The Phillies activated 2B Chase Utley before Monday’s contest against the Mets, and Russell Branyan was designated for assignment to make room on the roster. Utley was having an MVP-caliber season before going down, batting .336 with 41 doubles, 17 homers and 82 RBI in 100 games. Without Utley, the Phillies were 15-13 and lost one game in the division standings. His return means Tadahito Iguchi, acquired from the White Sox a day after Utley was injured, moves to the bench for the first time in his major league career. Iguchi filled in nicely for Utley, batting .301 and playing solid defense.
In his first game back, Utley promptly smacked three base hits, including a home run in a big victory against the NL East first-place Mets. He even got the M-V-P chants. “Tonight was one night. You never know what can happen," Utley said. "You can find a hole here or there. The main thing is to contribute to the team." If you haven’t already, make sure you get the power-hitting infielder back in all active lineups.
Pedro Martinez allowed just an unearned run and five hits in six innings Monday night for the St. Lucie Mets against the Palm Beach Cardinals in a Class A Florida State League game. It was the fourth rehab start for Martinez, who is coming back from rotator cuff surgery. "I felt good overall," said Martinez, who threw 52 of 88 pitches for strikes. "I feel like I used all my pitches and I was getting more confident as the game went on. The first two innings I felt a little out of whack."
Mixing his cutter, sinker and changeup with a fastball in the 84-88 mph range, Martinez was able to work out of jams in the first and sixth innings, getting two of his four strikeouts in the process. Prior to the start, manager Willie Randolph indicated Martinez would likely make at least one more rehab start. "I'm not going to answer that. I'm going to let the medical staff and (GM) Omar (Minaya) make that decision," Martinez said. "My arm feels great."
In order for the Mets to be able to use Pedro on their postseason roster, the game’s active leader in ERA (2.80) will need to be activated by September 1. When he does return, expect the Mets to continue to be very cautious with their ace, likely starting him every six days. He probably won’t have much fantasy value in 2007, but will be a nice sleeper for next season if he decides to come back for another year.
Chris Young threw a bullpen session on Monday and was cautiously optimistic he can return to the Padres rotation on Thursday or Friday. Young was forced to leave his start against the Mets on Tuesday night after five innings because of lower back pain. He missed his scheduled start Sunday at Philadelphia and remains day-to-day. "It feels pretty good right now," Young said. "Normally, once it cools off it gets considerably sorer. The fact that it feels pretty good right now is encouraging, but who knows how it's going to feel tomorrow or later tonight. But so far so good." Young is 9-4 with a 2.12 ERA in 23 starts, lowest in baseball. He is holding opponents to a .184 average, also lowest in the majors. If he's good to go, Young will start either Thursday night against the Diamondbacks or Friday night against the Dodgers. Friday night's scheduled starter for the Dodgers is David Wells, who was released by the Padres earlier this month.
The Padres also placed 2B Marcus Giles on the shelf because of a left knee sprain Saturday. Giles was injured Friday during the Padres' 14-3 victory when Carlos Ruiz knocked into him while trying to break up a double play. Giles was visibly upset and confronted Ruiz immediately after the play. Both benches cleared but there were no punches thrown. The team recalled infielder Craig Stansberry from Triple-A Portland and was in uniform Saturday night game against Philadelphia. Geoff Blum started at second for San Diego. Stansberry was hitting .273 with 14 homers and 75 RBIs at Portland. Giles was hitting .229 with four homers and 38 RBIs in 107 games.
Gary Sheffield was put on the DL Monday because of a sore shoulder that has been bothering him most of the second half. While Sheffield is hitting .279 with 24 homers and 71 RBI overall, he is batting just .220 (27-for-123) with three homers and 13 RBI since the All-Star break. "No. 1, we've got to get the shoulder right," manager Jim Leyland said. "No. 2, we can't go on this way with three extra players, with one being a catcher." Timo Perez was recalled from Triple-A Toledo to take his roster spot. He batted .309 with 13 HR and 69 RBI for the Mud Hens this season. Also teammate Kenny Rogers remains stuck on the 15-day disabled list with an injured left elbow. He threw a bullpen session on Sunday, but still remains in pain. "I was hoping it would be good enough that they would give me a date to pitch," Rogers said. "But they didn't think my bullpen was good enough. I'm going to keep trying until they're comfortable with how I'm throwing." No word on when the Gambler will return to the Tigers’ rotation.
The Pirates placed veteran Salomon Torres on the DL because of right elbow inflammation Saturday. It is the same injury he had when he went on the DL on June 10. Manager Jim Tracy said Torres will see a doctor in Pittsburgh sometime this week. "We want to see exactly what we're dealing with and the course of action we're going to take," Tracy said. Torres was 1-4 with a 5.09 ERA in 49 appearances this season. The Pirates recalled right-handed reliever Romulo Sanchez from Double-A Altoona. He has no major league experience. He was 6-3 with a 2.81 ERA at Altoona.
Cole Hamels was placed on the shelf with a strained elbow and is expected to miss two starts. Hamels (14-5, 3.50 ERA) is eligible to be activated on September 1. An MRI showed no structural or ligament damage in his throwing elbow. His DL stint is retroactive to Aug. 17. "Some people can pitch through the discomfort, but I can't," Hamels said. J. D. Durbin took Hamels’ spot in the rotation Monday against the Mets and earned the win with a career-high six strikeouts.
The Braves cut ties with closer Bob Wickman on Friday, designating him for assignment. The surprising move came just one day after Wickman surrendered a game-winning two-run home run to Adam Dunn. Wickman went 3-3 with a 3.92 ERA and 20 saves in 26 chances. Manager Bobby Cox did not reveal his new closer, but hinted Rafael Soriano would get an opportunity early on. He also added that "anybody out there would be a possibility." The 38-year-old Wickman has eight career 20-save seasons, including three in a row. He went 38-for-45 in save opportunities with a 2.88 ERA since joining the Braves on July 23, 2006. Soriano was 5-for-8 in save chances while holding opponents to a .203 average, but was 0-2 with three blown saves and a 5.21 ERA in 29 games since June 15. Perhaps Atlanta’s best closer is Octavio Dotel, who was 11-for-14 in save situations at Kansas City before being acquired on the trade deadline. He has been on the 15-day disabled list since Aug. 8 with a right shoulder strain. Dotel threw a side session on Friday but is apparently not close to being activated.
Edgar Renteria was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday, one day after he was activated. He re-injured his right ankle while checking his swing on the first pitch he saw Wednesday against Cincinnati. Renteria aggravated the sprain that forced him to miss 17 games since Aug. 3. Entering Thursday's games, Renteria was tied with Philadelphia's Chase Utley for the league lead in hitting. Both players are hitting .336. Renteria also hit 11 home runs and 53 RBI in 105 games before his injury
Aaron Boone said Monday he'll undergo arthroscopic knee surgery and miss the rest of the season. Boone has been on the DL since June 25. Surgery is scheduled for Sept. 4, the Marlins said. "I'm actually a little relieved that they're going to just go in there and clean it up," Boone said. "Just give me a clean bill of health to go into the offseason and rehab this thing properly." Boone hurt the same knee playing basketball after his All-Star season in 2003 and missed the 2004 season. Boone batted .286 with five home runs and 28 RBIs in 69 games. "We've been struggling the last several weeks," Boone said. "Not being able to help when you feel like you can - that's one of the toughest things about having an injury."
The Astros activated super-rookie Hunter Pence from DL on Tuesday and placed Jason Jennings on the shelf with a torn flexor tendon in his right elbow. Pence was a leading candidate for NL Rookie of the Year before spraining his right wrist while making a slide on July 22. He was hitting .330 in 73 games this season, second only to Ryan Braun (.341) among NL rookies. He also ranked in the top-10 among NL rookies in home runs (12), RBI (45), runs (42) and multi-hit games (31). Jennings, the 2002 NL Rookie of the Year, has been a disappointment since the Astros acquired him last offseason in a trade with Colorado for outfielder Willy Taveras and pitchers Jason Hirsh and Taylor Buchholz. He went just 2-9 with a 6.45 ERA in 18 starts and hasn't won in six starts. Houston doesn’t expect him back this season.
The Devil Rays shut down Rocco Baldelli's rehabilitation because of soreness. Baldelli was shut down after sitting out Class-A Vero Beach's game Wednesday. He has felt soreness since his rehab stint began August 18. Baldelli said before his rehab that trainers have been helping him change his running mechanics in an attempt to avoid aggravating leg injuries. Manager Joe Maddon said there is no time table on his return to action. "We're being cautious about the whole thing," Maddon said. "We're just concerned with this overall body soreness." Maddon added he believes Baldelli's soreness is due to the change in his running mechanics. "Were basing this on the fact that when the Mets did this with (Jose) Reyes he went through the same kind of thing. If we're playing for a pennant right now, and these games really meant a lot for us, there might be more of a sense of urgency for us. There's no sense in pushing Rocco when there's no need to." Baldelli, who's been on the DL since May 17 because of a hamstring injury, started two games at designated hitter, going 0-for-5 at the plate.
Around the Majors:
The Cubs are planning on activating Alfonso Soriano from the DL on Tuesday. He's been out since Aug. 5 with a quadriceps injury. With 18 HR and 18 SB, he'll be hard-pressed to notch his fifth 30/30 club-season. ... Paul Lo Duca returned to the New York Mets' lineup Monday for an important four-game series against the Phillies. Catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. was designated for assignment Sunday night to make room for Lo Duca, who aggravated his strained right hamstring in a loss to Florida earlier this month. Lo Duca is batting .267 with five homers and 32 RBI. … The Royals placed Odalis Perez on the DLWednesday with a left knee sprain and recalled outfielder Shane Costa from Triple-A Omaha. Perez is 8-11 with a 5.57 ERA. He'll miss at least three weeks. … The Athletics activated Esteban Loaiza before Wednesday’s game against Toronto. He had been out all season with neck and knee injuries. He came through with a pitching gem, allowing just three hits and one run in 7 2/3 innings in a win. Then, he followed that up with another quality start on Monday, also vs. the Jays, surrendering just two runs in seven sharp innings for a no-decision. … Russ Ortiz was placed on the shelf with a torn tendon in his throwing elbow that will likely keep him sidelined the remainder of the season. It was the third time he’s landed on the DL this year. … The Reds placed Bobby Livingston on the DL Friday with a torn labrum in his left shoulder and recalled RHP Todd Coffey from Triple-A Louisville. Livingston was 3-3 with a 5.27 ERA in 10 starts this year and will be re-evaluated in about 10 days. Teammate David Ross also was sent to Louisville on a rehab assignment. Ross has been on the DL since Aug. 13 with a concussion.