The Rangers have announced that righthander Omar Beltre will be recalled to make Wednesday night’s start in Anaheim.  The move pushes C.J. Wilson back to Thursday’s start, and Colby Lewis to Friday’s series opener at home against the White Sox.

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According to a local report, Oklahoma City righthander Brandon McCarthy has been placed on the seven-day DL with a stress fracture in his shoulder, the third time in four seasons he’s been diagnosed with it.  Rest is prescribed, and evidently only a brief deactivation is expected.

 

McCarthy had made four RedHawks starts – all quality starts of at least seven innings – and was limiting opponents to a .178 batting average, had issued five walks against 18 strikeouts (in a Pacific Coast League-leading 28.2 innings), and boasted a positive groundout-to-flyout rate.

Looks like the M's are getting themselves another fairly decent player.  Not sure who is going to Boston, but I don't imagine it will be anything more than a mid level prospect. 

 

The Seattle Mariners are expected to acquire first baseman Casey Kotchman from the Boston Red Sox in return for at least one minor leaguer, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.

If the trade is completed as planned, Kotchman would be penciled in as the Mariners' starting first baseman

Hamilton and Volquez years seem to have mirrored each other both this year and last year.

 

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Edinson Volquez is scheduled to undergo elbow surgery Monday.

It was not immediately clear if he will have a ligament-replacement procedure, known as Tommy John surgery.

On the disabled list since June 2, Volquez, who made just nine starts this season, could throw only 20 pitches of a simulated game scheduled for 80 on Friday before complaining of tightness in a muscle.

This is updated as of 6/9.  Looks like the Rangers are being well represented.  Kinsler leading at 2nd base, Young in 3rd place, Salty in 2nd??, Elvis in 3rd.  The outfielders are Josh in 2nd and Cruz in 8th. 

Let's keep up the voting, Cruz really deserves to be there. 

 

2009 MLB All-Star Balloting : American League
1st Base
RANK	PLAYER NAME	AL TEAM	TOTAL VOTES
1.	Mark Teixeira	Yankees	833,960
2.	Kevin Youkilis	Red Sox	832,751
3.	Justin Morneau	Twins	729,175
4.	Miguel Cabrera	Tigers	649,955
5.	Chris Davis	Rangers	461,183
2nd Base
RANK	PLAYER NAME	AL TEAM	TOTAL VOTES
1.	Ian Kinsler	Rangers	1,173,494
2.	Dustin Pedroia	Red Sox	923,416
3.	Robinson Cano	Yankees	624,394
4.	Aaron Hill	Blue Jays	536,612
5.	Placido Polanco	Tigers	424,889
3rd Base
RANK	PLAYER NAME	AL TEAM	TOTAL VOTES
1.	Evan Longoria	Rays	1,560,358
2.	Alex Rodriguez	Yankees	678,227
3.	Michael Young	Rangers	655,398
4.	Mike Lowell	Red Sox	438,123
5.	Scott Rolen	Blue Jays	369,517
Shortstop
RANK	PLAYER NAME	AL TEAM	TOTAL VOTES
1.	Derek Jeter	Yankees	1,511,418
2.	Jason Bartlett	Rays	698,095
3.	Elvis Andrus	Rangers	584,462
4.	Marco Scutaro	Blue Jays	471,298
5.	Cesar Izturis	Orioles	261,953
Catcher
RANK	PLAYER NAME	AL TEAM	TOTAL VOTES
1.	Joe Mauer	Twins	1,255,206
2.	Jarrod Saltalamacchia	Rangers	583,033
3.	Jason Varitek	Red Sox	582,715
4.	Jorge Posada	Yankees	569,714
5.	Victor Martinez	Indians	535,575
Outfield
RANK	PLAYER NAME	AL TEAM	TOTAL VOTES
1.	Jason Bay	Red Sox	1,101,649
2.	Josh Hamilton	Rangers	989,710
3.	Ichiro Suzuki	Mariners	794,104
4.	Carl Crawford	Rays	698,470
5.	Torii Hunter	Angels	660,078
6.	Ken Griffey Jr.	Mariners	654,253
7.	Adam Jones	Orioles	611,624
8.	Johnny Damon	Yankees	607,788
9.	Nelson Cruz	Rangers	603,769
10.	Nick Markakis	Orioles	575,856
11.	Jacoby Ellsbury	Red Sox	530,015
12.	Grady Sizemore	Indians	451,839
13.	Curtis Granderson	Tigers	423,268
14.	J.D. Drew	Red Sox	408,756
15.	David Murphy	Rangers	395,949
Results updated: Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Per Jamey, Josh is going to have surgery to repair his abdominal tear and is expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks.  I guess I'd rather have him just do it and ensure that he'll be OK in 6 weeks, rather than hope it fixes itself with rest.  However, watching Byrd and Murphy out there everyday is going to get old really quick.  Let's hope Davis can pick it up. 

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Why the hell did we need Frankie in a 6 run game last night?  Surprise, surprise, he throws 18 pitches last night in a 6 run game, and somehow he isn't real sharp this afternoon.  Jack Benny needed work, Tejeda hadn't throw in days.  I guess I don't get it.  Seems like once someone is warming up for RW he is coming into the game regardless of whether or not the game situation changes. 

God forbid we actually could sweep anybody. 

RA was dominant for the Mariners (vs. the Halos) last night, I can't believe he keeps hanging around.  We could have used him in our bullpen last night. 

5 2/3 IP, 3H, 0R, 1BB, 6Ks.

Who would've thunk it?

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Well, this year is pretty much out the window, but say that Bradley continues to play well and has a productive season.  Is he the type of guy you would want resigned to be part of the future?  Granted, he's not a spring chicken, but at some point, the Rangers are going to need to have a few veterns around when the youngsters come up.  I just think at some point you need to sign some productive players rather than just pawn everyone off at the trading deadline.  Don't get me wrong, I am all for not signing veterns at huge prices at this point, but we are going to need a few vets around here for the "Glory of '09" and maybe Bradley is a good piece that wouldn't be cost prohibitive. 

This team sucks there is no way to say that having another pitching coach would change that.  While our pitchers may not be great, I think they are better than they have shown to this point.  All we heard all spring training is how they were going to "pound the strike zone."  However, we lead the world in walks.  Any thoughts on our pitching coach?  They have to shake something up and they aren't going to fire RW yet.  

Ok, not completely giving up on the season yet...but, can this season be considered successful IF the Rangers maintain their stranglehold on finishing in 3rd place, BUT Tejeda and McCarthy stick in the rotation all year and develop into solid starters? That gives them 4 starters that are locked up and fairly solid.  Does that do anything for anybody?

Hopefully last night's performance by Wilkerson will put to rest any thoughts that he is anything more than a 4th outfielder.  He doesn't make contact, he has bad plate discpline, and he's not great defensively.  They need an outfielder in the worst way.  Too many holes in this lineup.  You can hope Cruz will be good, hope Wilkerson will regain his steroid form from a couple of years ago, hope Sosa will rebound...

That's too much uncertainty to bank your season on.