We touched on some American League notes late last night, but here are a few more for the morning:
- After a solid start to his tenure with the Twins' Triple-A affiliate, recently-acquired infielder Eduardo Nunez has earned a (brief) call-up to the bigs, writes Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (passing on a report from the Rochester Chronicle and Democrat). Nunez will get the chance to be the team's 26th player for the second game of today's doubleheader before going back to the minors on Friday, though it seems quite possible he'll get a real shot with the MLB club at some point given Pedro Florimon's struggles.
- The Tigers' search for a replacement at shortstop led them to ask 46-year-old Omar Vizquel if he was interested in making a comeback, reports Paul Hoynes of the Plain Dealer. "They asked me if I'd like to come and take some grounders," said Vizquel. "I said, 'No, I've been retired for two years.'"
- Scott Cousins will not exactly be continuing his career as a baseball outfielder when he joins the Rangers, reports Gerry Fraley of the Dallas Morning News. The 29-year-old will head to extended spring training, where he will try to convert into a left-handed pitcher.
- The latest in the Athletics' ballpark situation has focused on the possibility of a ten-year lease extension at the O.co Coliseum. As Joe Stiglich of CSNBayArea.com reports, A's co-owner Lew Wolff says the club would be willing to make over $10MM in stadium improvements if such a deal were struck. (Of course, for those who follow ballpark funding issues, that outlay will seem a relative drop in the bucket.)
Check in with Vizquel? That redefines desperation. I wonder if Julio Franco is available?
Franco has no expiration date. He can go forever.
I bet Julio Franco vs Herschel Walker would make one heck of an MMA fight.
Mr. Hoynes apparently doesn’t understand sarcasm, or appreciate jokes.
That was clearly a joke during spring training
Somebody forward the Vizquel quote to Jamie Moyer, please.
Or to Stephen Drew.
Yes, I’m aware that Visquel needs a talking-to. I’ll be right on it.
The A’s could spend $10M just in urinal mints for the Coliseum in the next 10 years.
I think you meant “should”…
Maybe they should put it out for bids. If they come in under… they could splurge on two-ply in the stalls…lol
I would like to thank Scott Cousins for attempting to fill the void left by Rick Ankiel’s retirement.
He’s not even the first player to make an attempt at the conversion this season. Rob Johnson is doing the same thing with the Padres.
I don’t understand: if the A’s ballpark is so bad and they need a new one, why would they even consider extending their current lease?
Because the baseball owners will not let them move to San Jose. They can stay in Oakland and receive $35 million in revenue sharing a year. This is a way for A’s owners to tell baseball get moving on our stadium plans for San Jose.
Thanks for the answer, but I’m still confused: if A’s owners say ‘we’re signing up for another 10 years in Oakland Coliseum’ how is that pushing MLB to let them move to San Jose?
MLB doesn’t want them in the Coliseum either. It’s clearly a revenue killer. But, when and if they move forward on a new stadium. It will take several seasons.
Got it, thanks!
There are two disputes here: 1) The A’s and San Jose vs. Giants and MLB, with a federal judge as decider unless the A’s can convince three-fourth of the owners to overturn the Giants’ territorial rights. 2) The A’s vs. the Raiders for who gets first dibs on the Coliseum footprint if there’s a new stadium, with Oakland and Alameda County as the referee. The A’s need the lease because of the second dispute, there’s a chance they could get kicked out of the Coliseum entirely if Mark Davis gets his way.
3) Wolf could be saying to the other baseball owners. Fine you will not let me move to San Jose than its going to cost you lots of money in revenue sharing. The giants are paying into revenue sharing so its a double in your face.
Deivi Cruz is available i am sure and he is an ex-Tiger so he knows the system.
You must be his agent. And if so…I praise you for your unwaivering dedication toward getting Cruz out of his mall phone kiosk.
Now this won’t happen because of division but what about Scherzer for Cabrera and Masterson.