Five years ago today, the Athletics claimed righty Jerome Williams off waivers from the Cubs. Williams pitched 30 innings for the Nationals the following year, but then didn't pitch in the Majors until last month with the Angels. Williams went through a lot in the meantime, and considers his return to the bigs "a fairy tale." On to today's Labor Day links…
- Dustin McGowan makes for another nice story; the Blue Jays reinstated him from the 60-day DL today. The former first-round pick once seemed on the cusp of big things, but he hasn't pitched in the Majors in more than three years due to a pair of surgeries on his right shoulder. He'll be one of seven arbitration eligible Blue Jays, but McGowan won't cost much to retain.
- Dodgers reliever Hong-Chih Kuo is learning to manage his anxiety better, and intends to pitch next year, writes Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times. If the Dodgers tender Kuo a contract, he'll earn at least $2.18MM in 2012.
- Free agency will be "interesting," Cardinals starter Edwin Jackson tells Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The Scott Boras client, who turns 28 on Friday, has a 3.78 ERA on the season and is on track to make 30+ starts for the fifth consecutive year.
- Reliever Bobby Jenks is probably done for the season, Red Sox manager Terry Francona told WEEI's Rob Bradford and others today. The big righty signed a two-year, $12MM deal after being non-tendered by the White Sox in December, but pitched only 15 2/3 innings for Boston due to a back injury.
I’d suffer from anxiety disorder too if the Dodgers paid me with a bounced check
I couldnt imageine standing out there knowing that a million people are watching a critequeing me… Esp in a forign country.
you’d think it would help if you’d done it 56 times the year before and held hitters to a .138/.211/.192 line, but apparently not
Dustin McGowan is back? Whoaaaa. That is quite awesome to see him back after three years.
I hope the sideburns are accompanying him.
Welcome back McGowan. Interesting to see how they use him down the stretch.
out of the pen, he wasn’t able to stretch out enough to have him start.
Which is where the interesting part comes in. He can’t go very often so it seems like they’re going to keep him as a long man, which is a bit disappointing considering what his talent level was at, can’t be helped though really. Hopefully he does well and can start next season.
longman? no.. farrel said he will use him in any situation, provided he starts an inning, so he has ample time to warm up.
So…we’re going to go against everything the doctor’s have reportedly said? I remember reading one of the columns where they recommended him starting so it’s easier on the body. Hope he doesn’t get hurt.
they know what they are doing…
Its easier to come back as a starter, to build arm strength, which they did..
for now he will be used as a reliever only because they don’t feel confident in his strength to go deep in to games. Next year he will be in the mix for a starting job. There just werent enough minor league games to get him stretched out in time to have him start now.
One has to ask the question regarding Edwin Jackson: why has this guy been traded so many times? I believe it is 7 times.
it also means 7 teams have wanted to acquire him.
Please keep Quillen in Chicago, or someplace else and Not at the helm of the Fish.
it seems enough nuts are from Chicago as it is. let him stay there. The Fish can find some one who is a bit more stable than this guy who has a clue what is going on.
Thanks for nothin’, Jenks.
Do ya think the Sox cam dump Jenks, and the rest of his contract, under the “too ill to perform clause”?
Maybe Ozzie can smack Hanley around and make the guy produce at his talent level. Probably not. Marlins feel free to trade him to the Sox already. And seriously did anyone think Jenks was coming back to contribute.