Weekend Buzz: D-Backs tossing out notion '07 was aberration
5. Second base is dangerous territory: Not the position, the base itself. On Saturday alone, Arizona's hot-hitting pitcher Owings suffered a sprained ankle while running the bases when he stepped wrong on second base in San Diego, and the Indians' Sizemore did the same thing in Cleveland. The Diamondbacks think Owings is doing well enough that he won't have to miss a start, but they do have an off day Thursday and could skip him for one turn through the rotation if need be. Sizemore sat out Sunday's game against the Yankees, ending the majors' longest consecutive-games-played streak at 382.
6. Texas manager Ron Washington dangles: Rangers officials met, and president Nolan Ryan says he will wait before making any moves. Picture the poor Rangers skipper as a pat of butter that's melted only a little on a still-warming skillet.
7. Twins demote Francisco Liriano: The erstwhile ace was 0-3 with an 11.32 ERA in his return from elbow surgery. "He saw where he was at and he's got work to do," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. Where he's at is not throwing that filthy slider as effectively as he did in 2006. Scouts said this spring he appeared afraid to throw it, as if doing so might lead to another injury. On the other hand, not throwing it (or not throwing it well) will lead straight to the bushes.
8. Splash hit in McCovey's Cove: San Francisco's Fred Lewis did it Saturday for San Francisco. Two notable things about it: He was the first Giant to accomplish the feat without having a bigger entourage than Jay-Z. And when it happened fans whipped out their binoculars to watch the replay, hoping Lewis' ball had somehow taken Barry Zito into McCovey Cove with it. Alas, Zito wasn't, so he went out Sunday and gave up another six spot in the first inning. He's 0-6 with a 7.53 ERA.
9. Matt Morris: The Pirates released him on Sunday. It was either that, or force him to attend Zito Anonymous sessions.
10. Elijah Dukes cleans zoo cages: Seriously, at Tampa's Lowry Park zoo, to have his probation reduced. And as someone posted on the website FanIQ.com, in a laugh-out-loud funny moment, "He was seen afterwards sending text messages to the penguins saying, 'You dead, penguin, I ain't even bulls-------. Your chicks, too.' Along with a picture of a polar bear."
