Interesting Baseball News Items That Do Not Warrant Their Own Thread

[SoCal Pinstriper]

People seem to like it in JC, so we'll see how this goes in here. We'll start with this.

Bothered by a bruised left groin, Astros lefthander Wandy Rodriguez expects to go without a protective cup tonight when he starts against the Los Angeles Dodgers in his quest to remain undefeated this season. Rodriguez has been plagued by a tender left groin in his last two outings. He attributes the bruising in the area to his cup digging into his left side.
Rodriguez (3-0, 2.52 ERA) says he has made some improvement through stretching exercises under the guidance of Astros athletic trainers Dave Labossiere and Rex Jones.
"I'm fine," he said. "I'm ready to start. They were stretching the muscle, and I feel fine. I possibly won't use the cup so I can see if it will help me get better. I'm not worried about not using a cup because I have real good hands."

http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/3820301.html

[SoCal Pinstriper]

Carlos Zambrano said Tuesday his left knee felt OK, and he even pulled up his pants leg to show there were no scars from Monday night's bat-breaking episode.

Zambrano broke his bat over his knee after striking out in the third inning, which drew applause from Cubs fans but was a risky move nonetheless.

"That was a one-time thing," Zambrano said. "That's like when the sun and the moon go together, like an eclipse."

Was it a premeditated act?

"No, that was just a reaction," he said. "I never thought about that—never. That was a maple bat. If I tried to do that again, I'd break my leg. No chance. I was frustrated because I missed good pitches he threw to me right down the middle.

"We were down 3-0, and I want to do something for my team. I don't think you'll see that again."

Although Cubs broadcaster Bob Brenly criticized the move on the telecast, manager Dusty Baker absolved Zambrano afterward. On Tuesday, Baker was asked if he ever would tell Zambrano not to break bats over his knee again.

"You can say it, but when stuff hits you top of your head, man …" Baker said. "My mother told me 'Don't spit anymore.' The next thing I know, I'm spitting. When it hits you top of your head, man, you really don't hear anybody except the pressure top of your head."

Asked if he believed Zambrano when he said he never would do it again, Baker simply rolled his eyes and grinned.

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune....cubs-headlines

Dusty, could you clarify that, please?

[SoCal Pinstriper]

The Rangers will wear commemorative jerseys with "Los Rangers" across the front on May 5 for Cinco de Mayo. The Rangers will face the Yankees in that game.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...s.a4e2851.html

[Snatch Catch]

A maple bat? He's lucky he's not on the DL.

[ojo]

i think any player named 'wandy' deserves his own thread on principle, alone.

[SoCal Pinstriper]

A maple bat? He's lucky he's not on the DL.

I was watching the game, and Carlos is the ace of my main fantasy team. I cringed.

[SoCal Pinstriper]

i think any player named 'wandy' deserves his own thread on principle, alone.

They could be calling him Wendy if the no cup thing doesn't work out for him.

[ojo]

i love that redhead. easily the best of the fast food chains.

[jonnyc39]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...s.a4e2851.html

That's ridiculous.

[SoCal Pinstriper]

The Rockies said Tuesday the first baseman has been sidelined with acute terminal ileitis, an inflammation near the end of the small intestine. Team internist Dr. Allen Schreiber said he has prescribed more rest for the five-time All-Star before having Helton begin light exercise.

Helton, 32, was hospitalized Friday with stomach pain and released Monday to rest with his family.

Helton was placed on the disabled list retroactive to April 20 and will not be eligible to return to the active roster until May 5. However, the team said there is no timetable for him to come back

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2421701

[SoCal Pinstriper]

This was reported on April 21.

Shoe size the culprit in Mench's painful month

The Rangers' Kevin Mench entered Thursday's game against Seattle with zero RBIs in his first 10 games.

Perhaps it was because his shoes were too small.

The right fielder has missed five games this season because of a sprain in the second toe of his right foot. A Plano, Texas, foot specialist determined the sprain was caused by Mench's shoes being a half size too small.

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/14393063.htm

Mench got fitted for 1/2 size bigger shoes, and , according to Rotoworld:

Kevin Mench homered for the sixth straight day when he hit a grand slam off Athletics reliever Kiko Calero on Wednesday.
That's a new Rangers' record, and Mench is just the 19th player ever to homer in six straight games. The major league record is eight, shared by Don Mattingly, Ken Griffey Jr., and Dale Long. Mench has driven in 20 runs on the season, all in the last seven games. Apr. 26 - 5:58 pm et

http://fantasybaseball.rotoworld.com....asp?sport=MLB

[gdn]

How many consecutive HRs did Tino have last year?

[SoCal Pinstriper]

Here is a comprehensive list of all major and minor league bobblehead promotions. (I've never been more sure that something didn't deserve its own thread).
By Date:
http://www.threetrueoutcomes.com/?page_id=542

By Team:
http://www.threetrueoutcomes.com/?page_id=545

[AustinTXHorn]

Mench hitting all those homers in a row is great and all.

But the real news is how much Francisco Cordero sucks. Seriously...five blown saves in eight attempts? We have Otsuka in the bullpen and Showalter keeps running Cordero out in the 9th with a one run lead.

[Bob Saccomano]

How many consecutive HRs did Tino have last year?

He hit 8 in 8 games. I'm pretty sure that he had 2 in one game and 0 in another, though, so I couldn't tell you for sure how many consecutive HR it was. That was quite a tear though...without that, the season would've ended long before it actually did.

[Bob Saccomano]

People seem to like it in JC, so we'll see how this goes in here. We'll start with this.
http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/3820301.html

Maybe he should try pulling a Roger Clemens/Jake Peavy and wear the cup next time, but stick in a patch of Icy-Hot.

[Bob Saccomano]

Mench hitting all those homers in a row is great and all.

But the real news is how much Francisco Cordero sucks. Seriously...five blown saves in eight attempts? We have Otsuka in the bullpen and Showalter keeps running Cordero out in the 9th with a one run lead.

Guardado sucks too, but he keeps getting save chances for the Mariners. Hard to explain why managers keep giving bad closers chances, but it won't go on forever.

[JWHIII]

Guardado sucks too, but he keeps getting save chances for the Mariners. Hard to explain why managers keep giving bad closers chances, but it won't go on forever.

Hargrove should really give Rafael Soriano a shot, if healthy he could be effective in that role.

[SoCal Pinstriper]

Maybe he should try pulling a Roger Clemens/Jake Peavy and wear the cup next time, but stick in a patch of Icy-Hot.

Or, given this result, maybe more pitchers will go cupless.

Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Wandy Rodriguez (W,4-0)	7.0	5	2	2	2	6	1	2.53

http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/gamece...0060426_LA@HOU

[Bob Saccomano]

Or, given this result, maybe more pitchers will go cupless.

Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Wandy Rodriguez (W,4-0)	7.0	5	2	2	2	6	1	2.53

http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/gamece...0060426_LA@HOU

If he can find a way to get the Icy-Hot without the cup, then he'd really be onto something. Cy Young for sure.

[AustinTXHorn]

Or, given this result, maybe more pitchers will go cupless.

http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/gamece...0060426_LA@HOU

I'm amazed by this. When I saw Wandy Rodriguez a few times at AAA Round Rock a couple of years ago, I thought he was terrible and had no business even being on a AAA roster.

Maybe I just shouldn't become a scout.

[yanksphan]

Chris Ray finally got roughed up tonight.

2H, 3BB, 3ER in 1IP

It's only a matter of time Papelbon...only a matter of time.

[flymick24]

Hargrove should really give Rafael Soriano a shot, if healthy he could be effective in that role.

agreed. soriano was absolutely filthy before his TJ surgery and looks to have finally regained his form after 2 shaky recovery years.

either he or putz would do far better than guardado at this point.

[SoCal Pinstriper]

Reggie Sanders? Who knew?

And when it happens, a few more milestones will quickly follow. Sanders needs one more stolen base to become just the eighth active player with 300 or more career steals.

Also, Sanders is just one stolen base and five home runs away from becoming only the fifth player in major-league history to have 300 home runs and 300 steals in a career, joining Barry Bonds, Bobby Bonds, Willie Mays and Andre Dawson.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/14446549.htm

[Bob Saccomano]

Reggie Sanders? Who knew?
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/14446549.htm

He also has some more obscure, random baseball stats. For instance, he is the only player to hit at least 20 home runs for 6 different teams. He will probably do that with the Royals, too, and make that 7 different teams .