Daily ArchiveThursday, August 3rd, 2006
Posted on August 3, 2006 by Andrew Flynn
Overnight Dispatches
Stephen Drew will likely be the Diamondbacks starting shortstop for the remainder of 2006, according to the East Valley Tribune. Craig Counsell, who is out of action with a broken rib, isn’t due back until September. Even when Counsell does return, it will probably be in a reserve role, as Drew has been playing solid baseball.
Kerry Wood has decided to not undergo surgery to repair his troublesome shoulder. He’ll miss the remainder of this season due to the partially torn rotator cuff in the joint and hopes to return next season as a reliever, though the Cubs can buy out his contract for $3 million. Wood, who has a partially torn rotator cuff, kept having setbacks as he reached 60-70 pitches in his throwing sessions. Rehab and shorter outings may give him the best chance of contributing next season. Where he’ll be trying his comeback is anyone’s guess. “I think anytime you can avoid surgery that’s what you need to do,” said Wood. “In the situation right now, at this time surgery is not the best option.” The Cubs have enough well compensated relievers as is. He’ll probably take an incentive-laden deal elsewhere.
Mark Mulder (shoulder) will have a bullpen session on Thursday and then is scheduled to pitch for Single-A Quad Cities on Sunday. Mulder felt pain-free on Wednesday after a simulated game on Tuesday. Mulder threw about 50 pitches during the simulated game. “It’s completely different,” Mulder said. “There’s no comparison really. For the most part when I got my arm up, I stayed back and (the pitch) came out just fine. I could feel it. There was a huge difference - as far as life on the ball.” He will make at least two minor league rehab starts before being activated from the disabled list. He could return to the Cardinals’ rotation on Aug. 16.
Jeff Kent (strained oblique) has been rehabbing and could be activated from the disabled list as soon as this weekend. Kent might play first base until Nomar Garciaparra returns from the DL, possibly next Wednesday.
Johnny Estrada, who didn’t catch Tuesday after leaving Monday’s game with an upset stomach, was set to play in Wednesday’s game, which was rained out. He’ll almost certainly catch one game of Thursday’s doubleheader.
Moises Alou went 4-for-4 with a homer, a double and four RBI in the Giants’ 8-6 win over the Nationals on Wednesday. Alou and Shea Hillenbrand hit back-to-back solo homers off Ryan Wagner in the seventh to help the Giants snap their nine-game losing streak. Alou, who missed a few games during the skid, had been without an RBI in nine games since July 19.
Giants manager Felipe Alou told Armando Benitez when he entered Wednesday’s game that if he allowed a runner to get aboard, the closer would be pulled, according to the AP. Alou was true to his word, as he replaced the struggling Benitez after he walked his first batter. Mike Stanton entered the game to earn his first save. “We cannot ostracize Benitez here,” Alou said. “It is very obvious that we need him right.” Alou is trying to stick with his closer, but Benitez is making it difficult, having blown his previous three save opportunities. After Jason Schmidt was removed from a 6-1 game after six, Steve Kline allowed two runs in the seventh. Brad Hennessey took over with two outs in that inning and didn’t allow a run until the ninth, when he gave up three. Fortunately, the Giants had added a couple of insurance runs. Benitez was brought in to face Austin Kearns with the bases empty and issued the walk. Stanton took over and struck out pinch-hitter Alex Escobar to end it. Benitez’s hold on the closer’s role in San Francisco remains shaky. Stanton, though, should be a candidate for more than one or two more saves.
Posted on August 3, 2006 by Andrew Flynn
August 3rd - Standings and Statistics
Standings: 4TH - 75 points - 12.5 out of first Gained 2 points and 0 standings place since yesterday GOK! 87.5 / COVER ZERO 83.5 / X 76 / AARR / SJ 67 / 10PK 64 HR AVG RBI R SB W ERA WHIP K'S S -- --- --- --- --- --- ---- ----- --- --- 177 .2834 654 660 101 57 4.57 1.446 649 31 2ND 3RD 3RD 3RD 1ST 4TH 6TH 9TH 7TH 7TH --- --- --- --- --- --- + 1 + 1 --- --- BOX SCORE FOR 08.02 Atomic Roadrunners ab r h bi | bb so avg --------------------------------------------------------- Ronny Paulino Pit C 4 0 1 0 | 0 2 .309 Prince Fielder Mil 1B 4 1 1 1 | 0 1 .287 Jose Reyes NYM SS 5 2 2 0 | 0 1 .293 Adrian Gonzalez SD 1B 3 0 0 0 | 1 1 .301 Khalil Greene SD SS 4 0 1 1 | 0 1 .260 Adam Dunn Cin OF 4 0 0 0 | 0 4 .260 Moises Alou SF OF 4 1 4 4 | 0 0 .300 Dave Roberts SD OF 4 0 2 0 | 0 0 .296 Geoff Jenkins Mil OF 3 0 0 0 | 0 1 .255 Ryan Langerhans Atl OF 0 0 0 0 | 0 0 .246 --------------------------------------------------------- Totals 35 4 11 6 | 1 11 .314 --------------------------------------------------------- DID NOT PLAY: JEstrada, JKent, RAurilia, JDaVanon RBI: PFielder 1(56), KGreene 1(55), MAlou 4(44) 2B: MAlou 1(11) HR: PFielder 1(20), MAlou 1(12) GIDP: PFielder 1(12), KGreene 1(15) SB: JReyes 1(44) RESERVE HITTING ab r h bi | bb so avg --------------------------------------------------------- Shane Victorino Phi OF 2 1 1 2 | 0 0 .260 Scott Thorman Atl 3B 2 0 0 0 | 0 0 .250 --------------------------------------------------------- Totals 4 1 1 2 | 0 0 .250 --------------------------------------------------------- RBI: SVictorino 2(21) 3B: SVictorino 1(3) RESERVE PITCHING ip h r er bb ibb so bf era whip ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Armando Benitez 0.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0.00 0.00 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals 0.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 2.76 0.00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------