This newsletter is juiced

[cubfan33]

Netshrine.com ... if you haven't checked out the home of intelligent baseball yet, there's really no excuse. None. Come chat about today's UTK, Lee Sinins' ATM, and Ken Caminiti's BS.



I'm working on about ten different fronts on the steroid story, but I'm sticking to my guns as well. Steroids are bad, no doubt, but they're only the tip of the iceberg. The rampany use of creatine and other supplements needs to be addressed as well, but just isnt as good a headline. After all the attention the SI story (and its a good one) has gained, I spoke to several players, trainers, and coaches. All are suddenly inching up with their estimates on how many players are using. One trusted source said "Fifty is way too high, but ten is probably too low. I think it matters on what you count. Ever? Maybe thirty. Now? Maybe ten." Another source said that checks on associated doctors prescription records could be the real eye opener. "It's one thing to be using steroids," said this player, "but like most drugs, people will forgive. If it's the doctor prescribing it, the team sanctioning it, and the player using it, the whole system is f**ked."

Sad when the injury news is less depressing but ...

RUBY DURAZO is cursed. Cursed! Once again, Durazo is having troubles with his oft-injured wrist. While Manager Bob Brenley and team officials refuse to discuss the injury publicly, Durazo appears to have some residual pain and numbness (yes, you can have both) in his wrist. He's scheduled for tests and there's no timetable for his return. It could be tomorrow or this could be the season for Durazo so stay tuned.

Yankees pitchers on the rehab trail. ANDY PETTITTE followed up a not so good rehab start with a good bullpen session. Pettitte went 48 pitches and felt good afterwards. After fatiguing early in his last outing, this is a very good sign. ORLANDO HERNANDEZ threw on flat ground (otherwise known as playing catch) today for the first time since going on the DL. He appears to be avoiding needles and scalpels this time and should be back near the 15 day date.

BRAD PENNY will be out a month with his elbow/arm problems. This is the first timetable put on a return and is generally around the guesses we've heard. It's unsure if Penny will make any rehab starts. JOSH BECKETT got shelled tonight so getting Penny back is important in the NL East "race."

BOBBY JONES (Padre version) will return on Thursday. The Pads are thinking long and hard about the roster move. SEAN BURROUGHS has been a big disappointment and DENNIS TANKERSLEY has pitched well, but will likely be sent back to Mobile if he won't be in the rotation. Should Tank stay? Probably. Will he? 50-50 at this point.

JASON CHRISTIANSON heard the three words no pitcher wants to hear: Dr. James Andrews. Dr. Andrews will put Christianson under the knife soon and his season is done.

DAVID ECKSTEIN returned to the Angels lineup tonight (and lead off) but he is limited to DH duty. He still is having problems with lateral movement - an essential skill for a shortstop - after spraining his knee. He'll probably be able to return to the field next week.

Roster shenanigans again for the Cubbies. DELINO DESHIELDS again avoided being decut from deteam by way of the deDL. He has what's being called a hip flexor injury. Whatever. TODD HUNDLEY's return should have resulted in the Cubs cutting Deshields or exposing one of their three bad catchers to waivers. Eventually, this juggling will catch up with them. Hundley will continue to split duties with JOE GIRARDI (now MARK PRIOR's official caddy) and MACHO MACHADO. I still say fire Baylor and make Girardi the manager.

The Rangers are also juggling. The Newberg Report - as always when it comes to the Rangers - have much more in depth coverage of the latest Ranger moves and the thinking behind them, if you can call it thinking. Lots of weird pitching moves to be sure and some potential deals (JASON LARUE to the Rangers?). FRANKIE THE CAT will return Friday and it is unsure how the Rangers will move him back on. JAY POWELL is in Oklahoma awaiting the call, but he will likely stay a few days past his eligible date of May 31 while decisions and trades are made. MARK TEIXEIRA has also returned to the field for the Rangers. He should be fun to watch.

MATT MANTEI will crank it up again tonight, but B.K. KIM's job is safe until at least mid-June. Longer if Brenly has any sense.

RICK ANKIEL began throwing curveballs in the bullpen and is another step closer to a rehab assignment/minor league stint. The Cards are still not sure how they will deal with their Jekyll and Hyde prospect. Ankiel is a UTK fave, so we're rooting for him.

BRYAN BULLINGTON is a lock at number one to the Pirates. He attends college with my brother so I've seen him a couple times. Good pitcher with a great pitcher's body. I'm no scout but he reminds me of another guy I saw play in college: Jon Lieber.

Next report tomorrow ... flashes as needed ... especially if we get news on a major interview we're working on.

The first UTK subscriber to order Lee Sinin's Sabermetric Baseball Encyclopedia will get an Under The Knife coffee mug. www.baseball-encyclopedia.com

[Commish]

Bullington is from my home town and I was the sports director at the local radio station while he pitched madison to a State Championship in his senior year. He is awesome and a really unbelievable kid. Bullington was drafted out of high school by the Royals but went to college instead. Another teammate, Chad Liter, was drafted by the Rockies but went to junior college and is now at the University of Dayton as the starting center fielder.

Another thing about the Pirates and the Madison connection. Chris Bass a teammate of Bullington in high school was drafted by the Pirates and went straight to rookie league. He is now in extended spring training with the Pirates (2nd full season in the minors) after spending last year at Hickory.

Finally, the Madison head coach, Indiana Hall of Famer Gary O'Neal, was a draft pick of the Pirates in the 60's and assistant coach Bobby Kring is a regional/part time scout for the Pirates organization.

Three kids drafted into the majors on one high school team....they were pretty impressive...they might have been able to beat Milwaukee in a seven game series!