TiVo + late night baby feedings = Watching More Baseball.  Here's what I gleaned from yesterday's Game Notes.

"The Tigers designated RHP Francisco Cruceta for assignment." 'For assignment' means 'you suck' in baseball speak.  Giving up the winning run on Monday night will make management think such things.

Speaking of suck, "Orioles Manager Dave Trembley on the decision to designate SS Luis Hernandez for assignment: "Sometimes you have to take a step back before you can take a step forward."

"A's RHP Huston Street pitched a perfect ninth and has retired 27 of the past 31 hitters he has faced." Few people expected Street to have 12 saves at this point in the season.  Start him while he's hot.

"Adrain Gonzalez has 16 RBI in his past 10 games." Gonzalez doesn't get the publicity of a Albert Pujols or Lance Berkmance, but he is putting up some great numbers.  With 17 HR, 55 RBI, and a .304 BA, he is having an elite season.

Good news for Vernon Wells owners. "Blue Jays OF Vernon Wells (broken left wrist) took batting practice and Gibbons said he reported no problems." The Blue Jays are still targeting a late June to early July return.

"2B Aaron Hill (mild concussion) also took BP and remains day to day."  I ain't got nothin' for this guy.  Decent average, little power.  It seems like you could do better.

"Cleveland C Victor Martinez was out of the starting lineup for the second time in three games to protect his sore left hamstring. He walked as a pinch hitter in the seventh." V-Mart has been the bane of many a fantasy owner who drafted high for this usually solid fantasy catcher.  Maybe some more time off will right the ship.

"C Ryan Doumit (broken left thumb) began a rehabilitation assignment at Double-A Altoona on Tuesday night and could rejoin the Pirates as early as Friday."  I'm commenting on this only to say what a tough SOB Doumit has to be.  I cannot imagine catching Major League pitching with a broken thumb - healed or not.  It has to be one of THE MOST PAINFUL jobs in the world.

"Todd Wellemeyer, who's scheduled to start on Wednesday was named the National League Pitcher of the Month. He was 4-0 with a 2.19 ERA."  I've talked about Wellemeyer before.  He's having a nice start to the year.  Surprisingly, he's available in some leagues.

"Carlos Quentin reached 50 RBI."  Quentin has been one of the year's biggest fantasy surprises and one of the major contributors to the White Sox success this year.

"Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said outfielder Eric Byrnes, who has been on the disabled list since May 27 because of a right hamstring strain, worked out on a stairmaster Tuesday and could begin running at Pittsburgh later this week."  Byrnes is having a slow start to the season.  Here's hoping his replacement is performing better on your team than he was...

"Seattle OF Ichiro Suzuki was 1-for-4 with an infield single, something he's had relatively few of this season while batting just .287 this season. The perennial All-Star's previous low entering June was .317."  Ichiro's performance could be related to the cold weather that Seattle has seen this spring, but its more likelty related to the cold start of his team as well.  As a whole, the Mariners have been languishing this season.  I still expect Ichiro to  have a BA well above .300 by the All Star break.

"Dodgers SP Brad Penny, who walked a batter in the first inning, has retired the side in order in the first frame only four times in his 13 starts. This was the eighth time he has failed to get through the first three innings without giving up a run."  This little trivia nugget is reflected in his 7 losses and 5.45 ERA.  I have to wonder why so many owners (92% of leagues) still have this guy on their roster.

Streaks snapped! "Shane Victorino was 0-for-3 with a walk, snapping his 14-game hitting streak...Cincinnati's Jerry Hairston was 0-for-4, ending his 10-game hitting streak." I keep hearing the Price is Right "you failed" music playing in the background.

Finally, an interesting bit of trivia I never would have guessed. "The Texas Rangers are the only major league team that hasn't been shut out this season."  Start your Rangers, eh?

Triple OT...bleary eyes...need sleep...Red Wings lose...must blog Game Notes.

"Jim Edmonds, released by the Padres on May 9 after his batting average had fallen to .178 -- more than 100 points below his lifetime mark -- hit two RBI doubles and scored one run for the Cubs." Edmonds isn't quite swinging like the rusty gate I accused him of being when the Cubs signed him.  He's not exactly en fuego either.  While raising his average slightly above .200, I don' t think he warrants fantasy consideration  beyond a stop gap measure for NL-only leagues.

Good news for Tim Hudson owners I would take it with a grain of salt. "Braves RHP Tim Hudson said his strained left hamstring shouldn't keep him out of next start. Hudson has battled hamstring problems in the past, and said this didn't feel as bad as some of his other strains. Manager Bobby Cox said he will have an emergency starter ready in case Hudson can't start Friday against Philadelphia"

"Another Atlanta pitcher, RH Blaine Boyer, underwent an MRI after tweaking his right knee Sunday. It showed no damage."  Boyer is a fine middle reliever with a 3 to 1 K to BB ratio.  In leagues that reward holds, he's a good pick up.

While I'm talking about Braves pitching, I would be remiss not to comment on the return of John Smoltz.  "I told you so."  Smoltz blew his first save opportunity.  I just don't think you can pitch on moxie and determination alone.  Thanks for the fine career, John.  Its time to retire while the baseball world still loves and respects you.

"Twins 1B Justin Morneau played despite a sore left knee and strained calf muscle. He went 0-for-4 and limped noticeably throughout the game." I love seeing guys try to tough it out through the pain.  That said, I would hate to see Morneau miss time because he was gritting it out. The '0-fer' performance didn't help his team much either.

The Rockies are just bad. Considering how many Rockies are on the DL its not that surprising to find that  "Colorado is 18 games under .500 for the first time since finishing the 2005 season 67-95. The Rockies have lost 19 of their past 21 away from Coors Field."

More injury updates: "Diamondbacks 1B Conor Jackson (strained right quad) took batting practice. Arizona manager Bob Melvin said Jackson could be ready to return as early as Wednesday when the Brewers start LHP Manny Parra. ... Brewers RHP David Riske (hyperextended elbow) played catch on Monday, but Brewers manager Ned Yost said both he and RHP Eric Gagne (rotator cuff tendinitis) are at least a week away from returning."

"Angels' OF/DH Vladimir Guerrero was held out of the lineup with a sore right knee after a hard slide into third base Sunday during a game against Detroit." Guerrero is listed as day to day.

"Seattle RHP Miguel Batista experienced some tightness in his groin Sunday during a start against Detroit, but said he shouldn't have any problems making his next start."  The injury is a recurrence of the injury Batista had in April. The Mariners do not share Batista's optimism about Batista's ability to start this week.  Even if he were ready to go, he's not much of a fantasy player.

Still streaking!  Whee!  "Phillies CF Shane Victorino singled in the first to extend his hitting streak to 14 games, tying his career-best...Reds SS Jerry Hairston extended his hitting streak to a career-high 10 games with a sixth-inning single."

Sit down, son.  You annoy me.  "Tigers C Ivan Rodriguez was in a 1-for-20 slump before singling in the seventh...Boston's Coco Crisp singled in the fourth inning to snap an 0-for-23 skid."