MLB news, MLB draft news, MLB updates | Read it here first MLB Sports Daily http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:32:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 O’s Roberts plans to be ready for opener http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/os-roberts-plans-to-be-ready-for-opener-ap.html http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/os-roberts-plans-to-be-ready-for-opener-ap.html#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:32:33 +0000 chris http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/os-roberts-plans-to-be-ready-for-opener-ap.html SARASOTA, Fla. (AP)—Baltimore Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts(notes) saidWednesday he is better, two days after feeling ill. He said he wasn’t sure ifthe illness was due to a medication given during his rehabilitation for a backinjury.

Roberts, who led the American League with 56 doubles last season, has yet toplay this spring. To speed his recuperation from the back injury, Oriolesmedical personnel gave him some medication on Sunday. On Monday night, hereported feeling ill.

Roberts said he hopes to resume some baseball activities on Thursday.

On Tuesday, Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said heexpected Roberts to be ready for Opening Day on Apr. 6, but admitted concern.

Roberts said he thought the situation wasn’t ideal but he’d be ready for theteam’s first game.

“It’s not ideal,” Roberts said, “but I’m not concerned about missingOpening Day yet.”

Orioles manager Dave Trembley said he’d like to get Roberts between 25-30at-bats before the season opener. Roberts has no idea when he’ll be ready.

“I’d rather be fully healthy and get 15 at-bats than try to push it and get30 at-bats and start off less than 100 percent,” Roberts said.

“We still have three-and-a-half weeks, so I’m certainly not in panicmode.”

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]]> http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/os-roberts-plans-to-be-ready-for-opener-ap.html/feed 0 Pujols’ return delayed at least 1 day http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/pujols-return-delayed-at-least-1-day-ap.html http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/pujols-return-delayed-at-least-1-day-ap.html#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:48:26 +0000 chris http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/pujols-return-delayed-at-least-1-day-ap.html JUPITER, Fla. (AP)—Albert Pujols(notes) was expected to rejoin the St. LouisCardinals’ lineup on Wednesday, but his return has been pushed back at least onemore day.

Pujols was originally slated to play first base, then was moved todesignated hitter before becoming a late scratch against the WashingtonNationals because of a sore back. The three-time National League MVP has missedthe last three games as a precaution.

“He says he’s good to go, but if at any time during the workout he feels atwinge, we’ll get him out,” manager Tony La Russa said prior to battingpractice.

Pujols took his normal turn in batting practice before the decision was madeto pull him.

The Cardinals also scratched outfielder Matt Holliday(notes) from the lineup afterhe experienced soreness in his right rib cage following BP. A spokesman for theteam said Holliday is day-to-day.

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]]> http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/pujols-return-delayed-at-least-1-day-ap.html/feed 0 Mattingly: Dodgers infer I manage in ‘12 http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/mattingly-dodgers-infer-i-manage-in-12-ap.html http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/mattingly-dodgers-infer-i-manage-in-12-ap.html#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:37:48 +0000 chris http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/mattingly-dodgers-infer-i-manage-in-12-ap.html GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP)—On his first day as Dodgers interim manager, hittingcoach Don Mattingly confirmed Wednesday that the team has made overtures abouthim eventually becoming Joe Torre’s permanent replacement.

With Torre en route to Taiwan to manage a Dodgers split squad for threeexhibition games, Mattingly is in charge of the team in Arizona and will work atleast five games as manager.

Mattingly interviewed with the Cleveland Indians for their manager openingthis offseason. He then turned down an interview request from the WashingtonNationals.

In a meeting this winter with Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti, ownerFrank McCourt and team president Dennis Manion, Mattingly said the word managerwas brought up but nothing definitive was said or done.

Torre’s contract expires after this season but both he and McCourt said theyare working on a one-year extension. Mattingly would then take over the Dodgersin 2012.

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]]> http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/mattingly-dodgers-infer-i-manage-in-12-ap.html/feed 0 Athletics CF Crisp strains hamstring http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/athletics-cf-crisp-strains-hamstring-ap.html http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/athletics-cf-crisp-strains-hamstring-ap.html#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:19:22 +0000 chris http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/athletics-cf-crisp-strains-hamstring-ap.html PHOENIX (AP)—New Oakland Athletics center fielder Coco Crisp(notes) has a strainedleft hamstring and it isn’t clear how long he might be sidelined.

Crisp, who is being listed as day-to-day, was underwent treatment Wednesdaymorning on the leg, which he had wrapped. The 30-year-old Crisp signed a $5.25million, one-year contract in December and is among several big offseasonacquisitions that general manager Billy Beane hopes will make the A’s acontender again in the AL West.

In addition to Crisp, right-handed reliever Joey Devine(notes) is being shut downfor about a week because of soreness in his surgically repaired elbow. Heunderwent Tommy John surgery last April and was considered ahead of schedule inhis recovery.

Outfielder Travis Buck(notes) was doing well a day after being scratched withdizziness.

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]]> http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/athletics-cf-crisp-strains-hamstring-ap.html/feed 0 Tony Clark hired by players’ union http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/tony-clark-hired-by-players-union-ap.html http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/tony-clark-hired-by-players-union-ap.html#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:10:15 +0000 chris http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/tony-clark-hired-by-players-union-ap.html NEW YORK (AP)—Former first baseman Tony Clark(notes) has been hired as director ofplayer relations of the baseball union.

The union on Wednesday also formalized Steve Fehr’s role as special counsel.His brother, Donald, retired as union head in December. He has been an outsidelawyer for the union for 23 years.

Clark’s 15-season career ended last July when he was released by Arizona. Hebecame a union leader shortly after going to his first executive board meetingin 1999.

The 37-year-old Clark will oversee player communications and education andparticipate in collective bargaining. A 2001 All-Star, he hit .262 with 251homers. He also played for Detroit, the New York Mets and Yankees, Boston andSan Diego.

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]]> http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/tony-clark-hired-by-players-union-ap.html/feed 0 Lee has strong debut for Mariners http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/lee-has-strong-debut-for-mariners-ap.html http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/lee-has-strong-debut-for-mariners-ap.html#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:48:21 +0000 chris http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/lee-has-strong-debut-for-mariners-ap.html SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP)—Cliff Lee(notes) accomplished his primary objective in hisdelayed spring debut, then began to work on the rest of his repertoire.

The Seattle Mariners’ prized offseason acquisition threw 36 of 46 pitchesfor strikes over three solid innings in a 6-3 victory over the Texas Rangers onWednesday.

“I want to locate fastballs, that’s the No. 1 thing for me right now. So Itried to do that more than anything,” Lee said. “I was pleased with where thatwas at, so I was able to use more pitches than I anticipated.”

Lee gave up a run and five singles, struck out one and walked one. Theleft-hander benefited from two double plays.

“I’m glad he’s on our team,” manager Don Wakamatsu said. “It’s nice tohave a guy that understands how to pitch out of some jams a little bit, a guythat doesn’t lose his composure, that’s been to the World Series, won a CyYoung. … We’re hoping the influence is even more for these other guys to learnfrom.”

So intent on locating his fastball, the 2008 AL Cy Young Award winner needed12 pitches to finally retire leadoff hitter Pedro Borbon on a fly ball to starthis outing.

“I felt like I probably could have thrown some off-speed and gotten himearlier,” Lee said.

When the 31-year-old Lee reported to Mariners camp three weeks ago, his leftfoot was bandaged following surgery to remove a bone spur. Even though he saidhe was ready to pitch then, the Mariners were cautious with the ace theyacquired from Philadelphia in the offseason.

“It’s a non-issue. It’s been a non-issue for a few weeks now,” Lee said.“That’s behind me.”

Mike Sweeney(notes), a 15-year veteran who signed a minor league deal with theMariners right before camp, went 2 for 3 with a pair of doubles, one of themdriving in three runs to put Seattle up 6-1 in the fifth. Sweeney is 10 for 13(.769) in his four spring games with three doubles, a home run and six RBIs.

Milton Bradley(notes) had an RBI groundout in the first and was hit by a pitch withthe bases loaded in the fifth before Sweeney’s bases-clearing double.

C.J. Wilson(notes), getting a chance to move from the bullpen to the Texasrotation, allowed a leadoff single to Ichiro Suzuki(notes) and a leadoff walk to JoshWilson(notes) in the third. Both scored. Wilson struck out two, walked one and yieldedone hit in his three innings.

“I ended up throwing my full allotment of pitches which is good,” Wilsonsaid. “The thing they have been stressing with me a lot is minimizing biginnings and just going out there and challenging guys to hit the ball and put itin play.”

Hard-throwing Neftali Feliz(notes), who also could transition into the rotation,gave up four runs and four hits over two innings. All three of his strikeoutscame in the fourth, and all the runs came in the fifth.

NOTES: Texas stars 3B Michael Young(notes), 2B Ian Kinsler(notes) and CF Josh Hamilton(notes) gotthe day off. They are scheduled to make the two-hour trip to Tucson forThursday’s game against Colorado. … Wakamatsu said LHP Erik Bedard(notes), recoveringfrom surgery to repair a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder, is long-tossingwith no problems. “He is still a ways away from getting on the mound, buteverything right now is extremely good,” Wakamatsu said. Bedard might besidelined until June.

]]> http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/lee-has-strong-debut-for-mariners-ap.html/feed 0 Granderson singles twice vs. Tigers http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/granderson-singles-twice-vs-tigers-ap.html http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/granderson-singles-twice-vs-tigers-ap.html#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:29:18 +0000 chris http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/granderson-singles-twice-vs-tigers-ap.html

Curtis Granderson, playing against Detroit for the first time since being traded to New York, singled in his first two at-bats, and Greg Golson hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning to lift the Yankees to a 9-8 win over the Tigers on Wednesday. Granderson also made a spectacular one-handed catch against the center-field wall.

]]> LAKELAND, Fla. (AP)—Curtis Granderson(notes), playing against Detroit for the firsttime since being traded to New York, singled in his first two at-bats, and GregGolson(notes) hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning to lift the Yankees to a 9-8win over the Tigers on Wednesday.

Detroit Detroit Tigers left fielder Ca… AP – Mar 10, 4:11 pm EST New York Yankees' Mark Tei… AP – Mar 10, 4:03 pm EST Detroit Tigers' Gerald Lai… AP – Mar 10, 4:01 pm EST Detroit Tigers' Gerald Lai… AP – Mar 10, 4:01 pm EST Detroit Tigers manager talks w… AP – Mar 10, 3:34 pm EST Detroit Tigers' Johnny Dam… AP – Mar 10, 3:34 pm EST The Detroit Tigers take battin… AP – Mar 10, 1:06 pm EST New York Yankees' Curtis G… AP – Mar 10, 12:48 pm EST Detroit Tigers' Johnny Dam… AP – Mar 10, 12:47 pm EST New York Yankees manager Joe G… AP – Mar 10, 12:47 pm EST New York Yankees' Curtis G… AP – Mar 10, 12:46 pm EST YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index = 10; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_lazy_images = [http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100310/capt.27f69fbc96ad45449b60db1003426e80.yankees_tigers_spring_baseball_flgp111.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=351&hc=390&q=70&sig=EYKIwqv.m0XdWnZkSuY0FA--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100310/capt.0e8d76c46d1e4ef88f76465f05240316.yankees_tigers_spring_baseball_flgp110.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=61&yc=1&wc=289&hc=321&q=70&sig=Kga3dJhVktJY9erPxNyZTQ--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100310/capt.b0bb17e7ae3240c3a2318a88d6f08324.yankees_tigers_spring_baseball_flgp109.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=313&hc=348&q=70&sig=j_5BC3bnlXaFuvdRXUcn3g--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100310/capt.dc4077e6502a49469349392e5fd91e4b.yankees_tigers_spring_baseball_flgp105.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=266&hc=296&q=70&sig=HvZbyNgI2I.55_D5sUuTxg--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100310/capt.28ab8085db014032b61c80db54da3052.yankees_tigers_spring_baseball_flgp106.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=317&hc=352&q=70&sig=zjNAExqNwApgID8ZFfmsxA--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100310/capt.20a45c0c08994de883295c6ec1a89fa1.yankees_tigers_spring_baseball_flgp108.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=83&yc=1&wc=246&hc=273&q=70&sig=j.RJcyU16pG9.oavHYBL0Q--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100310/capt.5597cf91fcc6480e9c0c4937e17ec2ff.yankees_tigers_spring_baseball_flgp101.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=30&yc=1&wc=353&hc=392&q=70&sig=q6QNVjSZ.iEdPO0_Y90qkg--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100310/capt.25478139001a4b89bbfb09459a11d578.yankees_tigers_spring_baseball_flgp102.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=312&hc=347&q=70&sig=gBYtgFcJWxbxaWfSzr8xaw--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100310/capt.3280347ecd684dbe9dd95d74ecc60850.yankees_tigers_spring_baseball_flgp103.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=297&hc=330&q=70&sig=dRMHqSewaD2I2rZIa44mUQ--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100310/capt.15ec93bdeadb44418c8b4156d08364b9.yankees_tigers_spring_baseball_flgp104.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=313&hc=348&q=70&sig=wq2SxmP9SCjddFv.VaWNwA--]; YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(window,load,YAHOO.Sports.articleLazyLoadCarousel.init); 1 of 11 MLB Gallery function prev_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index > 0) { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index – 1); } else { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index); }}function next_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index 0) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next); }*/}function goto_photo(p) { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { for(i = 0; i < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos.length; i++) { if (i == p) { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, ); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, none); } } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page) { YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page.innerHTML =(p + 1); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = p; } } update_buttons();}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init = function () { YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_prev, click, prev_photo); YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_next, click, next_photo); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = 0; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page = YAHOO.util.Dom.get(carousel_page); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos = YAHOO.util.Dom.getElementsByClassName(item, div, leadphoto); if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { goto_photo(0); }}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init();

Granderson also made a spectacular one-handed catch against the center-fieldwall.

Johnny Damon(notes), who signed with Detroit after four seasons with the Yankees,did not play because of a sore big toe on his right foot.

Gerald Laird(notes) hit a grand slam off starter Joba Chamberlain(notes) to give Detroit a6-3 lead in the third inning. Mark Teixeira(notes) hit his first homer of the springoff former Yankee Phil Coke(notes) in the same inning.

Chamberlain gave up five hits, three walks and six runs in 2 1-3 innings.

Detroit starter Armando Galarraga(notes) gave up two runs in two innings.

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]]> http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/granderson-singles-twice-vs-tigers-ap.html/feed 0 Hunter: black Latino players ‘impostors’ http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/hunter-black-latino-players-impostors-ap.html http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/hunter-black-latino-players-impostors-ap.html#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:08:20 +0000 chris http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/hunter-black-latino-players-impostors-ap.html PHOENIX (AP)—Los Angeles Angels center fielder Torii Hunter(notes) has called blackLatino baseball players “impostors” when it comes to the appearance of thenumber of African-Americans in the major leagues.

Hunter’s comments were made two weeks ago in one of a series of USA Todayroundtables about baseball and published in Wednesday’s editions.

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, a Velezuelan, scoffed at Hunter’s remarksbefore Wednesday’s game against the Oakland Athletics. Angels spokesman Eric Kaysaid Hunter will not further discuss the subject.

Black players accounted for 10.2 percent of major leaguers in 2008, the mostsince the 1995 season, according to the University of Central Florida’sInstitute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports.

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]]> http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/hunter-black-latino-players-impostors-ap.html/feed 0 Rays LHP Price injured by shattered bat http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/rays-lhp-price-injured-by-shattered-bat-ap.html http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/rays-lhp-price-injured-by-shattered-bat-ap.html#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:20:15 +0000 chris http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/rays-lhp-price-injured-by-shattered-bat-ap.html FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP)—Tampa Bay Rays prized left-hander David Price(notes), the No. 1overall pick in the 2007 draft, left Wednesday’s game against the Boston Red Soxin the bottom of the second inning after being hit on the right hand by thebarrel of a shattered bat.

With no outs and Kevin Youkilis(notes) on first base for the Red Sox, AdrianBeltre’s(notes) bat splintered on a pitch from Price. The barrel headed toward themound, where price deflected it with his non-pitching arm.

Price walked off the field with a towel wrapped around his right hand.According to team spokesman Rick Vaughn, Price had an abrasion on his rightthumb and will not need stitches.

The Rays held a 1-0 lead at the time, but Youkilis and Beltre eventuallyscored in the inning, both runs being charged to Price.

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]]> http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/rays-lhp-price-injured-by-shattered-bat-ap.html/feed 0 Cubs GM Hendry lashes out at Bradley http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/cubs-gm-hendry-lashes-out-at-bradley-ap.html http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/cubs-gm-hendry-lashes-out-at-bradley-ap.html#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:05:46 +0000 chris http://www.mlbsportsdaily.com/mlb-baseball/cubs-gm-hendry-lashes-out-at-bradley-ap.html MESA, Ariz. (AP)—Cubs general manager Jim Hendry says Milton Bradley(notes) shouldstop blaming the team, manager and fans for his failure to produce during histumultuous season in Chicago.

Hendry said Wednesday that signing Bradley to a three-year, $30 millioncontract before last season was “a mistake.” He said the atmosphere of theorganization has improved since the outfielder was traded to Seattle.

Bradley, who batted .257 with 12 homers and 40 RBIs last season, wasregularly booed at Wrigley Field. Bradley told ESPN in an interview that airedTuesday that he feared racist fans in Chicago and felt like a prisoner in hisown home.

Bradley also said manager Lou Piniella should have apologized in front ofthe team instead of in private for a disparaging remark last June.

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