Daily ArchiveFriday, August 4th, 2006
Posted on August 4, 2006 by Andrew Flynn
Overnight Dispatches
Assuming he comes through a side session today OK, Mark Mulder will make a rehab assignment Sunday for Low-A Quad Cities, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “I’m not concerned about my shoulder anymore,” said Mulder, who has been on the DL since June 22 because of a shoulder impingement. Mulder felt pain-free on Wednesday after a simulated game on Tuesday. 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.
Khalil Greene sprained the middle finger on his left hand while hitting in the fourth inning Thursday, according to the AP. “It’s day-to-day right now,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “He had X-rays that were negative and we’re going to do some more tests. We’ll know more tomorrow.”
Jeff Kent (oblique) experienced discomfort while taking batting practice on Thursday, leaving his return up in the air. “I’m definitely being more cautious,” he said. Kent will get to play first base immediately after returning, but it’s swinging, not fielding, that’s giving him problems.
Khalil Greene sprained the middle finger on his left hand while hitting in the fourth and was later removed from Thursday’s game. “It’s day-to-day right now,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “He had X-rays that were negative and we’re going to do some more tests. We’ll know more tomorrow.” Geoff Blum might be needed to fill in at shortstop for a couple of days.
Clay Hensley surrendered one run in 5 2/3 innings Thursday in a victory over the Astros. The 5-2 win snaps a three-game losing streak for San Diego. Hensley is still proving to be a useful NL-only starter. He has a 2.78 ERA over his last four starts and is at 7-8 with a 4.33 ERA this season.
Adrian Gonzalez had three singles and three RBI in the win over the Astros on Thursday. Still going strong. Gonzalez is batting .420 with six homers, eight doubles and 19 RBI in 20 games since the All-Star break. Ryan Klesko isn’t going to be any threat to Gonzalez at first base if he can return later this month.
Mets signed shortstop Jose Reyes to a four-year, $23.25 million contract extension with an option for 2011. Reyes would have been eligible for arbitration for the first time after this season, and he would have been a free agent after 2009. This sets him for life in case he resumes having leg troubles, but he may be costing himself a fair amount of money, especially in his first two years of free agency. As a free agent at age 26, he could have received one of the biggest contracts in baseball history, even if he didn’t get much better than he is now. Lopez gets a $1.5 million signing bonus, $2.5 million in 2007, $4 million in 2008, $5.75 million in 2009 and $9 million in 2010. The option year is worth $11 million and invludes a $500,000 buyout.
Juan Cruz beat the Cubs for the second time this season by allowing one run over five innings in the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader. Three of Cruz’s four wins — probably his three best starts — have come against his former clubs. He’s allowed one run through 10 innings while defeating the Cubs twice, and he threw seven scoreless innings for a victory over the Braves on June 1. He has a 4.64 ERA in 13 starts and seven relief appearances.
Stephen Drew had a solo homer, a two-run triple and a sac fly in the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader against the Cubs. The big game earned him another start in Game 2. Drew has two homers, three triples and five doubles in 17 games since replacing Craig Counsell.
Brandon Webb is expected to miss his scheduled start Saturday with a sore elbow. An MRI showed no damage, but Webb apparently will take a little time off to deal with the elbow soreness that has troubled him since the All-Star break. “He’s felt it one other time this year, and then it wasn’t there,” manager Bob Melvin said. “Guys get this stuff all the time. But this was the second time he kind of felt it, so we wanted to make sure we were proactive. There’s nothing in the MRI, it’s a a little teeny bit of swelling in there.” The Diamondbacks didn’t say who would start in his place. Edgar Gonzalez and Dustin Nippert could be candidates to be called up.
Posted on August 4, 2006 by Andrew Flynn
August 4th - Standings and Statistics
Standings: 4TH - 73 points - 14 out of first Lost 0 points and 0 standings place since yesterday GOK! 87 / COVER ZERO 82 / X 75 / AARR / SJ 68 / 10PK 65 HR AVG RBI R SB W ERA WHIP K'S S -- --- --- --- --- --- ---- ----- --- --- 177 .2831 660 662 103 58 4.56 1.448 653 31 2ND 3RD 3RD T-3 1ST 4TH 6TH 10TH 7TH 7TH --- --- --- - 1 --- --- + 1 --- --- --- BOX SCORE FOR 08.03 Atomic Roadrunners ab r h bi | bb so avg --------------------------------------------------------- Johnny Estrada Ari C 4 0 0 0 | 0 2 .313 Ronny Paulino Pit C 1 0 0 0 | 0 0 .308 Rich Aurilia Cin 2B 3 0 0 0 | 0 1 .283 Jose Reyes NYM SS 3 0 0 1 | 1 1 .291 Adrian Gonzalez SD 1B 4 0 3 3 | 0 1 .305 Khalil Greene SD SS 2 0 0 0 | 0 1 .259 Adam Dunn Cin OF 4 0 0 0 | 0 3 .257 Dave Roberts SD OF 4 1 3 1 | 1 0 .302 Ryan Langerhans Atl OF 1 0 0 0 | 2 0 .245 Jeff DaVanon Ari OF 6 1 2 1 | 0 2 .286 --------------------------------------------------------- Totals 32 2 8 6 | 4 11 .250 --------------------------------------------------------- RBI: JReyes 1(46), AGonzalez 3(56), DRoberts 1(29), JDaVanon 1(34) 2B: DRoberts 1(13), JDaVanon 1(12) GIDP: RPaulino 1(12) SB: DRoberts 1(31), RLangerhans 1(1) ERRORS: KGreene 1(9) PITCHING ip h r er bb ibb so bf era whip ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Juan Cruz W(4-6) 5.0 5 1 1 4 0 4 24 1.80 1.80 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals 5.0 5 1 1 4 0 4 24 1.80 1.80 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- RESERVE HITTING ab r h bi | bb so avg --------------------------------------------------------- Shane Victorino Phi OF 1 1 1 0 | 0 0 .264 Stephen Drew Ari SS 7 2 4 5 | 1 1 .313 Carlos Quentin Ari OF 4 0 1 0 | 1 0 .310 Scott Thorman Atl 3B 3 0 1 0 | 1 1 .253 --------------------------------------------------------- Totals 15 3 7 5 | 3 2 .467 --------------------------------------------------------- RBI: SDrew 5(8) 2B: SVictorino 1(10), SDrew 1(6) 3B: SDrew 1(3) HR: SDrew 1(2) SB: SThorman 1(1) RESERVE PITCHING ip h r er bb ibb so bf era whip ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Clay Hensley W(7-8) 5.7 4 1 1 1 0 4 22 1.58 0.88 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals 5.7 4 1 1 1 0 4 22 1.58 0.88 ----------------------------------------------------------------------