BASEBALL NOTEBOOK
Published 11:47 pm Tuesday, May 27, 2008
DIAMONDBACKS: Arizona left fielder Eric Byrnes is on the disabled list for the first time in his career. The Diamondbacks made the move over the objections of Byrnes, who felt his sore hamstrings had improved. Manager Bob Melvin said he and general manager Josh Byrnes made the decision that rest was required for the outfielder to regain the ever-hustling style that is his trademark.
ASTROS: When Wandy Rodriguez returns from the 15-day disabled list today, Chris Sampson will be the odd man out in Houston’s rotation. Manager Cecil Cooper said Brian Moehler, who’s made four solid starts since Rodriguez was sidelined by a left groin injury on April 20, will be the fifth starter. That pushes Sampson, 3-3 with a 6.04 ERA to the bullpen.
BREWERS: Bill Hall is hitting .220 with 9 home runs and 22 RBI for Milwaukee going into Tuesday night’s game against Atlanta, .409 against lefties and .158 against righties. In response to Hall’s struggles Milwaukee brought veteran Russell Branyan up from Class AAA Nashville over the weekend. Branyan, a left-handed batter who was hitting .359 in Nashville, has replaced Hall in two games and was in the lineup against Braves right-hander Tim Hudson Tuesday.
BLUE JAYS: David Eckstein came off the disabled list and was back in Toronto’s starting lineup playing shortstop and batting ninth. Eckstein went on the DL on May 8 retroactive to a day earlier with a strained right hip flexor, which he tested in five rehab games before being cleared to be activated. Manager John Gibbons plans to be cautious at first with Eckstein, who’s batting .246 with one home run and 12 RBI in 30 games this year. He’ll likely sit out tonight’s middle game against the Oakland Athletics and play again in a day game Thursday.
INDIANS: Cleveland designated hitter Travis Hafner was on the bench for the second straight game because of a sore right shoulder and could be headed for the disabled list. Wedge said Hafner, mired in a season-long slump, won’t play this afternoon against Chicago. The Indians are off on Thursday. Hafner, who has been battling a sore elbow for most of his career, frequently has his shoulder wrapped in ice following games. The shoulder bothered him in spring training, but any talk of a lingering injury has been downplayed until now.
DODGERS: Los Angeles outfielder Andruw Jones will likely miss the next four to six weeks after undergoing surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee. Jones, who is hitting .165 with two home runs and seven RBI in the first year of a $36.2 million, two-year deal, went on the 15-day disabled list Saturday. The Dodgers got some more good news when right-handed pitcher Jason Schmidt, working his way back from shoulder surgery last season, threw 31/3 innings in a rehab start with the team’s Class A affiliate. Schmidt threw 45 pitches and gave up three runs — two earned — and three hits while striking out three.
YANKEES: New York catcher Jorge Posada is set to take a big step in his rehabilitation program for a sore right shoulder Thursday when he is scheduled to resume throwing to the bases in an extended spring training game. The five-time All-Star has been sidelined since April 27. Posada, batting .302 with one homer and 11 RBI in 63 at-bats, hopes to rejoin the Yankees around June 3.
REDS: Outfielder Jay Bruce, Cincinnati’s top prospect, has been called up from the minors in a move that represents another step toward the franchise’s future. The Reds promoted the 21-year-old outfielder from Class AAA Louisville and designated first baseman Washington State University alum Scott Hatteberg for assignment, ending his three-year stay in Cincinnati. The Reds picked up Hatteberg’s $1.85 million contract option last October, when they weren’t sure whether rookie Joey Votto would be ready to take over at first base.
TIGERS: Detroit placed Gary Sheffield on the 15-day disabled list with an oblique strain on his left side. Sheffield, who started Monday night’s game as the designated hitter, was injured running out a grounder to shortstop in the third inning. He slowed up halfway down the line, grabbing his side, and was replaced by a pinch-hitter the next time he was due to bat in the sixth.
PIRATES: Pittsburgh shortstop Jack Wilson came off the disabled list and returned to the lineup for the first time since straining his left calf in the opening week of the season. The Pirates optioned rookie shortstop Brian Bixler to Class AAA Indianapolis. He batted .175 in 34 games, including 24 starts. His six errors were tied for the team lead.
CARDINALS: St. Louis pitcher Joel Pineiro, who was bypassed in the rotation because of a strained right groin, also is questionable for his next start. After a day off, Braden Looper pitched on regular rest on Tuesday night against the Houston Astros. Pineiro is next scheduled to pitch on Saturday.
RANGERS: Texas infielder Hank Blalock had a cortisone shot for carpal tunnel syndrome in his right wrist. Blalock originally went on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring injury on April 29, retroactive to April 26. He experienced soreness in the wrist last week.
BREWERS: Milwaukee finalized a deal with Julian Tavarez. The 35-year-old right-hander, cut loose by Boston earlier this month after going 0-1 with a 6.39 ERA in nine relief appearances, worked out for the Brewers’ staff in Washington on Sunday. He traveled back to Milwaukee with the team to take a physical.
YANKEES: New York right-hander Ian Kennedy left Tuesday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles after three innings with a slightly strained muscle near his right rib cage. Kennedy allowed four runs — three earned — on four hits and struck out three when he departed with the injury to his latissimus dorsi muscle. He surrendered concecutive home runs to Baltimore’s Kevin Millar and Ramon Hernandez during a four-run second inning.
YANKEES: New York signed veteran first baseman Ben Broussard to a minor league contract Tuesday and assigned him to Class AAA Scranton. The 31-year-old Broussard hit .159 with three homers and eight RBI with Texas this season before he was designated for assignment May 8. Broussard, acquired in a December trade with Seattle, was the Rangers’ opening day first baseman.
Associated Press
