Category: MLB (Page 208 of 448)

      Webb might be out the rest of the season

      June 22, 2009 /

      webb

      Arizona Diamondbacks ace and former Cy Young winner Brandon Webb may be out the rest of the season. Webb was expected to miss a maximum of twelve weeks when he injured his shoulder in early April, but after a recent setback things aren’t looking good.

      Diamondbacks ace Brandon Webb was dealt another setback Thursday when he felt discomfort in his right shoulder during a throwing session, causing the Diamondbacks to cancel the bullpen session that had been scheduled for Friday in Seattle.

      Webb left the team and returned to Phoenix, where he will be re-evaluated, according to manager A.J. Hinch. The setback casts doubt on whether he will pitch again this season.

      Webb was seen by a reporter leaving Kauffman Stadium about an hour before Thursday night’s game.

      Webb, who has been out since Opening Day because of what he said was a strained teres major muscle in the shoulder, was scheduled to throw off the mound today for the first time since April.

      Teammate Dan Haren felt bad for what Webb has gone through this season.

      “He’s come with us on the road, and he has seen us struggle a good part of the year,” Haren said. “If he was out there, I’m sure things would be a little different. He’s constantly in the training room doing these drills. To see him not getting better, I couldn’t imagine how frustrated he is.”

      I’ve heard rumors that Webb is asking to be traded as well. He has a team option for 2010, so there’s a chance (although unconfirmed) that Webb is delaying his return until his future with the team is a bit more clear. Either way, this doesn’t sound like Brandon Webb to me. Like Jake Peavy, the guy just seems to love pitching and simply enjoys the game. The Diamonbacks do have one of the worst records in baseball so I can see why Webb may not be ecstatic to come back. Nevertheless, his contract includes a team option for 2010 so Webb doesn’t really have a say in the matter as far as next year is concerned. If he wants to play for a different team or earn a better contract, he needs to come back this season and prove that this injury isn’t one that will linger throughout his career.

      MLB

      Albert Pujols helps Tony La Russa make history

      June 21, 2009 /

      Facing the Kansas City Royals, Albert Pujols went 4-for-5 with two homeruns and six RBIs. His offensive display also helped manager Tony La Russa reach his 2,500th career win.

      “Is it special? Yeah, because I got family and friends here,” Pujols said. “But it’s nothing different than every day of my routine.”

      Some routine.

      Pujols finished with three home runs and 10 RBIs in the sweep, helping ignite an offense that outscored Kansas City 29-11 over three games.

      “He does it over and over again,” La Russa said. “And it’s just impossible to describe how great he is. But when he does something like this, this is really great. It was the difference. His production is the difference in that game.”

      It certainly was the difference in the fourth inning.

      Trailing, 4-3, the Cardinals sent 13 men to the plate and came away with eight runs and an 11-4 lead.

      But it was Pujols who supplied the back-breaking blast, a jolt that crashed off the windows of the Royals Hall of Fame building in left field, an estimated 423 feet from home plate.

      Congratulations to Cardinals manager Tony La Russa who joins Connie Mack and John McGraw as as the only managers in baseball’s lengthy history to reach 2,500 wins. As for Albert Pujols, the dude is incredible. Barring injury or a sudden loss of power, Pujols could go down as one of the top three right-handed hitters of all time (the other two being Hank Aaron and Willie Mays).

      We’re not even at the All-Star break yet and here’s Pujols’ stat line: in just 69 games Pujols is batting .329 with 26 homers, 56 runs, 68 RBIs, and has even chipped in 9 stolen bases. After much speculation about whether Pujols was entering the season with a nagging injury, its fairly obvious that he is all right. He’s having a career year and making guys like me who have him on their fantasy team more than pleased.

      MLB

      Red Sox to skip Dice-K’s next start

      June 21, 2009 /

      With John Smoltz set to come off the DL, the Boston Red Sox have decided to skip struggling Daisuke Matsuzaka’s next start.

      At the moment, Matsuzaka does not have a next scheduled start. John Smoltz is slated to go Thursday in Matsuzaka’s normal turn in the rotation. Pitching coach John Farrell said after the game, “I think until a determination comes from within, we haven’t announced a rotation beyond that.’’

      “There’s certainly no imminent announcement, if that’s what you’re asking for,’’ Farrell added of what comes next for Matsuzaka. “But knowing how determined he is, knowing the work ethic that he has, he’s disappointed, I’m sure. But at the same time we can’t forget that this is a 33-game winner over the previous two years coming into this season. We certainly have some work to do. Consistency of strikes, particularly with his fastball, is the primary target. We’ll continue to work toward that.’’

      Manager Terry Francona said that with Monday’s offday, the Sox have “the ability to be a little flexible in what we do going forward.’’ He also said that nothing is likely to be an nounced before Monday, prior to the team’s trip to Washington.

      The Sox were contemplating moving Brad Penny to the bullpen to make room for Smoltz in the rotation, but he’s pitched well in his last two outings and it’s hard to move him with Dice-K pitching so poorly. Penny’s name has also surfaced in trade rumors the past week, but nothing serious has materialized yet.

      While Boston would certainly love to have the Dice-K that went 18-3 last year, at least with Penny pitching well they can be patient while Matsuzaka works out the kinks. While they have the time, I’m sure the club’s training staff will determine whether or not Dice-K’s problems are physical. He could still be suffering from the shoulder injury that landed him on the DL last month.

      MLB

      Texas to face LSU in 2009 College World Series

      June 20, 2009 /

      Thanks to Connor Rowe’s game-winning solo home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat Arizona State 4-3 on Friday night, the Texas Longhorns are going to the Finals of the 2009 College World Series to face LSU. The Tigers hammered Arkansas 14-5 to eliminate the Razorbacks and head to the Finals.

      The best of three Championship Series between LSU (54-16) and Texas (49-14-1) will start Monday, June 22 at 7:00 p.m. ET. Game 2 will be at 7:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Game 3 (if necessary) will be played at 7:00 p.m. ET Wednesday, June 24.

      No team has as many CWS wins than Texas, who has 81. LSU is tied for 10th on the all-time wins list with 33. The last time the Long Horns were in the Finals was 2005, when they beat Florida 4-2 and 6-2. The Tigers won the CWS the last time they were in the Finals as well, beating Stanford in 2000.

      One player to keep an eye on this series is LSU outfielder Jared Mitchell, who was selected with the 23rd overall pick in the first round of June’s MLB draft by the Chicago White Sox. Mitchell is hitting .400 (4 for 10) so far in this CWS, with two RBI, a run scored and three walks.

      Mitchell was highly considered the best college athlete in the MLB draft as he was also a receiver for the LSU football team. He’s a solid hitter who could eventually find his power stroke and he’s got great speed. The downside is that he’s extremely raw, but he’ll be fun to watch next week in the CWS.

      General Sports, MLB

      Jonathan Papelbon wants to be a Yankee

      June 19, 2009 /

      …okay, so Pabelpon didn’t really say that he wants to be a Yankee. I just threw out that headline to suck readers into the story. It’s called the old bait-and-switch (actually, it’s not called anything – I made that up too) and scumbag bloggers have been using the tactic for years. I promise I won’t do it again…today.

      Here’s what Papelbon really said in relation to possibly joining the Bronx Bomers one day:

      In an appearance on Sirius XM Radio, Jonathan Papelbon told Jody McDonald and Bert Blyleven that he would consider playing for the Yankees once his Boston career is over:

      “Oh, of course. I mean, I think if we can’t come to an agreement on terms here in a Red Sox uniform, I mean I think that’s pretty much the writing on the wall.”

      Papelbon says he’d consider joining other teams, too:

      “Not only the Bronx, but anywhere. I think anywhere is a possibility. You always have to keep that in the back of your mind because you can’t just be one-sided and think that, “Oh, I’m going to be in a Red Sox uniform my entire career” because nowadays that is very, very rare and hopefully we can because there’s no question I would love to stay in a Boston Red Sox uniform but I have to do what’s best for me and play in an atmosphere where I’m wanted.”

      Even the mere suggestion of a BoSox player possibly joining the Evil Empire is enough to get Boston fans to throw up their cereal, but Papelbon is just being realistic. He’s leaving his options open down the road and while there once was a time when no Boston player would ever dream suiting up in pinstripes, Johnny Damon proved that money and opportunity talk louder these days.

      Remember though, Papelbon is under contract with Boston through 2011, so he’s still a couple years away from being able to test the market.

      MLB

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