Short morning – so we’ll try to do this quickly…
Manny Ramirez is Done…
Rather than face a 100 game suspension for what the NY Times reported as having been found using performance enhancing drugs (again), Manny Ramirez told MLB that he would retire. In fact, the press release from MLB was how Manny’s team, the Tampa Rays, found out about it.
Good riddance to a self-centered cheat.
For other opinions on the subject, click here:
Other News…
The Marlins expect that Hanley Ramirez will be back in the starting lineup on Tuesday after getting bruised while being on the receiving end of a hard slide by Astros infielder Bill Hall. If everyone agreed that Hall was just doing his job and nobody had any hard feelings, then why did Edward Mujica plunk Billy late in Sunday’s game – leading to two ejections?
I told this to my friend and former boss, Jose Gomez. Mujica isn’t long for the majors. He’s eminently hittable and only looked good last year because he played in San Diego. Now that he’s somewhere where baseballs don’t always get caught, his flat fastball will be meat and his career will fade quickly.
Matt Holiday made it back to the lineup on Sunday, just nine days after an emergency appendectomy. Modern medicine is amazing, really.
Nobody Can Retire Permanently…
Pedro Martinez is telling everyone he talks to that he’s not done and would welcome a return to the majors. Boston tops his list of potential return cities.
Weekend Transactions…
Octavio Dotel returned to the Blue Jays, sending Casey Janssen back to Las Vegas.
Jeff Stevens returns to the Cubs from Iowa, replacing Andrew Cashner, who is on the 15-day disabled list – but not likely to return for a while…
Boston activated lefty rookie Felix Doubrant from the DL, and sent former Orioles reliever Matt Albers to the 15-day DL with a sore right lat. Doubrant throws reasonably hard, has a nice change up, and throws a mean slider. I think he’s going to stay a while…
The Yankees signed Carlos Silva to a minor league contract, while the Cubs – who dispatched Silva – signed Ramon Ortiz to a minor league contract.
The Twins placed Kevin Slowey on the DL with a sore right biceps muscle. Alex Burnett was recalled from the Red Wings to take his place. Burnett is 23, got in 41 games with the Twins last year, and hasn’t yet shown that he’s ready to go after reaching AA.
The Orioles sent Brad Bergesen back to the minors, calling up Chris Jakubaskas.
The Pirates sent Ross Ohlendorf to the DL with a shoulder strain.
The Angels sent Erick Aybar to the DL with a strained oblique, and activated pitcher Scott Downs from the DL.
The Mets recalled Jason Isringhausen (!) after a bullpen implosion this weekend. Wow…
Happy Birthday!
Those celebrating with cake, cards, and remembrances include:
Sam Chapman (1916)
Sid Monge (1951)
Wally Whitehurst (1964)
Bret Saberhagen (1964)
Jason Varitek (1972)
Trot Nixon (1974)
Mark Teixeira (1980)
Alexander De Aza (1984)
Mighty Casey Baseball 