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As MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro reports, Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez was lifted from Saturday’s game against the Rays with tightness in his right hamstring and is “50-50″ to play on Sunday. Brian Barden replaced him in the ninth inning and failed to register a hit in a game that carried into the 11th inning and saw…

If you’ve kept up with the World Cup at all, you’re well aware of what a vuvuzela is by now.  The plastic air horns blown by South African natives have now infiltrated the United States, and in the least likeliest of places.  The Marlins gave away 15,000 mini vuvuzelas on Saturday night at Sun Life…

White Sox starter Jake Peavy was scratched from a start on Thursday after complaining of discomfort in his throwing arm.  He was later revealed to have inflammation and fluid in his shoulder, but the White Sox decided to let him pitch on Saturday anyway.  Recipe for disaster, right? Wrong. Peavy held the Nationals to three…

Indians designated hitter Travis Hafner hasn’t played first base since 2007 and that’s not likely to change anytime soon.  According to John Barone of MLB.com, the one they call “Pronk” will be limited to pinch-hitting duties during the Tribe’s upcoming nine-game interleague road trip. The expedition through National League ballparks begins Friday, when the Indians…

In unsurprising fashion Thursday, Braves veteran Chipper Jones told a group of Atlanta-based reporters, including MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, that he is hoping to postpone retirement talks until after the 2010 season. Chipper spoke many times last year about possibly cutting his career short and again sparked the discussion earlier this week.  Through 175 at-bats this…

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen informed the media on Wednesday afternoon that Jake Peavy has been dealing with some discomfort in his throwing arm, but failed to say whether it would affect his status for the rest of the week. Now we have some answers.  According to the Chicago Sun-Times’ Joe Cowley. the club has…

Giants starter Tim Lincecum was hit in the back of the right shoulder by a line drive on Wednesday afternoon and was removed from his start against the Orioles. He crouched in pain after the initial blow, but eventually stood up and headed to the clubhouse under his own power.  Lincecum fanned 10 batters and…

Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig announced Wednesday evening what many in the baseball world have known for months, if not years.  As Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star reports, the Royals’ Kauffman Stadium will host the All-Star Game in 2012. It has been 39 years since the Mid-Season Classic was last held in…

Indians catcher Carlos Santana was called up to the big leagues Friday and launched his first career home run on Saturday.  To round out the debut weekend, Santana got his first taste of a “Welcome to the MLB!” moment Sunday when he stepped in the way of Nationals first baseman Adam Dunn as the big…

Nationals phenom Stephen Strasburg just completed his second major league start, a strong 5.1-inning performance on the road against the Indians. He served up a home run, just as he did in his impressive 14-strikeout debut last week.  He also walked five batters, showing a lack of control that he never once displayed while tearing…

Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch published a fascinating piece Sunday morning on the once-tumultuous relationship between Cardinals center fielder Colby Rasmus and veteran manager Tony La Russa. Rasmus was selected 28th overall in the 2005 MLB amateur draft and has already established himself as an important part of the Cardinals both at the…

According to Jeff Wilson of the Dallas Morning News, Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler is not in Saturday’s starting lineup against the Brewers due to concerns about his ankle.  Combined with Monday’s scheduled off-day, it will give him close to 70 hours of consecutive rest. Kinsler opened the season on the disabled list and has…

Diamondbacks starter Brandon Webb hasn’t appeared in a major league game since September of 2009 due to ongoing shoulder troubles and isn’t close to returning this season.  But he did finally make a bit of progress on Saturday, according to the Associated Press. Webb fired a 30-pitch bullpen session at the sudden request of Arizona…

ESPN The Magazine ran a poll recently asking 100 unnamed MLB players to rank the best and worst umpires in the game.  Jim Joyce, who blew Tigers starter Armando Galarraga’s bid for a perfect game two weeks ago, was given top billing in the poll and it wasn’t even close.  Tim McClelland came in second…

Last night D.J. Short introduced us to sudden Red Sox cult hero Daniel Nava, who launched a grand slam Saturday afternoon on the first pitch of his first ever major league at-bat.  The story gets better.  Well, sorta. Nava has had a crush on ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews for years, according to Scott Lauber…

Rays slugger Carlos Pena drilled yet another home run in Saturday’s 6-5 victory over the Marlins, topping Jose Canseco’s franchise record of consecutive games with a long ball. Pena has homered in six straight contests and is now chasing the all-time record held by Ken Griffey Jr., Don Mattingly and Dale Long, who all homered…

Veteran pitcher Jeff Suppan has been linked to the Cardinals since he was given his release by the Brewers last week.  On Saturday, according to the Associated Press, things finally came together when Suppan tossed a bullpen session in front of St. Louis pitching coach Dave Duncan. He’s expected to finalize a contract with the…

Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was lifted from Friday’s rain-shortened game against the Blue Jays with a groin strain and is not in the starting lineup Saturday.  According to Jim Armstrong of the Denver Post, he could be out all weekend. Tulo’s groin injury is not thought to be overly serious, but the Rox are taking…

Assuming there are few Lada Gaga fans among the HBT readership, here’s come a bash session. The supposedly controversial singer was in attendance at the opener of Thursday’s day-night doubleheader between the Padres and Mets in New York City and flashed her middle finger to the supposedly photog-filled crowd at one point from her luxury…

Eccentric basketball broadcaster Dick Vitale makes his offseason home in Tampa Bay and seems to make it to several Rays games a year.  On Thursday he got more than he bargained for. According to the Associated Press, Dicke V was nailed in the stomach by a foul ball off the bat of Blue Jays leadoff…

Orioles catcher Matt Wieters was considered one of the top prospects in baseball when he was called up to the majors in May of 2009.  He failed to live up to the high expectations of O’s fans, batting a pedestrian .288/.340/.412 with nine home runs and 43 RBI in his first 96 games.  Many baseball…

Giants prospect Buster Posey hit his first career major league home run on Wednesday night against the Reds, a two-run shot following a two-out walk by outfielder Pat Burrell. Chris Haft of MLB.com reports that the shot traveled an estimated 439 feet and landed in the upper deck at Cincinnati’s Great American Ballpark.  Only 77…

The accolades continue to pour in for Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg, who debuted on Tuesday night in Washington, D.C. with a 14-strikeout victory over the Pirates. According to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post, the Baseball Hall of Fame called the Nationals’ front office on Wednesday morning to request a souvenir from the 21-year-old’s debut. …

Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins has played in only 12 games this season and has served two different stints on the 15-day disabled list due to a pesky muscle strain in his right calf.  When healthy he’s been great, batting .341 with a .462 on-base percentage in 41 at-bats, but it’s hard to help a team…

As Craig pointed out earlier, another young “phenom” made his major league debut on Tuesday night: Marlins outfielder Mike Stanton. The 20-year-old went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and almost helped the Marlins top the Phillies with a bases-loading infield single in the top of the ninth inning.  Ronny Paulino spoiled that fun when he…