sox earlier this season.
Balcom-Miller is a 21-year-old righty. He went 6-7 with a 3.31 ERA in 19starts at Single-A Asheville this season. Boston has assigned him to Single-AGreenville.
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Ramirez joins White Sox in Cleveland
August 31, 2010
CLEVELAND (AP)—A little late but with all his hair, Manny Ramirez(notes) has finallyjoined his new team.
The controversial and colorful slugger arrived at Progressive Field onTuesday for his first day with the Chicago White Sox, who claimed the 12-timeAll-Star on waivers this week to help their AL playoff push.
Ramirez walked into the ballpark at 3:15 p.m., entering from the Indiansplayers’ parking lot, where he used to park during his eight seasons with theIndians. His dreadlocked hair was at its usual length, but could be shorter inthe next few hours.
The White Sox have an appearance policy, and they expect Ramirez to conformto it and get his dreadlocks trimmed.
A barber was set up in a room adjacent to Cleveland’s clubhouse.
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