The Treatment Room
Angels activate OF Garet Anderson from DL
Angels activated outfielder Garret Anderson from the 15-day disabled list. He and Reggie Willits will likely alternate playing left field and filling the DH role. Anderson needs to produce for a couple of weeks before he’ll again be an option in mixed leagues
Angels place C Mike Napoli on the DL
Angels placed catcher Mike Napoli on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained left ankle.
Napoli sprained his ankle after a collision at the plate with Melvin Mora. Jose Molina and Jeff Mathis will share time behind the plate until the starting catcher returns.
Brewers activate LHP Chris Capuano from DL
Brewers activated LHP Chris Capuano from the 15-day disabled list. In his two starts since returning Capuano has struggled going 8.2IP while giving up thirteen hits and 8 earned runs.
Mets Place LHP Oliver Perez on the DL
Mets placed LHP Oliver Perez on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 27, with a sore lower back. Perez will be eligible to return after the All-Star break. Jason Vargas got called up to take Perez’s starts but after giving up 11 hits and nine runs in just 3 1/3 innings last Tuesday and has since been sent down.
Rangers place 2B Ian Kinsler on the DL
Rangers placed second baseman Ian Kinsler on the 15-day disabled list with a stress fracture in his left foot. The Rangers say Kinsler will miss at least three weeks. A six- to eight-week absence is a real possibility, depending on how the fracture heals. The Rangers will go with Ramon Vazquez at second and Travis Metcalf at third for now, with Jerry Hairston Jr. serving as a backup at both positions.
Diamondbacks place LHP Randy Johnson on the DL
Diamondbacks placed LHP Randy Johnson on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 29, with a sore back. Johnson said he wasn’t feeling 100% so the D-backs did the right thin and put him back on the DL. . Yusmeiro Petit will take his spot in the rotation.
Reds activate OF Ryan Freel from DL
Reds activated infielder-outfielder Ryan Freel from the 15-day disabled list. Freel took longer than expected to recover from a head injury. He will mostly be used in a super-utility role until Griffey or Dunn is traded.
White Sox place OF Scott Posednik on the DL
White Sox placed outfielder Scott Podsednik on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 2, with a strained left rib-cage muscle. With Erstad also on the DL Jerry Owens will play center field.
D-Rays place RHP AL Reyes on the DL
Devil Rays placed RHP Al Reyes on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 3, with a strained rotator cuff. Reyes has been superb this year converting 17of18 saves. The Devil Rays are hoping he can return when eligible on July 18. Rays Manager Joe Maddon said that Gary Glover will take over closing duties.
Brewers place OF Bill Hall on the DL
Brewers placed outfielder Bill Hall on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right ankle. The Brewers haven’t put out an estimate on when Hall might return. He will probably miss4-6 weeks. Tony Gwynn Jr. got called up and will probably see the most time in center.
Blue Jays activate Reed Johnson from DL
Blue Jays activated outfielder Reed Johnson from the 60-day disabled list. With Adam Lind sent down Johnson will get most of the playing time in left and will eventually bat leadoff.
Padres activate OF Milton Bradley from the DL
Padres activated outfielder Milton Bradley from the disabled list. Bradley played left field and batted fifth in the weekend series against the Braves.
A’s activate OF Bobby Kielty from the DL
Athletics activated outfielder Bobby Kielty from the 15-day disabled list.
Kielty should be in the lineup for Sunday’s game. He’ll play against most lefties while healthy, taking at-bats away from Jack Cust, Dan Johnson and Mark Kotsay.
Braves place RHP John Smoltz on the DL
Transactions
Brewers recall OF Tony Gwynn Jr.
Brewers recalled outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. from Triple-A Nashville. With Halll injured Gwynn will get some time as a center fielder and pinch runner.
Blue Jays send OF Adam Lind to AAA
Blue Jays optioned outfielder Adam Lind to Triple-A Syracuse.
Lind disappointed after a quick start, hitting just .213 with a 39/7 K/BB ratio in 183 at-bats since the beginning of May.
D-Backs send Carlos Quentin to AAA
Diamondbacks optioned outfielder Carlos Quentin to Triple-A Tucson. The Diamondbacks obviously feel that they can win this season otherwise they wouldn’t have made this move, Quentin should be fine in the long term but this season he has struggled, hitting just .210/.299/.350 with five homers and 28 RBI in 200 at-bats.
Red Sox send Jacoby Ellsbury to AAA
Red Sox optioned outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury to Triple-A Pawtucket. Ellsbury’s cup of coffee ended with Crsip’s return from a niggling hand injury. He went 6-for-16 with two walks during his first stint in the majors.
Twins send RHP Kevin Slowey to AAA
Twins optioned RHP Kevin Slowey to Triple-A Rochester. Slowey struggled with a 5.84ERA, 1.68WHIP and a 2/1 K/BB rate. It looks like the Twins have decided to go with Matt Garza as their fifth starter.
White Sox call up OF Jerry Owens
White Sox recalled outfielder Jerry Owens from Triple-A Charlotte. Owens is getting another chance even though he hit just .170/.214/.208 in 53 at-bats last month. With Posednik and Erstad on the DL Owens will bat leadoff and play center field.
Cardinals send Anthony Reyes to AAA
Cardinals optioned RHP Anthony Reyes to Triple-A Memphis. Reyes has been terrible this year with a 6.40ERA and a 1.42WHIP. The Cardinals hinted that he would not be recalled before September.
Angels call up C Jeff Mathis
Angels recalled catcher Jeff Mathis from Triple-A Salt Lake. Mathis will share time with Jose Molina until Mike Napoli returns from the disabled list. He’s probably the weaker option of the two after hitting just .244/.295/.376 for Salt Lake.
WHO’S HOT & WHO’S NOT
HOT
Jim Thome
Thome has ‘en fuego’ last week hitting four homeruns, scoring 10 runs and driving in thirteen. Despite spending some time on the DL Thome has put up decent numbers in the first half with a .279AVG, 14HR, 44RBI and 35R.
Justin Morneau
Mourneau hit the same amount of homeruns last week as he did in the home run derby. Mourneau had 4 big flys last week while also scoring seven runs and driving in thirteen. Mourneau is on pace to have another MVP caliber year, he hit 24HR and had 74RBI in the first half.
Brad Wilkerson
Most players welcomes the All Star break with open arms, Brad Wilkerson is not one of them. Wilkerson had a great last week and will be disappointed that he won’t be able to continue his hot streak. Wilkerson had 5HR, 12RBI and scored 5 runs last week.
NOT
J.P Howell
Howell must have misread the calendar and taught that the homerun derby was in Boston on July 5th. Howell gave up 6ER in just 0.2IP and has since been sent down to AAA.
Rickie Weeks
Weeks hasn’t had a great first half and he didn’t end it on a very positive note. Weeks had just one hit last week and didn’t score or drive in any runs. Weeks was also out of the lineup for the July 8th game against the Nationals.
Jermain Dye
With Buehrle resigned Dye becomes the White Sox main trading chip but if he keeps hitting like he did last week they won’t be getting much for him. Dye hit a dismal .056 last week while scoring only one run.
WHO TO PICK UP & WHO TO AVOID
PICK UP
LA Angels- The Angels open up their second half with a three game set away against the Rangers. The Rangers had the second worst team ERA over the first half and now that its Summer the ball will be flying out of that ballpark.
Cardinals- The Cardinals open up their second half with a three game set away against the Phillies. The only Phillie with an ERA under 4.00 is Cole Hamels and he’s pitching in the All-Star Game, so the Cards might miss him completely.
AVOID
Diamondbacks- The Padres open up their 2nd half with a key 3 game set against the Padres in Petco. While Young and Peavey may appear in the all star game they both should be able to make weekend starts.