MLB - Sports Rumors

Philadelphia Phillies slugger Pat Burrell, who loves playing in Philadelphia and would like to re-sign there, shot down the money-as-motivation angle.

"The motivation is the playoffs," he said. "We got a taste of it last year, and we know we're close. I don't worry about that other stuff."

GM Rueben Amaro said it was too early to say whether the team would look to re-sign Burrell, who is third in the National League with nine homers.

Burrell admits to having one personal motivation: making his first all-star team.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

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If the New York Yankees miss the playoffs, GM Brian Cashman's decision to back off on the club's pursuit of Johan Santana and go young will surely agitate Hank Steinbrenner, who has already made rumblings to that effect. Cashman is in the final year of his contract and missing the playoffs could surely result in a change of GMs.

Cashman had previous expressed interest in the Philadelphia Phillies' GM job, and it just so happens that the man in that post, Pat Gillic, will retire in the fall. A possible match, yes, but it would take a collapse in both cities to make a marriage likely.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

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First Ronny Cedeno took flyballs in center field. Then Felix Pie, a left-handed bat, sat with a righty on the mound. The two events were enough to fuel speculation that Pie is on the block.

However, Cubs officials emphatically shot down rumors that had Pie possibly going to the San Diego Padres for shortstop Khalil Greene.

Source: Arlington Daily Herald

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Well, I guess this is it and there's nothing left but to accept it: We have come to the end of the Phil Hughes-Ian Kennedy era wrote New York Daily News baseball columnist Bill Madden.

Who could have possibly seen it coming? And yet, here we are, the first week of May, and the two whiz-kid starting pitchers, on whose sturdy right shoulders GM Brian Cashman had invested not just his reputation but the whole 2008 Yankee season, are both out of the rotation with no timetable for any return.

Just four days after placing Hughes on the disabled list with a stress fracture of his rib (origin unknown), the Yankees shipped his equally struggling rotation stablemate, Kennedy, to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre yesterday with the somber acknowledgment that he needs to get away from the big league microscope to get his confidence and command back.

Source: New York Daily News

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A few years ago, country singer Mindy McCready brought a special guest to her mother's North Fort Myers, Fla., home. It was the first time Gayle Inge had met Roger Clemens face-to-face, although they had talked on the phone numerous times and she knew her daughter had traveled to Las Vegas and other cities with the world-famous pitcher.

The man on McCready's arm was as broad as a barrel and played the part of a perfect gentleman to Inge and her second husband. That day, he signed a softball for Inge, since she had no baseballs in the house. In past years, he'd called Inge's home looking for her daughter. He'd flown Inge's sons on his private plane and bought a sleek set of golf clubs for Tim McCready, their father and Inge's first husband, just like the ones Clemens used. He'd even asked Tim McCready for permission to have a relationship with his daughter.

All was fine until the visitor mentioned something that caught Inge off guard. "A conversation about his sons came up," Inge says. Then it hit Inge: Roger Clemens, father of four, was still married.

Source: New York Daily News

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In his first comments since a tabloid linked him to extramarital affairs last week, Roger Clemens on Sunday acknowledged making "mistakes" in his personal life. For those mistakes, he apologized to his family and the public, but the seven-time Cy Young Award winner remained steadfast in his denials that he has used steroids or human growth hormone according to the Houston Chronicle.

"I know that many people want to know what I have to say about the recent articles in the media," Clemens said. "Even though these articles contain many false accusations and mistakes, I need to say that I have made mistakes in my personal life for which I am sorry. I have apologized to my family and apologize to my fans. Like everyone, I have flaws. I have sometimes made choices which have not been right."

Clemens also addressed the notion that he may have started an improper relationship with country singer Mindy McCready when she was 15. Citing numerous anonymous sources, the New York Daily News reported last week that Clemens began his relationship with McCready when she was 15. The tabloid claimed Clemens "carried on a decade-long affair with country star Mindy McCready, a romance that began when McCready was a 15-year-old aspiring singer performing in a karaoke bar and Clemens was a 28-year-old Red Sox ace and married father of two."

In his statement, Clemens addressed the McCready story: "Now, I have been accused of having an improper relationship with a 15-year-old girl. Nothing could be further from the truth. This relationship has been twisted and distorted far beyond reality. It is just one of many, many accusations that are utterly false."

Source: Houston Chronicle

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Looking to add depth following Troy Tulowitzki's left quad injury, the Rockies are pursuing free agent Juan Castro. The Cincinnati Reds recently designated Castro, 35, for assignment. He is considered a terrific fielder with great hands, but hasn't hit much. Castro did bat .284 for the Reds in 2006 in 54 games.

The Dodgers, Padres and Orioles all have varying degrees of interest. The Rockies are operating under the premise that Tulowitzki will be gone for a minimum two months, possibly three. They have internal options to cover the middle infield. Clint Barmes will take over at shortstop, a position he last manned regularly in 2006.

Second base is trickier, particularly if Jeff Baker doesn't recover quickly from the broken blood vessel in his right middle finger. He hopes to be available Friday when the Rockies resume play. Rookie Jonathan Herrera and Omar Quintanilla are other alternatives at second base. Barmes could also return to second, if necessary.

Source: Denver Post

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After suffering though a dreadful April, the Rockies received more bad news on the first day of May. Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, last year's runner-up as National League rookie of the year, might be out until the all-star break after being diagnosed with a torn tendon in his left quadriceps. Tulowitzki told teammates Thursday that he's facing a four- to eight-week absence. Tulo-witzki told The Denver Post he's unsure how long he will be sidelined.

"I don't know," Tulowitzki said. "It's obviously frustrating."

Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd said the team will play it safe with one of its best players. O'Dowd said: "It will take as long as it takes. I think it's our responsibility that we get him back at 100 percent. We don't want to do anything that could hurt his long-term major- league career."

Source: Denver Post

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Brett Myers is working to rediscover the fastball that made him the Philadelphia Phillies' opening-day starter. He's been long-tossing, as pitching coach Rich Dubee had suggested, to build arm strength. He also has looked at film. Myers, who will start tomorrow night against the San Francisco Giants at Citizens Bank Park, recently looked at film from starts last season against the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros. He thinks his lack of velocity has more to do with his legs than his arm.

"I wasn't using my legs as much as I thought I was," Myers said. "In my last start [in Pittsburgh], my leg was straight and I wasn't getting any drive off of it. Instead of just throwing the ball as hard as I can and trying to throw strikes, I was trying to paint like I'm Greg Maddux or something. That doesn't work for me."

Manager Charlie Manuel suggested Tuesday that Myers (2-2, 5.11 ERA) also improve his conditioning. It's been a topic of discussion for Myers in the past.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

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