Posted on October 1, 2006 by Andrew Flynn
Overnight Dispatches
From Rotoworld, Rototimes, Rotowire:
Khalil Greene is expected to make his first start today since Aug. 17, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. “I want to get Greeney some innings,” manager Bruce Bochy said. Greene has been recovering from a torn ligament in his left middle finger. Greene (finger, hand) played the final three innings at shortstop on Saturday and made one plate appearance. He had not done anything except for pinch-run since Aug. 17. He remains unlikely to regain his starting shortstop position for the foreseeable future, according to the Padres’ official site. Greene made several strong defensive plays at shortstop and walked at the plate. Still, he is likely to backup Geoff Blum in the playoffs. “I’ve just been out for so long, I don’t see how one game could get me back to the point where I’d be a benefit to the team in a playoff atmosphere,” Greene said. Expect him to play a role as a pinch-hitter and defensive replacement in the playoffs.
Jeff Kent still is dealing with a sore oblique muscle. As a result, the Dodgers likely will hold him out of action on Sunday, so he can rest up for the postseason, according to the LA Times.
Derek Lowe will not start Sunday’s season finale now that the Dodgers have clinched a playoff spot, according to the AP. Eric Stults will start in his place. Lowe is scheduled to start Game 1 on the playoffs for the Dodgers.
Chipper Jones did not start Saturday’s game as his left oblique injury keeps him out against left-handers and Houston started Andy Pettitte. He did appear as a pinch-hitter in the eighth and flew out to right. He then remained in to play third base. Jones still doesn’t like swinging against left-handers because of his strained oblique. He’ll probably play Sunday unless the Astros do something crazy, like choosing Wandy Rodriguez to start.
Doug Davis said Friday that he will want a three-year deal from the Brewers to forgo arbitration. If he doesn’t get the multiyear contract, he’ll take the team to arbitration and then become a free agent after next season. Davis, who finished 11-11 with a 4.91 ERA, would have been in a stronger bargaining position a year ago. Because of his hard stance, the Brewers could consider making him available in trade talks. He’d likely want at least $7 million per year in a multiyear deal.
In his first appearance in two weeks, former Roadrunner Juan Cruz struck out three in two perfect innings Saturday against the Padres. Can you say Brian Bruney? Last year, it was Bruney who got the same treatment Cruz did, as manager Bob Melvin indicated he already knew what Bruney could do and wanted to take a look at some other young pitchers. Cruz, who was wrongly bounced from the rotation after beating the Giants on Aug. 8, pitched a total of 11 2/3 innings over the final seven weeks. He ends the year with a 4.18 ERA and an 88/47 K/BB ratio in 94 2/3 innings. If the Diamondbacks decide they don’t want him, there will be no shortage of teams interested in picking him up.
Craig Counsell started over former Roadrunner Stephen Drew on Saturday and went 0-for-3 with a walk in the loss to the Padres. Drew had a pinch-hit homer to drive in the Diamondbacks’ lone run. It makes sense that Arizona wanted to give Luis Gonzalez a proper sendoff, but Craig Counsell does not need to start all four games of what figures to be his final home series as a Diamondback. We’re talking about a 36-year-old who remains short of 900 career hits. These at-bats he’s getting would be better spent on Drew and Alberto Callaspo.