Spring finally came to Southeastern Wisconsin.  Opening day of softball season began in unusual fashion.  It was sunny and 70 degrees!  There were no snow banks to avoid.  The field wasn’t a giant mud hole.  It was pleasant.  The rust of winter wore off quickly when I was involved in a pretty violent collision at home.  I held onto the ball and he was out.  That pretty much makes up for swinging a little early and not getting a good cut on the ball at the plate.  Hitting takes a little longer to catch up in softball especially when it has been to wet to practice.

We’ve had some major injuries this week of high profile players like Erik Bedard and Alfonso Soriano.  Let’s get to work. 

Red Sox purchase the contract of 2B Joe Thurston from Triple-A Pawtucket and place IF Alex Cora on the 15-day DL, retroactive to April 10, with a right elbow sprain.

With Dustin Pedroia and Julio Lugo up the middle Joe Thurston isn’t likely to get any more at-bats than Alex Cora did (3 AB).   

Cubs place OF Alfonso Soriano on the 15-day DL with a strained right calf and call up INF/OF Eric Patterson from Triple-A Iowa.  

The Cubs General Manager, Jim Hendry is pretty sure that Soriano will only miss the minimum 15 days.  Mark DeRosa moves to left and Mike Fontenot will start at second until Soriano is ready to return. 

Angels purchase the contract of RHP Alex Serrano from Triple-A Salt Lake and option OF Reggie Willits to Triple-A Salt Lake.

The Angels needed another arm in the bullpen and Willits is the #5 outfielder and replaceable.

Rays place RHP Al Reyes on the 15-day DL, retroactive to April 15, with an impingement in his right shoulder.

Reyes has a swollen rotator cuff that causes him great pain when he throws.  He wasn’t closing for the Rays.  He will rest it and see if it gets better.  In the mean time Dan Wheeler will setup for Troy Percival. 

Nationals purchase the contract of C Wil Nieves from Triple-A Columbus and option RHP Chris Schroder to Triple-A Columbus.

Johnny Estrada isn’t yet 100% and the Nationals want future starting catcher Jesus Flores to get full-time play, so this makes perfectly good sense for now.  He’s only going to get one or two starts a week and will be designated for assignment once Estrada is back.

Braves place RHP Peter Moylan on the 15-day DL and recall RHP Buddy Carlyle from Triple-A Richmond.

This injury further  shrinks the Braves closer by committee situation down to one -- Manny Acosta. 

Indians place RHP Joe Borowski on the 15-day DL with a right triceps strain and recall RHP Tom Mastny from Triple-A Buffalo.

Borowski has a strained right triceps.  He seems to have injured it mid-March and it hasn’t gotten any better.  Rafael Betancourt will get the first shot as the closer, but Rafael Perez, Jensen Lewis, Masahide Kobayashi and Jorge Julio all have experience as well.

Mariners place LHP Erik Bedard on the 15-day DL, retroactive to April 9, with inflammation in his left hip.

Many fantasy owners invested heavily in Bedard expecting him to be a Top 5 starter in the American League.  He certainly hasn’t delivered on his anticipated value.  Of great concern are the 8 walks in 11 innings.  The strikeouts are there, so the velocity is there.  He just doesn’t have the control he had before and the hip very well could be the reason. 

Diamondbacks activate LHP Randy Johnson from the 15-day DL.

At 44, there are great risks to the few rewards you get when he’s healthy.  Don’t invest in him expecting the Johnson of old, but he can help you for a couple of weeks in a row, especially when the Diamondbacks are hitting well.

Astros purchase the contract of C Humberto Quintero from Triple-A Round Rock and designate IF David Newhan for assignment.

Quintero will backup Brad Ausmus until Towles is able to play.  Towles is day-to-day with a bruised hand. 

Yankees place RHP Joba Chamberlain on bereavement list and place INF Wilson Betemit on 15-day DL with conjunctivitis and recall C Chad Moeller and RHP Jonathan Albaladejo from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Chamberlain’s father was taken to the hospital as was listed in critical condition.  The Yankees have told Chamberlain to stay home until he is ready.  As both Jorge Posada and Jose Molina are banged up, Moeller will provide some help behind the plate.  Neither Moeller or Albaladejo will be on the roster for long.

Athletics purchase the contract of RHP Kirk Saarloos from Triple-A Sacramento.

Saarloos is not going to join the rotation, but will pitch in middle relief.  He might get a spot start or two.

Mariners select the contract of LHP Arthur Rhodes from Double-A West Tennessee; recall RHP R.A. Dickey from Triple-A Tacoma and place OF Mike Morse on 15-day DL with a dislocated left shoulder; Optioned LHP Eric O'Flaherty to Double-A West Tennesee.

O’Flaherty really struggled this year.  He had a chance to pick up some saves while J.J. Putz was hurt, but was terrible.  He’ll try and work it out in Triple-A.  R.A. Dickey reappears in the Major Leagues.  He hasn’t had any serious time there since 2004.  In the mean time, he has become a knuckleballer.  He replaces Erik Bedard in the rotation.  He wasn’t very good before, I don’t think two knuckleballs are going to make him any better.

Blue Jays Activated LHP B.J. Ryan from the 15-day disabled list; optioned RHP Brandon League to Triple-A Syracuse.

Ryan takes over his old job of closer.  We’ll see how he does, as he’s going to be a little rusty at first. 

Tigers Placed LHP Dontrelle Willis on the 15-day disabled list; Recalled OF John Bowker from Triple-A Toledo.

Do you think the Tigers have a case of Buyer’s Remorse?  Willis hyper extended his knee pitching.  So far he has pitched five innings giving up nine walks.  He’s only given up one hit, but it is hard to hit anything when it isn’t even remotely close to the strike zone.

Minnesota Twins Recalled LHP Francisco Liriano from Triple-A Rochester.

Liriano returns a year after missing the season with Tommy John surgery.  His first start was predictable.  Bench him until he is able to repeat his delivery. 

Philadelphia Phillies Placed OF Shane Victorino on 15-day disabled list with a strained right calf; recalled OF Chris Snelling from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Victorino injury is not as bad as originally expected or he’s a very fast healer.  Okay, we know he’s not a fast healer.  He is expected to miss only the minimum.

Rays place 3B Willy Aybar on the 15-day DL, retroactive to April 10, with a left hamstring strain and recall 3B Evan Longoria from Triple-A Durham.

Not surprisingly, Evan Longoria is recalled just long enough so that the first chance he will get to test free agency will be one year later.  Go figure. 

Nationals option RHP Jason Bergmann to Triple-A Columbus and activate RHP Chad Cordero from the 15-day DL.

Bergmann has been terrible in two starts.  Five home runs will do that to you.  Chad Cordero returns but is an interesting story.  His velocity is down, way down.  Normally in the low nineties, he’s been lucky to get it in the low 80’s since his return.  His velocity has been down all spring training, but he swears he’s not hurt.  He’s not going to close until he is healthy and 100%.

Astros place INF Ty Wigginton on the 15-day DL, retroactive to April 6, with a fractured left thumb.

Wigginton can hit but not catch right now.  Once he can catch, he will return. 

JP Kastner is the winner of the 2007 Strat-O-Matic Baseball Online Expert League World Series.  In five seasons of SOMBOE, JP Kastner has five winning seasons, four playoff appearances, three World Series appearances and now one World Championship.  He is in his third season in the Tout Wars mixed league.