Archives › D.J. Short

Naturally, reporters and columnists were licking their chops for Milton Bradley’s return to Chicago this weekend, so even though he didn’t play on Friday due to a sore left calf, it was awful nice of him to throw everyone a bone by continuing to say some rather silly things. Here’s a sample, via Scot Gregor…

Yes, you read that correctly. Former major league manager and current Rays color analyst Kevin Kennedy was one of eight passengers who helped subdue a man who threatened to blow up an airplane druing a red-eye flight from Los Angeles to Florida early Friday morning. Kennedy described the experience to Marc Topkin of the St.…

UPDATE: Talk about great timing. Ortiz just slugged his first home run of the season to the “Monster Seats” in center field. 7:11 PM: Prior to Friday’s game against the Orioles, David Ortiz told Rob Bradford of WEEI.com that he was embarrassed when Mike Lowell pinch-hit for him against left-hander Darren Oliver on Tuesday: “It…

As Drew detailed on Thursday, Daisuke Matsuzaka is set to replace Tim Wakefield in the starting rotation, but it turns out that won’t happen until next weekend in Baltimore, according to Paul Kenyon of the Providence Journal. Wakefield will make one more start this Sunday against the Orioles, meanwhile, Matsuzaka will stay fresh with a…

UPDATE: Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports that Mathis is expected to miss at least six weeks with the injury. Tuesday, 9:19 PM: The Angels have placed catcher Jeff Mathis on the 15-day disabled list with a fractured right wrist, according to Dan Woike of the Orange County Register. Mathis suffered the injury…

Cubs manager Lou Piniella confirmed that Ted Lilly will return from the disabled list this weekend in Milwaukee, according to Carrie Muskat of MLB.com. Lilly made his final tuneup start on Monday night, tossing 88 pitches over seven innings for Single-A Peoria. Piniella indicated that Lilly could make his season debut on either Saturday or…

Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports that Felix Pie could miss up to three months with an injury to his latissimus dorsi muscle. Pie was placed on the disabled list on Friday with a strained muscle in his upper back, but further examination on Monday revealed a more serious injury. Orioles president Andy MacPhail told the…

Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times reports that catcher Kelly Shoppach will miss at least four to six weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on Monday. Shoppach suffered the injury while trying to block Curtis Granderson from home plate during last Saturday’s game against the Yankees. He was placed on the…

Alex Rodriguez connected for his 584th career home run during the bottom of the fourth inning on Saturday afternoon against the Rangers, passing Mark McGwire for sole possession of eighth place on the all-time home run list. Rodriguez, who turns 35 in July, was homerless in his first 41 at-bats to begin the year, his…

According to MetsBlog, last night on ESPN’s Baseball Tonight, host Seth Everett said Jeff Francoeur, John Maine, Jose Reyes and Johan Santana were unhappy with manager Jerry Manuel. This forced Francoeur to issue a denial before Saturday’s game against the Cardinals, via Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com. “We’re 10 games into the season. We’ve lost a…

Angels general manager Tony Reagins was asked about his catching surplus by Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles.com and he didn’t shoot down the possibility of making a trade: “You never close your mind to any potential deal that will make you better,” Angels general manager Tony Reagins said. Though Mike Napoli started behind the dish on…

UPDATE: Angelos says Ripken has not offered himself to the team as a prospective employee, reports Buster Olney of ESPN.com. “Quite simply, Cal Ripken did not offer to become part of the Oriole organization in any secondary position, such as manager or as an assistant to [team president] Andy MacPhail, or in some kind of…

Ryan Zimmerman returned to the starting lineup for the Nationals on Saturday afternoon against the Brewers, batting third against left-hander Randy Wolf. Zimmerman had been sidelined since last Saturday due to a tight left hamstring, though he did have two pinch-hit appearances this week, including a home run against the Phillies on Thursday. As of…

UPDATE: Ramirez is not in Saturday’s starting lineup, according to Jon Weisman of ESPNLosAngeles.com. Garret Anderson will start in left field. 11:23 AM: Manny Ramirez exited Friday’s game against the Giants after three innings due to tightness in his right calf, reports Tony Jackson of ESPNLosAngeles.com. Joe Torre acknowledged that he was removed simply for…

It’s the obvious storyline after Friday’s 10-3 loss to the Twins. Greinke allowed four runs — two earned — over five innings while walking five and striking out five. The five walks were the most Greinke had allowed in a start since June 13, 2008. Through his first three starts this season, Greinke has allowed…

The Royals made a pair of roster moves early Saturday, placing Chris Getz on the 15-day disabled list due to a strained right oblique and activating Alex Gordon from the 15-day disabled list, according to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star. Gordon began the season on the DL because of a broken right thumb…

Roy Halladay tossed eight innings of two-run ball in a rain-soaked 8-6 win over the Marlins on Friday night. Halladay threw exactly 100 pitches, striking out four without issuing a walk. The Marlins scored four in the ninth off David Herndon to cut it close, but Ryan Madson was able to come in and secure…

Before Friday’s game against the Cardinals, Mets manager Jerry Manuel seemed to backpedal about the possibility of moving Jose Reyes to the No. 3 spot in the batting order anytime soon, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. “I’m going to reserve that a little bit until he feels comfortable, until he feels good about it,”…

Ricky Henderson, who is currently working in the Athletics’ organization as a roving instructor, talked about his former teammate and current Cardinals hitting coach Mark McGwire during a news conference with Single-A Stockton on Friday. “It made him a better man,” Henderson said. “He realized that the truth had to come out as it is.…

The Red Sox and Rays were tied at 1-1 heading into the bottom of the ninth on Friday night before the game was delayed to rain. After waiting it out for 63 minutes, the game was suspended and will resume at 7:10 pm ET on Saturday. According to Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe, it…

Aaron Rowand sustained two small fractures in his cheekbone and a mild concussion after being hit in the helmet by Vicente Padilla during the fifth inning of Friday’s game against the Dodgers. Padilla’s history as a headhunter is well-documented, of course, but he denied that he threw at Rowand intentionally, via Dylan Hernandez of the…

UPDATE: According to John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle, Anderson could earn a maximum of $31 million if both option years are exercised. He’s guaranteed $12.5 million over the four year contract with a $1 million signing bonus and a $1.5 million buyout. He could potentially earn $8 million in 2014 and $12 million…

During an appearance on with Chris Russo on SIRIUS XM’s Mad Dog Radio Channel on Friday, Bobby Valentine addressed recent speculation that he could replace Jerry Manuel as manager of the Mets, via Adam Rubin of ESPN New York. “You know, the Mets are 3-6. It’s nine games,” Valentine said. “I mean, let’s not get…

UPDATE: Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic writes that there has been “very little recent dialogue” between the Diamondbacks and Mateo, concluding that there are “no indications” that a signing is imminent. 8:36 PM: According to Melissa Segura of SI.com, the Diamondbacks will sign 17-year-old Dominican outfielder Wagner Mateo by the end of the month.…

The Mariners were so encouraged by Cliff Lee’s 63-pitch bullpen session on Monday that they haven’t ruled out his return before the end of the month. Here’s what manager Don Wakamatsu told Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times: “Yeah, that’s our tendency right now…that’s a possibility,” Wakamatsu said. Lee’s return might be expedited if the…