ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH: --LHP Tom Gorzelanny (sore left hand) was struck by a line drive Sept. 1. He will have a CT scan on Sept. 2. --C Geovany Soto (swollen right knee) was hurt Aug. 29 but played the entire game. He did not play Aug. 30-Sept. 1. An MRI showed only minor swelling. --RHP Carlos Silva (cardiac evaluation) went on the 15-day disabled list Aug. 2. He underwent a successful cardiac ablation Aug. 9 in Chicago. He made rehab starts for low Class A Peoria on Aug. 27 and Sept. 1. --RHP Esmailin Caridad (strained right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list May 19. He began a rehab assignment Aug. 19 with the Cubs' affiliate in the rookie-level Arizona League. --LHP John Grabow (sprained left knee) went on the 15-day disabled list June 29. He spent the first half of June on the DL because of the knee. He went to the team's spring training facility in Arizona during early August to continue his rehab, but he was found to have suffered a torn medial collateral ligament on Aug. 11. He will miss the rest of the season. --RHP Angel Guzman (right shoulder surgery in March 2010) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 31. He is out for the season. ROTATION: RHP Ryan Dempster RHP Randy Wells LHP Tom Gorzelanny RHP Thomas Diamond RHP Carlos Zambrano BULLPEN: RHP Carlos Marmol (closer) LHP Sean Marshall RHP Andrew Cashner LHP James Russell RHP Marcos Mateo RHP Casey Coleman LHP Scott Maine CATCHERS: Geovany Soto Koyie Hill INFIELDERS: 1B Micah Hoffpauir 2B Blake DeWitt SS Starlin Castro 3B Aramis Ramirez INF Jeff Baker INF Darwin Barney OUTFIELDERS: LF Alfonso Soriano CF Marlon Byrd RF Kosuke Fukudome OF Tyler Colvin OF Xavier Nady
Pistons Mailbag - Thursday, September 2, 2010 - Page 1
It's early September, and many NBA teams have the 'gone fishing' signs hanging on their office doors. That makes the time right to answer a few philosophical questions, like this one: What makes for a good owner?
Bulls and Verizon Wireless host charity golf outing
The annual Chicago Bulls/Verizon Wireless Charity Golf Outing was held on Monday at the White Pines Golf Club in Bensenville, IL. Scottie Pippen, Joakim Noah, James Johnson, Artis Gilmore, Toni Kukoc, Jay Williams and many more were all on hand.
Last chance for last dance in NFL
Step in to the NFL's Last Chance Saloon and look around. There'san impressive array of talent on display this season.
NOTES, QUOTES
--LHP Tom Gorzelanny had X-rays taken of his left hand after he was hit by a line drive off the bat of Pirates LF Jose Tabata in the third inning. The Cubs said the X-rays showed no displaced fracture. However, Gorzelanny will undergo a CT scan Thursday because of a potential trouble spot at the top of his left pinkie. --RHP Thomas Diamond got his first major league victory, relieving LHP Tom Gorzelanny. Diamond worked 1 2/3 innings to improve to 1-3. "It was pretty scary," Diamond said of Gorzelanny's injury. "I actually thought Tom got hit a little bit worse than he did. They said it was in his hand. I thought it actually hit him in the face. It was good news to hear that it was a hand and not the face." --RF Kosuke Fukudome remains hot. He went 3-for-3 with a walk and two doubles. Since the All-Star break, he's batting .364 (28-for-77). He has hit safely in eight of his last nine games. --INF Darwin Barney got a surprise start at third base. Aramis Ramirez had the day off, and Jeff Baker came down with a sore Achilles tendon. Barney played third late in Tuesday's game. Before that, though, he said he logged one professional inning at third and had one game there in Little League. "We were playing a state final when I was 12, and my dad put me at third because this team loved to bunt," he said. "He put me over there and shut that game down. That's about it. Otherwise, I've been in the middle of the infield." --RHP Carlos Silva was unimpressive Wednesday in his second rehab start for low Class A Peoria. He allowed five runs on six hits in 4 2/3 innings. Silva had pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings for Peoria on Friday. He has been on the disabled list since early August, when he received treatment for an irregular heartbeat. --CF Marlon Byrd insists he's fine, but he's been hobbled by a sore right leg. According to manager Mike Quade, it's below the knee. "We're going to watch all these guys close," Quade said. "I told you guys how heavily the veterans are leaned on down the stretch. Having said that, you also have to be very careful. We talked about the energy and the stamina that the kids have. But I will be very careful with Marlon." BY THE NUMBERS: 16 -- Rookies who have played for the Cubs this season, the most they have used since playing 16 in 2006. LHP Scott Maine, who made his major league debut last week, was the 16th Cubs rookie to play this season. QUOTE TO NOTE: "Look at my numbers. It makes me want to throw up every time I look at them." -- RHP Randy Wells, after snapping a five-game losing streak over the weekend.
Manny gets a hit, is hit in ChiSox debut
For the second straight game, Manny Ramirez watched from a fewfeet away as one of his new teammates hit a game-winning homer.
Tickets on sale now for Bulls' Tip-Off Luncheon
The Chicago Bulls will officially open the 2010-11 basketball season with the team's annual Tip-Off Luncheon on Thursday, October 21 at the Hilton Chicago. Tickets can be purchased at Bulls.com or by contacting the Bulls at 312.455.4122.
Turco aiming to add to Blackhawks' success
Marty Turco puts on the Blackhawks' sweater for the first time Tuesday.CHICAGO – Sitting behind a microphone and next to his new boss, Marty Turco smiled w...
INSIDE PITCH
The Cubs are a bit banged up, and they'll have to deal with it now without much in the way of minor league help. Sept. 1 came and went without the Cubs making any minor league call-ups, even though rosters may expand beyond 25. The only certainty is that the Cubs will bring up catcher Welington Castillo for Friday's series opener against the Mets. Castillo has been in town this week because of catcher Geovany Soto is hobbled with a sore knee. In addition to that, center fielder Marlon Byrd has soreness in his right leg. He did not start Thursday. Infielder Jeff Baker has discomfort in his left Achilles tendon. That ailment caused him to be scratched from Wednesday's starting lineup, but he did enter the game late. As long as manager Mike Quade gets a third catcher, he said things will be fine. After that, the Cubs will wait to see how their minor league teams do in the postseason before making any extensive roster additions. "I'm happy with the roster here," Quade said. "We've got Castillo in the wings, and that's a good thing. The third catcher, to me, is first and foremost. The pitching situation has been good. The rest of it, I really don't know." CUBS 5, PIRATES 3: Cubs batters piled up 11 hits, including RBI doubles from RF Kosuke Fukudome, CF Tyler Colvin and C Koyie Hill to overcome the loss of their starting pitcher, LHP Tom Gorzelanny, who was hit on his pitching hand by a line drive in the third. Carlos Marmol got four outs to earn his 25th save.
ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH: --2B Gordon Beckham (bruised right hand) left the Aug. 30 game, and he didn't play Aug. 31. He is likely out until at least Sept. 3. --LHP Matt Thornton (sore left forearm) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Aug. 18. An MRI found no structural damage. He threw lightly before the Aug. 27 game and threw on the side Aug. 29. He hopes to return Sept. 3. --RHP J.J. Putz (right knee tendinitis) went on the 15-day disabled list Aug. 25. There's a chance he could return in early September. --LHP Erick Threets (torn ligament in left elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list Aug. 28. He is out for the season, and he is expected to undergo Tommy John surgery. --RHP Jake Peavy (detached muscle in back below shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list July 7, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on Aug. 30. He had season-ending surgery July 14, and he hopes to be ready for spring training 2011. ROTATION: LHP Mark Buehrle RHP Gavin Floyd LHP John Danks RHP Freddy Garcia RHP Edwin Jackson BULLPEN: RHP Bobby Jenks (closer) RHP Tony Pena RHP Scott Linebrink RHP Sergio Santos LHP Chris Sale RHP Lucas Harrell RHP Gregory Infante CATCHERS: A.J. Pierzynski Ramon Castro Tyler Flowers INFIELDERS: 1B Paul Konerko 2B Gordon Beckham SS Alexei Ramirez 3B Omar Vizquel INF Brent Lillibridge OUTFIELDERS: LF Juan Pierre CF Alex Rios RF Carlos Quentin INF/OF Mark Teahen DH Mark Kotsay OF Andruw Jones OF Manny Ramirez OF Alejandro De Aza
Helping Hand
Rodney Stuckey doesn't know where he'd be if not for the kindness of a woman he now calls his stepmom when he was in danger of falling through the cracks. Now he’s paying it forward, helping 500 underprivileged kids get ready for the school year.
Blackhawks sign forward Brandon Pirri
Brandon PirriThe Chicago Blackhawks have signed center Brandon Pirri to a three-year contract.Pirri, 19, led all rookie scorers in the ECAC with 43 points (11G...
ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH: --LHP Tom Gorzelanny (sore left hand) was struck by a line drive Sept. 1. He will have a CT scan on Sept. 2. --C Geovany Soto (swollen right knee) was hurt Aug. 29 but played the entire game. He did not play Aug. 30-Sept. 1. An MRI showed only minor swelling. --RHP Carlos Silva (cardiac evaluation) went on the 15-day disabled list Aug. 2. He underwent a successful cardiac ablation Aug. 9 in Chicago. He made rehab starts for low Class A Peoria on Aug. 27 and Sept. 1. --RHP Esmailin Caridad (strained right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list May 19. He began a rehab assignment Aug. 19 with the Cubs' affiliate in the rookie-level Arizona League. --LHP John Grabow (sprained left knee) went on the 15-day disabled list June 29. He spent the first half of June on the DL because of the knee. He went to the team's spring training facility in Arizona during early August to continue his rehab, but he was found to have suffered a torn medial collateral ligament on Aug. 11. He will miss the rest of the season. --RHP Angel Guzman (right shoulder surgery in March 2010) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 31. He is out for the season. ROTATION: RHP Ryan Dempster RHP Randy Wells LHP Tom Gorzelanny RHP Thomas Diamond RHP Carlos Zambrano BULLPEN: RHP Carlos Marmol (closer) LHP Sean Marshall RHP Andrew Cashner LHP James Russell RHP Marcos Mateo RHP Casey Coleman LHP Scott Maine CATCHERS: Geovany Soto Koyie Hill INFIELDERS: 1B Micah Hoffpauir 2B Blake DeWitt SS Starlin Castro 3B Aramis Ramirez INF Jeff Baker INF Darwin Barney OUTFIELDERS: LF Alfonso Soriano CF Marlon Byrd RF Kosuke Fukudome OF Tyler Colvin OF Xavier Nady
NOTES, QUOTES
--LHP Matt Thornton threw an all-out simulated game in the bullpen on Wednesday morning, and his sore left elbow felt strong enough that he declared himself ready to come off the 15-day disabled list and be ready for the start of the Boston series on Friday. With Thornton returning on Friday, a Thursday off-day for the likes of Bobby Jenks, Chris Sale and Sergio Santos to rest up on, and then J.J. Putz (right knee) on schedule to come off the DL next week, all under the shadow of the offense adding slugger Manny Ramirez, the misery the Sox were suffering through the last few weeks -- especially with the bullpen in shambles -- was dispersing, as far as Thornton was concerned. "Anytime you have two of your main bullpen pieces go down this time of year, it's tough for those other guys to eat those innings," Thornton said. "I get back this weekend and J.J. is right behind me -- we'll get back to full strength and back to what we're doing before. Having all your pieces is really good for any team. The way we're playing right now ... with the addition of Manny Ramirez, we're on track to make a nice little run here." --LHP Chris Sale has earned the trust of manager Ozzie Guillen with nine scoreless outings in his 10 appearances. Sale, whom the Sox drafted out of Florida Gulf Coast University about three months ago, earned his first save in Wednesday's win. "The funny thing about it is that now I know we can use Sale in any situation," Guillen said of the lefty rookie. "Before, I was kind of worried about using him in the eighth or the ninth. It was always (Matt) Thornton. Now, if Thornton needs a day off, I will be more secure and have more flexibility with Sale, because I know he can get people out, too." --With the roster expanding on Wednesday, the Sox recalled C Tyler Flowers and OF Alejandro De Aza from Class AAA Charlotte, and purchased the contract of RHP Gregory Infante from Class AA Birmingham. To make room on the 40-man roster, they also designated RHP Clevelan Santeliz for assignment. According to Guillen, INF-OF Dayan Viciedo will join the team Friday in Boston to bring the roster to 29. While Guillen is unlikely to use many of the youngsters because of the chase the Sox are in for a Central Division title, it does give him options that he didn't have last week, especially in the bullpen. --RHP Freddy Garcia was forced out of the game after just four innings because of a stiff lower back. But even in the no-decision, manager Ozzie Guillen was praising the job the veteran has done for the Sox this season. Garcia is 11-5 with a 4.82 ERA. "I think if we don't have Freddy, we wouldn't be here right now," Guillen said. "We never thought when Freddy got here ... I lost a bet and I'm not a betting guy. I bet my kids dinner that we would put Freddy on the DL before June. Because I had reasons. The way Freddy threw in spring training, I had worries. Freddy has to show people, and he is a proud man, he has to show people he can still pitch. He's going to show people he can still play this game. There is one thing about it -- Freddy worked very hard to be where he is right now. Very hard. Two years of a miserable life to do what he is doing right now and I am very proud of him. And he has to make a lot of money because his wife spends a lot of money. She likes to spend money." Garcia's wife is Guillen's niece. --2B Gordon Beckham missed his second consecutive start as his bruised right hand was still receiving treatment and still very sore. The hope was that Beckham would be ready to go by Friday in Boston, but unless there is a quick turnaround with the amount of pain, it might take longer. Omar Vizquel continued to start in Beckham's place, while Mark Teahen started at third. BY THE NUMBERS: 30 -- By reaching the 30-homer mark again this season, Paul Konerko is one of five active players to have at least six 30-homer seasons with their current team. The others are Albert Pujols (10) and Todd Helton, Chipper Jones and Alex Rodriguez (six apiece). QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think when you have something like this done when you're still alive, it's the best thing that can happen in your career. When they talk about the White Sox and what people have done in the past, Frank Thomas has to be No. 1, in my opinion. Maybe he wasn't the best player ever, but he was the best hitter." -- Manager Ozzie Guillen, on the team retiring the jersey number of Frank Thomas on Aug. 29.
Lean and Hungry
Working out and getting up shots has consumed Rodney Stuckey's summer as he looks forward to erasing the frustration of last season, he says in the latest entry of True Blue Pistons.
Bulls to honor Scottie Pippen with statue inside United Center
The Chicago Bulls have plans to unveil a bronze statue of Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen that will be displayed permanently in the United Center at some point towards the end of the 2010-11 season.
NOTES, QUOTES
--LHP Tom Gorzelanny had X-rays taken of his left hand after he was hit by a line drive off the bat of Pirates LF Jose Tabata in the third inning. The Cubs said the X-rays showed no displaced fracture. However, Gorzelanny will undergo a CT scan Thursday because of a potential trouble spot at the top of his left pinkie. --RHP Thomas Diamond got his first major league victory, relieving LHP Tom Gorzelanny. Diamond worked 1 2/3 innings to improve to 1-3. "It was pretty scary," Diamond said of Gorzelanny's injury. "I actually thought Tom got hit a little bit worse than he did. They said it was in his hand. I thought it actually hit him in the face. It was good news to hear that it was a hand and not the face." --RF Kosuke Fukudome remains hot. He went 3-for-3 with a walk and two doubles. Since the All-Star break, he's batting .364 (28-for-77). He has hit safely in eight of his last nine games. --INF Darwin Barney got a surprise start at third base. Aramis Ramirez had the day off, and Jeff Baker came down with a sore Achilles tendon. Barney played third late in Tuesday's game. Before that, though, he said he logged one professional inning at third and had one game there in Little League. "We were playing a state final when I was 12, and my dad put me at third because this team loved to bunt," he said. "He put me over there and shut that game down. That's about it. Otherwise, I've been in the middle of the infield." --RHP Carlos Silva was unimpressive Wednesday in his second rehab start for low Class A Peoria. He allowed five runs on six hits in 4 2/3 innings. Silva had pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings for Peoria on Friday. He has been on the disabled list since early August, when he received treatment for an irregular heartbeat. --CF Marlon Byrd insists he's fine, but he's been hobbled by a sore right leg. According to manager Mike Quade, it's below the knee. "We're going to watch all these guys close," Quade said. "I told you guys how heavily the veterans are leaned on down the stretch. Having said that, you also have to be very careful. We talked about the energy and the stamina that the kids have. But I will be very careful with Marlon." BY THE NUMBERS: 16 -- Rookies who have played for the Cubs this season, the most they have used since playing 16 in 2006. LHP Scott Maine, who made his major league debut last week, was the 16th Cubs rookie to play this season. QUOTE TO NOTE: "Look at my numbers. It makes me want to throw up every time I look at them." -- RHP Randy Wells, after snapping a five-game losing streak over the weekend.
INSIDE PITCH
Manny Ramirez made his White Sox debut on Wednesday, going 1-for-3 and getting hit by a pitch. But all the talk still centered around the craziness from the day before, when the slugger arrived from his day-long West Coast flight and then met with the media. He didn't meet with them alone, choosing to have bench coach Joey Cora play interpreter for the slugger even though Ramirez speaks fluent English. Instead, he chose to go the route of only speaking Spanish. Cora thought it was a calculated move, but a smart one. "He just really wants to fit in," Cora explained. "All he wants to do is play baseball. He doesn't want to be the main focus or the talk of the town. All he wants to do is get his at-bats, play the rest of the way and then see what happens. Sometimes people like him are so scrutinized by the media (that) they're going to find something eventually, and he just wants to play baseball. "He knew he had to talk to the media, but he wanted to make sure that if he had to be there, he wanted to be there (on his terms), not so that someone else can interpret it. I think he did the smart thing." From what Ramirez explained to Cora, he's been misunderstood in the past in dealing with the media and wanted to make sure there wouldn't be a repeat performance of that. "I don't think it's a big deal," Cora said. "He does what he does, and I'm really looking forward to watching him play now. That's it. He wanted to make sure that everything was understood and the way he really wanted it out there." In making his debut against the Indians in the series finale, he did so with the dreadlocks uncut. That's another hot-button issue around the clubhouse these days, considering board chairman Jerry Reinsdorf has a policy in place on how his players are groomed. The Sox coaching staff, along with manager Ozzie Guillen, seems willing to let Manny be Manny until told otherwise, however. "Manny's going to be Manny," Cora added. "The hair thing, that's ... I don't know, we'll see what happens." Guillen thought that, considering the season-long circus that is Sox baseball, Ramirez was right at home with his new team. "We love that," Guillen said. "That's why we're on TV every day. I love that. Nobody talks about bad teams. Always, we talk about good or bad. I bet a lot of people do the same stuff I do. It's just that people don't care or listen about it. I say some stuff, and some people don't want to listen. That's the way it is, but people have different opinion and different way to take care of themselves. "Somebody asked me in Chicago if Manny comes here, is it going to be a distraction for the ballclub? I said, '(We've had) enough distractions since Opening Day ... no, since spring training.' I don't think that bugs the team at all." WHITE SOX 6, INDIANS 4: Manny Ramirez in the on-deck circle seems more dangerous than Ramirez at the plate, at least so far. For the second time in two games, the hitter in front of Ramirez hit a game-changing home run. In Tuesday's win, it was A.J. Pierzynski, and then in the eighth inning Wednesday, it was Paul Konerko hitting the three-run homer to erase a two-run deficit and give the Sox the lead. With the bullpen already on fumes and having a longer work day when Freddy Garcia was forced from the game because of lower back stiffness, manager Ozzie Guillen turned to lefty rookie Chris Sale to close out the game in the ninth. He did so to earn his first major league save and give the Sox the sweep.
Summer School: Jonas
Pistons.com continues its Summer School series with Jonas Jerebko telling the story of leading the Swedes to the No. 1 spot in their Eurobasket group competition.
Bulls' Rose named to 12-man 2010 USA World Championship Team
USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo announced the 12 players who will represent the United States at the 2010 FIBA World Championship and Bulls guard Derrick Rose is among that group.
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