Top News:
George A. King III / New York Post:
YANKS SUMMON GONZALEZ FOR SHORTSTOP — HE, NOT BETEMIT, WILL TAKE JETER'S PLACE — KANSAS CITY — The Yankees don't know how long Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada are going to be out with leg and shoulder problems, respectively. — What they do know is that Alberto Gonzalez, not Wilson Betemit …
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Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Game 9: Yankees at Royals — YANKEES — Notes: Jorge Posada has been diagnosed with a shoulder strain according to the KC team doctor and should only miss a few days. It doesn't look like a DL. He had the MRI sent to Dr. James Andrews for confirmation and the Yankees will have their doctors look at it as well.
Mark Feinsand / Blogging the Bombers:
Jeter or Posada (and possibly both) headed to DL — The Yankees have yet to announce whether Derek Jeter and/or Jorge Posada will be placed on the disabled list, though one of them most certainly will be by game time tonight. — That's because Alberto Gonzalez, the team's starting shortstop at Triple-A …
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Gonzalez up, Jeter to DL? — Alberto Gonzalez is in Kansas City and is expected to be on the roster for tonight's game. That would seem to indicate that Derek Jeter is headed for the disabled list. — The Attorney General played in 12 games last September and was 1 for 14. But he's a solid glove.
Susan Slusser / SFGate:
Dan Johnson designated — From Chronicle Staff Writer Susan Slusser in Toronto — Quick note: Dan Johnson's agent, Bobby Barad, tells me that the A's have just informed the first baseman that he has been designated for assignment. That means they have 10 days to put Johnson on waivers, trade him or release him.
Discussion:
Athletics Nation, San Francisco Chronicle, MLB Rumors, Catfish Stew and The Transaction Guy
Dan Ventura / Boston Herald:
A hero's welcome — Buckner gets love at Fens … One of the symbols of Red Sox [team stats] Nation's past frustrations was welcomed back with open arms yesterday. — With a packed house at Fenway cheering his every step, Bill Buckner slowly walked in from left field …
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Sabernomics:
Jordan Schafer and Growth Hormone — I'm heading out the door to catch a plane to Memphis, so I don't have much time. But, I want to briefly comment on the 50-game suspension of Braves prospect Jordan Schafer for violating MLB's drug policy in regard to human growth hormone. I'll offer a few thoughts.
Discussion:
ESPN
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The Heater:
Ouch: Floyd to DL, too — The injuries just keep coming for the Rays, with the news Wednesday that DH Cliff Floyd will have surgery Friday to repair a tear in the medial meniscus in his right knee, was placed on the 15-day DL and replaced on the roster by OF Justin Ruggiano.
Gregor Chisholm / MLB.com:
Smith set to make Majors debut vs. Jays — Oakland (4-4) at Toronto (4-3), Wednesday, 4:07 p.m. PT — Left-hander Greg Smith will make his Major League debut on Wednesday night when the Athletics visit the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. — Smith is taking over for injured starting pitcher …
Todd Zolecki / Philly.com:
Rollins won't play tonight — NEW YORK - Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins has been scratched from tonight's game against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium because of a sprained left ankle. Earlier in the day, Rollins had expected to play but he was taken out of the lineup after his normal pre-game stretching routine.
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Mark Hale / New York Post:
METS POISED TO SIGN VARGAS — The Mets are on the verge of signing free-agent right-hander Claudio Vargas to a minor-league contract, and a deal could be done as early as tomorrow, The Post has learned. — Vargas' agent, Bean Stringfellow, told The Post today that the Mets have offered Vargas …
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Billingsley off-kilter in first start — Once again, big early hole foils Dodgers against D-backs — PHOENIX — Joe Torre offered up last week's rain-delay fiasco as one explanation for Chad Billingsley's poor first start Tuesday night, but the young right-hander wasn't making excuses after getting beat.
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Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:Dodgers are off-track in 10-5 loss to Diamondbacks
Discussion:
True Blue LA
saber-scouting:
Phil Hughes' Mechanics: What's The Deal? — When you are the youngest pitcher in Major League Baseball and being touted as the future ace of the New York Yankees, I suppose that it is normal to be under the microscope at all times. And, boy has Phil Hughes been under the microscope.
Bart Hubbuch / Mets Blog:
Strawberry added to SNY team — Darryl Strawberry's role with the Mets continues to grow. — After announcing last month that the long-troubled former slugger would be an outfield coach in spring training and “special ambassador” after that, the Mets have added Strawberry to broadcasts on team-owned SNY starting later this month.
Brad Bortone / Bugs & Cranks:
“Look, Kids! Big Ben...Parliament...” — First off, I'll give a buffalo nickel to anyone who can tell me which movie this post's title came from. At least that movie made me smile more than these “new-look” Mets. — Yeah, yesterday seemed like a lot of deja vu.
ESPN:
Chat with Phillies 2B Chase Utley — Welcome to The Show! On Wednesday, Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley will stop by to chat about the new MLB season. — Utley is off to a fast start to 2008. Through eight games, he is hitting .357 with three home runs and a .486 OBP.
