MLB Capsules: Manny joins White Sox, not in starting lineup
CLEVELAND (AP) — Behind trendy, white-framed sunglasses with rose-colored lenses, his dreadlocks pulled neatly together with a rubber band, Manny Ramirez walked to the front of the interview room wearing Chicago’s silver and black for the first time.
As he approached the dais, Ramirez adjusted the Velcro straps on his batting gloves.
Make no mistake. He’s here to hit.
"I just want to play baseball," he said through White Sox bench coach Joey Cora, who served as Ramirez’s translator during a brief news conference bordering on bizarre.
Already, Manny’s being himself.
Ramirez, whose previous stops in Boston and Los Angeles ended poorly and amid controversy, began the next phase of his colorful career Tuesday when he officially joined the White Sox, who claimed the 12-time All-Star off waivers for the final month of the playoff chase.
Ramirez was not in manager Ozzie Guillen’s starting lineup for Tuesday’s game against Cleveland. Ramirez was weary from an early wakeup call and cross-country flight, so Guillen will only use him if needed and give him his first start on Wednesday when the teams conclude their series with a day game.
"He was up at 4:30 in the morning," Guillen said. "That’s reason right there not to play him. He’s been on the disabled list this year. Why take the risk? Now if we didn’t win last night, we got 20 some hits, so that’s part of it. I don’t want to use him (tonight), but if we need him, we will use him.
"He told me, ‘Whatever you need, whatever you want."’
Ending a media boycott that began in spring training with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ramirez spoke only in Spanish to reporters, who wondered if he would conform to Chicago’s personal-appearance policy and cut the flowing dreadlocks he has worn for the past several years.
"That’s a stupid question," Ramirez said. "I’m here to play baseball and that has nothing to do with playing baseball."
But that’s been the problem for too long with Ramirez, who remains one of baseball’s most popular and perhaps most misunderstood players. After helping carry the Dodgers to the playoffs in 2008, Ramirez’s past two seasons have included a 50-game suspension for failing a drug test and a contentious final few months in Hollywood, which he transformed into "Mannywood" with his big swing and big smile before things soured.
Ramirez arrived at Progressive Field at 3:15 p.m., entering the familiar ballpark through the Cleveland player’s parking lot — a route he took for seven seasons with the Indians. He pulled a wheeled travel bag and was followed by two clubhouse attendants lugging overstuffed Dodgers equipment bags.
Soon, he slid into his chair under the RAMIREZ 99 nameplate hung in Chicago’s clubhouse. As Guillen held court across the room, Ramirez spoke to a few of his new teammates, including pitcher Mark Buehrle, who must feel relieved that he won’t have to face one of the most feared right-handed hitters in baseball history this season.
Ramirez is thrilled to be joining the White Sox, who began the day trailing the AL Central-leading Minnesota Twins by four games. He’ll be used primarily as Chicago’s designated hitter and could see some time in left field.
Ramirez had three stints on the disabled list this season with leg injuries. He missed 58 games, and because the Dodgers didn’t have the luxury of a DH, they decided to waive him rather than trade the superstar and get something in return.
Ramirez said he doesn’t begrudge the Dodgers for letting him go, but wonders why manager Joe Torre didn’t have him in the lineup more.
"I just feel blessed that I played for them," he said. "I only played 60 games for them this year, but I don’t understand why I didn’t play more — especially at the end."
Ramirez was asked how he feels physically.
"Like a 25-year-old," he said.
He said only God knows how long he can keep playing, but Ramirez said he remains driven.
"I still have that fire to compete," he said. "As long as I have that fire to compete, I’m going to keep playing. As soon as that fire leaves, it’s time to go."
Ramirez has long had a reputation for being lackadaisical. His casual stride and style make it look that way. Guillen is sure he will get the most the 38-year-old Ramirez can give.
"He will hustle. He will. You treat Manny with respect and he’s fine," Guillen said. "All I want him to do is drive in runs. He will run. I don’t say he’s going to run like Juan Pierre. But he will run like Manny. I wish he can play every day, but I don’t know. He’s not 15 anymore.
"Right now, I can’t say we are a better team because Manny hasn’t played. He is not the same player as when he went to LA. He was the type of player who could carry a team in the past. Do we want that to happen? Of course we do. But we’ll be happy if he comes in and helps."
It was hard to tell if Ramirez had cut his flowing hair, which has become as much his trademark as almost any of his 554 career homers. Guillen isn’t worried about Ramirez’s appearance and will leave those issues to White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf.
"That’s Jerry’s problem," Guillen said. "That is not in my rules. As a manager, I appreciate Jerry’s rules, but the only thing I can do is bench him. We brought him here to play. I stay away from that. If I was Manny, I would try to keep the chairman happy."
Ramirez refused to address his fall from grace in both Boston and Los Angeles, two cities where his popularity soared as his home runs sailed over outfield walls. Each stay ended badly, but he insists that the past is the past and that he has moved on.
When it became obvious his days in LA were numbered, the "Mannywood" sign on the short fence in the left-field corner of Dodgers Stadium was removed and replaced with ads for an insurance company. Ramirez, though, said he didn’t see that as an end to his time in a town he said he loved.
"I didn’t give it too much thought because the checks were going to keep on coming," he said. "Blue ones."
Ramirez laughed a few times during his press briefing, his first in months. He couldn’t wait for this one to end, and he concluded by finally speaking some English.
"Can I go and get ready for the game?" he asked.
And off he went.
Twins slugger Morneau not any closer to return
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Justin Morneau was absent at Target Field when his Minnesota Twins returned home to open a three-game series against Detroit, and he may be out for a while as recovers from a concussion that happened nearly two months ago.
Doctors told Morneau to stay at home until at least Friday, manager Ron Gardenhire said Tuesday. Gardenhire said it wasn't a setback and that Morneau would continue to do some cardio work and other workouts from home.
"He's following doctors' orders," Gardenhire said. "He's doing exactly what they want him to do."
The manager declined to go any further into a condition that doesn't appear to have improved considerably since the All-Star first baseman was injured sliding into second base in Toronto on July 8. Morneau has experienced lingering symptoms from the concussion ever since, but many were encouraged when he started taking swings and joining the team in the dugout for some home games a few weeks ago.
The former AL MVP's return sure would be a boon to the Twins, who started the day four games ahead of the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central race.
Right fielder Michael Cuddyer has filled in admirably at first base for Morneau, just as he did a year ago when Morneau missed most of September and the playoffs with a back injury.
The White Sox added slugger Manny Ramirez from the Dodgers on Tuesday, giving them another big bat as they try to chase down the Twins in the division.
Minnesota has added relievers Randy Flores and Brian Fuentes to bolster its bullpen, and getting Morneau back would add some more firepower to an already potent lineup.
But there is still no timetable for a return, and the Twins have said all along they won't rush one of their biggest stars back to action.
Jim Thome has also helped pick up the slack, emerging as the everyday DH while he slugs his way up the career home run chart. But Thome was not in the lineup on Tuesday night because of a stiff back. He is listed as day-to-day.
Delmon Young got his first start of the season at DH in Thome's absence and Jason Repko was inserted as the left fielder.
-- Jon Krawczynski
Baldelli set to return to the majors
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Rocco Baldelli is about to get another chance to play in the majors.
The Tampa Bay Rays are planning to purchase the contract of the outfielder-designated hitter from Triple-A Durham when rosters can be expanded on Wednesday.
Baldelli rejoined the Rays as a special instructor during spring training and was also rehabbing an injured shoulder this year. He missed the 2005 season and most of 2007 and '08 because of injuries and a medical condition that sapped his energy.
The 28-year-old Baldelli was part of the Rays' AL championship team in 2008. He played for Boston last season, hitting .253 with seven homers and 23 RBIs in 62 games.
Catcher Dioner Navarro and pitcher Jeremy Hellickson are among the other minor leaguers expected to join the Rays on Wednesday.
After the Rays were beaten 13-5 by the Blue Jays on Tuesday, the team optioned pitcher Andy Sonnanstine to Class-A Hudson Valley, purchased the contract of outfielder Brad Hawpe from Class-A Charlotte and moved left-hander J.P. Howell (left shoulder) from the 15- to the 60-day disabled list.
Overbay does not have a concussion
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Toronto first baseman Lyle Overbay does not have a concussion, but is feeling as if he did.
Overbay was out of the lineup for the fourth straight game Tuesday night because of post-concussion symptoms. He did resume on-field work before Toronto played at Tampa Bay and hopes to play again in the next few days.
Overbay was hurt last week when he collided with Blue Jays pitcher Brian Tallet. After having no problems for a couple days, Overbay was taken out of last Friday's game because he was not feeling well.
"I was struggling to concentrate, to focus," Overbay said. "It was never dizziness. I never really had a headache. Just a heavy head. Maybe like the sinus' are sore right there."
A CT scan was normal.
Also, Toronto infielder Yunel Escobar is expected to be out until Friday due to a stiff back. He hasn't played since Saturday.
Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said left-hander David Purcey, out with a right foot injury, will be reinstated from the 15-day disabled list and catcher J.P. Arencibia will be recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas when rosters can be expanded on Wednesday.
Blue Jays score 10 runs in 6th inning against Rays
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Jose Bautista has hit his major league-leading 43rd homer during the Toronto Blue Jays' 10-run sixth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Bautista's three-run drive Tuesday night off reliever Lance Cormier capped the outburst and put the Blue Jays up 11-3. Aaron Hill had a two-run shot against Cormier.
It was the most runs Toronto has scored in one inning since an 11-run sixth on July 25, 2007, against Minnesota.
After managing only two hits through five innings, Toronto chased Rays starter Jeff Niemann by putting its first six batters on base in the sixth — five hits and a batter hit by a pitch.
Niemann and Cormier combined to give up six extra-base hits in the sixth, tying the franchise record for one inning.
Niemann was charged with seven runs in five-plus innings. Cormier allowed four runs in one inning.
Indians activate Laffey, option him to minors
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Indians activated left-handed pitcher Aaron Laffey on Tuesday and optioned him to Triple-A Columbus.
Laffey has been on the disabled list since July 23 with a tired left shoulder. He was 2-3 with a 4.62 ERA in 25 games for the Indians.
Laffey began the season in Cleveland's bullpen and was sent to Columbus on May 30. He returned to Cleveland on June 26, but was shut down after five starts.
The Indians want Laffey to get regular work out of bullpen in the final games of Columbus' season.
Indians manager Manny Acta said right-hander Carlos Carrasco will be called up from Columbus to start Wednesday's game against the Chicago White Sox.
National League
Pirates' Morton on pace for historically bad ERA
PITTSBURGH (AP) — With slightly more than a month of the season remaining, Pirates right-hander Charlie Morton is threatening to have one of the worst years by any starting pitcher in major league history.
Despite spending nearly three months in Triple-A, Morton is 1-10 with a 10.03 ERA in 11 starts for the last-place Pirates. He has allowed at least five earned runs in all but three starts, although he hasn't lasted longer than six innings anytime.
According to STATS LLC, Morton's 10.03 ERA is the third highest by a major league starter going into September since the 1952 season. Only Roy Halladay of Toronto in 2000 (4-7, 10.63 ERA) and the Pirates' Steve Blass in 1973 (3-7, 10.40 ERA) had higher ERAs with at least 10 decisions at this stage in the season.
"It's been up and down, obviously," Morton said.
According to STATS, the worst ERA in history for a starting pitcher who figured in at least 10 decisions was Halladay's 10.64 in 2000. No other pitcher during the modern era that began in 1900 ended a season with a double-digit ERA and at least 10 decisions. Charlie Stecher had a 10.32 ERA while going 0-10 during his one and only major league season with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1890.
Since then, the only other pitcher to end a season with an ERA of at least 9.75 and at least 10 decisions was Blass, who went 3-9 with a 9.85 ERA only a season after he was the NL Cy Young Award runner-up in 1972. Blass, now a Pirates broadcaster, inexplicably lost his ability to throw strikes during that 1973 season and ended up retiring a season later when the problem didn't go away.
No doubt Morton hopes his career eventually resembles that of Halladay or Blass. Since his 2000 miseries, Halladay has won 16 or more games seven times, and he threw a perfect game for Philadelphia earlier this season. Blass had seasons of 19-8, 18-6 and 15-8 and won Game 7 of the 1971 World Series for Pittsburgh.
Morton, acquired by Pittsburgh from Atlanta in the Nate McLouth trade in June 2009, can throw his fastball in the low to mid 90s, but often switches to his off-speed pitches when he gets into trouble. The Pirates want him to be more aggressive, and rely more on a fastball that he now throws only about 50 percent of the time.
Morton, however, had location problems during several starts early this season when he attempted to stay with his fastball. He was much more consistent for Triple-A Indianapolis, going 4-4 with a 3.83 ERA in 14 starts.
Called back to the majors to start Sunday in Milwaukee, Morton repeatedly shook off signs from catcher Ryan Doumit while giving up eight runs in 3 1-3 innings of an 8-4 loss.
"He needs to trust his catcher a little bit more," manager John Russell said. "He needs to trust himself a little more."
Morton's ERA is nearly twice as high as it was last season, when he went 5-9 with a 4.55 ERA in 18 games with Pittsburgh. He was 4-8 with a 6.15 ERA for Atlanta in 2008. For his career, Morton is 10-27 with a 6.27 ERA in 45 games.
Earlier in the season, Pirates management insisted Morton didn't stay in the rotation for nearly two months merely to justify the team's decision to acquire him from Atlanta.
For now, the Pirates are saying only that Morton will start Saturday at home against Washington, a performance that may decide whether he stays with them for the rest of the season. Morton is one of five Pirates pitchers with at least 10 losses, the first time since 1954 the franchise has had that many double-digit losers.
"At some point, we may feel like it's better to do something else (with Morton)," Russell said.
-- Alan Robinson
Lowe receives injection for arm problem
ATLANTA (AP) — For six weeks, Derek Lowe has pitched with a nagging pain near his right elbow.
He doesn’t expect it to keep him off the mound during the Atlanta Braves’ playoff push, but it was serious enough for him to receive the first injection of his career.
Lowe finally opened up Tuesday about a problem that had him flexing his right hand during his last start, a miserable three-inning effort against Florida. He surrendered five runs before deciding he couldn’t go on.
"I knew I was in trouble when I started," the 37-year-old Lowe said before the Braves faced the New York Mets. "I didn’t have any strength in my hand. I told Roger (McDowell, the pitching coach) after the third inning, ‘This is pointless."’
Lowe (11-12, 4.53 ERA) said the problem is actually behind his elbow but affects his ability to grip the ball. He told the Braves about the pain three weeks ago and had been caring for its with anti-inflammatory medication and treatment.
After his last start, he decided to try a cortisone shot for the first time. He has lost three straight decisions, and only an improbable comeback by the Braves in his last appearance kept his skid from reaching four in a row.
Lowe insists that his problem is nothing serious, perhaps just a severe case of tendinitis.
"I’ve done countless exams and talked to doctors and it’s not the ligament, it’s not the Tommy John thing," Lowe said, referring to the ligament replacement operation that usually requires at least a year of recovery time. "We’re trying to figure out what we can do to get the swelling out where I can bend my arm."
Lowe has failed to live up to expectations the Braves had when they signed him to a four-year, $60 million contract before the 2009 season. He was a 15-game winner last year but had a 4.67 ERA. This season, he’s been the fourth-best starter behind Tim Hudson, Jair Jurrjens and Tommy Hanson.
Lowe planned to do some light tossing Tuesday. If there are no lingering problems, he’ll take his regular between-starts throwing session Wednesday and make his next scheduled start Friday against the Marlins in Florida.
"In hindsight, this is how I’ve always been with my body. No matter what it is, I figure I can always deal with it," Lowe said. "But that last game ... I probably should have come out after the first inning."
NOTES: The Braves recalled OF Nate McLouth from Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday and will add six other players to their roster for the stretch drive. That includes touted prospect Freddie Freeman, who was hitting .319 with 18 homers and 87 RBIs at Gwinnett. Freeman will join the team Wednesday when the rosters expand, along with RHP Kenshin Kawakami, LHP Mike Dunn, RHP Scott Proctor and C J.C. Boscan. 1B Troy Glaus, a starter most of the season, has rejoined the team from a rehabilitation assignment at Gwinnett but can’t be activated from the 15-day disabled list until Thursday.
-- Paul Newberry
Nats' Strasburg to have Tommy John surgery Friday
MIAMI (AP) — Washington Nationals rookie ace Stephen Strasburg will have Tommy John surgery on Friday to rebuild his injured right elbow, an operation that is expected to sideline him for 12 to 18 months.
The ligament replacement surgery will be in Los Angeles and performed by Dr. Lewis Yocum, with Nationals team doctor Dr. Wiemi Douoguih assisting.
"He is dealing with it like a professional," Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said before Tuesday night's game against Florida. "He's very determined to get it done and start the process."
Strasburg will begin his recuperation the day after the surgery, recovering at the Scripps Clinic in his hometown of San Diego.
Strasburg hurt himself while pitching Aug. 21 in Philadelphia. The right-hander who created such a buzz all through baseball was 5-3 with a 2.91 ERA.
The 22-year-old Strasburg was the overall No. 1 pick in the 2009 draft and quickly climbed through the minor leagues this season.
With a fastball that reached 100 mph and wicked curves, he struck out 14 during his major league debut in June and had many fans saying he should be on the NL All-Star team in July.
Strasburg was scratched from a start in late July after he had trouble getting loose in the bullpen. He went on the disabled list two days later with inflammation in the back of his right shoulder.
The Nationals were worried when Strasburg grimaced, shook his wrist and walked off the mound during his last start against the Phillies. An extensive MRI exam last Thursday revealed the severity of the injury, a devastating setback for the last-place team.
Reds LH Chapman arrives with 100 mph fastball
CINCINNATI (AP) — The ballpark’s fire alarm was squealing when left-hander Aroldis Chapman walked onto a major league field for the first time.
No, he hadn’t even thrown one of those triple-digit fastballs yet.
The Cuban defector joined the Cincinnati Reds before their game Tuesday night against Milwaukee, with everybody eager to see how his urban-legend fastball fares in the majors.
The 22-year-old pitcher recently was clocked at 105 mph on the ballpark radar gun at Triple-A Louisville. The NL Central leaders plan to use him in relief, hoping that radar-lighting pitch helps them get to the playoffs.
-- Joe Kay
Young allows 1 run on 2 hits in rehab start
RENO, Nev. (AP) — Padres right-hander Chris Young allowed one run and two hits in three innings of a rehab start for Triple-A Portland against Reno on Tuesday night.
The 6-foot-10 Young struck out one, throwing 31 pitches, 24 for strikes.
The only run came on a solo home run by Tony Abreu in the first inning, the second batter he faced. Young also allowed a single in the first inning to Cole Gillespie before recording the final two outs. He retired the side in order in the second and third innings.
Young made one start this season before going on the disabled list April 12 with a strained shoulder. He had arthroscopic surgery on the shoulder a year ago.
Reds RF Bruce late scratch with side pain
CINCINNATI (AP) — Right fielder Jay Bruce was a late scratch from the Cincinnati Reds' lineup because of pain in his right side.
Bruce has been one of the Reds' hottest hitters lately, going 8 for 15 with five homers in his last four games. Bruce homered three times during a 7-1 win over the Cubs on Friday. He led off Monday's 5-4 win over Milwaukee with a homer, then ended it with an RBI single in the 10th.
Bruce had some of the best career numbers off Milwaukee starter Yovani Gallardo, going 4 for 8 with a homer.
The Reds began play on Tuesday with a six-game lead over St. Louis in the NL Central.
Trades
Red Sox trade reliever Delcarmen to Rockies
BALTIMORE (AP) — Having lost his spot in the Boston bullpen, Manny Delcarmen was traded with cash from the Red Sox to the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday for minor league pitcher Chris Balcom-Miller.
The Red Sox have faded in the AL playoff race while the Rockies are trying to stay close in the NL wild-card chase.
Delcarmen was 3-2 with a 4.70 ERA in 48 games for Boston this season. The right-hander had been especially tough on lefty hitters, holding them to a .165 batting average.
The 28-year-old Delcarmen had been a key member of the Red Sox bullpen for several years, and pitched in Boston’s sweep of Colorado in the 2007 World Series.
"Manny wasn’t necessarily pitching in the highest leverage situations with us anymore," Boston general manager Theo Epstein said. "We had a couple of guys that passed him on the depth chart."
Epstein said that the Rockies claimed Delcarmen on waivers and the teams were able to work out a deal.
"Manny had a nice career with us," Epstein said. "At times he would go out there with closer stuff."
The Red Sox began Tuesday in third place, seven games behind the Yankees and Rays, who were tied for the AL East lead.
"We need to get really hot make this thing interesting," Epstein said. "Really hot — hotter than we’ve been at any point during the year."
To replace Delcarmen, Boston recalled right-handed pitcher Robert Manuel from Triple-A Pawtucket. He was 8-2 with a 1.68 ERA and 12 saves with Pawtucket and 0-0 with a 3.86 ERA in five games with the Red Sox earlier this season.
Balcom-Miller is a 21-year-old righty. He went 6-7 with a 3.31 ERA in 19 starts at Single-A Asheville this season. Boston has assigned him to Single-A Greenville.
Elsewhere
Omaha Royals plan events to mark end of Rosenblatt
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Omaha Royals are planning to celebrate Rosenblatt Stadium during the final regular season game there this week.
When the Royals play the Round Rock Express Thursday, there will be a fan festival beforehand, appearances by former players and fireworks afterward.
The first 2,000 fans who arrive after the gates open at 5:30 p.m. will receive miniature stadium seats. The free festival before the game will also feature inflatables, face painters, live music and clowns.
A new downtown ballpark will replace Rosenblatt next year. The site of Rosenblatt will be used to expand the Omaha Zoo.
The stadium was built in 1947 and hosted the College World Series for the 61st, and last, time in June. The Royals are moving to a new stadium in Sarpy County.
