High & Inside: NL Notes
Should Manny sit out? Even though he hasn't played since receiving a 50-game suspension on May 7, Manny Ramirez still has a decent chance at being elected by the fans as one of the National League's three outfielders in the All-Star Game.
Should Manny sit out?
Even though he hasn't played since receiving a 50-game suspension on May 7, Manny Ramirez still has a decent chance at being elected by the fans as one of the National League's three outfielders in the All-Star Game.
However, if that happens, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre said Ramirez should sit the game out.
"I think if you asked Manny, he'd give you the same answer," Torre said yesterday.
Ramirez, who was suspended for violating baseball's drug policy, was only 34,000 votes out of third place in the outfielder voting, according to the latest returns. There is a "Vote for Manny" Web site out there to help him gain votes.
Ramirez is scheduled to return to the Dodgers on July 3, 11 days before the All-Star Game in St. Louis.
"To me, I think the significance of the All-Star Game is to reward players who have a good first half," Torre said. "We don't always do that because it's a popularity vote, for the most part. If you want to include the fans, that's how it's got to be."
Glavine looks ready
It took Tom Glavine 22 years to gain a victory - in the minor leagues, that is.
Glavine, 43, winner of 305 major league games, threw five scoreless innings Thursday in a rehab start at the Atlanta Braves' Triple-A farm club at Gwinnett as he continued his recovery from 2008 surgeries on his shoulder and elbow.
Atlanta manager Bobby Cox said Glavine will make another rehab appearance Tuesday with the Braves' Class A farm team at Rome, Ga., and then decide on whether to activate him.
"In my mind, it certainly wouldn't hurt me to go out there one more time, work on my mechanics a little bit, work on my location a little bit," Glavine told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Beltran is back
The New York Mets put center fielder Carlos Beltran back in the starting lineup last night after he missed the previous two games with a bone bruise below his right knee.
Beltran had an MRI on Tuesday, which revealed the bruise and an inflamed tibia, and also got a cortisone shot.
The return of Beltran, batting .367 with six homers and 31 RBIs, was welcome news for ailing New York, already missing Carlos Delgado and Jose Reyes with injuries.
In other Metropolitans news:
Reserve infielder Alex Cora was sent to Triple-A Buffalo on a rehab assignment. Cora was placed on the disabled list May 18 because of a torn ligament in his right thumb.
Minor-league outfielder Emil Brown was acquired in a trade with San Diego and sent to Buffalo.
Noteworthy
The Florida Marlins said shortstop Hanley Ramirez could return to the starting lineup today against the Mets. He has been sidelined with tightness in his right groin after leaving Tuesday night's game against the Phillies in the third inning. ... Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips, who is batting .350 this month, missed his fifth straight game last night with a hairline fracture of his right thumb. ... The St. Louis Cardinals activated outfielder Ryan Ludwick, who had been out with a strained hamstring, from the 15-day disabled list. They also placed shortstop Khalil Greene on the 15-day DL with what was described as "social anxiety disorder." ... The Washington Nationals, still looking for answers in their bullpen, called up right-hander Mike MacDougal from Triple-A Syracuse and sent catcher Luke Montz to Double-A Harrisburg.