Joe Saunders says A-Rod's All-Star days are "over"

Los Angeles Angels pitcher Joe Saunders is no fan of Alex Rodriguez (or Manny Ramirez).

Of A-Rod's future as an All-Star, "it's over for him," Saunders said.

"I think the fans do care," Saunders said. "Pretty much everybody wants a game without cheating."

Perhaps with Evan Longoria being as good as he is and many fans (and Saunders) hating A-Rod, the days of A-Rod being penciled in during spring training as the A.L. All-Star starting third baseman may be over.

But the number of players that have "cheated" the game is too large to single out specific players. A-Rod will be an All-Star in 2010.

Zimmerman hit streak at 27 games

Entering last night's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman had a 26-game hitting streak.

After getting no hits in his first three at bats, Zimmerman hit a solo home run for his fourth at bat (eighth inning).

The Nationals won 2-1 and have now won four of their last five games.

Zimmerman will look to extend his hitting streak to 28 games at 4:10 p.m. ET today.

Forty-two players have hit safely in 30+ consecutive games, fifteen players have hit safely in 35+ consecutive games and only six players have hit safely in 40+ consecutive games. Of course, the record was set by Joe DiMaggio (56) in 1941.

The Hot Corner, 5/10 (AM) edition

The Yankees have called up reliever Brett Tomko and manager Joe Girardi "would not be afraid to use him in the late innings," according to the New York Post.

Per Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press, Miguel Cabrera is becoming more of a vocal leader this year than he was last year.

Phillies closer Brad Lidge hasn't had a save opportunity since April 25th. "Being two weeks since my last save opportunity, I've almost got to tell myself, 'It's a one-run lead. Pitch like it,' " Lidge said.

"He's one of those guys, when he comes in and says, 'I can't go,' you look for a bone sticking out," [Marlins manager Fredi] Gonzalez says of Jorge Cantu. "This guy likes to play the game. He's in there. On this team if you're thinking about not playing because you have a headache, you'd better check on Cantu."

Marlins pitcher Josh Johnson beat the Rockies 3-1 despite a being "terrible" in the bullpen before the game. "I probably threw 10 strikes out of 35 [pitches]. … My slider was OK. I went with my fastball and changeup. I just tried to throw fastballs down in the zone and get first-pitch strikes. I was 21 for 30 on first-pitch strikes. That's a big goal of mine, and no walks. It was a good day."

Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt hopes to avoid a career-worst eight-game streak without a win when he faces the San Diego Padres today.

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen will decide pitcher Jose Contreras' fate after a bullpen session this morning. Guillen told Contreras: "'You're not supposed to be here right now. You were supposed to be here in July, August. Just take something positive out of the negative. You should still be in rehab.' Hopefully, his mind is clear. We'll see what happens."

Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston called the mechanics of Alex Rios "a mess."

Girardi blames Hughes' poor outing on mechanics

Yankees "can't-miss" pitching prospect Phil Hughes couldn't get anyone out last night. While that's an exaggeration (he got five hitters out), he allowed eight earned runs in the process.

Why did Hughes pitch so poorly?

Yankees manager Joe Girardi says it was due to poor mechanics (dropping his arm slot and pushing the ball).

"The talent is there," Girardi said. "We just have to make an adjustment."

"For some reason or another, it just popped up tonight," Hughes said. "You've gotta find a way to get through it," he said.

"You still have to figure he'll put it all together eventually," said one AL scout at Saturday night's game. "But he's had enough things happen that maybe you have to wonder if it's more than the normal bumps in the road."

In three starts since getting called back up, Hughes has pitched six innings, four innings and now 1 2/3 innings. After allowing no runs in his first outing, he has allowed 11 runs in his past two.

Joba's start in jeopardy due to thumb

New York Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain broke a blood vessel in his right thumb last night and his scheduled start against the Baltimore Orioles on Mother's Day is in jeopardy, according to the Daily News.

He hurt his thumb during batting practice yesterday while throwing a ball back underhanded towards the infield.

If Joba can't pitch, the Yankees will use Alfredo Aceves.

"We don't think it will be an issue (Sunday), but we had to protect ourselves," [manager Joe] Girardi said. "If he can't go, Ace would be the guy."

In five starts, Chamberlain is 1-1 with an ERA of 3.77.

Manny Ramirez, a role model?

Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote yesterday that all things related to suspended Dodger Manny Ramirez seemed to disappear at Dodger Stadium.

In today's column by Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, Ramirez is allowed to be around the team and that the Dodgers "hope" that Ramirez "sticks with the team, goes on road trips, and remains supportive."

They consider Ramirez a "role model" when it comes to work ethic for young hitters Matt Kemp and James Loney.

On the season, Kemp is batting .287 with four home runs, 23 runs batted in and eight stolen bases. Loney is hitting .278 and has yet to hit a home run, but he has 21 RBIs.

Philip Hughes rocked by Orioles

Last night, the New York Yankees got Alex Rodriguez back and a shutout from C.C. Sabathia to end their five-game losing streak.

Tonight, Phillip Hughes did his best to impersonate Chien-Ming Wang.

Hughes managed to only get five batters out while allowing eight runs on eight hits and two walks against the Orioles.

It will be up to Joba Chamberlain to nip the new losing streak in the bud tomorrow afternoon.

The Hot Corner, 5/9 edition

Astros pitcher Russ Ortiz is "not totally happy" about being sent to the bullpen according to manager Cecil Cooper. Felipe Paulino will take Ortiz's spot and start Tuesday against the Rockies.

Astros first baseman Lance Berkman, who sat out of today's game with a sore left wrist, says "I dont like to miss games, but it's one of those things where there's no point going in there and letting it linger."

Going into today's game with the Astros, the Padres have lost 14 of their past 18 games and haven't won consecutive games since April 16-18.

Dodgers pitcher Eric Stultz pitched a four-hit, complete-game shutout over the Giants today.

Mets catcher Ramon Castro left today's game with a tight right quadriceps.

The Mariners have activated Brandon Marrow from the disabled list and have placed Carlos Silva, who's struggling with an 8.48 ERA, on 15-day DL retroactive to Thursday.

Marlins starter Anibal Sanchez will miss two months due to a shoulder injury.

When the Cubs acquired Ryan Freel from the Orioles, he was expected to replace injured third baseman Aramis Ramirez in today's game. Instead, Freel was a scratch himself.

The Cubs placed Aramis Ramirez on the 15-day DL today.

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen ended shortstop Alexei Ramirez's benching today against the Texas Rangers.

With Jerry Manuel serving his one-game suspension, the Mets had a season-high 17 hits and beat the Pirates 10-1.

Per the Daily News, Ian Kennedy will have surgery after doctors discovered an aneurysm in an artery near his right shoulder.

According to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Dodgers have made all things Manny disappear including the "Mannywood" section, the posters, the dreadlock wigs in the gift shop, etc.

After the fifth straight game without Kevin Youkilis, will the Red Sox place him on the DL?

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria had five more RBIs in the Rays' victory over Boston today. He now has 26 RBIs in his past 13 games and a total of 44 RBIs on the season.

Aramis Ramirez has dislocated shoulder

If it weren't for bad luck lately, Chicago Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez wouldn't have any.

After making a nice catch on a Ryan Braun grounder, Ramirez dislocated his left shoulder.

A couple of weeks ago, he strained his calf and missed six games.

A-Rod homers on first pitch, Sabathia pitches shutout

Tonight the Yankees got just what they needed.

Third baseman Alex Rodriguez returned and played his first game of the year. On the first pitch he saw, he hit the 97-mph pitch for a three-run homerun, which was all the Yankees would need tonight.

According to ESPN, since A-Rod joined the Yankees in 2004, he has hit .435 with two home runs and nine RBIs in five games.

While the bullpen has struggled lately, the Yankees didn't have a need to go to the bullpen.

C.C. Sabathia pitched a complete-game shutout and allowing only four hits on 112 pitches.

Mariano Rivera gives up back-to-back homers

Yankees closer Mariano Rivera did something he has never done in his Major League career last night. And he surely hopes to never do it again.

Rivera gave up back-to-back homeruns to Tampa Bay Rays hitters Carl Crawford and Evan Longoria.

The Rays beat the Yankees 8-6 and the Yankees have their worst losing streak (five games) under manager Joe Girardi.

According to Girardi, Rivera, who had off-season shoulder surgery, has a "tired shoulder," which is affecting his velocity.

"I've been giving my best," Rivera said. "I haven't been 100% yet, but that's no excuse. I won't say that was the reason I lost the game. I felt great. The strength, it will be there. That's not my concern at all."

"No one's going to feel sorry for us," Girardi said. "It's our job to turn it around. ...Right now, we're in a little rut and we have to get out of it."

The Yankees are 13-15 and 5 1/2 games behind division-leading Toronto.

The Hot Corner, 5/8 edition

Michael O'Keefe of the New York Daily News points out that several Scott Boras clients have tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, such as A-Rod, Manny, Bonds, Sheffield, etc.

Yankees reliever Brian Bruney has resumed throwing making 30 throws from 60 feet (flat ground) Thursday.

The Tigers will start pitcher Dontrelle Willis on Wednesday against the Twins.

The Red Sox activated outfielder Rocco Baldelli, who went 1-for-4 in last night's 13-3 win over the Indians. "He moved well defensively," [manager Terry] Francona said. "He had some real good at-bats."

The start of the Manny Ramirez 50-day suspension period ended the Dodgers' record-setting home winning streak by losing to the Nationals 11-9.

According to reliever Octavio Dotel, via the Chicago Sun-Times, use of a language barrior as an excuse is ''stupid, that's what I think,'' Dotel said. ''From a guy coming from my area, my country, you have to know what is going on in the major-league rules and how hard they are going with this. And they're still getting caught. So I think that's stupid by our [Latin American] players.''

Dom DiMaggio has passed away at the age of 92. His 34-game hitting streak is still a record for the Red Sox.

White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle gave up only one hit against the Detroit Tigers in a 6-0 win.

The Dodgers "Mannywood" package that included two tickets and two Manny t-shirts will allow fans to receive a Dodgers t-shirt instead of a Manny t-shirt. And the team will offer refunds to those who purchased their tickets in hopes of seeing Manny.

Mets 3B David Wright is finally in a groove and is hitting .450 (9-for-20) in his last six games with two homeruns and seven RBIs in that span.

Yankees catcher Jose Molina, who suffered a strained quad, is likely to join Yankees catcher Jorge Posada on the DL.

Bob Melvin out, A.J. Hinch in?

The what-have-you-done-for-me-lately attitude is no more prevalent than it is in professional sports.

Thursday night, the Arizona Diamondbacks fired manager Bob Melvin, who was named the N.L. Manager of the Year in 2007. In addition to Melvin, hitting coach Rick Schu was fired and pitching coach Bryan Price resigned.

"Bob has done great things for this organization," General Manager Josh Byrnes said in the statement. "Having worked with him for nearly four years, I have a great deal of respect for his character and skills."

Director of Player Development A.J. Hinch is expected to replace Melvin.

The Diamondbacks are currently 12-17 and 8 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the N.L. West.

Just Manny being ... Manuela

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez has been suspended by Major League Baseball for 50 games for violating its policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

His 50-game suspension will cost him $7.7 million in lost wages, which is 31 percent (50 of 162 games) of his salary ($25 million).

"Recently I saw a physician for a personal health issue," Ramirez said in a statement released by the MLB Players' Assn. "He gave me a medication, not a steroid, which he thought was okay to give me. Unfortunately, the medication was banned under our drug policy. Under the policy that mistake is now my responsibility. I have been advised not to say anything more for now. I do want to say one other thing; I've taken and passed about 15 drug tests over the past five seasons."

What was the "personal health issue" and the "medication"?

Well, if Manny's right and it wasn't intended to kick-start testosterone production after a steroids cycle, then Manny was looking to get pregnant.

ESPN is reporting the drug he used was hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), which is a fertility drug.

From the Dodgers' perspective, Manny may cost the team some money in marketing deals and negative press and publicity. But they save $7.7 million in salary due to the suspension and are likely to still win the N.L. West without Manuela for 50 games.

Perhaps the Dodgers should give the "Mannywood" ticket-holders a 31-percent refund.

13 straight at home for Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers had tied the record set by the 1911 Detroit Tigers with 12 consecutive home victories to start a season.

Now, they are in sole possession of the record for the best start at home in baseball history.

"I'm sure they're aware of it," Manager Joe Torre said. "I'm sure they'd like to be the team to own the streak by themselves, or, like the 1911 Tigers, not be around when it's broken."

The Dodgers beat the Washington Nationals 10-3 last night. Although the Nationals have the worst record in baseball (7-18), a win is a win.

(In L.A., the Lakers-Rockets game last night was physical. See details here.)