Times wires
Saturday, June 11, 2011
NEW YORK — RHP Bartolo Colon, who has been one of the surprises of baseball with a fine comeback season for the Yankees, strained his left hamstring Saturday and is likely to land on the disabled list today, according to the New York Times.
Colon was injured as he went to cover first base on a bouncer to 1B Mark Teixeira and limped off the field after 62/3 shutout innings during a 4-0 victory over the Indians. He had an MRI exam Saturday evening at New York Presbyterian Hospital.
Manager Joe Girardi did not want to speculate on how much time Colon would miss until the severity of the strain is determined.
"It's not what you want, that's for sure," Girardi said. "He's pitched extremely well, and we'll kind of keep our fingers crossed."
Colon, famously traded in 2002 by the Indians for three minor-leaguers who went on to become All-Stars, won for the third straight start after two losses in his previous five.
Colon had been out of baseball since 2009 when the Yankees signed him to a minor-league deal. But he has recaptured the form that helped him win in double digits every season from 1998-2005 and earn the AL Cy Young Award in '05.
The Yankees, who have already lost starter Phil Hughes to a shoulder injury, will have to wait and hope for the best with Colon, who improved his ERA to 3.10, best in the rotation.
"Bartolo is throwing like a legit No. 1 starter in the AL East," 3B Alex Rodriguez said. "A1A stuff."
REALIGNMENT DISCUSSED: Baseball is seriously considering a simple realignment that would put 15 teams in each league, rather than the current 16 in the National League and 14 in the American League, ESPN.com reported.
The issue has been discussed in negotiations for the next collective bargaining agreement, ESPN.com reported.
Owners have also discussed eliminating divisions and having teams vie for five playoff spots in each league, according to the website.
Rays manager Joe Maddon said though he prefers divisions, he'd be in favor of the idea if it brought a balanced schedule. "I think the AL East has served its purpose for us regarding our development," he said.
There are no details on how interleague play would be handled. It's also unknown which NL team would be moved to the AL, though the website reported that the Houston Astros would be a possibility.
BROOKS HOSPITALIZED: Hall of Fame 3B Brooks Robinson is back in the hospital for what he called a "routine" follow-up for treatment he received recently for a fever and infection. Robinson was hospitalized at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center in April before having what was supposed to be routine surgery. He stayed two weeks.
SERVICE SET: A memorial service for ex-Tigers OF Jim Northrup will be held at noon Wednesday at a Highland, Mich., funeral home. Northrup died Wednesday at age 71.
DODGERS: Closer Jonathan Broxton, on the disabled list with a bone spur in his right elbow, is expected to return sometime in July, general manager Ned Colletti said.
GIANTS: INF Bill Hall was signed to replace starting 2B Freddy Sanchez, who went on the 15-day disabled list with a dislocated right shoulder.
MARLINS: SS Hanley Ramirez could return the team when he's eligible to come off the disabled list Tuesday. Ramirez made his second rehab start for Class A Jupiter.
PADRES: RHPs Aaron Harang and Dustin Moseley are questionable for their next starts. Harang has a sore right foot and Moseley a slight dislocation of his left shoulder.
TWINS: 2B Tsuyoshi Nishioka, on the disabled list with a fractured left fibula, was promoted to Triple-A Rochester to continue his rehab and could return to the majors by midweek.