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Chad Billingsley made his first All-Star team last season by going 9-4 with a 3.38 ERA in the first half, but then struggled so much in the second half that he was nearly left off the Dodgers’ postseason roster and has now allowed 14 runs in 14 innings this year. Through mid-June of last season…

Back in July the Cardinals signed 16-year-old Dominican outfielder Wagner Mateo for a $3.1 million bonus only to void the deal over concerns about his eyesight. Since then Mateo has been shopping around for another team and now Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports that the Diamondbacks are on the verge of signing him.…

During spring training Adam Dunn made it clear that he wants to remain with the Nationals long term, but he recently admitted that there’s “nothing going on” with contract extension negotiations. Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post writes that the two sides “are seemingly at a momentary standstill” while “Dunn still believes a deal could…

It’s probably a moot point after Ike Davis was called up yesterday, but Mets general manager Omar Minaya told the New York Post that Daniel Murphy isn’t close to returning from a sprained knee. Minaya declined to reveal whether the Mets plan to keep Davis in the majors for good or potentially send him back…

Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post went in search of someone who might actually like the horrendous song Creed singer Scott Stapp recorded for the Marlins and shockingly found a few players who dig it. Seriously: Wes Helms–the veteran clubhouse leader known affectionately among his teammates as “Uncle Wes”–said he’s a huge fan of…

Handed the Angels’ starting job at third base following Chone Figgins’ departure as a free agent, Brandon Wood has made three errors in 97 innings defensively and is just 4-for-40 (.100) with 12 strikeouts at the plate. Wood also struggled in his previous stints with the Angels, and now has a .178 batting average and…

Last week I surmised that Giants prospect Madison Bumgarner’s significant drop in velocity and recent struggles meant “something clearly isn’t right with him physically” and Rob Neyer of ESPN.com took that conclusion a step further: I’m afraid this goes beyond “something clearly isn’t right with him physically at this point.” I’m afraid he’s hurt. I’m…

Ian Kinsler is expected to test his high-ankle sprain by doing some running today and if all goes well should be cleared to begin a minor league rehab assignment later this week. Kinsler has been sidelined since injuring his ankle in the middle of spring training, but the Rangers have gotten surprisingly good production at…

MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki reports that J.A. Happ will miss his next scheduled start with what the Phillies are calling “a very mild flexor pronator muscle strain.” In other words, he has a sore elbow. Happ is slated to throw a bullpen session Thursday, so for now at least the Phillies think he’ll be able to…

Dustin Pedroia, on the Red Sox dropping to 4-9 with today’s 8-2 loss to the Rays: When you don’t show up, you’re going to get beat. Doesn’t matter if it’s the Rays or [bleep]ing Brookline High. Well said, even if that quote is about a thousand words shorter than Craig’s breakdown of the Red Sox’s…

Saturday night’s marathon Cardinals-Mets game has everyone thinking about crazy extra-inning scenarios, so Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post Dispatch asked manager Tony La Russa if he would have used Rick Ankiel on the mound had the pitcher-turned-outfielder still been with the Cardinals: I would have asked him. I would have hoped he said,…

Originally in the lineup at Triple-A this afternoon and then scratched about 30 minutes before the first pitch, Ike Davis is officially on his way to Citi Field and will probably be in the Mets’ lineup tonight against the Cubs. If you’re wondering why a non-elite prospect like Davis gets minute-by-minute coverage here and elsewhere…

Miguel Cabrera turned 27 years old yesterday and celebrated with his 212th career homer, which got me curious about where his production at his age ranks in baseball history. After all, Cabrera was a full-time player for a World Series team at age 20, has played at least 155 games in every year since then,…

UPDATE: Originally in the Triple-A lineup, Ike Davis was removed about 30 minutes before game time. He’s in Buffalo, New York and the Mets are playing at Citi Field tonight, so … * * * * * * * * * * Every media outlet in New York seems to agree that 23-year-old prospect Ike…

Rich Harden looked horrible again Sunday versus the Yankees, lasting just 3.2 innings while allowing four runs on five hits and six walks. He managed five strikeouts, giving him 15 in 13 innings overall this season, but Harden has also handed out 14 walks and more importantly his raw stuff looks underwhelming after years of…

Lance Berkman went 3-for-4 with a homer and a double in a rehab game today at Triple-A and MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart reports that the switch-hitter called Astros manager Brad Mills afterward to say he’ll be ready to return from the disabled list Tuesday. Berkman, who hasn’t played since undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery on March 13,…

Only the Mets could bat someone in the cleanup spot Opening Day and then designate him for assignment less than two weeks later, but that’s what they did today with first baseman Mike Jacobs. After starting Jacobs in six of the first eight games with Daniel Murphy on the disabled list the Mets dropped him…

Here’s some video of Ubaldo Jimenez talking about his no-hitter and revealing the mid-game adjustment he made at the urging of pitching coach Bob Apodaca: One of the common themes of all the stuff being written and said about Jimenez today is that he’s a really good person and a hard worker, and sure enough…

Today marks the 60th anniversary of legendary announcer Vin Scully calling Dodgers games. As usual, he had all the right words to describe the moment: I feel only overwhelming gratitude. You feel blessed that you’ve lived that long, that you’ve been allowed to do what you love to do for that long, and that my…

Lance Berkman told MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart today that his surgically repaired left knee has “turned the corner” and he’s now scheduled to begin a brief rehab assignment tomorrow at Triple-A. Berkman is expected to play two games in the minors and, barring a setback, hopes to come off the disabled list to rejoin the Astros’…

Dave van Dyck of the Chicago Tribune reports that Ted Lilly “will make what should be his final rehabilitation start Monday” at Single-A and could rejoin the Cubs’ rotation as soon as next weekend against the Brewers. Lilly is coming back from shoulder surgery and a knee injury suffered during spring training. He reported no…

Daisuke Matsuzaka made his second rehab start last night at Triple-A, tossing six shutout innings, and afterward pronounced himself “ready to pitch in the big leagues.” Matsuzaka struck out two, walked none, and allowed just three hits after hurling five scoreless innings in his first rehab outing last week, so he’s definitely pitching well. However,…

I wondered yesterday why teams give endless chances to washed-up veterans rather than turning to minor leaguers who might actually prove to have some long-term value. My specific example was Russ Ortiz and Ramon Ortiz both being on the Dodgers’ pitching staff despite neither having a decent season since 2004 and I also brought up…

Madison Bumgarner was the 10th overall pick in the 2007 draft and ranked as the game’s ninth-best prospect by Baseball America heading into last season, one spot ahead of Rangers flamethrower Neftali Feliz. He lived up to the hype, going 12-2 with a 1.85 ERA in 25 starts between Single-A and Double-A, and reached the…

Scott Kazmir came off the disabled list Thursday night and made his season debut against the Yankees, looking terrible while allowing six runs on eight hits and three walks in four innings. He managed just two strikeouts and served up seven total extra-base hits, including three homers. Kazmir has looked like a shell of his…