News briefs: Giants add ex-Nationals manager Riggleman to staff
SAN DIEGO -- The San Francisco Giants have hired former Washington Nationals manager Jim Riggleman as a special assignment scout.
The move came less than a month after Riggleman abruptly resigned as Nationals manager. On June 23, he told the Nationals he wanted his contract option picked up for next season, or he would quit.
Riggleman met Thursday night with Giants general manager Brian Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy.
He says he'll watch the defending World Series champion Giants during their four-game series against the San Diego Padres this weekend, then get his first assignment from Sabean.
"Boch and Brian looking out for me a little bit, I really appreciate it," Riggleman said before Friday night's game.
"As we get moving toward the trading deadline, maybe they'll have some players they'll want me to go see, maybe some minor league players, maybe some of our own payers in the system," said Riggleman, who also will spend some time with one of the team's advance scouts. Full Story
Orioles' Guerro out with fractured hand
BALTIMORE -- Orioles designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero has a fractured bone in his right hand, an injury that will force him to miss Friday night's game against Cleveland and could land him on the disabled list.
Guerrero has not played since being struck in the hand by a pitch from Boston's Kyle Weiland on Sunday.
The slugger attempted to hit in a batting cage Friday afternoon, but Baltimore manager Buck Showalter says it "did not go well."
Showalter says an x-ray revealed a "small crack" in a bone on the outer part of Guerrero's hand.
Manuel fine with Bochy's All-Star moves
NEW YORK -- Tim Lincecum, who was on the All-Star team but didn't pitch, starts for the Giants.
Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee, both asked to pitch two innings in the All-Star Game, won't pitch for the Phillies this weekend.
And yes, Giants manager Bruce Bochy was the guy managing the National League All-Stars. But Phillies manager Charlie Manuel isn't complaining.
"They didn't get overused," Manuel said Friday. "[Bochy] earned the right to manage the team, and he can manage it any way he wants to."
Bankruptcy trustee rejects Dodgers financing plan
DOVER, Del. -- A U.S. bankruptcy trustee objects to the Los Angeles Dodgers' proposed bankruptcy financing, saying the team has not disclosed enough information about its loan arrangement with a hedge fund.
The trustee argued in court papers Friday that a Delaware judge who will hold a hearing
Wednesday should deny the club's $150 million bankruptcy financing plan with Highbridge Principal Strategies.
The trustee argues that the plan includes a $4.5 million deferred commitment fee to Highbridge that was not properly disclosed.
Giant outfielder Burrell lands on DL
Giants outfielder Pat Burrell has been placed on the 15-day disabled list because of a bone spur in his foot.
As a corresponding move, the Giants have recalled Hector Sanchez, not hyped prospect Brandon Belt [Extra Baggs on Twitter].
Upon casual glance, Burrell going down wouldn't seem like a big deal. With the Giants, though, this matters.
Only the Padres have a worse slugging percentage in the National League, so the Giants need all the offensive punch they can find.
Twins outfielder Span begins rehab assignment
MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota Twins outfielder Denard Span has doctor's clearance to begin a minor-league rehabilitation assignment, five weeks after suffering a concussion.
Twins head athletic trainer Rick McWane said that Span will travel Saturday and play center field for Triple-A Rochester on Sunday.
Outfielder Jason Kubel will join him and serve as the designated hitter for the Red Wings, re-starting his rehab after a setback to his sprained left foot two weeks ago. Kubel was first hurt May 30 and hasn't played for the Twins since.
Span has been out since June 7, the result of concussion symptoms stemming from a collision at home plate.
Cubs closer Marmol could lose job
Cubs closer Carlos Marmol had one of the worst imaginable outings Thursday night, as he blew his seventh save in 26 opportunities.
He faced five batters, walked four and allowed a bases-loaded double. He ended up being charged with five earned runs while having recorded zero outs.
His ERA jumped more than a run, from 2.57 to 3.64. He's now blown three of his last six save chances, and his inability to command the strike zone is a constant problem.
Still, Cubs manager Mike Quade said after the game the job was still Marmol's.
Reds placer reliever Arredondo on DL (sore arm)
CINCINNATI -- The Reds put right-handed reliever Jose Arredondo on the 15-day disabled list because of a stiff forearm, shuffling their bullpen before the start of their weekend series against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Arredondo missed last season following reconstructive elbow surgery. He made 24 appearances for Cincinnati this season, going 1-3 with a 3.04 earned run average.
His right forearm began bothering him before the All-Star break, and tests detected a strain.
Reds manager Dusty Baker said Arredondo's injury isn't related to his elbow surgery. It began bothering him during a series in Milwaukee last weekend, leaving him unavailable to pitch.
Bauer wins Golden Spikes Award
Trevor Bauer, the third overall pick in last month's MLB Draft, won the Golden Spikes Award as USA Baseball's top amateur player.
The right-hander went 13-2 with a 1.25 ERA in 16 starts for UCLA this season nd also led the country with 203 strikeouts. The 203 strikeouts was a Pac-10 record, eclipsing the mark set by USC's Mark Prior.
He's been compared to Tim Lincecum because of his unorthodox mechanics, but he's bigger than the Giants' ace.
Bauer was one of three finalists for the award, along with Texas right-hander Taylor Jungmann and Virginia lefty Danny Hultzen. Jungmann was drafted 12th overall by the Brewres and Hultzen went second to the Mariners.
Braves' Prado back from DL, starts at third base
ATLANTA -- Martin Prado returned from the disabled list and started at third base for the Atlanta Braves against Washington.
Prado played eight games in his minor league rehabilitation and missed five weeks with a staph infection in his right calf.
Prado, a fill-in All-Star starter at second base last season before moving to third base, opened this season as the starting left fielder.
He is expected to fill in at third base for at least two weeks as Chipper Jones recovers from arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn medial meniscus in his right knee.
Cubs sign veteran pitcher Bush to minors
CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs have agreed to a minor-league deal with veteran pitcher Dave Bush.
The right-hander was designated for assignment by Texas earlier this month and cleared unconditional release waivers last week, making him a free agent.
He made three starts and 17 appearances for the Rangers, going 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA.
He is 56-69 with a 4.70 ERA over eight seasons in a career that includes stops in Toronto and Milwaukee.
Phils place Polanco on DL, activate Madson
Third baseman Placido Polanco has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with lower back inflammation, retroactive to July 5, the Phillies announced.
As a corresponding move, the Phillies activated closer Ryan Madson.
Polanco, 35, is hitting .274 with 34 runs scored and a .331 OBP. He was voted in as the NL starter at third base in the All-Star Game, but was unable to play because of his injury.
Madson has been sidelined since June 18 with a hand contusion. He has 15 saves with a 2.03 ERA.
Busch Stadium preps for U2 concert
ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Cardinals' clubhouse will be the only area off-limits to U2 at Sunday's Busch Stadium concert.
Organizers anticipate a crowd of 52,000, a record for the 6-year-old stadium in downtown St. Louis.
Crews began tearing out sod only hours after the Cardinals beat the Arizona Diamondbacks last Sunday, clearing the way for a massive revolving stage that features claw-like legs and a huge monitor behind the band.
The home and visitor's dugouts will serve as first-aid stations. The visitor's clubhouse will be the dressing room for U2.
The Angels' preview of Mike Trout could last a little longer than expected, as the team placed center fielder Peter Bourjos on the disabled list, retroactive to July 8.
Bourjos tested his strained right hamstring with agility drills and ran wind sprints, but it tightened up on him.
"It didn't really respond well," Bourjos told the Los Angeles Times. "It's frustrating. It felt really good [Friday] morning. It stinks to sit here and watch, but that's where I'm at right now."
Trout was called up before the break to replace Bourjos, who the team thought would be up for just a couple of days around the All-Star break.
Giants hire ex-Nationals manager Riggleman
SAN DIEGO -- The San Francisco Giants have hired former Washington Nationals manager Jim Riggleman as a special assignment scout.
The move comes less than a month after Riggleman abruptly resigned as Nationals manager. On June 23, he told the Nationals he wanted his contract option picked up for next season, or he would quit.
Riggleman met Thursday night with Giants general manager Brian Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy.
He says he'll watch the Giants during their four-game series against the Padres, then get his first assignment from Sabean.
At 80 years old, Jack McKeon was thought to be a temporary manager for the Marlins and would be replaced before the 2012 season. But that may not be the case.
“We’ll see where we are at the end of the year," Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria told reporters in Chicago (Fish Tank blog). "There could be a number of candidates but right now Jack is the manager and we’ll see where it goes at the end of the year. There is a chance, of course. I’m not ruling anything out. But it will have to be somebody with experience. I’m not gonna allow a repeat of what happened this year.
McKeon took over as Marlins manager in late June, while the franchise was enduring a historically bad month. The Marlins ended up going 5-23 in the month, but four those wins came after McKeon took over. They have now won six in a row and are 12-8 under McKeon's guidance. They're 10-3 in their last 13 games and are playing as well as anyone at present.
Loria wasn't shy in pointing out that McKeon is a far better manager than the now-departed Edwin Rodriguez. Reportedly, the owner basically blamed the June woes completely on Rodriguez and the now-fired hitting coach John Mallee, saying he noticed problems with the coaching all the way back in spring training.
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