News briefs: Reds send righty Volquez to bullpen
CBSSports.com wire reports
CINCINNATI -- Edinson Volquez has lost his spot in the Cincinnati Reds' rotation.
The right-hander was moved to the bullpen Saturday, giving him a chance to try to fix problems in his delivery. He retired only two batters in his last start, an 11-2 loss in San Francisco on Monday.
The Reds' rotation and middle infield are in flux heading into a pivotal week of their playoff push. They finish a weekend series against the Cubs, play three at home against Milwaukee, then head to St. Louis for their last three games this season against the second-place Cardinals.
Cincinnati led the Cardinals by four games heading into Saturday.
"That's an important series," injured shortstop Orlando Cabrera said. "We can put them away in that series."
First, they have to get their rotation and infield in order.
Volquez had reconstructive elbow surgery last August and made it back ahead of schedule, returning to the mound last month. His arm is fine and his fastball is back to top speed, but his control has been inconsistent. Full story
Rangers reliever Francisco goes on DL
ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Texas Rangers have placed reliever Frank Francisco on the 15-day disabled list and recalled left-hander Derek Holland from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Francisco left Friday night's game against Oakland in the ninth inning when he aggravated a right rib-cage injury while walking the leadoff man.
Francisco was making his first appearance since last Saturday. He recently got a cortisone shot in his right armpit to deal with a strained muscle.
Francisco is 6-4 with a 3.76 ERA in 56 relief appearances for Texas this season, with a 2.13 ERA in 13 outings since the All-Star break.
Ex-MLB pitcher Burgos charged with attempted murder
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- Police have charged former major league pitcher Ambiorix Burgos with kidnapping and attempted murder after his ex-wife said she was forced to eat rat poison.
Judge Freddy Frias ordered Burgos on Saturday to remain in jail for three months while prosecutors prepare the case.
The 26-year-old is suspected of kidnapping Dilenia Reynoso on Thursday from a prosecutor's home where she was hiding after allegedly receiving death threats from him.
In 2008, authorities dropped charges against Burgos, who was accused in a fatal hit-and-run involving two women.
Reds' Chapman reportedly hits 105 on radar gun
There's already plenty of excitement in Cincinnati -- and in baseball circles -- about the impending arrival of Cuban sensation Aroldis Chapman in the major leagues on September 1. Recent reports have ratcheted that excitement up a step.
Chapman, who has flourished since being moved to the bullpen, allegedly hit 105 mph on the radar gun Friday night for Triple-A Louisville. Yes, 105.
It's one thing for a minor-league team to report that -- things like this draw fans, and in-stadium radar guns are generally not to be relied upon. But MLB Network's Peter Gammons said (via Twitter ) a top scout who was at the game (and most likely had his own gun on the left-hander) told him Chapman was throwing 98-105 with his fastball and adding a 91-mph slider. The scout said he had the "best velo [velocity] I've ever seen."
There are no official records kept for pitch speeds, and if you ask about the fastest pitch ever, you get a million different answers and anecdotes that can't be proven accurate. It's a rich subject for tall tales. You can read some background on the history of some of these stories through baseball-almanac.com.
WASHINGTON -- Tony La Russa doesn't understand the minor backlash that's been created by his participation in radio personality Glenn Beck's rally in Washington on Saturday, an event the St. Louis Cardinals manager said was more religious in tone than political.
La Russa said complaints had been made to the Cardinals' offices in St. Louis about his participation in what some viewed as an event with political overtones.
La Russa added that the Animal Rescue Foundation he operates in California had received questions about the manager's presence at the rally.
Speaking from notes scribbled on the back of a lineup card, La Russa introduced Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, who was given an award for his off-field charitable work at the rally.
Dodgers: Owners divorce none of our business
LOS ANGELES -- The local headlines blare almost daily with new details about their impending split. Court documents are rife with he said, she said disagreements and details of lavish personal spending. Yet around the Los Angeles Dodgers' clubhouse, the ugly split of Frank and Jamie McCourt barely registers a blip.
"It doesn't exist to me," said catcher Russell Martin, whose season ended earlier this month because of a hip injury.
"I don't think anybody in here even thinks about it unless the question's asked. It's not like a direct impact on our team and how we play or what we do. Frank's not going to help us throw strikes or make a nice play on defense."
The McCourts filed for divorce last October. They haven't agreed on much of anything during several months of expensive, high-profile legal wrangling.
MLB investigating Yanks rookie about B-12 shots
NEW YORK -- A person with knowledge of the situation confirms that Major League Baseball is investigating New York Yankees pitcher Ivan Nova and a former minor-league teammate for allegedly injecting each other with B-12 shots.
The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because MLB is not discussing the matter publicly.
The New York Post first reported the investigation Saturday, saying that baseball was looking into whether Nova and pitcher Wilkin De La Rosa injected each other last season while they were teammates with Double-A Trenton.
B-12 is not on baseball's list of banned substances, but the Post said MLB is focused on the issue of whether the players injected each other and wants to make certain the shots were in fact B-12.
