Daily ArchiveSaturday, May 6th, 2006
Posted on May 6, 2006 by Andrew Flynn
Overnight Dispatches
From RotoWorld:
Cody Ross began a rehab assignment on Friday, according to the Cincinnati Post. He was just placed on the disabled list Tuesday with a bruised left pinky. The Reds may keep him in the minors for a couple of weeks simply to pick up some at-bats.
The Phillies placed Mike Lieberthal on the DL Friday with a left knee contusion that he suffered in Thursday’s game, according to the AP. Lieberthal is hitting .297 in 64 at-bats this year. Sal Fasano will receive the bulk of the playing time while Lieberthal is out. Carlos Ruiz was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to take Lieberthal’s roster spot. It seems unlikely that Lieberthal will need the full 15 days off after getting hit in the left knee by a pitch last night, but the Phillies couldn’t afford to play a man short in the meantime. Sal Fasano and Carlos Ruiz will share time behind the plate. Fasano is starting tonight, but Ruiz might be the better choice in NL-only leagues for the next two weeks.
After throwing 82 pitches in his start on Thursday, Juan Cruz could throw 100 in his next time out, according to the Arizona Republic. Cruz was making just his second start after opening the year in the bullpen.
Moises Alou left Friday’s game in the third inning with an apparent right ankle injury. Alou caught a spike while chasing a foul ball and collapsed to the ground. He was in quite a bit of pain and he had to be carted off, so a DL trip appears to be very likely. The Giants will play Steve Finley regularly while Alou is out. Jason Ellison becomes the fourth outfielder. X-rays on Moises Alou’s right ankle were negative. The injury is being called a sprain. Giants trainer Stan Conte indicated that Alou would go on the 15-day disabled list.
Adrian Gonzalez is taking a seat in favor of Mark Bellhorn for the third straight game on Friday night. The Padres don’t have a single regular with an OPS of 800, so it seems unfair that Gonzalez is beginning to do all of the sitting while Bellhorn starts. Gonzalez hasn’t necessarily earned regular playing time, but he’s at least as worthy of at-bats as Vinny Castilla. Maybe he’ll resume getting them soon.
Brandon Webb held the Reds to one run and seven hits in eight innings on Friday to improve to 5-0. Webb struck out five and walked none. He’s one of the NL’s very best pitchers right now, and that doesn’t seem likely to change.
Jose Reyes went 5-for-7 with a triple and a walk Friday against the Braves. He raised his average from .242 to .268 with the performance. Surprisingly, Reyes didn’t attempt a steal during any of those times on base. He hasn’t swiped a base in seven games.
Brad Lidge was charged with his third blown save after giving up two runs — one earned — in one-third of an inning Friday against the Rockies. Lidge had worked each of the previous three days and four of the past five, so this is a game he probably shouldn’t have ever been a part of. After entering with a one-run lead, he gave up a leadoff double to Brad Hawpe. Clint Barmes laid down a bunt that Morgan Ensberg committed an error on, allowing the tying run to score and putting the winning run on second. A sac bunt moved Barmes over and Eli Marrero walked, ending Lidge’s night. Dan Wheeler came on and, after an intentional walk, walked in the winning run.
Taylor Buchholz yielded three runs — two earned — in seven innings Friday in a no-decision against the Rockies. Buchholz outpitched Byung-Hyun Kim, but he had nothing to show for it after Brad Lidge and poor defense combined to blow a one-run lead in the ninth. Buchholz will be worth using in NL-only leagues against the Dodgers next week.
After returning to St. Louis to have his back examined by doctors, Mark Mulder will make his scheduled start Saturday against the Marlins. It’s a good matchup for Mulder, although he is somewhat risky right now.
Posted on May 6, 2006 by Andrew Flynn
May 6th - Standings and Statistics
Standings: 4th Place - 71.5 points 7.5 out of first Cover Zero 79.5 / GOK 77.5 / X 75 / AARR / SJ 71 / 10PK 68 / Pi 68 HR  AVG  RBI  R  SB   W  ERA  WHIP  K'S  S --  ---  --- --- --- --- ---- ----- --- --- 44 .2629 190 184 29  17  3.54 1.340 175  8 T-4 8TH  1ST 3RD T-2 T-4 3RD  5TH   9TH T-7TH BOX SCORE FOR 05.05 Atomic Roadrunners           ab r h bi | bb so   avg --------------------------------------------------------- Johnny Estrada      Ari C   4 1 2  1 | 0 0  .297 Prince Fielder      Mil 1B   4 1 2  0 | 0 0  .336 Ryan Zimmerman      Was 3B   4 0 1  0 | 0 0  .245 Jose Reyes          NYM SS   7 2 5  0 | 1 0  .268 Adrian Gonzalez      SD 1B   1 0 0  0 | 0 0  .228 Khalil Greene        SD SS   4 1 0  0 | 1 3  .204 Adam Dunn           Cin OF   4 0 0  0 | 0 2  .245 Moises Alou          SF OF   1 0 1  1 | 1 0  .378 Dave Roberts         SD OF   5 0 2  0 | 0 0  .260 Jeff DaVanon        Ari OF   1 0 0  0 | 0 1  .279 J.J. Hardy          Mil SS   5 0 1  0 | 0 1  .262 --------------------------------------------------------- Totals                       40 5 14  2 | 3 7  .350 --------------------------------------------------------- RBI: JEstrada 1(16), MAlou 1(25) 2B: JEstrada 1(4), JHardy 1(4) 3B: JReyes 1(5) GIDP: JEstrada 1(2) SB: KGreene 1(3) PITCHING                         ip h r er bb ibb so bf   era whip ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Dan Wheeler                     0.0 0 0 0 2  1 0 2   0.00 0.00 Armando Benitez                 1.0 0 0 0 0  0 1 3   0.00 0.00 Aaron Heilman                   2.0 1 0 0 0  0 1 7   0.00 0.50 Brandon Webb     W(5-0)        8.0 7 1 1 0  0 5 31   1.12 0.88 Matt Wise        L(2-2)        0.3 2 1 1 0  0 0 3  30.00 6.67 Danys Baez       W(1-1)BS(3)   1.7 1 0 0 0  0 1 6   0.00 0.59 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals                         13.0 11 2 2 2  1 8 52   1.38 1.00 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- RESERVE HITTING              ab r h bi | bb so   avg --------------------------------------------------------- Jeff Kent           LAD 2B   4 1 2  0 | 0 0  .194 --------------------------------------------------------- Totals                        4 1 2  0 | 0 0  .500 --------------------------------------------------------- 2B: JKent 1(3) RESERVE PITCHING                 ip h r er bb ibb so bf   era whip ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Taylor Buchholz                 7.0 6 3 2 1  0 2 29   2.57 1.00 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals                          7.0 6 3 2 1  0 2 29   2.57 1.00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------