A pretty quiet week when compared to last week...

Indians Send OF Jason Michaels and cash considerations to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for a player to be named.  

The Indians don’t need Michaels as it was such a shame that Ben Francisco was sitting in Triple-A.  Now Francisco will get the opportunity to show he’s Major League material.  Michaels, on the other hand, won’t see much more time on the field with the Pirates then he did with the Indians.

Twins Reinstate RHP Kevin Slowey from the 15-day DL.

His first start wasn’t bad.  Five innings, four strike outs and no walks.  The three earned runs wasn’t good, but he’s worth a shot.  He doesn’t walk anyone, so if he can stay healthy, he’ll be a solid low cost contributor as a #6 fantasy starter.

Blue Jays Place SS David Eckstein and SS John McDonald on the 15-day DL retroactive to May 7.

McDonald has a strained ankle and is expected to miss the minimum.  Eckstein has a strained hip flexor and is also expected to miss the minimum.  Marco Scutaro will take over at short.  It is kind of funny.  I figured when Scutaro went to the Jays, he wouldn’t get the playing time he did with Oakland.  Bobby Crosby has stayed on the field and Scutaro still gets playing time.  Maybe Scutaro has a shortstop voodoo doll.

Twins Placed RHP Scott Baker on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 4, with a right groin strain.

I’m never sure, does it make a difference if it is your left or your right groin?  An MRI indicated no damage, just rest.  Expect him to miss just the minimum.

Blue Jays Optioned OF Adam Lind to Triple-A Syracuse.

With the double shortstop injury the Jays felt they needed some extra help in the infield.  That and Lind was 1-for-19 since he was called up.

Braves Acquire 1B Greg Norton from the Seattle Mariners for a PTBN or cash.

The Braves will use Norton off the bench as a pinch hitter.

Rockies Send RHP Jose Capellan outright to Triple-A Colorado Springs,, but he refused the assignment and is a free agent.

The Rockies hoped that Capellan was accept the assignment, but he didn’t.  He’ll try and hook up somewhere.

Tigers Designate OF Jacque Jones for assignment and Purchase the contract of OF Matt Joyce from Triple-A Toledo.

Last year it was the power that disappeared.  This year, it is the batting average.  The Marlins might be interested for a short stint.

Yankees Option RHP Ian Kennedy to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

His first start in Triple-A was very good.  (7 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 SO).  He may not be down long.

Braves Recall LHP Jo-Jo Reyes from Triple-A Richmond.

His first start was solid. (5.3 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO).  Good enough for another look.  In his second start, he was pulled after two innings because of a blister on his pitching hand.

Rockies Place shortstop Troy Tulowitzki on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 30, with a left quadriceps tendon tear.

This was a big ouch has Tool Time was going for $20 or more.  He was suffering from one heck of a sophomore slump.  He did have a slow start last year.  I dumped him in Tout Wars in May and boy was I kicking myself for that later in the year.  He has a tear in his left quadriceps, but it looks like he’ll avoid surgery.  You’re looking at five to six weeks.

Rays Activate LHP Scott Kazmir from the 15-day DL.

And you should too.

Marlins Place OF Josh Willingham on the 15-day DL.

Willingham has a stiff back, which is a concern.  An MRI didn’t indicate any structural issues, but he has suffered from this injury before.  He’ll do some additional exercises to strengthen the muscles around the area and hopefully only miss the minimum.

Brewers Designate RHP Derrick Turnbow for assignment; Recall RHP Dave Bush from Triple-A Nashville; and Placed RHP Yovani Gallardo on the 15-day disabled list with a torn ACL in his right knee.

A bad day in Milwaukee.  Offers for Turnbow’s services fell through as no one wanted to pick up Turnbow’s salary or offer anything in return.  The Brewers hope that Turnbow will accept the assignment to Triple-A, but he has the right to refuse it.  Gallardo has a complete tear of this ACL, will obviously need surgery and is out for the year.  He should be ready for Spring Training.  Dave Bush has been inserted into the rotation but rumor has it that as soon as Jeff Weaver is ready, he will get the call and Bush will return to the bullpen.

Tout Wars Update

I finally had some good news.  I was the second best team in the fifth period that brought me up from dead last to as high as eight.  I’m also doing well in the sixth block, so things are coming together.

I was ripped on in the Mixed League bidding wars for Max Scherzer.  I bid $8.  He went for $63 I think.  I guess I don’t understand why the bidding went so high when he is expected to only get a hand full of starts until Doug Davis comes back.  When Davis comes back, because of his story, he’s not likely to loose his spot for at least four starts.  I just couldn’t see spending that much money on him right now.  So, if you read it on the public forums, that is the reason why.

This week I look to not make any real moves.  I’m pretty happy where I am at this point.

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.