Pujols to DL! – That headline topped the baseball world over the weekend after the Cardinals reigning MVP suffered a strained right oblique in their game against the Cubs on Saturday.  He was placed on the disabled list Sunday and though the Cardinals have not given a definitive timeline on how long they expect him to be down, it is likely he will be out of action for several weeks.  Jim Edmonds, who himself missed the last week with a strained abdominal wall, filled in for Pujols at first base.  Meanwhile, the reigning Cy Young winner Chris Carpenter will be back on Tuesday to pitch the second game of the Cards’ big showdown series with the Reds.  Cincinnati comes to town winners of their last 4 straight and just 3 games out of first.  It is Pujols’ first trip to the DL in his career.

 

Notable

 

Sunday was the first day since May 15 that a NL West team woke up with a record under .500.  The Rockies were 27-28 and in last place to start the day before losing their fifth straight overall as the Marlins completed a 3-game sweep of the Rockies in Colorado.  They are now just 12-19 since ending April at 15-10

 

The Mets played two extra-inning games against the Giants over the weekend (including the nightcap of a doubleheader on Saturday) and have gone overtime in three of their last four.  They have played a major league high 11 extra-inning games this year, including a 16 inning affair against Philadelphia on May 23, and are 6-5 in extra-inning contests.

 

Jonathan Broxton’s combined numbers in ’06 with AAA Las Vegas and with the Dodgers – 27 GP, 30.2 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 17 H, 12 BB, 44 K, 0.95 WHIP – 1-0, 5 SV, 0.59 ERA.

 

In between the second of the two home runs Bronson Arroyo hit in his first two starts of the year for Cincinnati and his 3 for 4 with 4 RBI in the Reds win over Houston on Saturday, Arroyo was 0 for 27. 

 

After taking a no-hitter into the 8^th inning of his last start and finishing with just one hit allowed in 8 innings, Chris Young took another one into the 6^th on Sunday in Pittsburgh and finished up just two hits allowed over 8.

 

Nationals rookie pitcher Bill Bray got the win in his major league debut on Saturday despite throwing just one pitch and not retiring a single batter.  His lone pitch was a strike to Prince Fielder on which Brian Schneider gunned down Corey Koskie trying to steal to end the 8^th inning.  Schneider then hit a two run homer in the top of the 9^th to give the Nats a lead they would not surrender. 

 

Washington National Infirmary – The Nationals injury woes continued over the weekend as Santiago Ramirez went on the 15-day DL.  Ramirez becomes the 12^th Nationals player, and 9^th pitcher, currently on the injured list.

 

On Fire!

 

Miguel Cabrera is simply on fire, having hit safely in his last 11 straight games (21 for 40, .525 – 3 HR, 11 RBI) and 21 of his last 24 (38 for 94, .404 – 5 HR, 22 RBI) to raise his average to a major league leading .361.  The Marlins are 8-3 during his current hitting streak.

 

Joe Borchard, in the Marlins win on Saturday, went 3 for 5 and raised his career batting average above the Mendoza line.  He had a pinch hit on Sunday and now stands at .203 (78 for 384) lifetime. 

 

After seeing average dip down to .135 (5 for 37) on May 15, Andy Phillips’ bat has been on fire.  He is 18 for his last 42 (.429) since then to raise his season BA to .291. 

 

Adrian Beltre has hit safely in his last 9 straight (14 for 38, .368) and has home runs in each of his last two games.

 

Damion Easley had a 3 homer, 7 RBI game on Saturday against the Braves in a 13-9 win.  He then hit another one on Sunday and is now 7 for 12 (.583) with 4 HR and 10 RBI in 3 games in June raising his season average from .239 to .291.  Easley hit .200 in May. 

 

Ice Cold!

 

Beginning with an 0 for 5, 4 strikeout game against San Diego on May 24, Jeff Francoeur has just 9 hits in his last 46 at bats (.196) with no HR and just 3 RBI.  He did, however, draw a walk during that span giving him 3 free passes in 235 at bats on the year.

 

Casey Blake has just 5 hits in his last 34 AB (.147) and his batting average has dropped to .318 after having led the league with a .354 mark as recently as May 24.

 

After going 10-0 with a 3.20 ERA last year, Aaron Small is 0-3 with a 9.67 ERA.  In three starts, Small is 0-2 with a 10.50 mark after giving up 7 runs no 9 hits in 2.2 IP on Sunday against Baltimore.

 

Down on the Farm – DN&N got to wondering how certain former major leaguers and notable major league hopefuls were doing so far in the minors so we took a cruise through minorleaguebaseball.com and came up with some interesting numbers.

 

Been There, Done That, Want To Do It Again…

 

Carlos Pena (NY) - .257/.393/.443, 7 HR, 18 RBI, 140 AB

 

Hee-Seop Choi (Bos)- .242/.384/.383, 4 HR, 20 RBI, 149 AB

 

Bobby Hill (SD) - .291/.404/.376, 1 HR 9 RBI, 141 AB

 

Scott Hairston (Ari) - .325/.407/.599, 13 HR, 40 RBI, 197 AB

 

Brian Daubach (STL) - .296/.405/.521, 8 HR, 26 RBI, 142 AB

 

Junior Spivey (STL) - .167/.321/.250, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 132 AB

 

Alan Benes (STL) – 3-0, 5.02 ERA, 15/2 GP/GS, 26.2 IP, 27 H, 13 BB, 21 K

 

Desi Relaford (STL) - .121/.184/.121, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 4 for 33

 

Chris Richard (Pit) - .237/.357/.464, 4 HR, 20 RBI, 97 AB

 

Ray Sadler (Pit) - .186/.265/.271, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 118 AB

 

Scott Strickland (Pit) – 1-0, 0.60 ERA, 20 GP, 30 IP, 2 ER, 18 H, 7 BB, 29 K

 

Brandon Duckworth (Pit) – 8-2, 2.55 ERA, 11 GS, 67 IP, 60 H, 21 BB, 51 K

 

Alex Sanchez (Cin) - .214/.238/.224, O HR, 4 RBI, 98 AB

 

Brian Buchanan (Cin) – Spring Training - .511/.511/.800, 43 AB – Regular Season - .179/.235/.329, 78 AB

 

Jose Offerman (NYM) - .246/.343/.377, 61 AB

 

Michael Tucker (NYM) - .277/.389/.457, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 94 AB

 

Joe Thurston (Phi) - .285/.365/.468, 5 HR, 20 RBI, 186 AB

 

Ryan Church (Wsh) – Combined AA and AAA - .167 (12 for 72), .291 Slg, 3 HR 7 RBI

 

Ramiro Mendoza (NYY) – 2-1, 1.32 ERA, 6GP/4GS, 27.1 IP, 20 H, 4 BB, 22 K

 

Josh Phelps (Det) - .268/.335/.429, 5 HR, 24 RBI, 168 AB

 

Tike Redman – (Det) - .258/.288/.307, 0 HR, 9 RBI, 163 AB

 

Fernando Tatis (Bal) - .294/.360/.429, 5 HR, 16 RBI, 170 AB

 

Edwin Jackson (TB) – 2-5, 6.70 ERA, 45.2 IP, 54 H, 27 BB, 41 K

 

Jared Sandberg (Hou) - .186/.240/.336, 4 HR, 13 RBI, 140 AB

 

Major League Hopefuls

 

Tony Gwynn (Mil) - .330/.371/.431, 2 HR, 27 RBI, 16 SB, 218 AB

 

Koby Clemens (Hou) - .186/.327/.302, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 43 AB, 8 BB, 13 K

 

Michael Garciaparra (Sea) – Combined AA and AAA - .318/.394/.383, 1 HR, 23 RBI

 

JR House (Hou) - .346/.391/.500, 5 HR, 38 RBI, 214 AB

 

Andy Marte – (Cle) - .255/.324/.349, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 192 AB

 

The Longest Streak Pt I – Three teams are tied for the longest current winning streak in the majors. The Nationals, despite their injury problems, have won four straight and 11 of 15 after sweeping the Brewers over the weekend.  The Reds, meanwhile, swept the ice cold Astros over the weekend to win their fourth straight and the Diamondbacks completed a 4-game sweep of the Braves to extend their lead in the NL West to 2.5 games. 

 

The Longest Streak Pt II – The Brewers’ slide continued over the weekend.  After getting outscored 36-8 by the Pirates, they lost three straight to Washington by a combined score of 22-11.  In their current 8 game losing streak, they have been outscored by a total of 64-21.

 

On Deck – Monday’s marquee match-up pits a couple of familiar foes against each other as the Red Sox take on the Yankees in the Bronx.  Josh Beckett (7-2) goes for the Sox while Mike Mussina (7-1) will take the hill for the Bombers.  Also on Monday, the D’Backs will have Brandon Webb (8-0, 2.01) on the mound going for his league leading 9^th win against the Phillies and Cory Lidle (4-5).