Surgery; Bereavement; Interest in Beltre

[nyy26wc]

1) Yesterday's scores--

AL
Twins at Royals--PPD
Orioles 7, Whitesox 1
Devil Rays 4, BlueJays 3
Rangers 6, Redsox 1
Tigers 4, A's 1
Mariners 4, Indians 0
Yankees 9, Angels 2

NL
Padres 2, Cubs 0
Giants 4, Pirates 3 (13)
Marlins 5, Brewers 4 (12)
Diamondbacks 6, Expos 2
Phillies 6, Rockies 4
Braves 4, Cardinals 2
Reds 3, Dodgers 0
Mets 4, Astros 2

2) Standings--

AL EAST         WON  LOST  PCT  GB      HOME   ROAD   EAST  CENT  WEST STREAK
Yankees          18    3  .857   -      7-2   11-1   09-03 07-00 02-00 WON  7
Redsox           14    7  .667   4      7-2    7-5   13-06 00-00 01-01 LOST 1
Orioles          10   10  .500   7 1/2  6-6    4-4   06-06 04-04 00-00 WON  1
Devil Rays        8   13  .381  10      6-6    2-7   08-13 00-00 00-00 WON  2
BlueJays          7   15  .318  11 1/2  2-7    5-8   04-12 03-03 00-00 LOST 2

AL CENTRAL      WON  LOST  PCT  GB      HOME   ROAD   EAST  CENT  WEST STREAK
Royals           15    3  .833   -      9-0    6-3   00-00 15-03 00-00 WON  4
Whitesox         12    9  .571   4 1/2  7-3    5-6   01-01 11-08 00-00 LOST 1
Twins             9   11  .450   7      3-7    6-4   03-10 06-01 00-00 LOST 5
Indians           7   14  .333   9 1/2  3-7    4-7   03-03 04-09 00-02 LOST 2
Tigers            2   17  .105  13 1/2  1-7    1-10  00-00 01-16 01-01 WON  1

AL WEST         WON  LOST  PCT  GB      HOME   ROAD   EAST  CENT  WEST STREAK
Mainers          13    8  .619   -      8-4    5-4   00-00 02-00 11-08 WON  3
A's              11   10  .524   2      8-3    3-7   00-00 01-01 10-09 LOST 1
Angels            9   12  .429   4      6-5    3-7   00-02 00-00 09-10 LOST 3
Rangers           9   12  .429   4      6-6    3-6   01-01 00-00 08-11 WON  1

NL EAST         WON  LOST  PCT  GB      HOME   ROAD   EAST  CENT  WEST STREAK
Braves           12    9  .571   -      7-5    5-4   10-09 02-00 00-00 WON  3
Expos            12    9  .571   -      7-5    5-4   08-05 03-03 01-01 LOST 1
PHillies         12    9  .571   -      7-5    5-4   07-06 03-03 02-00 WON  2
Marlins          11   11  .500   1 1/2  7-4    4-7   09-11 02-00 00-00 WON  2
Mets              9   12  .429   3      6-5    3-7   05-08 04-04 00-00 WON  1

NL CENTRAL      WON  LOST  PCT  GB      HOME   ROAD   EAST  CENT  WEST STREAK
Cubs             13    8  .619   -      8-4    5-4   04-02 08-05 01-01 LOST 1
Astros           10   10  .500   2 1/2  5-4    5-6   01-01 06-06 03-03 LOST 1
Pirates          10   10  .500   2 1/2  4-7    6-3   03-03 06-06 01-01 LOST 1
Cardinals         9   10  .474   3      4-4    5-6   00-02 07-04 02-04 LOST 4
Brewers           8   13  .381   5      4-6    4-7   00-02 06-07 02-04 LOST 2
Reds              7   14  .333   6      4-7    3-7   02-04 04-09 01-01 WON  1

NL WEST         WON  LOST  PCT  GB      HOME   ROAD   EAST  CENT  WEST STREAK
Giants           16    4  .800   -      7-2    9-2   00-00 06-02 10-02 WON  1
Rockies          12    9  .571   4 1/2  8-1    4-8   00-02 03-03 09-04 LOST 2
Dodgers           9   12  .429   7 1/2  5-4    4-8   00-00 01-01 08-11 LOST 1
Diamondbacks      8   13  .381   8 1/2  4-6    4-7   01-01 03-03 04-09 WON  1
Padres            8   13  .381   8 1/2  5-5    3-8   00-00 01-01 07-12 WON  1

3) Today's schedule--

AL
Redsox (Derek Lowe) at Rangers (Ryan Drese), 2:05
Twins (Brad Radke) at Royals (Chris George), 2:05
Tigers (Nate Cornejo) at A's (Mark Mulder), 3:35
Whitesox (Josh Stewart) at Orioles (Rodrigo Lopez), 7:05
BlueJays (Tanyon Sturtze) at Devil Rays (Jorge Sosa), 7:15
Indians (Brian Anderson) at Mariners (Jamie Moyer), 10:05
Yankees (Andy Pettitte) at Angels (Ramon Ortiz), 10:05

NL
Giants (Damian Moss) at Pirates (Kris Benson), 12:35
Padres (Oliver Perez) at Cubs (Matt Clement), 2:20
Rockies (Aaron Cook) at Phillies (Randy Wolf), 3:05
Diamondbacks (Byung-Hyun Kim) at Expos (Javier Vazquez), 7:05
Brewers (Todd Ritchie) at Marlins (Mark Redman), 7:05
Astros (Wade Miller) at Mets (Pedro Astacio), 7:10
Dodgers (Kevin Brown) at Reds (Ryan Dempster), 7:10
Cardinals (Woody Williams) at Braves (Mike Hampton), 7:35

4) Yesterday's HRs--

Alfonso Soriano--#8
Jorge Posada--#7
Gary Sheffield--#6
Carlos Delgado--#6
Raul Mondesi--#6
Luis Gonzalez--#6
Jose Cruz Jr.--#6
Jim Edmonds--#5
Jay Gibbons--#4
Bobby Estalella--#4
Josh Phelps--#3
Marcus Giles--#3
Chad Moeller--#3
Steve Finley--#3
Jeff Conine--#2
Tom Wilson--#2
Juan Castro--#2
Craig Monroe--#1
John Olerud--#1
Ryan Christenson--#1
Raul Gonzalez--#1
Craig Wilson--#1

5) HR leaders--

AL
1) Alfonso Soriano--8*
T2) Alex Rodriguez--7
T2) Carl Everett--7
T2) Jorge Posada--7*
T5) Carlos Delgado--6*
T5) Raul Mondesi--6*
T7) Rafael Palmeiro--5
T7) Juan Gonzalez--5
T7) Tim Salmon--5
T7) Hank Blalock--5
T7) Robin Ventura--5
T7) Kevin Millar--5
T7) Terrence Long--5
T7) Nomar Garciaparra--5
T7) Bret Boone--5
T7) Karim Garcia--5
T7) Bernie Williams--5
T7) Carlos Lee--5

NL
1) Austin Kearns--9
2) Jeff Bagwell--8
3) Adam Dunn--7
T4) Barry Bonds--6
T4) Gary Sheffield--6*
T4) Craig Biggio--6
T4) Luis Gonzalez--6*
T4) Jose Cruz Jr.--6*
T9) Sammy Sosa--5
T9) Scott Rolen--5
T9) Todd Helton--5
T9) Rondell White--5
T9) Richie Sexson--5
T9) Andruw Jones--5
T9) Reggie Sanders--5
T9) Alex Gonzalez (Marlins)--5
T9) Jim Edmonds--5*

*--hit 1 yesterday

6) The Devil Rays placed OFs Ben Grieve (retroactive to April 18) and Damian Rolls on the 15 day DL, called up 3B Chris Truby, designated P Luis de los Santos for assignment and minor league P Delvin James cleared waivers.

Grieve will have exploratory surgery on his left thumb today and could miss 3-6 weeks.

Rolls has a fractured right thumb tip.

Truby's coming off a horrible .314 SLG, .238 OBA, .552 OPS, -27 RCAA season with the Expos and Tigers and has a .654 career OPS, compared to his league average of .775, and -43 RCAA in 251 games.

7) The Orioles placed LF Marty Cordova on the 15 day DL and called up 3B Jose Leon.

After 11 RCAA/.855 OPS and -7 RCAA/.759 OPS seasons, Cordova's off to a .367 SLG, .410 SLG, .777 OPS, 1 RCAA start in his first 9 games. He has a .792 career OPS, compared to his league average of .776, and -20 RCAA in 952 games.
Cordova will have surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks.

Leon had a .650 OPS/-3 RCAA in 36 games as a 25 year old rookie in 2002.

Correction from yesterday--The Cubs who were hit by pitches from Brian Lawrence were Sammy Sosa, Hee Seop Choi and Mark Bellhorn.

[nyy26wc]

1) The Angels gave P Francisco Rodriguez bereavement leave, sent OF Julio Ramirez to the minors and called up Ps Derrick Turnbow and Rich Rodriguez.

A new rule allows a team to give a player bereavement leave for 3-10 days and call up someone else.

I discuss more of this in my book, but I think I was the only person who let out a yarn for Francisco Rodriguez's 2002 postseason performance. I also warned that the evidence on his chances for success were inconclusive. He's off to a 5.40 ERA/-1 RSAA start in his first 8 games.

Turnbow had a 4.74 ERA/1 RSAA in 24 games with the 2000 Angels and gave up a run in his first 2003 inning.

Rich Rodriguez is coming off 4.15 ERA/2 RSAA and 5.40 ERA/-1 RSAA seasons and gave up a run in his first 1 1/3 IP of 2003. He has a 3.82 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.08, and 16 RSAA in 607 games.

Ramirez has a .443 OPS/-10 RCAA in 77 career games (99 PA) and is 0 for 2 in 6 games in 2003.

2) The Giants gave P Jason Schmidt bereavement leave and called up P Luis Estrella.

3) The A's activated P Jim Mecir from the DL and designated P Micah Bowie for assignment.

Mecir's coming off 3.43 ERA/6 RSAA and 4.26 ERA/3 RSAA seasons and gave up 2 runs in his first 2003 inning. He has a 3.74 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.69, and 42 RSAA in 317 games.

Bowie had a 10.24 ERA/-31 RSAA in 14 games with the 1999 Braves and Cubs and a 1.50 ERA/4 RSAA in 13 games with the 2002 A's. He has a 9.00 ERA/-3 RSAA in 4 games in 2003.

4) The Yankees placed P Antonio Osuna on the 15 day DL, called up P Al Reyes and moved P Jon Lieber from the 15 to the 60 day DL, to make room on the 40 man roster for Reyes.

Osuna has a groin injury.

Reyes has a 4.12 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.53, and 12 RSAA in 207 games.

5) Astros CF Lance Berkman returned to the lineup, after missing a week with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left elbow.

After 72 RCAA/1.051 OPS and 55 RCAA/.982 OPS seasons, Berkman's off to a .308 SLG, .355 OBA, .663 OPS, -3 RCAA start in his first 14 games. He has a .974 career OPS, compared to his league average of .778, and 142 RCAA in 476 games.

6) The Whitesox sent C Josh Paul to the minors and called up P David Sanders.

Paul has a .684 OPS/-12 RCAA in 137 career games, including a 2 for 4 performance in 5 games in 2003.

Sanders, 23, was ranked as the Whitesox #13 prospect by Baseball America and didn't make it into John Sickels's book. He came into the year with a 2.84 ERA in 4 minor league seasons, including a 1.84 ERA in AA in 2002, and was off to a 2.25 ERA start in AAA in 2003.

7) Orioles 2B Jerry Hairston Jr. has a sprained left ankle and may miss 3-5 days.

After -20 RCAA/.649 OPS and -4 RCAA/.705 OPS seasons, Hairston's off to a .446 SLG, .393 OBA, .839 OPS, 4 RCAA start in his first 19 games. He has a .694 career OPS, compared to his league average of .768, and -31 RCAA in 405 games.

8) The Mariners placed P Kazuhiro Sasaki on the 15 day DL.

Sasaki has a strained lower back. After 3.24 ERA/7 RSAA and 2.52 ERA/11 RSAA seasons, he has a 9.00 ERA/-5 RSAA in his first 10 games. Sasaki has a 3.26 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.61, and 22 RSAA in 206 games.

9) The Brewers claimed minor league P Mike Nicolas off waivers from the Padres.

10) Luis Sojo says he'll start playing soon in the Mexican League, in an attempt to make a comeback to the majors.

Sojo was the Yankees AA manager in 2002, but decided not to manage this year, in case he wanted to try a comeback. Sojo had a .651 career OPS, compared to his league average of .761, and -118 RCAA in 845 games.

11) The Reds sent Ps Jimmy Anderson and Josias Manzanillo to the minors, after they cleared waivers. They were both removed from the roster when they were designated for assignment last weekend and both accepted their AAA assignments.

12) Mariners CF Mike Cameron had left yesterday's game, due to a strained groin, and is day to day.

After 23 RCAA/.832 OPS and 13 RCAA/.782 OPS seasons, Cameron's off to a .395 SLG, .330 OBA, .724 OPS, -1 RCAA start in his first 21 games. He has a .777 career OPS, compared to his league average of .775, and 37 RCAA in 926 games.

13) Yankees 1B Jason Giambi left yesterday's game, due to a bruised left hand.

After 103 RCAA/1.137 OPS and 75 RCAA/1.034 OPS seasons, Giambi's off to a .362 SLG, .360 OBA, .722 OPS, 0 RCAA start in his first 21 games. He has a .963 career OPS, compared to his league average of .776, and 394 RCAA in 1129 games.

14) The BlueJays sent Ps Doug Linton and Kevin Frederick outright to the minors, after they both cleared waivers. Linton was removed from the 25 and 40 man rosters last week, while Frederick was already in the minors.

15) Mets C Mike Piazza left yesterday's game, due to a mild groin strain, and says he expects to be able to play today.

After 34 RCAA/.957 OPS and 17 RCAA/.903 OPS seasons, Piazza's off to a .439 SLG, .328 OBA, .767 OPS, 0 RCAA start in his first 15 games. He has a .962 career OPS, compared to his league average of .770, and 426 RCAA in 1408 games.

[nyy26wc]

1) According to the LA Times, several teams are monitoring the Adrian Beltre situation in LA and "[a]lthough the Dodgers insist Beltre, out of the starting lineup four times in a seven-game stretch, remains in their plans, other teams believe General Manager Dan Evans might trade Beltre during the season if the situation worsens."

2) Indians CF Milton Bradley was scratched from yesterday's lineup, due to a recurring strain in his right hamstring, and hopes to return today.

After -20 RCAA/.620 OPS and -9 RCAA/.723 OPS seasons, Bradley's off to a .612 SLG, .433 OBA, 1.046 OPS, 11 RCAA start in his first 19 games. He has a .704 career OPS, compared to his league average of .772, and -30 RCAA in 236 games.

3) Indians P Brian Anderson strained his gluteus muscle while playing loss toss yesterday and his status for today's start is uncertain. If he can't pitch, Billy Traber could make the start.

After 5.20 ERA/-9 RSAA and 4.79 ERA/-6 RSAA seasons, Anderson's off to a 3.51 ERA/3 RSAA start in his first 4 starts. He has a 4.69 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.49, and -14 RSAA in 222 games.

4) MLB has put out a warning to teams on how to handle the SARS scare in Toronto.

5) The Royals will attempt to become the first team to win their first 10 home games since the 1987 Yankees. The record is a 12-0 home start, by the 1911 Tigers.

6) The Mets placed RF Jeromy Burnitz and P David Cone on the 15 day DL, sent C Jason Phillips to the minors, designated minor league P Heath Bell for assignment and called up utilityman Joe McEwing and OF Raul Gonzalez. They also called up P Pat Strange before yesterday's game, to have him available in the bullpen, and then sent him back to the minors afterwards, when they activated P Pedro Astacio from the DL.

After 5.09 ERA/3 RSAA (mostly in Coors) and 4.79 ERA/-19 RSAA seasons, Astacio will make his 2003 debut today. He has a 4.53 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.26, and 24 RSAA in 339 games.

7) Roger Cedeno has lost his starting Mets CF job and is being replaced by a platoon of Tsuyoshi Shinjo and Timo Perez.

Cedeno is going to be given some playing time in RF, with Burnitz on the DL. Also, don't rule out some time in LF, with Cliff Floyd's health always a concern. After a career worst -11 RCAA/.664 OPS season, Cedeno's off to a .242 SLG, .227 OBA, .469 OPS, -7 RCAA in 19 games. He has a .715 career OPS, compared to his league average of .773, and -8 RCAA in 839 games.

After starting his American career with -7 RCAA/.725 OPS and -8 RCAA/.664 OPS seasons, Shinjo's off to a .174 SLG, .167 OBA, .341 OPS, -3 RCAA start in his first 15 games (25 PA). After -13 RCAA/.643 OPS and 1 RCAA/.768 OPS seasons, Perez is off to a .286 SLG, .263 OBA, .549 OPS, -4 RCAA start in his first 17 games.

8) BlueJays 1B Carlos Delgado and Devil Rays 2B Damion Easley left yesterday's game, after a collision at 2B. Neither player was seriously hurt.

After 46 RCAA/.948 OPS and 49 RCAA/.955 OPS seasons, Delgado's off to a .605 SLG, .463 OBA, 1.068 OPS, 12 RCAA start in his first 22 games. He has a .946 career OPS, compared to his league average of .777, and 316 RCAA in 1156 games.

Delgado is easily the BlueJays career leader in RCAA--

RCAA 
1    Carlos Delgado              316   
2    Fred McGriff                174   
3    John Olerud                 166   
4    Roberto Alomar              130   
5    George Bell                 116   
6    Paul Molitor                 96   
7    Shannon Stewart              80   
T8   Shawn Green                  79   
T8   Tony Fernandez               79   
10   Jesse Barfield               77   

After -13 RCAA/.699 OPS and -8 RCAA/.663 OPS seasons with the Tigers, Easley's off to a .322 SLG, .246 OBA, .568 OPS, -5 RCAA start in his first 16 games. He has a .733 career OPS, compared to his league average of .771, and -71 RCAA in 1207 games.

9) The Reds claimed minor league P Eric Cyr off waivers from the Angels.

10) Pirates MGR Lloyd McClendon says he doesn't expect LF Brian Giles to be able to return during the team's 10 game road trip that starts next Tuesday.

11) The Yankees were planning on having Mariano Rivera return from the DL tomorrow. But, his workout yesterday was cancelled, due to general soreness. Now, the earliest he's expected back is next Tuesday.

12) The Phillies placed 2B Placido Polanco on the 15 day DL, retroactive to April 16, and called up INF Chase Utley.

Polanco has a bruised right ring finger. He says that, if this October, he'd have the finger amputated so he continue to play. But, since it's still April, he can keep his finger.

Polanco's never had a season with a positive RCAA and is off to a .446 SLG, .441 OBA, .888 OPS, 5 RCAA start in his first 14 games. He has a .729 career OPS, compared to his league average of .778, and -34 RCAA in 556 games.

Utley, 24, was ranked as the Phillies #2 prospect by Baseball America and was given a B- grade by John Sickels. After spending his first years in the minors down in A and Hi-A ball, he jumped to AAA in 2002, where he had a .813 OPS (.461 SLG, .352 OBA) and is off to a .786 OPS (.357 OBA, .429 SLG) start in 16 games in AAA in 2003.

[rcartman28]

Originally posted by nyy26wc

A new rule allows a team to give a player bereavement leave for 3-10 days and call up someone else.

Bereavement leave ?? Does the player being called up have to play the same position ?? Sounds like a rule where a benchwarmer infielder could take "bereavement leave" in July for a few days, apparently grieving the fact that he can't pitch for his team in a make-up doubleheader game, while the team calls up a pitcher from AAA.

[rcartman28]

By the way, "Happy Birthday" Lee !!!

[JamesI]

Originally posted by rcartman28
Bereavement leave ?? Does the player being called up have to play the same position ?? Sounds like a rule where a benchwarmer infielder could take "bereavement leave" in July for a few days, apparently grieving the fact that he can't pitch for his team in a make-up doubleheader game, while the team calls up a pitcher from AAA.

I like the berievement rule. Should impliment somethign similiar for spouses giving birth. Hate seeing teams punsih players for missing games for those reasons.

[rcartman28]

I like the rule in principle, too. I was just wondering about the circumstances about using the rule and other aspects about the rule.

[KCBOOMER]

Originally posted by nyy26wc
5) The Royals will attempt to become the first team to win their first 10 home games since the 1987 Yankees. The record is a 12-0 home start, by the 1911 Tigers.

The Royals beat the Twins today 2-1 for their 10th straight home victory. The now go on the road for nine games.

Lee, do you know what teams have won 11 home games in a row to start the season (1900+)??

[nyy26wc]

Originally posted by rcartman28
By the way, "Happy Birthday" Lee !!!

Thanks

[nyy26wc]

Originally posted by KCBOOMER
The Royals beat the Twins today 2-1 for their 10th straight home victory. The now go on the road for nine games.

Lee, do you know what teams have won 11 home games in a row to start the season (1900+)??

I don't have that list, but if I get it, I'll post it.

[nyy26wc]

Originally posted by KCBOOMER
Lee, do you know what teams have won 11 home games in a row to start the season (1900+)??

Here's the list, since 1901--

12-0: 1911 Tigers
10-0: 1918 Giants, 1935 Whitesox, 1951 Yankees, 1960 Whitesox, 1970 Cubs, 1983 Braves, 1987 Yankees, 2003 Royals