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| Wednesday, April 2 Wednesday's Around the Horn ESPN.com |
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AMERICAN LEAGUE
Yankees at Blue Jays New York: Erick Almonte, filling in for injured shortstop Derek Jeter, said he's more comfortable at third. "I signed as a third baseman in 1996, but they moved me to short because they had too many third basemen,'' said Almonte, who also plays third in winter ball. Jeter said Almonte should just concentrate on defense. "He's not coming into a situation where he has to carry a load offensively. This team can score a lot of runs. If he just makes the plays defensively he'll be fine,'' Jeter said. ... Backup infielder Enrique Wilson doesn't mind that Almonte is replacing Jeter instead of him. Wilson even bought Almonte lunch and a pair of dress shoes Wednesday. "That's a real sign of class,'' manager Joe Torre said. ... Jeter was to have an MRI exam on his dislocated left shoulder Thursday in Tampa, Fla. Toronto: OF Jayson Werth, on the 15-day disabled list with a strained wrist, will begin a rehab stint at Class-A Dunedin on Thursday. Manager Carlos Tosca said Werth will be Toronto's fourth outfielder when he returns. ... RHP Justin Miller allowed one run and four hits in five innings for Dunedin against the team's extended spring training squad. He struck out nine, including the last seven in a row, and threw 50 of his 69 pitches for strikes. The team's No. 5 starter, Miller injured his shoulder in January lifting weights. The Blue Jays don't need a fifth starter until April 12 against Minnesota, so Miller will make one more start for Dunedin on Monday.
Red Sox at Devil Rays Boston: C Doug Mirabelli (sprained ankle) expects to be ready for game action in two or three days. He was hurt blocking the plate in Tuesday night's 9-8, 16-inning win over the Devil Rays. X-rays were negative. ... Manager Grady Little said 1B-OF Kevin Millar could be used as an emergency catcher. ... CF Johnny Damon was among several regulars rested after playing in Tuesday's 5-hour, 15-minute game. "We don't want to burn somebody out this early in the season,'' Little said. ... Little said RHP Robert Person (elbow and shoulder) had his scheduled minor league start for Class-A Sarasota pushed back a few days because of a death in the family. ... LHP Matt White (oblique) will resume throwing in the next few days. Tampa Bay: CF Rocco Baldelli has already made a big impression. Boston manager Grady Little said the rookie will be one of the players people will want to pay to see play. "That's my opinion after two games in the major leagues,'' Little said. "I think this guy is going to be a special player. He gets to first from the right side as fast as anybody I've ever seen.'' Baldelli had three infield hits Tuesday night. ... The Devil Rays signed 2B Damion Easley, released by Detroit five days ago. Manager Lou Piniella said Easley and Marlon Anderson will both see time at second. ... RHP Al Levine signed a minor league contract. ... 2B Brent Abernathy was optioned to Triple-A Durham. OF Jason Tyner was designated for assignment.
Rangers at Angels Texas: SS Alex Rodriguez became the youngest player to hit 300 homers. He was 27 years and 249 days old, eclipsing Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx by 79 days. ... 1B Rafael Palmeiro will throw out the ceremonial first pitch when the Rangers' brand new Double-A team in Frisco, Texas, plays its inaugural game Thursday against Tulsa. ... RF Juan Gonzalez, limited to 70 games last season because of an injured thumb on his throwing hand, got his first assist of the season when he threw out Adam Kennedy trying to go from first to third on a single. ... 3B Herbert Perry will start a rehab assignment Thursday in Double-A. He was hampered throughout spring training because of a bruised left knee and a sore right shoulder and was put on the DL March 24. Anaheim: The Angels continued to collect the spoils from last year's championship season during a pregame ceremony. Garret Anderson received his Silver Slugger award, Darin Erstad (CF) and Bengie Molina (C) were presented with Gold Gloves, and Tim Salmon received his comeback player of the year award. ... It took three games, but David Eckstein finally got hit by a pitch. The Angels' leadoff hitter was plunked 27 times last year and 21 times two seasons ago, leading the majors both times and becoming the first player ever to get hit 20 or more times in each of his first two big league campaigns. ... The Angels claimed RHP Elio Serrano off waivers from Philadelphia and designated LHP Mark Lucasiewicz for assignment.
White Sox at Royals Chicago: The team's first seven games are during the day. The White Sox won't play under the lights until April 9 at Cleveland. ... Tony Graffanino had three hits in his first appearance of the season. Kansas City: RHP D.J. Carrasco made his major league debut, retiring Brian Daubach to end the eighth. ... Thursday's starter, right-hander Miguel Asencio, made his major league debut last April 6 against the White Sox by throwing 16 straight balls. He wound up 1-2 against the White Sox in 17 2-3 innings.
Twins at Tigers Minnesota: OF Bobby Kielty was not in the lineup again, but manager Ron Gardenhire doesn't want him to get discouraged. "I talked to Bobby about it and I told him I'm going to figure a way to get him his at-bats,'' Gardenhire said. "Tom Kelly taught me a long time ago, you can't expect a guy to sit out for four or five games and expect him to be sharp.'' ... LHP Kenny Rogers, who signed a $2 million, one-year contract last month, will make his first start Saturday at home against Toronto. "He's a very businesslike guy,'' Gardenhire said. "He's always watching tapes. He told me a couple days ago that he'll get me five or six innings on Saturday. Then he said, I'll get into the eighth. It's getting better every day and he hasn't even pitched yet.'' Detroit: For the first time since 1945, Hall of Fame broadcaster Ernie Harwell was not working on opening day because he retired after last season. "It was a little different,'' Harwell said Wednesday. "But it was all right. I accept it. Life goes on. I've got a new path to follow and I'm looking forward to it. I won't come out too often, but they wanted me to meet and greet the folks.'' ... Besides starting pitcher Jeremy Bonderman, who made his major league debut, every Tigers player and coach was at a Comerica Park gate following batting practice to welcome the sparse crowd for the second game of the season. ... Hall of Famer Al Kaline was honored before the game with a seating section named "Kaline Corner'' beyond the right-field foul pole. The Tigers will donate 100 tickets in Kaline Corner each game to charity groups.
Indians at Orioles Cleveland: SS Omar Vizquel said he would not be interested in going to the New York Yankees to fill in for injured Derek Jeter. Vizquel wants to be a full-time player. "What happens when Jeter comes back?'' Vizquel said. "What would they do with me?'' Cleveland GM Mark Shapiro talked with New York GM Brian Cashman on Wednesday and said that Vizquel's "name never even came up.'' ... New manager Eric Wedge said he's not big on collecting memorabilia, but he saved the lineup card from Monday's game, his first as a major league skipper. ... Vizquel said he wouldn't be surprised if the young Indians needed the first half of the season to come together as a team because there are so many players from different places. "You have to care what your teammates are going through, like in Monday's game,'' Vizquel said, referring to the Indians' 6-5 loss in 13 innings. ... Wedge said the defeat was just another step in the young team's growing process. "It's just going to speed the process of getting everyone settled in and comfortable,'' he said. "The ability and talent is there, and it'll shine through.'' ... Wedge wants to use as many players as possible early on, one reason why Shane Spencer started in left field Wednesday. Baltimore: OF Marty Cordova was scratched from the starting lineup with pain in his lower back. Melvin Mora played LF and B.J. Surhoff was the DH. ... RHP Rick Helling will make his debut with the Orioles on Thursday against the Indians at Camden Yards. "I've pitched here before, obviously, but never as an Oriole,'' he said. You want to make a good first impression.'' ... Closer Jorge Julio pitched two innings on opening day, but manager Mike Hargrove said the right-hander would be used for only one inning on most occasions this season. ... The Orioles have 12 players on their roster born outside the United States, second-most in the majors behind Montreal (14). ... Omar Daal pitched his first game with Baltimore. It was also his first career start against the Indians.
Mariners at Athletics Seattle: SS Carlos Guillen was back in the lineup after missing the season opener Tuesday with a left hip strain. ... Injured C Dan Wilson is still "on schedule'' to be activated from the disabled list Saturday, manager Bob Melvin said. Wilson has a strained oblique muscle. Ben Davis is starting in his place. "He fits the profile of an everyday catcher,'' Melvin said of Davis. "There might be some other places where Ben would play 150 games. That's probably not going to be the case here.'' ... Melvin received quite a care package from someone in Japan, complete with toys and a ticket from the canceled two-game series Seattle and Oakland were supposed to play last week in the Tokyo Dome. Oakland: Manager Ken Macha received seven voicemails congratulating him after he won his managerial debut. "Some were international from Japan,'' said Macha, who played four seasons in Nagoya. ... Before the game, Macha was asked about the rainy weather affecting the start of AL Cy Young winner Barry Zito. "There's nothing you can do about the weather,'' Macha said. "The weather and your wife are the same -- no control. I have a good wife.'' ... SS Miguel Tejada said he wants a new contract from the A's before the end of the season or he will become a free agent. "If I'm going to stay here, I don't want to wait until after the season,'' the reigning AL MVP said. The thing is, A's owner Steve Schott has said the club won't make a multiyear offer to the star shortstop, and that he won't "insult'' Tejada with talk of a one-year contract. However, if Tejada's agent approaches the team with a contract proposal for more than one year, it would be considered, Schott said. But Tejada's agents have asked the team to make the first offer.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Rockies at Astros Colorado: Nelson Cruz is to pitch against his former teammates at Houston's hitter-friendly ballpark Thursday, then go home to Coors Field. "It seem that at every ballpark there is always something that is negative, a short fence, a big gap, something,'' Cruz said. "They told me when I got to Tiger Stadium it would be a hard place to pitch, but I did all right there.'' Houston: Lance Berkman thinks his shift from CF to LF, to make room for Craig Biggio, will be a plus. "It's going to help at least the way I feel,'' Berkman said. "Over the course of the year, there's a lot of running and it can take a toll on you. Your legs don't feel as fresh. It might not affect performance that much but in terms of how I feel physically, I think it will help me a lot.''
Dodgers at Diamondbacks Los Angeles: Bank One Ballpark is one of two major league parks where Fred McGriff has never homered. The other is the new Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati. McGriff has homered in 42 ballparks. ... The Dodgers play their home opener April 7 against Arizona after a four-game stop in San Diego. ... Dave Roberts, who hit a three-run homer off Curt Schilling on Tuesday night, had two home runs in his first 126 games last season but has homered in two of his last three games. He homered in the season finale last year. Arizona: 1B Mark Grace's 10th-inning double Tuesday night was his 507th, moving ahead of Babe Ruth into 35th place on the career list. ... Grace and 3B Craig Counsell got their first starts of the season Wednesday night. ... With RHP Bret Prinz out at least six to eight weeks with a torn right groin, the Diamondbacks are expected to add a reliever in the next few days. One possibility is veteran Mike Jackson, who was cut by Arizona just before the season started. ... Five of the six games on the Diamondbacks' upcoming road trip will be afternoon contests, including home openers for Colorado and Los Angeles.
Expos at Braves Montreal: The Expos' 10-2 victory Monday was their largest ever on opening day. Twice before, Montreal won its first game by seven runs: 9-2 in 1999 and 7-0 in '91. ... RF Vladimir Guerrero completed a two-game suspension stemming from a spring-training fight with Florida. Guerrero is to play his first game of the season Thursday against the Braves. ... The Expos have an international flair, quite appropriate for a team that will play home games in Canada and Puerto Rico. The 25-man roster features players from eight countries (United States, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Japan, Cuba, Colombia, Panama and Mexico) and Puerto Rico. Atlanta: The Braves started Mark DeRosa at second base, an indication of how manager Bobby Cox plans to use his versatile infielder this season. "I intend to move him all over the place,'' Cox said. "Give him as much playing time as we can.'' ... RHP Paul Byrd will make another rehab start on Saturday. Byrd pitched Tuesday night for Class A Myrtle Beach, going 3 1-3 innings. He allowed two runs on two hits, with two walks and two strikeouts. Byrd, who pitched only one inning in spring training because of tendinitis in his elbow, hopes to throw 80 pitches in his next start. "There's just a little discomfort, a little soreness, but nothing major,'' he said. "I'm chomping at the bit to get out there and they're trying to be patient. I feel good, but I understand.'' ... RF Gary Sheffield still has a headache after crashing into the wall on opening day, but he was able to start. ... LF Chipper Jones said his left thumb is still bothering him. He was injured making a diving catch in the first game of spring training. Jones is worried that the thumb will bother him all season. "I probably damaged some ligaments and whenever it hyperextends the least little bit, it hurts. Squeezing a glove, taking off my socks, anything you have to use your thumb for.''
Phillies at Marlins Philadelphia: Manager Larry Bowa was suspended for one game and fined by the commissioner's office Wednesday for his role in a bench-clearing situation during a spring training game last week. The suspension is scheduled for Thursday's series finale against Florida. Bowa, angry that Toronto's Roy Halladay hit Jim Thome in the third inning of the game in Clearwater on March 26, was ejected an inning later after yelling at the pitcher. The commissioner's office said Bowa was penalized for "inciting'' the situation. ... RHP Turk Wendell, on the disabled list because of tendinitis in his forearm and elbow, will begin a rehab assignment Thursday at Single-A Clearwater. RHP Brandon Duckworth, on the DL because of a sore elbow, also will start rehab there Sunday. ... The Phillies' home opener Friday against Pittsburgh is sold out, marking the team's first opening-day sellout since 1994. Florida: RHP A.J Burnett, on the DL because of inflammation in his elbow, will make a rehab start Friday against the franchise's extended spring training team in nearby Jupiter. Florida ace will join the team in Atlanta the following day, throw a bullpen session Sunday and hopefully remain on track to start April 9 against the New York Mets, manager Jeff Torborg said. ... Torborg has handed over all mound visits and pitching changes to pitching coach Brad Arnsberg. "It's not something I've ever done before, but I thought I would give it shot this year.'' ... Torborg plans to start C Ivan Rodriguez on Thursday, even though it is a day game following a night game -- something he rarely did with Charles Johnson last season. "We just had a day off and it's still cool,'' Torborg said.
Cubs at Mets Chicago: The Cubs tried -- and failed -- Wednesday night for their first 2-0 start since 1995. They were not over .500 all of last season, a drought that ended with their 15-2 romp on opening day. ... Corey Patterson, who homered twice and drove in seven runs Monday while batting seventh, was moved up to the leadoff spot. A left-handed hitter, Patterson was to face Mets LHP Al Leiter. Cubs manager Dusty Baker liked Patterson's ability to bunt and run the bases. ... The Cubs' 12 walks in the opener were their most since drawing 12 on June 30, 2000, at Milwaukee. New batting coach Gary Matthews always preaches patience at the plate. New York: Batting coach Denny Walling was released from the hospital after having an angioplasty to relieve a narrowing of a coronary artery. He is expected to be out 7-to-10 days. Chris Chambliss, the Mets' minor league hitting coordinator, will fill in for Walling. ... RHP Pedro Astacio, on the disabled list because of shoulder tendinitis, is scheduled to pitch three innings for Class A St. Lucie on Thursday. ... 1B Mo Vaughn will donate $125,000 to the Jackie Robinson Foundation to endow a college scholarship in perpetuity. Vaughn and New York Yankees reliever Mariano Rivera are the only two active major leaguers still wearing Robinson's No. 42, which has been retired throughout baseball. "The more you know about Jackie's life, the more you are inspired by his strength, determination and courage in the face of adversity,'' Vaughn said.
Pirates at Reds Pittsburgh: OF Brian Giles loved to hit at the Reds' old ballpark, and he seems to be transferring his good feelings to the new place. Giles was a .347 hitter at Cinergy Field, which was imploded after last season. He singled in his first at-bat Wednesday at Great American Ball Park, leaving him with a hit in each of his two games there. ... 1B Randall Simon, obtained in a trade with Detroit last November, is settling in fast. He had a pair of doubles and scored twice in the season-opening 10-1 victory over Cincinnati, then hit a three-run homer in his first at-bat Wednesday. He hit .379 in spring training. Cincinnati: RHP Pete Harnisch will join Triple-A Louisville and start Sunday at Toledo. Harnisch, making a comeback from reconstructive elbow surgery last year, threw 75 pitches to minor leaguers during extended spring training Tuesday in Sarasota, Fla. ... Minor league pitchers Ricardo Aramboles and Luke Hudson are out for the season because of torn labrums in their right shoulders. Aramboles had surgery Tuesday, and Hudson has been diagnosed with the same problem. ... LHP Jimmy Anderson is eager to start against his former team on Thursday. The Pirates demoted him to the bullpen at the end of last season, then let him leave as a free agent. "I was upset with the way they treated me at the end of the year,'' he said Wednesday. "I didn't do my job well enough, but I thought they could have handled it better.''
Brewers at Cardinals Milwaukee: New manager Ned Yost admitted to a rookie mistake in the opening 11-9 loss to the Cardinals. When he switched to closer Mike DeJean in the eighth, he forgot to make a double switch. DeJean was the fourth scheduled hitter in the ninth. Yost got thrown off his game when Orlando Palmeiro hit a pinch RBI triple to cut the Brewers' lead to 7-6. ... The Brewers hit four homers in the opener, one shy of the franchise record for openers set April 10, 1980, against the Red Sox. ... RHP Matt Kinney is to make his first start with the Brewers and will face the Cardinals for the first time on Thursday. He was 0-3 with a 6.39 ERA in seven appearances, five of them starts, in his first spring with the Brewers. ... Despite blowing leads of 4-0 and 7-5 in the opener, the Brewers were thinking positive. Milwaukee is coming of a franchise-worst 56-106 season. "We had some very intense moments the other day and everybody kept their head up,'' shortstop Royce Clayton said. "That's a good mark of a team that's going to change things around.'' St. Louis: Closer Jason Isringhausen, on the disabled list from offseason shoulder surgery, pitched an inning in Peoria, Ill., against Bradley University on Tuesday. Isringhausen is scheduled to throw again on Friday and could require several appearances before he's ready to be activated. ... RHP Jason Simontacchi started that game and threw six innings in his final tuneup before his season debut on Sunday against the Astros. ... OF Eli Marrero, who has a deep thigh bruise after colliding with 2B Fernando Vina on a shallow pop fly in the opener, was out of the lineup on Wednesday. Marrero is also the backup catcher and likely won't play behind the plate for a while. Marrero also had a root canal on Tuesday, but was one of a handful of players to participate in an optional off-day workout. ... CF Jim Edmonds, recuperating from a calf injury in spring training, will get a day off on Thursday. |
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