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May 22, 2012

Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers named National League Player of the Week

Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw has been named the National League Player of the Week for the period ending May 20th. The announcement was made earlier today on MLB Network.

Kershaw was a perfect 2-0 in two starts last week, leading the Majors with 16.0 innings pitched and tied for the lowest earned run average (0.00) among qualifying starters. Over his two outings, the 2011 N.L. Cy Young Award winner added 10 strikeouts with three walks and 10 hits while not allowing a home run. On Monday, May 14th, the Dallas, Texas native tossed 7.0 shutout innings, striking out six and allowing just four hits in the Dodgers’ 3-1 win over the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks. On Saturday night, Kershaw outdueled St. Louis Cardinals starter Jake Westbrook in a 6-0 shutout at Dodger Stadium. The seventh overall selection in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft doubled and scored a run in the Dodgers’ four-run seventh inning, which broke a 0-0 tie. The opposite-field two-bagger was the first extra-base hit of Kershaw’s career after collecting 28 singles in five Major League seasons. The 24-year-old needed 116 pitches to dispatch the defending World Champions, striking out four and not allowing a walk en route to his first complete-game shutout of the 2012 campaign. The shutout extended Kershaw’s scoreless innings streak to 22.0, dating back to his May 8th start vs. San Francisco. With his two victories during the week, Kershaw improved his record to 4-1 on the season. The left-hander currently ranks second in the National League with 61.2 innings pitched, and is third among qualifying pitchers with a 1.90 ERA and 0.88 WHIP. This is his second career weekly award, having won previously for the period of June 20-26, 2011.

Other noteworthy performances last week included Pittsburgh’s Rod Barajas (.471, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 1.059 SLG, .474 OBP), Andrew McCutchen (.320, 4 HR, 7 RBI, .800 SLG, 6 R) and Joel Hanrahan (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 3 SV, 3 SO, 3.0 IP); Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun (.444, 2 2B, HR, 7 RBI, 12 H, .483 OBP), Jonathan Lucroy (.400, 2 2B, 2 HR, 11 RBI, .800 SLG) and Zack Greinke (2-0, 0.66 ERA, 13 SO, 13.2 IP); Matt Holliday (.308, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 6 R) of the St. Louis Cardinals; Philadelphia’s Hunter Pence (.393, 3 HR, 11 H, 6 R, .750 SLG, .469 OBP) and Carlos Ruiz (.476, HR, 7 RBI, 10 H, 6 R, .560 OBP); David Wright (.500, 6 2B, 8 H, .875 SLG, .652 OBP) of the New York Mets; Atlanta’s Tim Hudson (2-0, 1.23 ERA, 6 SO, 14.2 IP); Miami’s Josh Johnson (2-0, 1.93 ERA, 10 SO 14.0 IP); Arizona’s Wade Miley (2-0, 0.66 ERA, 8 SO 13.2 IP); and San Francisco’s Ryan Vogelsong (1-0, 0.64 ERA, 8 SO, 14.0 IP).

May 16, 2012

New York Mets Awarded the 2013 All-Star Game

Mets Will Host Midsummer Classic for Second Time; Ninth for New York City

NEW YORK, NY – The New York Mets have been awarded Major League Baseball’s 2013 All-Star Game and will host the 84^th Midsummer Classic at Citi Field, Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig announced today at a press conference at City Hall. Commissioner Selig was joined by the Mayor of New York, the Honorable Michael R. Bloomberg, and New York Mets Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Fred Wilpon.

The 2013 All-Star Game will mark the second time that the Mets, who are commemorating their 50^th anniversary in 2012, will host the Midsummer Classic. Shea Stadium hosted the 1964 All-Star Game, a 7-4 National League victory that featured 21 participating Hall of Famers, including Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Sandy Koufax, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and Frank Robinson, as well as MLB’s Executive Vice President for Baseball Operations, Joe Torre. (Highlights of the 1964 All-Star Game at Shea Stadium are available here, courtesy of MLB Productions: http://atmlb.com/JjiQ9W.) It will be the ninth All-Star Game in Baseball history to be played in New York City, which is the most of any host city.

Commissioner Selig said: “As we celebrate the franchise’s golden anniversary this year, I am pleased to award the 2013 All-Star Game to the New York Mets and their loyal fans. We are delighted to bring the Midsummer Classic to Citi Field, a wonderful ballpark that has carried on the remarkable National League tradition in New York City. The Mets will be superb hosts to next summer’s greatest sporting event.”

“Thanks to the efforts of Mayor Bloomberg and Commissioner Selig, it’s a great honor for everyone at the Mets to host the 2013 All-Star Game at Citi Field,” Wilpon said. “Mets fans and all people in the New York tri-state area and beyond will have the opportunity to take part in the events that Major League Baseball will bring to New York.”

“Next year’s All-Star Game is going to demonstrate once again that there’s no place like New York for world-class sporting events,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Major League Baseball clearly recognizes this, since they’re bringing the All-Star Game back to New York for the second time in just five years.”

The 84^th All-Star Game is tentatively scheduled to be played at Citi Field on Tuesday, July 16, 2013. Further details on the history of the Mets and the Midsummer Classic are available in the accompanying Fact Sheet.

May 16, 2012May 16, 2012

Courage Campaign Encouraged That Manny Pacquiao Revises Anti-Gay Statement

Los Angeles – The Courage Campaign, an online progressive organizing network with over 750,000 members, was encouraged today that its mobilization of a large, swift public response to Manny Pacquiao’s anti-gay remarks forced him to revise his statement.

In a recent interview with Examiner.com, the boxer expressed his opposition to President Obama’s support for marriage equality. “God only expects man and woman to be together and to be legally married, only if they so are in love with each other. It should not be of the same sex so as to adulterate the altar of matrimony, like in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah of Old.”

The article also contained an interpretation of Mr. Pacquiao’s position on homosexuality which, after Courage Campaign members expressed consternation, was later “corrected” by both the reporter and Mr. Pacquiao.

In response, Courage founder and Chair Rick Jacobs stated, “Mr. Pacquiao clearly does not believe in equality and dignity for same-sex couples. I think that American sponsors are going to have to look very carefully at whether they can continue to pour money into his apparently empty soul. He makes a lot of money thanks to the United States and sponsors here.”

Once the Courage Campaign called for Nike to drop Pacquiao, the campaign received more than 20,000 signatures and thousands of likes and comments on Facebook. #DropManny and #MannyPacquiao also became trending topics on Twitter.

The onslaught of criticism prompted Pacquiao to revise his statement. “I only voiced out my opinion that same-sex marriage is against the law of God. I’m not against homosexuals. I have a relative who is also gay. We cannot do anything if they were born that way. What I do not want is when you disobey the commandment of God.”

Jacobs stated, “We think this is a positive step in the right direction, even though Mr. Pacquiao clearly does not yet believe gay and lesbian people are equal. We hope this helps his own journey, the same one that brought President Obama last week to support full equality for LGBT people. Public figures such as Mr. Pacquiao need to watch their words carefully because, like a well-aimed jab, they can hurt deeply. We will continue to hold public figures, especially elected ones, and their sponsors accountable for their statements.”

May 14, 2012

St. Louis’ Carlos Beltran named National League Player of the Week

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Carlos Beltran has been named the National League Player of the Week for the period ending May 13th. The announcement was made earlier today on MLB Network.

In six games last week, Beltran hit .360 (9-for-25) while leading the National League with six home runs, 13 RBI, eight runs scored, 30 total bases and a 1.200 slugging percentage. The Manati, Puerto Rico native collected hits in five of the Cards’ six games last week and homered in four of them.

On Friday, he tied a career-high with four hits (done 22 times — last on 5/2/2012 vs. PIT), clubbing two homers, a double and a triple with four RBI in a losing effort as visiting Atlanta won the 12-inning affair, 9-7. Beltran’s 13 total bases on the day set a new career-best, eclipsing his previous high of 12, accomplished May 12, 2011 as a member of the New York Mets. The 13 total bases were the most in a single game by a Major League switch-hitter since Chipper Jones accomplished the feat on August 14, 2006 at Washington.

Only two National League switch-hitters have collected more total bases in a single game: fellow Cardinals outfielder Mark Whiten (16 on 9/7/1993 at Cincinnati) and Cincinnati third baseman Pete Rose (14 on 4/29/1978 at New York Mets).

On Tuesday, Beltran drove in all six Redbird runs as the Cardinals defeated the Diamondbacks, 6-1, in the second game of a three-game set at Arizona. It was the 35-year-old’s fifth career six-RBI performance and his second of the 2012 campaign after collecting a career-high seven RBI on May 2nd vs. Pittsburgh. He is the first Cardinal to have both a six-RBI and a seven-RBI game in a single season since Albert Pujols in 2009.

The 13-year veteran currently leads the National League with 13 home runs and is tied for the league-lead with 32 RBI. This is his ninth career weekly award and sixth as a National Leaguer.

Other noteworthy performances last week included Beltran’s teammates Rafael Furcal (.667, 14 H, 4 R, 2 SB, .696 OBP) and Allen Craig (.348, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 5 R); Cincinnati’s Joey Votto (.429, 4 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 1.048 SLG), who became the first player in the live-ball era to finish a three-homer game with a walk-off grand slam; Andre Ethier (.455, 4 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 5 R) of the Los Angeles Dodgers; Washington’s Adam LaRoche (.450, 3 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, .900 SLG, .577 OBP); Pittsburgh’s Andrew McCutchen (.524, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 5 R, 1.000 SLG); Miami’s Giancarlo Stanton (.360, 2 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI) and Carlos Zambrano (1-0, 0.56 ERA, CG, SHO, 16 SO, 16.0 IP); David Wright (.481, 4 2B, HR, 7 RBI, 13 H, .517 OBP) of the New York Mets; and San Diego’s Dale Thayer (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 3 SV, 4 SO, 3.0 IP).

In recognition of his National League Player of the Week Award, Carlos Beltran will be awarded a watch courtesy of Game Time, the leader in licensed sports watches, available at MLB.com.

May 14, 2012

Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers named American League Player of the Week

Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton, who became just the 16th player in Major League history to hit four homers in a game on Tuesday, has been named the American League Player of the Week for the period ending May 13th. This is Josh’s second career weekly honor (last on 6/24/2010). The announcement was made earlier today on MLB Network.

Hamilton turned in one of the greatest weeks of all-time, highlighted by Tuesday’s performance, in which he went 5-for-5 at the plate with four home runs, a double, eight RBI and an A.L.-record 18 total bases in a 10-3 Rangers’ victory at Oriole Park at Camden ards. The four-homer performance was a first for the Rangers and it was the Majors’ first four-home run game since Toronto’s Carlos Delgado on September 25, 2003. It marked the 30-year-old’s sixth career multi-homer game, and the first time that he homered more than twice in a game. Hamilton’s eight RBI also shattered his previous career best of five (three times), which he last accomplished in an April 17th tilt against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

Along with his four homers, the left-handed hitting slugger added a fifth-inning double to give him 18 total bases on the night, eclipsing the previous league mark of 16 (last by Delgado on 9/25/2003). It was the most total bases tallied in a single game throughout baseball since Shawn Green of the Los Angeles Dodgers notched 19 (1B, 2B, 4 HR) against the Milwaukee Brewers on May 23, 2002.

Since 1962, only three other players in addition to Green and Hamilton have racked up five extra-base hits in a game – the Indians’ Kelly Shoppach (3 2B, 2 HR on 7/30/2008); the Dodgers’ Steve Garvey (3 2B, 2 HR on 8/28/1977) and the Pirates’ Willie Stargell (3 2B, 2 HR on 8/1/1970).

The first overall pick in the 1999 First-Year Player Draft also homered in his final at-bat the previous night to become the first player since Ken Griffey, Jr. on July 1-2, 1998 to collect extra-base hits in six straight at-bats and the first with five homers in six at-bats since Green on May 23-24, 2002. On Friday, Hamilton notched his second multi-homer game of the week, going 3-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs in a 10-3 win over the visiting Angels. In a loss to the Angels on Saturday afternoon, Hamilton homered for the third consecutive game, marking the second time this season he has accomplished the feat.

According to Elias, Hamilton became the third player in Major League history to collect nine home runs and 15 RBI over a six-game stretch, joining Green (nine & 17; May 21-26, 2002) and Washington’s Frank Howard (10 & 17; May 12-18, 1968).

On Sunday night, his three-RBI effort led the way to a 13-6 victory for the Rangers in the rubber match of their three-game set with the Halos. The 2010 A.L. Most Valuable Player wrapped up the week with a .467 (14-for-30) batting average, two doubles, nine homers, 18 RBI and 10 runs scored in seven games.

The six-year veteran finished tops in the Majors in home runs, RBI, slugging percentage (1.433) and total bases (43) this week, and ranked tied for first in runs scored and hits.

The four-time All-Star is off to an outstanding start to the 2012 season, leading the Majors with a .402 batting average, 18 home runs and 44 RBI.

Other noteworthy performances last week included Oakland’s Brandon Inge (.286, 3 HR, 12 RBI) and Josh Reddick (.417, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 7 R); Robinson Cano (.500, 3 2B, HR, 6 RBI) and Raul Ibañez (.353, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 1.118 SLG) of the New York Yankees; Boston’s Dustin Pedroia (.393, 4 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 8 R); and Minnesota’s Scott Diamond (2-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 BB, 10 SO, 14.0 IP).

In recognition of his American League Player of the Week Award, Josh Hamilton will be awarded a watch courtesy of Game Time, the leader in licensed sports watches, available at MLB.com.

May 12, 2012

Cubs place RHP Carlos Marmol on 15-day disabled list

The Chicago Cubs today placed right-handed pitcher Carlos Marmol on the 15-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain. In a corresponding move, right-handed pitcher Casey Coleman has been recalled from Triple-A Iowa.

Coleman, who will wear uniform number 27, has gone 2-3 with a 3.48 ERA (13 ER/33.2 IP) in seven games (six starts) for Iowa this season. He has walked 16 and struck out 30 while limiting opponents to a .205 batting average (25-for-122), including a .189 mark (10-for-53) by right-handed hitters. Coleman has allowed two or fewer earned runs in each of his last five starts, including his most recent outing, May 7 vs. New Orleans in which he tossed 7.0 shutout innings.

The 24-year-old Coleman is 7-11 with a 5.48 ERA (86 ER/141.1 IP) in 31 major league games (25 starts) for Chicago since making his debut in 2010. In four stints with the Cubs last season, he was 3-9 with a 6.40 ERA (60 ER/84.1 IP) in 19 games (17 starts).

Coleman was selected by Chicago in the 15th round of the 2008 Draft, and has gone 35-21 with a 3.69 ERA (176 ER/429.0 IP) in 79 career minor league games, all but four as a starter.

Coleman’s father, Joe, played professionally from 1965-79, boasting a trip to the All-Star Game in 1972 with the Tigers. His grandfather, Joe, had a 10-year major league career (1942-55) including an All-Star season in 1948 with the Philadelphia Athletics. The Colemans are the only family featuring three generations of pitchers in major league history.

Marmol, 29, is 0-1 with two saves and a 6.35 ERA (8 ER/11.1 IP) in 15 relief appearances for the Cubs this season.

May 12, 2012

Orioles acquire minor league LHP Mike Belfiore from Arizona to complete Josh Bell trade

The Orioles today announced that they have acquired minor league LHP MIKE BELFIORE from the Arizona Diamondbacks and assigned him to Double-A Bowie to complete the trade that saw INF JOSH BELL go to Arizona.

Belfiore, 23, was a first round sandwich selection (45^th overall) in the 2009 First Year Player Draft. He pitched to a 2.37 ERA (19.0IP, 5ER), recording one save, striking out 28 and walking five for Class-A Visalia this season.

May 12, 2012

Indians announce series of roster moves

The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has made the following roster moves:

Recalled RHP ZACH McALLISTER from AAA Columbus
Placed RHP JOSH TOMLIN on the 15-day Disabled List (right wrist soreness), retroactive to May 8
Purchased the contract of INF JOSE LOPEZ from AAA Columbus
Optioned INF JASON DONALD to AAA Columbus after last night’s game
Designated OF NICK WEGLARZ for assignment

McAllister, 24, will make a start tonight in Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox. The Chillicothe, IL-native recorded his first Major League win in his only big league start to date on Monday, May 7 in the day game of a day/night doubleheader vs. the Chicago White Sox (6.0IP, 6H, 4R/2ER, 1BB, 5K). In the outing he posted a career-high 6.0IP with a career-high 5 strikeouts. Prior to the doubleheader spot start, Zach had spent 2012 at Triple-A Columbus where he went 3-1 with a 2.83 ERA in 6 starts (35.0IP, 30H, 11ER, 11BB, 32K, .233AVG). He still ranks among International League leaders in wins (T6th), strikeouts (T9th, 32) and ERA (12th) despite not pitching in the IL since May 2. He wears #34.

Tomlin is 1-2 with a 4.67 ERA in 6 games/5 starts thus far in 2012 (34.2IP, 36H, 18ER, 7BB, 27K) and is beginning his second career stint on the Major League Disabled list. He is eligible to come off the DL on May 23.

Lopez has split the 2012 season between Cleveland and AAA Columbus after opening the year on the Tribe’s Major League roster. With Cleveland he appeared in 5 games (4-for-21, .190, 2B, HR, 3RBI) before being outrighted to Columbus on May 3. With the Clippers he hit .522 (12-23) with 4 2B and 4RBI, hitting safely in 5 of the 6 games he appeared in (5GS at 3B, 1GS at DH). He wears #4.

Jason Donald opened the season with Cleveland and has hit .178 (8-45) with 5 runs scored, 3 steals and 4RBI in 16 games for the Indians in 2012.

May 12, 2012

Royals sign left-handed pitcher Doug Davis to a Minor League deal

The Kansas City Royals signed veteran left-handed pitcher Doug Davis to a minor league contract. Davis will begin his Royals career in Surprise, Ariz., at extended spring training before being assigned to Triple-A Omaha.

Davis, 36, is 92-108 with a 4.44 ERA in 306 games, including 286 starts, over 13 seasons with the Texas Rangers (1999-2003), Toronto Blue Jays (2003), Milwaukee Brewers (2004-06, 2010), Arizona Diamondbacks (2007-09) and Chicago Cubs (2011).

May 12, 2012

A’s place Yoenis Cespedes on DL; recall Michael Taylor from Sacramento

The Oakland A’s placed outfielder Yoenis Céspedes on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 7 with a strained muscle in his left hand, the club announced today. To take his place on the roster, the A’s recalled outfielder Michael Taylor.

Cespedes was batting .245 with five home runs and a team-leading 21 RBI in 28 games with the A’s before he was scratched from the starting lineup Tuesday night against Toronto. He leads Major League rookies in RBI and stolen bases (4) and is tied for the lead in home runs. Céspedes is eligible to be reinstated May 22.

Taylor began the season at Triple-A Sacramento and was batting .347 with 13 doubles, two home runs and 18 RBI in 23 games when he was recalled by Oakland May 4. He went 3 for 16 (.188) with one double and no RBI in four games with the A’s, including three starts in right field and one in left field, before he was optioned to Sacramento yesterday. Taylor did not appear in a game with the River Cats following his option.

The complete 2012 statistics for Taylor follow:

	AVG	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	SLG	OBP
Sacramento (AAA)	.347	23	95	15	33	13	0	2	18	7	13	6	2	.547	.390
OAKLAND	.188	4	16	2	3	1	0	0	0	0	7	0	0	.250	.188