American League notebook -- Monday, May 21, 2012
Baltimore: 2B Brian Roberts (concussion) is likely to skip extended spring training in Sarasota, Fla., and report to a minor league affiliate in the coming weeks for a rehab assignment, manager Buck Showalter said. Roberts likely would join high-A Frederick (Md.) or Class AA Bowie (Md.) to remain in proximity to the training staff in Baltimore. ... 3B Mark Reynolds has been fielding grounders and has not experienced any discomfort in his injured side muscle. He may join an affiliate this week for a rehab assignment.
Boston: OF Cody Ross is likely to miss six to eight weeks after an MRI found a non-displaced fracture in his left foot. He was hurt Friday when he fouled a pitch off his foot. Ross will join five other Red Sox outfielders on the disabled list. ... 3B Kevin Youkilis, who went 3-for-9 in his first three rehab games, played what was expected to be his last game for Class AAA Pawtucket (R.I.) on Monday. Out since late April due to a lower back strain, Youkilis could be activated as soon as Tuesday. Manager Bobby Valentine said it's possible Youkilis could spend some time at first base with Adrian Gonzalez playing the outfield, keeping Will Middlebrooks at third base.
Chicago: 1B/DH Paul Konerko, hit in the left side of the face with a pitch Friday, hopes to return to action Tuesday. The White Sox were waiting for swelling near Konerko's left eye to go down. "You don't want to put a guy out there that can't fully see," manager Robin Ventura said. ... RHP Jake Peavy hopes the fan interest generated by the weekend sweep of the Cubs prompts the team to be a buyer rather than a seller this summer. "If we're going to stay together as a team and not have some of these pieces traded away, we're going to have to have some fan support and play good baseball," Peavy said.
Cleveland: OF Johnny Damon is having better at-bats of late, and he said the decision by manager Manny Acta to move him out of the leadoff spot has helped. "That was a good move, because as the leadoff hitter you want to work the count more, and sometimes I would be taking hittable pitches. Hitting seventh, I don't have to worry so much about that," he said. ... C Carlos Santana's throwing has improved this year, and manager Manny Acta gives bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr. much of the credit. Santana threw out 24 percent (18 of 74) of attempted base-stealers last year, but he has thrown out 35 percent (nine of 26) this year.
Detroit: CF Austin Jackson may miss part or all of the series at Cleveland that starts Tuesday. "It really is just day-to-day. It's still not where I want it to be," Jackson said. ... RH reliever Luis Marte pitched three innings of one-hit, shutout ball Monday in a rehab appearance for Class AAA Toledo (Ohio). Marte, out all season due to a left hamstring strain, could be activated from the disabled list later this week.
Kansas City: RF Jeff Francoeur and DH Billy Butler each were stranded twice at third base Sunday in the Royals' 2-0 loss to the Diamondbacks. In the just-concluded 1-4 homestand, the Royals went 10-for-50 with runners in scoring position. "We haven't done what we needed to do," Francoeur said. "The offense as a whole feels like we need to get it going, pick it up." ... C Salvador Perez left Sunday for the Royals' complex in Surprise, Ariz., to continue his rehab. Perez, who had left knee surgery in spring training, had been taking batting practice and catching bullpen sessions in Kansas City. He might be able to join the Royals in late June.
Los Angeles: The Angels promoted OF Kole Calhoun and RH reliever Bobby Cassevah from Class AAA Salt Lake (Salt Lake City) to replace OFs Vernon Wells (torn right thumb ligament) and Ryan Langerhans (separated right shoulder), both headed to the disabled list due to injuries sustained Sunday. Wells will have surgery Tuesday, and he is likely to miss eight to 10 weeks, the team announced. ... The only AL team that 1B Albert Pujols had figured out this year was the A's. Going into the Angels' series in Oakland, Pujols had hit .440 (11-for-25) and slugged .600 with four doubles in six games against the A's. In 35 games against everyone else, he was batting .170 and slugging .262.
Minnesota: Manager Ron Gardenhire wasn't ready to commit to RHP Jason Marquis' spot in the rotation after Sunday's loss at Milwaukee, during which Marquis allowed eight runs on eight hits in 1 2/3 innings. "He didn't get it done. We've got to see where we're at," Gardenhire said. Marquis is 0-4 with a 10.80 ERA in four starts this month. ... Twins pitchers had yielded 58 homers through the weekend, the highest total in the majors. The Brewers hit five homers against Minnesota during the three-game weekend series.
New York: 1B Mark Teixeira, who missed three consecutive starts due to bronchial inflammation, was back in the starting lineup, hitting seventh. It had been eight years since he hit so low in the batting order, according to STATS, LLC. Teixeira entered the game hitting .226, and manager Joe Girardi said the move was made to take some pressure off him. ... RH reliever David Robertson (strained left side muscle) and LF Brett Gardner (right elbow bone bruise and strain) could begin baseball activities in Tampa on Thursday, Girardi said. Robertson almost certainly won't be ready to return when he's eligible to come off the disabled list Sunday, according to Girardi.
Oakland: OF Coco Crisp was reinstated from the disabled list after missing most of the past month with an inner-ear infection that caused dizziness. Crisp was in the lineup and batting second against the Angels. IF Eric Sogard was optioned to Class AAA Sacramento (West Sacramento, Calif.) after hitting .136 with two homers in 21 games. ... DH Manny Ramirez was back in Sacramento's lineup Monday after missing Sunday's game due to a sore left wrist. Ramirez, who went 0-for-4 Saturday in his first minor league game, is scheduled to join the A's on May 30 when his 50-game suspension ends.
Seattle: 3B Kyle Seager came into the week with a team-leading 26 RBI. Of those, 15 had come with two out (including 12 of his last 18), which tied him for first in the AL with Tampa Bay's Luke Scott for the most two-out RBI. "He's up there ready to hit," manager Eric Wedge said. "He's a young hitter, still learning, but I think he has a good feel for his hitting zone, and he's getting a better feel for the strike zone." ... 1B Justin Smoak went 2-for-20 on the May 4-9 homestand, then went 13-for-37 (.351) on the May 11-20 road trip. "His approach is much better; he's ready to hit," Wedge said.
Tampa Bay: IF Drew Sutton capped a bizarre 24 hours when he joined the Rays on Monday afternoon, having been traded twice Sunday, from the Braves (where he was with Class AAA Gwinnett of Lawrenceville, Ga., playing in Rochester, N.Y.) to the Pirates (who planned to have him play for Class AAA Indianapolis in Buffalo) to Tampa Bay. "It was a really good surprise," Sutton said, smiling. "It's a lot better than Buffalo." ... IF Jeff Keppinger is set to become the 10th Rays player on the disabled list. He is sidelined due to a freak injury, as he was hit on the right foot by a ball while watching Saturday's game.
Texas: RHP Neftali Feliz (inflamed right elbow) became the first Rangers player to go on the disabled list since the season began. He might be out for a month. RH reliever Yoshinori Tateyama was recalled from Class AAA Round Rock (Texas), where he was 1-0 with one save and a 0.54 ERA in 12 appearances. RHP Scott Feldman could take Feliz's Wednesday start at Seattle. ... RHP Michael Kirkman is being treated for skin cancer, the Rangers announced, but he continues to pitch for Round Rock. Kirkman, 25, was a combined 1-1 with a 4.74 ERA in 29 appearances for Texas the past two years. He is 2-1 with a 6.68 ERA in 11 games (six starts) for Round Rock heading into a start Tuesday.
Toronto: RH closer Sergio Santos, out since April 21 due to shoulder inflammation, said his progress has been slower than expected. He continues to work on a throwing program at the Blue Jays' facility in Dunedin, Fla., and has yet to start pitching off a mound. ... C/IF Yan Gomes, who made four starts at third base during Brett Lawrie's suspension, remained with the team when Lawrie was reinstated Monday. Manager John Farrell said he would try to give Gomes relatively consistent at-bats because of his ability to play third base, first base, catcher and designated hitter.
