Around Baseball

• Jason Giambi is getting close to signing with a contender to be add some bench power, Rockies a possible fit?
  
• The Padres will officially extend 2B David Eckstein through 2010 today.
  

Stay tuned.....

MLB Hunt For The Postseason 8/22

AL East

Tampa Bay Rays
GB: 10.5 games behind the Yankees
Wildcard: 3 games behind Boston
Opponent:Vs the Rangers (68-53)
Start Time: 7:08 ET
Pitching Matchup: TEX: Hunter (6-2, 2.64 ERA) TAM: Garza (7-8, 3.73 ERA)
Yesterday: They beat the Rangers 5-3
Notes:
*At seasons end Akinori Iwamura or Ben Zobrist at second base?

The Yankees (77-45) @ Red Sox (69-52) today on Fox (4:10 ET)
Pitching Matchup: NYY: Burnett (10-6, 3.69 ERA) BOS: Tazawa (1-2, 5.40 ERA)
Notes:
*The Red Sox are 38-19 at home while the Yankees are 36-27 on the road.

AL Central

Detriot Tigers
GB:-
Wildcard:-
Opponent: @ Oakland A's (53-68)
Start Time: 9:05 ET
Pitching Matchup: DET: Galarraga (6-10, 5.16 ERA) OAK: Cahill (6-12, 4.97 ERA)
Yesterday: They Beat the A's 3-2
Notes:
*Curtis Granderson will be back in the line-up after a 2 day breather

Chicago White Sox
GB: 3.5 games behind teh Tigers
Wildcard: 7.5 games behind the Red Sox
Opponent: Vs Orioles (50-72)
Start Time: 7:05 ET
Pitching Matchup: BAL: Hernandez (4-5, 4.20 ERA) CHW: Danks (10-8, 3.96 ERA)
Yesterday: They lost to the O's 5-1
Notes:
*The White Sox say they are pushing Jake Peavy back, and the right-hander will pitch Monday in Charlotte
*While Jim Thome made history on Friday, he was frustrated by the Sox's loss to the O's

AL West

The Angels are playing the Blue Jays in a day game, I'll keep you updated!

Texas Rangers
GB: 5.5 games back of the LAA
Wildcard: 1 game back of the Red Sox
Opponent: @ Tampa Bay Rays (66-55)
Start Time: 7:08 ET
Pitching Matchup: TEX: Hunter (6-2, 2.64 ERA) TAM: Garza (7-8, 3.73 ERA)
Yesterday: The Rays won 5-3
Notes:
*The Rangers are poor on the road (27-29)

NL East

Philadelphia Phillies
GB:-
Wildcard:-
Opponent: @ New York Mets (57-65)
Start Time: 7:10 ET
Pitching Matchup: PHI: Happ (9-2, 2.66 ERA) NYM: Redding (1-4, 6.53 ERA)
Yesterday: The Mets won 4-2
Notes:
*Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Brett Myers struck out three in his first rehab appearance since having hip surgery nearly three months ago, an outing pushed back five days because of a fall

Florida Marlins
GB: 5.5 games behind the Phillies
Wildcard: 3 Games back of the Rockies
Opponent: @ Atlanta braves (64-58)
Start Time: 7:00 ET
Pitching Matchup: FLA: Volstad (9-9, 4.61 ERA) ATL: Hanson (8-2, 3.05 ERA)
Yesterday: They beat the Braves 5-3
Notes:
*The Florida Marlins have recalled right-hander Anibal Sanchez from Double-A Jacksonville to start Friday's game in Atlanta

Atlanta Braves:
GB: 6.5 games behind the Phils
Wildcard: 4 games behind the Rockies
Opponent: Vs Florida Marlins (65-57)
Start Time: 7:00 ET
Pitching Matchup: FLA: Volstad (9-9, 4.61 ERA) ATL: Hanson (8-2, 3.05 ERA)
Yesterday: The Marlins beat the Braves 5-3
Notes:
*The Braves are missing outfielder Garret Anderson and infielder Martin Prado for the start of a very key weekend series against the Florida Marlins.

NL Central

St. Louis Cardinals
GB:-
Wildcard:-
Opponent: @ San Diego Padres (52-72)
Start Time: 10:05 ET
Pitching Matchup: STL: Carpenter (13-3, 2.27 ERA) SDG: Correia (8-9, 4.32 ERA)
Yesterday: The Cards lost 4-0 to the Padres
Notes:
*Cardinals pitcher Kyle Lohse was removed from Friday night's game against the Padres due to an apparent left leg injury

NL West

The Dodgers (73-50) host the Chicago Cubs (61-59) on fox at 4:00 ET
The Pitching Matchup: CHC: Lilly (9-7, 3.42 ERA) LAD: Haeger (0-1, 3.86 ERA)

Colorado Rockies
GB: 4.5 games behind the Dodgers
Wildcard:-
Opponent: Vs Giants (67-55)
Start Time: 8:10 ET
Pitching Matchup: SFO: Martinez (3-1, 4.76 ERA) COL: De La Rosa (11-8, 4.58 ERA)
Yesterday: The Giants beat the Rockies 6-3
Notes:
*Colorado right-hander Aaron Cook was removed from the game against San Francisco in the fourth inning Friday night with a sore left shoulder

San Fransico Giants
Gb: 5.5 games behind the Dodgers
Wildcard: 1 game behind the Rockies
Opponent: @ Rockies (68-54)
Start Time: 8:10 ET
Pitching Matchup: SFO: Martinez (3-1, 4.76 ERA) COL: De La Rosa (11-8, 4.58 ERA)
Yesterday: The Giants won 6-3 over the Rockies
Notes:
*Catcher Buster Posey, who needed a few days off to nurse a minor injury, returned to Triple-A Fresno's lineup Tuesday and went 2-for-5 with an RBI single and a run scored

Brewers Not to Sell?

Tom Haudricourt got a few words from Brewers GM Doug Melvin:

"Teams aren’t interested in giving up good players at this point on waiver claims...I don’t see getting anything back in return that would make it worth doing."

B & G's 8/21/09

Baseballs:

**Russell Branyan, Seattle Mariners- Russell went 2-3 with 2 walks and he hit his 29Th Home Run of the season, driving in 2 runs, giving him 74 RBIs. Russell is now hitting .257.

**Braden Looper, Milwaukee Brewers- Braden threw 6 solid innings, giving up 2 runs (2 earned), he walked 2, struck out 4, and now has a 4.95 ERA.

**Charlie Morton, Pittsburgh Pirates- Charlie bounced back from a bad performance to throw 6 1/3 innings, giving up 2 runs (2 earned), he walked 3 and struck out 3. Charlie now has a 5.21 ERA and won his 3rd game.

**Jeff Francoeuer, New York Mets- Jeff had a good night, he went 3-4 and hit his 11Th Home Run of the season, a solo shot, giving him 58 RBIs on the season. Jeff is now hitting .269.

**Hanley Ramirez, Florida Marlins- Ramirez went 3-4 at the plate to extend his hitting streak to 16. He hit his 19Th Home Run of the season, driving in 3 runs, giving him 85 RBIs. But more importantly, his Marlins won the game. Hanley is now hitting .360.

**Marc Rzepczynski, Toronto Blue Jays- Marc won for the first time in a month, he pitched 6 1/3 innings, giving up 1 run (1 earned), he walked 1, struck out 6, and won his 2Nd game of the season. Marc now has a 3.65 ERA.

**Hedeki Matsui, New York Yankees- The Yankees exploded for 20 runs and Hedeki Matsui is partly responsible for that. He went 2-6 with 2 Home Runs, giving him 21 on the season and he drove in 7 runs, giving him 66 RBIs. Matsui is now hitting .266.

**Scott Kazmir, Tampa Bay Rays- Scott worked 7 1/3 innings, giving up 3 runs (3 earned), he walked 2, struck out 4 and now has a 6.17 ERA, winning his 8Th game of the season.

**Roy Oswalt, Houston Astros- Toy threw 7 shutout innings, he didn't walk anyone and struck out 2. Roy won his 7Th game and now has a 3.83 ERA.

**Brian Roberts, Baltimore Orioles- 2 Home Runs for Brian, he went 2-5, giving him 14 on the season. Brian drove in 3 runs, giving him 59 RBIs and Roberts is hitting .293.

**Aaron Rowand, San Francisco Giants- Aaron went 3-4, hit his 11Th Home Run of the season, driving in 3 runs, giving him 51 RBIs. Aaron is now hitting .280 and he helped give him team a big lift in the win.

**Ryan Rayburn, Detroit Tigers- Ryan gave his Tigers a big lift by hitting 2 Home Runs, giving him 10 Home Runs, with his 2 RBIs, it gives him 34 on the season and after going 2-4, he is hitting .273.

**Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres- Clayton threw 6 shutout innings, he walked 3, struck out 6, earned his 7Th win of the season and he now has a 4.42 ERA.

**Randy Wolf, Los Angeles Dodgers- Randy threw 7 innings, giving up 1 run (1 earned), on 1 hit, he walked 2, struck out 5. Randy won his 8Th game and has a 3.34 ERA.

Goofballs:

**David Huff, Cleveland Indians- David was awful again, only lasting 3 2/3 innings, giving up 5 runs (5 earned), he walked 4 and didn't strike anyone out. The walks is what killed Huff and he now has a 6.80 ERA.

**Josh Willingham, Washington Nationals- Struck out 3 times, going 0-4. Josh is now hitting .299

**Reds Offense- 2 runs on 9 hits, 4 walks, and 4 strikeouts. The Reds left 10 men on base.

**Phillies Offense- The offense was a bit flat against Mike Pelfrey and the other Mets pitchers. They scored 2 runs, 10 hits, 2 walks, and 10 strikeouts, leaving 11 men on base.

**Braves Offense- The only one to contribute was Adam Larouche. They scored 3 runs on just 6 hits, walked 2 times, and struck out 10.

**Sean O' Sullivan, LA Angels- Sean lasted 1 inning, he gave up 4 runs (4 earned), walked 3 and struck out 1. Sean lost his 2Nd game and now has a 6.60 ERA.

**Michael Bowden, Boston Red Sox- Yes, Brad Penny was bad, but Michael was worst. He worked 2 innings, giving up 7 runs (7 earned), he walked 3, and didn't strike anyone out. Michael now has a 15.75 ERA.

**Rangers Offense- They didn't score until the 8Th inning and could only get 6 hits with 3 runs. They left 5 men on base.

**Diamondbacks Offense- They were shutout on just 4 hits.

**White Sox Offense- They only scored 1 run on 7 hits, they walked2, struck out 3, and left 7 men on base.

**Aaron Cook, Colorado Rockies- The Giants got to him early, lasting just 3 innings, giving up 4 runs (4 earned), he walked 2, didn't strike anyone out. Aaron now has a 4.47 ERA, losing his 6Th game of the season.

**Athletics Offense- Didn't have many answers for the Tigers. They scored 2 runs on 8 hits, they walked 2 times, struck out 8 and left 8 men on base.

**Cardinals Offense- They were shut out, they only could get 5 hits, walked 3 times and struck out 11.

**Cubs Offense- They could only get 1 hit, on 1 run, they never really gave themselves a chance to score. They struck out 7 times too.