A day to forget for the Yankees

The Cleveland Browns are jealous of the Cleveland Indians. Their major-league counterparts did what the Browns couldn't do in the last six weeks of the NFL season.

Put up 22 on an opponent.

For the Yankees, who opened up the new Yankee Stadium this weekend, they experienced a first that they hope to never repeat.

In the course of the Indians scoring 22 runs against the Yankees yesterday, the Tribe scored 14 runs in the second inning.

Yankees' pitcher Chien-Ming Wang, who's been (un)remarkably consistent this season, gave up eight runs in 1 1/3 innings pitched.

On the season, he's 0-3 with an ERA of 34.50. He's allowed 23 runs in only six innings.

“We have six losses on the year right now, and he’s got three of them,” Johnny Damon said. “In all three of those games, we’ve been blown out and we’ve had to go to our bullpen, so maybe our bullpen’s not sharp the following days. I don’t know what more to say, but hopefully he can figure it out, because it’d be tough to keep on going like this.”

With performances like this, maybe the Yankees will lower ticket prices to $1,999.

Nats, Zimmerman close to 5-year extension

Per the Washington Post, the Washington Nationals and third baseman Ryan Zimmerman are close to a five-year extension worth $45 million, which could be announced within the next few days.

In February, Zimmerman signed a one-year deal worth $3.325 million. The extension would replace this year's contract with four additional years that would run through the 2013 season.

Zimmerman said of the Nationals: "I love playing in D.C. I love this city. I think this organization is going in the right direction and hopefully we'll do something to where I can be here for a long time. But like I said before, I'm not involved in any of that stuff now, and as far as I'm concerned with it's over with until next offseason."

Through April 18th, Zimmerman is hitting .277 with nine RBI in ten games.

Gary Sheffield joins the 500 Homerun club

New York Mets outfielder Gary Sheffield hit his 500th career homerun last night in a way none of the 24 players who reached that milestone before him have done. He did it as a pinch-hitter.

With 251 career stolen bases, Sheffield is one of only four players in MLB history to hit 500 HRs and steal 250 bases. The other three are Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds and Willie Mays.

Tim Kurkjian of ESPN says that Sheffield's numbers are Hall-of-Fame worthy and he will be a Hall of Famer despite some of the other issues surrounding Sheffield.

He has admitted to intentionally making throwing errors to get out of Milwaukee, has said he used the "cream" and the "clear" although he never tested positive for (or knew they were) steroids, has publicly whined about his former teams, etc.

Sheffield is the only player in the MLB history to hit 25 homeruns for at least six different teams.

Vladimir Guerrero out at least a month

Los Angeles Angels rightfielder Vladimir Guerrero will miss the next month (and possibly more) after his strained pectoral muscle was diagnosed as a tear.

"Obviously, short of Vlad needing surgery, this is a big blow," Manager Mike Scioscia said. "We'll see how he progresses. He'll be re-evaluated in a month, and we'll see where he is."

When Vlad returns, he'll likely DH and not play rightfield. He was initially hurt making a throw in an exhibition game on April 2nd.

This is Guerrero's first stint on the disabled list since 2005. The Angels will likely call up Brandon Wood or Sean Rodriguez.

Guerrero's streak of 11 straight years of hitting .300 and 25 homeruns is likely to end. The only other player to do that in MLB history is Lou Gehrig.

Alex Gordon out 10-12 weeks

Kansas City Royals third baseman Alex Gordon had hip surgery performed by (who else?) Dr. Marc Philippon Friday morning.

He is expected to miss 10-12 weeks and the Royals will move Mark Teahan to third.

"Gordon is a big part of the team," Teahen said. "But we're off to a good start and we have a deeper team this year.

"It's not a huge adjustment for me. I've been able to go back and forth from the right field to third before."

Gordon, who was the second overall pick in 2005, was struggling early in the season (2-for-21 in seven games).

Jason Kubel hits for the cycle

Minnesota Twins outfielder Jason Kubel became the third player this week to hit for the cycle when he hit a grand slam in the eight inning against the Angels.

Dodgers 2B Orlando Hudson hit for the cycle Monday and then Rangers 2B Ian Kinsler hit for the cycle while recording six total hits on Wednesday.

Kubel is the ninth player in Twins' history to hit for the cycle.

Xavier Nady likely done for year

New York Yankees outfielder Xavier Nady has landed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to yesterday (Wednesday).

Nady felt a sharp pain in his elbow while making a throw during the Rays game on Tuesday.

The Yankees acquired Nady, who had Tommy John surgery in 2001, from the Pittsburgh Pirates last summer. Nady had an MRI on his elbow yesterday.

"The original diagnosis wasn't great, but I'd rather let the team talk [today]," Nady said when asked of the MRI results. "It's frustrating. It's tough."

To replace Nady on the active roster, the Yankees called up reliever David Robertson from AAA.

If Nady requires Tommy John surgery again, he'll be done for the year.

Kinsler hits for the cycle

It apparently is the thing for second basemen to do.

Only two days after Dodgers second baseman Orlando Hudson hit for the cycle, Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler did the same.

For Hudson, he became the first Dodger to hit for the cycle since 1970.

Gary Mathews Jr. was the last Ranger to hit for the cycle on September 13th (2006).

In the process, Kinsler recorded six hits and became only the second Rangers' player to do so.

Who's next?

Chase Utley? Dustin Pedroia? Brandon Phillips?

Evan Longoria to miss next two games

Per ESPN, Tampa Bay Rays slugger Evan Longoria will miss the Rays' next two games to head to California for a death in the family.

The most important thing is that he's there for his family.

But the second-year player isn't suffering a sophomore jinx. In fact, he has hit safely in all eight of his games while leading baseball in HRs (5) and batting (.441 average).

Willie Aybar will start in his place until Longoria returns Friday for the White Sox game.

Deja vu all over again for Chris Carpenter

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter was scratched from his last start of the spring due to a sore calf. But considering the ace's injury history, there was a feeling of deja vu all over again with Carpenter. Otherwise, he pitched extremely well this spring.

In the 10 innings Carpenter has pitched this season, he hasn't given up an earned run and has nine strikeouts.

But it's going to be a while before he pitches again.

Carpenter was placed on the 15-day disabled list today. He suffered a strained rib cage in his start yesterday at Arizona.

After feeling a pinch in the torso area after his last at bat in the game, it progressively got worse as he warmed up the next inning.

“I felt it just a little bit on that swing,” Carpenter said, “and then every warmup pitch it got worse and worse. There’s nothing I can do about it but come out.”

As Carpenter puts it, if you're a glass-half-guy kinda guy, it's a “fortunate thing” that the injury doesn't involve his elbow and/or shoulder.

Beckett appeals six-game suspension

Major League Baseball suspended Boston Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett for six games after determining that Beckett, who is "shocked," intentionally threw at the head of Bobby Abreu last week.

Beckett has appealed the decision, which means he will likely make his next scheduled start on Saturday against the Orioles.

"We were pretty shocked," Beckett said before the Red Sox's game against the Athletics in Oakland, Calif. "I think the appeal speaks for everything that we feel. I respect the job they have to do, but I don't agree."

Whether the league upholds or reduces the suspension or not, it's always scary when someone who throws as hard as Beckett does comes close to someone's head.

Manny would like to finish career in Cleveland

You could say that Manny Ramirez lived in LaLa Land before joining the Los Angeles Dodgers.

And Dodgers outfielder (and head-case) Manny Ramirez says that he loves L.A.

So, that makes him think about ending his career in Los Angeles Cleveland.

"I love L.A. I really do. But the way the city responded to me, it reminded me a lot of how it was in Cleveland."

"I would like to play for Cleveland one more time, to go back where I started," said Ramirez. "I have so many good memories there, why not? I think to go back where you started is everyone's dream."

Considering the lack of interest in Manny (at least, at his and agent Scott Boras' price demands), it may be unlikely that the feelings are mutual.

Mark Teixeira hopes to play tonight

New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira, who has missed the past three games with a sore left wrist, hopes to return to the lineup against the Tampa Bay Rays tonight.

"I would be very disappointed if I'm not playing (tonight)," Teixeira said. "It's been disappointing not playing the last few days, but I hope to be in there tomorrow."

"I wasn't thinking it was anything crazy because I played through it for a couple days," Teixeira said. "The tests came back and showed it wasn't too bad. It feels a lot better today. We did a ton of treatment, I got on some stronger anti-inflammatories, so it should get it out of there."

Teixeira had an MRI yesterday and the results showed no structural damage.

he switchhitter's wrist bothers him more when batting right-handed so the Yankees rested him last night as the Yankees faced left-hander Scott Kazmir.

Tonight, the Yankees face right-hander Matt Garza.

Orlando Hudson hits for cycle

Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Orlando Hudson did something yesterday that hasn't happened in my 38 29 years of life.

He becomes the first Dodger player since May 1970 (Wes Parker) to hit for the cycle.

Hudson hit a single in the first innning, a homerun in the third inning, a double in the fourth inning and a triple in the sixth inning.

Despite the economy, Hudson accomplished the feat in front of the largest crowd (57,099) ever at Dodger stadium.

Mark "The Bird" Fidrych passes away at 54

On the same day that legendary broadcaster Harry Kalas passed away, Detroit Tigers pitcher Mark "The Bird" Fidrych died at 54 yesterday. He was found by a family friend as he was working underneath his truck.

"We were just, in general, getting started for the [road building] season this week and it seems as though his truck was going to be needed. It looked like he was doing some maintenance on it," Amorello said in a telephone interview. "I found him under the truck. There's not much more I can say. I dialed 911 and that's all I could do."

Fidrych, one of the most colorful pitchers on the mound, had his career cut short due to injuries.

Despite his colorful personality on the field, it wasn't an act. He just had a zest for life.

"He was very genuine. It was not an act," Trammell said. "He never changed. He liked to have a good time. You'd go over his house and he'd make dinner. That's the type of guy he was."

He won the A.L. Rookie of the Year award in 1976 and finished that season with a 19-9 record, 2.34 ERA and 24 complete games.

It's been a tragic week in baseball with the passing of Nick Adenhart, Harry Kalas and Mark Fidrych. May they all rest in peace.