ATM report--Major victory for the Rangers, a setback for the Dodgers

[nyy26wc]

1) Yesterday's scores--

AL
BlueJays 5, Yankees 4 (10)
Whitesox 12, Tigers 5
Redsox at Royals--PPD
A's 8, Angels 7
Orioles 6, Devil Rays 3
Twins 6, Indians 2
Mariners 3, Rangers 2 (11)

NL
Expos 7, Mets 5
Pirates 6, Phillies 5
Reds 6, Cubs 1
Brewers 5, Cardinals 3
Braves 3, Marlins 1
Giants 13, Astros 9
Diamondbacks 9, Rockies 8
Dodgers 4, Padres 1

2) Standings--

AL EAST         WON  LOST  PCT  GB      HOME   ROAD   EAST  CENT  WEST STREAK
Redsox           10    4  .714   -      4-4    6-0   08-02 02-02 00-00 WON  4
Yankees          11    8  .579   1 1/2  6-2    5-6   11-08 00-00 00-00 LOST 1
BlueJays          7    9  .438   4      3-7    4-2   06-06 01-03 00-00 WON  1
Devil Rays        6   10  .375   5      4-4    2-6   02-08 04-02 00-00 LOST 2
Orioles           6   11  .353   5 1/2  2-6    4-5   05-08 01-03 00-00 WON  2

AL CENTRAL      WON  LOST  PCT  GB      HOME   ROAD   EAST  CENT  WEST STREAK
Twins            12    6  .667   -      7-1    5-5   03-01 09-05 00-00 WON  3
Whitesox         11    6  .647     1/2  7-2    4-4   03-01 07-03 01-02 WON  1
Indians          11    6  .647     1/2  6-0    5-6   00-00 09-05 02-01 LOST 5
Royals            5    9  .357   5      2-4    3-5   02-02 03-07 00-00 LOST 2
Tigers            3   13  .188   8      2-6    1-7   02-04 01-09 00-00 LOST 1

AL WEST         WON  LOST  PCT  GB      HOME   ROAD   EAST  CENT  WEST STREAK
Mariners         14    4  .778   -      4-4   10-0   00-00 02-01 12-03 WON  1
A's              10    8  .556   4      5-4    5-4   00-00 00-00 10-08 WON  1
Angels            6   11  .353   7 1/2  3-9    3-2   00-00 01-02 05-09 LOST 1
Rangers           5   12  .294   8 1/2  2-7    3-5   00-00 00-00 05-12 LOST 1

NL EAST         WON  LOST  PCT  GB      HOME   ROAD   EAST  CENT  WEST STREAK
Expos            10    8  .556   -      5-4    5-4   06-06 04-02 00-00 WON  2
Mets             10    8  .556   -      5-4    5-4   07-05 03-03 00-00 LOST 2
Braves            9    9  .500   1      5-3    4-6   09-09 00-00 00-00 WON  3
Marlins           8    9  .471   1 1/2  5-4    3-5   08-09 00-00 00-00 LOST 2
Phillies          7   11  .389   3      5-5    2-6   06-07 01-04 00-00 LOST 3

NL CENTRAL      WON  LOST  PCT  GB      HOME   ROAD   EAST  CENT  WEST STREAK
Pirates          11    5  .688   -      4-4    7-1   04-01 07-04 00-00 WON  5
Reds              9    8  .529   2 1/2  4-5    5-3   03-03 06-05 00-00 WON  1
Cardinals         9    9  .500   3      6-3    3-6   00-00 07-05 02-04 LOST 3
Astros            7   10  .412   4 1/2  3-5    4-5   00-00 06-06 01-04 LOST 3
Cubs              6   10  .375   5      2-5    4-5   02-04 04-06 00-00 LOST 1
Brewers           6   12  .333   6      4-5    2-7   00-00 04-08 02-04 WON  3

NL WEST         WON  LOST  PCT  GB      HOME   ROAD   EAST  CENT  WEST STREAK
Giants           12    5  .706   -      6-3    6-2   00-00 04-01 08-04 WON  2
Diamondbacks     11    7  .611   1 1/2  5-3    6-4   00-00 04-02 07-05 WON  1
Dodgers          11    7  .611   1 1/2  6-3    5-4   00-00 00-00 11-07 WON  4
Padres            8   10  .444   4 1/2  7-2    1-8   00-00 00-00 08-10 LOST 3
Rockies           6   12  .333   6 1/2  3-7    3-5   00-00 04-02 02-10 LOST 1

3) Today's schedule--

AL
BlueJays (Chris Carpenter) at Yankees (Roger Clemens), 1:05
Orioles (Sidney Ponson) at Devil Rays (Delvin James), 1:15
Tigers (Jose Lima) at Whitesox (Jon Rauch), 2:05
Redsox (John Burkett and Derek Lowe) at Royals (Dan Reichert and Bryan Rekar), DH, 2:05
Indians (Chuck Finley) at Twins (Rick Reed), 2:05
Rangers (Doug Davis) at Mariners (Freddy Garcia), 4:35
Angels (Aaron Sele) at A's (Cory Lidle), 8:05

NL
Marlins (Kevin Olsen) at Braves (Tom Glavine), 1:05
Mets (Pedro Astacio) at Expos (Masato Yoshii), 1:35
Phillies (Brandon Duckworth) at Pirates (Kip Wells), 1:35
Cardinals (Bud Smith) at Brewers (Nick Neugebauer), 2:05
Reds (Jose Rijo) at Cubs (Juan Cruz), 2:20
Giants (Ryan Jensen) at Astros (Dave Mlicki), 2:35
Padres (Brett Tomko) at Dodgers (Andy Ashby), 4:10
Rockies (Shawn Chacon) at Diamondbacks (Randy Johnson), 4:35

4) Yesterday's HRs--

Jay Gibbons--#7
Carlos Pena--#6
Torii Hunter--#6
Scott Rolen--#5
Rafael Palmeiro--#4
Frank Thomas--#4
Troy Glaus--#4
Mike Lowell--#4
Danny Bautista--#4
Chipper Jones--#3
Shawn Green--#3
Jose Valentin--#3
Paul Konerko--#3
Magglio Ordonez--#3
Jeff Bagwell--#2
Craig Biggio--#2
Mike Lieberthal--#2
Roosevelt Brown--#2
Benny Agbayani--#2
Todd Helton--#2
Brian Jordan--#2
Milton Bradley--#2
Brad Wilkerson--#1
J.T. Snow--#1
Morgan Ensberg--#1
Tom Wilson--#1
Eric Hinske--#1
Bernie Williams--#1
Enrique Wilson--#1
Doug Mientkiewicz--#1

5) HR leaders--

AL
1) Jay Gibbons--7*
T2) Alex Rodriguez--6
T2) Eric Chavez--6
T2) Robin Ventura--6
T2) Torii Hunter--6*
T2) Carlos Pena--6*
T7) Carlos Delgado--5
T7) Mike Cameron--5
T7) Ben Grieve--5
T7) Shea Hillenbrand--5
T7) Matt Lawton--5
T7) Raul Mondesi--5

NL
1) Lance Berkman--9
2) Barry Bonds--8
T3) Sammy Sosa--6
T3) Jim Edmonds--6
T3) Richie Sexson--6
T3) Cliff Floyd--6
T7) Mike Piazza--5
T7) Andruw Jones--5
T7) Richard Hidalgo--5
T7) Luis Gonzalez--5
T7) Scott Rolen--5*

*--hit 1 yesterday

6) Frank Thomas passed Dick Allen into 59th place on the all time HR list, with 352.

7) Jeff Bagwell passed Chili Davis and tied Dick Allen for 60th place on the all time HR list, with 351.

8) The Dodgers placed P Kevin Brown on the 15 day DL, retroactive to April 14, and called up P Guillermo Mota.

Brown had to leave his last start, due to torn scar tissue and residual swelling in his surgically repaired elbow.

Any time you lose a pitcher of Brown's caliber, it's a big loss for the team.

Mota has a 4.47 career ERA and 3 RSAA in 133 games, with the 1999-2001 Expos and was acquired in a trade in spring training. Mota had a 2.93 ERA/11 RSAA season as a rookie, but has fallen to -5 and -3 RSAA over the past couple of years. He's a reliever, while Odalis Perez will continue to take Brown's spot in the rotation.

9) The Rangers will put C Ivan Rodriguez on the 15 day DL, once they return home from their current roadtrip.

Rodriguez has a herniated disc in his lower back and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks.

This is actually a major victory for the Rangers. Rodriguez will be a free agent after the season and the best thing that can happen for the Rangers is for them to let him go. It's in their best interests to seeing, firsthand, what happens when Rodriguez starts to break down and be sufficiently deterred from resigning him.

Someone is going to grossly overpay for Rodriguez. Someone is going to pay based on his hype value, which has greatly exceeded his performance value.

Anything that can deter the Rangers from being that team is a positive step.

[nyy26wc]

1) Gary Sheffield returned to the Braves lineup, after missing 3 games with a strained thumb. There was concern that he might have to go on the DL, if he wasn't able to return soon.

Sheffield's cooled off, after starting the season with homers in his 1st 3 games. He's currently hitting just .393 SLG, .333 OBA, .727 OPS, -1 RCAA in 15 games, but with his track record, should be expected to put together another excellent season.

2) Rockies RF Larry Walker has missed the past 3 games, due to a sore elbow, and MGR Buddy Bell says he might not return to the lineup until Tuesday.

3) Pirates P Kris Benson was scratched from yesterday's start, in his minor league rehab assignment, due to discomfort in his arm.

Benson is trying to come back from reconstructive elbow surgery, which kept him out of the entire 2001 season.

4) The Tigers called up P Nate Cornejo and placed Dean Palmer on the 15 day DL, retroactive to April 14.

Palmer is recovering from shoulder surgery. Cornejo joined the rotation yesterday.

5) X-rays on Redsox CF Johnny Damon showed he didn't break a bone in his left hand. He wasn't in the lineup yesterday, before their game against the Royals was rained out, but MGR Grady Little says he's expected to play today.

6) The Giants placed P Jason Christiansen on the 15 day DL and called up P Chad Zerbe.

Christiansen has tendinitis in his elbow.

Zerbe had a 3.92 ERA and 0 RSAA in 27 games as a 29 year old rookie in 2001.

7) Astros P Scott Linebrink had to leave yesterday's game, due to a bruised hand, and had precautionary X-rays.

8) The BlueJays activated P Chris Carpenter from the DL and designated OF Brian Lesher for assignment.

Carpenter will rejoin the rotation today.

9) The Redsox activated P John Burkett from the DL and sent INF Lou Merloni to the minors, after he cleared waivers.

Burkett was going to start yesterday, but the rainout pushed his Boston debut to today.

10) Angels DH-1B Brad Fullmer was scratched from yesterday's lineup, due to a jammed thumb.

Fullmer's had a negative RCAA twice in the past 3 years and is off to a bad start to this year, with a .286 SLG, .304 OBA, .589 OPS, -3 RCAA in 15 games.

11) The Indians gave 3B Travis Fryman a routine day off, while SS Omar Vizquel, who's missed the past couple of games due to a sore knee, is expected to return to the lineup today.

In 2001, Fryman had his 3rd double digit negative RCAA in the past 6 years, along with a career low .662 OPS. He's off to a slow start this year, with a .316 SLG, .242 OBA, .558 OPS, -5 RCAA in 16 games.

12) According to new Brewers MGR Jerry Royster, Jeffrey Hammonds will be in the lineup everyday.

I think Royster was misquoted. What he really meant to say was Hammonds will be in the lineup everyday, until he suffers his inevitable injuries.

13) After missing 3 games to be with his pregnant wife, after she broke her ankle, Rockies 3B Todd Zeile returned to action yesterday. He didn't start, but was inserted into the game in a double switch.

14) After hinting that Tim Salmon's everyday job is in danger, now Angels MGR Mike Scioscia says, "It's hard to be productive unless you have a chance to get at-bats. It's not a case where Tim will come in every day and wonder whether he's playing. We're not going to pull the plug on a guy 40 at-bats into the season.

15) Rangers GM John Hart was assured by Joe Sambito, who is John Rocker's agent, that Rocker will show up in the minors, but the team isn't exactly sure when.

That is the same Sambito who pitched mostly for the Astros, during a career that spanned from 1987-87.

[nyy26wc]

1) Twins P Joe Mays had a setback in a throwing session on Friday and is expected to be out longer than just 15 days.

2) The A's say they won't activate Jermaine Dye from the DL until at least the middle of the week.

3) Twins MGR Ron Gardenhire says that even though Dustan Mohr is off to a fast start, Brian Buchanan will still be given the opportunity to retain his starting RF job.

Mohr, a 26 year old rookie, is off to a .574 SLG, .392 OBA, .967 OPS, 5 RCAA start in 13 games. Buchanan's coming off a .830 OPS/5 RCAA season in 2001, his first with more than 100 PA.

4) Marlins LF Cliff Floyd had to miss yesterday's game, due to tonsillitis.

Floyd set career highs with a .578 SLG, .390 OBA, .968 OPS and 53 RCAA in 2001 and is off to a fast start in his quest to exceed those numbers. In 16 games, he's hitting .685 SLG, .500 OBA, 1.185 OPS, 13 RCAA.

5) According to Astros GM Gerry Hunsicker, "I think it's safe to assume that we're not going to have his [Wade Miller's] services for a minimum of probably a month. The good news is we don't think it's anything serious. Nothing came up with the test to suggest something serious was going on there."

6) The Astros called up P Tim Redding.

Redding started yesterday's game. He took Nelson Cruz's spot on the roster, after Cruz was placed on the DL late in the week.

7) According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Andy Benes may ask the Cardinals to release him, so he can find a job somewhere else.

8) Marlins RF Kevin Millar's slow start has resulted in him being benched for the past couple of days, in favor of Eric Owens.

Millar is coming off what was probably a career year, when he hit .557 SLG, .374 OBA, .931 OPS, 33 RCAA. He never did anything that indicated he could maintain that productive level, but has had a positive RCAA in each of his 3 major league seasons and is a better player than his .315 SLG, .262 OBA, .577 OPS, -5 RCAA in 15 games indicate.

Meanwhile, Owens has had a negative RCAA every year of his career, with a -23 figure in 2001, and has a career OPS 120 points below his league average. The Marlins can't be just riding a fast start, as Owens is hitting just .313 SLG, .219 OBA, .531 OPS, -4 RCAA in his first 12 games.

9) Phillies 2B Marlon Anderson was given the day off yesterday, since the team wanted to get Tomas Perez playing time.