"I wish my lawn was emo so it would cut itself." Truer words were never written on the interblags. On to the Game Notes!

"Detroit put SS Ramon Santiago (shoulder) and OF Clete Thomas (ankle) on the disabled list and RHP Aquilino Lopez went onto the bereavement list. To replace them, the Tigers activated RHP Denny Bautista from the DL and recalled SS Michael Hollimon and OF Brent Clevlen from Triple-A Toledo." I only mention these transactions because so many players are involved. These players are like rest of the 2008 Tigers - worthless.

Non-game note but Tiger related, Jeremy Bonderman is likely out for the season after a procedure was done to relieve a blood clot in his arm. Like the rest of the Tigers rotation, Bondo hadn't been setting the world on fire, but he was serviceable. His departure is a blow to an already struggling club. I would assume that Armando Galarraga and Dontrelle Willis will no longer share starts.

"Red Sox OF Jacoby Ellsbury, who left Thursday's game with a strained right wrist, had an MRI and the results came back "very clean," according to manager Terry Francona. Ellsbury is day-to-day." Great news for Ellsbury and his owners. The kid has been a great find for fantasy owners leading the league in SB. He should be good to go for Week 11.

"Pirates C Ryan Doumit played for the first time since breaking his left thumb May 14, and went 0-for-4." Doumit's scuffling at the plate is to be expected. Catching with a broken thumb requires a guts, painkillers, ice, and nice chunk of insanity. I would keep him reserved for a few more games.

Week 5's favorite pick up "Marlins LF Josh Willingham (back) is scheduled to take batting practice Saturday. There's no timetable for his return to the lineup." Willingham was all kinds of goodness at the end of April. This herniated disk has kept him sidelined. I have no idea why 37% of owners still have him on the roster.

"Blue Jays 2B Aaron Hill (concussion) missed his seventh straight game. Hill collided with Eckstein on May 29 in Oakland and is still suffering lightheadedness and headaches. Hill, who was checked by a doctor in Toronto on Friday, will likely land on the disabled list if he is unable to return soon." Apart from a mention when this happened, I haven't paid much attention to Hill. After more than a week out it seems like this is more than a matter of Hill's bell getting rung. Hill only had 2 HR and a .264 BA prior to the injury. If you are one of the 24% of owners still starting Hill, its time to look for an alternative.

"Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins, who was benched Thursday for failing to hustle on a pop fly, was back in the lineup." I'm a Rollins owner and a believer in his talent. That said, I L-O-V-E Charlie Manuel sitting his butt down for not going 100%. By sitting his MVP SS, he sends a message to the entire team about excellence and how he thinks the game should be played. Bravo, Skipper!

"Until Ian Kinsler's drive, Scott Kazmir hadn't given up a home run since Sept. 4, a stretch of 68 innings." I am still amazed at the play of the Rays and especially Kazmir. 6-1, 44 K to 13 BB, ERA of 1.40 and a WHIP of less than 1. (0.91 to be exact.) It only took owners 6 weeks to become believers. I hope their fans start believing as well and fill Tropicana Field.

"RHP Sidney Ponson was designated for assignment by the Rangers in a surprise move before the game. General manager Jon Daniels was vague about the reasons for the decision, saying Ponson had been dumped "for disrespecting teammates and club personnel." Ponson was a nice addition to the Rangers in a time when they needed some pitching consistency. You have to know there was some pretty serious douchebaggery on Ponson's part to get released.

"Texas' Gerald Laird, normally a catcher, made his first career start at 3B. Laird had no trouble with the first two grounders hit his way, then bobbled the third on what was ruled an infield single." In some leagues, Laird is now eligible to play 3B. For most leagues, he'll require a few more starts to get the permanent designation. Still, its nice to have the flexibility on your roster. Laird still has Salty splitting time behind the plate. This just makes Laird an option in deep AL-only leagues.

"Giants OF Aaron Rowand left the game in the seventh inning with an injury to his right quadriceps muscle. He'll be re-examined on Saturday. Washington RHP Tim Redding pinch-hit for Bergmann in the third inning. He struck out." I've seen this injury characterized as a right hip flexor as well. Either way, its not good news for Rowand owners. He's been having a nice season for the Giants. Rowand is listed as day to day.

"New York lost for just the second time in Johan Santana's last 10 starts." Santana has been solid since joining the Mets. 6 INN, 1 ER, 5 K, 1 BB, and a 3.08 ERA yesterday. I'm looking for even better things after the All Star break from Santana.

Streakers! "Jose Lopez extended his hitting streak to five games. He is 9-for-23 over that stretch...David DeJesus extended his season-best hitting streak to 10 games."

Last night was the first night in weeks that I did not watch a baseball game. I feel so empty inside. Thank god for the Game Notes.

"Chien-Ming Wang has walked at least three batters in six straight starts." I've soured on the fantasy value of Wang. His BBI to K ratio isn't what I would like from a fantasy player. Last night he had 4 K and 4 BB. Overall, his ratio is 1.48 to 1. Couple this with an over 4.5 ERA and you can see where is fantasy value is limited.

"Jay Bruce was 0-for-4 for the second straight game. His average dropped to .432 after his first 10 games." So Bruce is human after all. This is the problem when you hype rookies. Bruce owners might want to look at selling while his value is still perceived as being high.

"Though Orioles SS Freddie Bynum brought a .212 average and only two RBI in 66 at-bats into the game, Dave Trembley said Bynum is the still starter -- though Alex Cintron is in the mix. Bynum, though, needs to shorten his swing and improve his discipline at the plate. "If you look at his history, his walks and strikeouts, there is too big of a disparity there," Trembley said." Bynum's leash is very short in Baltimore. Cintron's promotion from the minors to the Orioles club should be a strong indicator that Trembley's patience is wearing thin. Cintron doesn't have any fantasy value yet, but he might be one to watch.

"The Cardinals played without OF Rick Ankiel, who has an infected right knee." I haven't mentioned Ankiel's absence from the line-up because I thought it would be very short-lived. This is the third game that Ankiel has missed with the infection. There are reports that the infection is showing 'significant improvement.' Ankiel should be back for the weekend.

"OF/1B Chris Carter was sent back to Triple-A Pawtucket after the game and Brandon Moss was recalled." Carter goes 2 for 3 and you send him down to the minors for Moss. How's that for gratitude? Actually, this was done for Carter's development. He's clearly a better player than Moss. He was sent down to get some more at bats in the minors. He will be back with the Red Sox sooner than later.

"Chipper Jones got his first stolen base of the season in the eighth." Not just a .400/400 HR hitter. Grats to Jones on joining the 400 club. He is having a season to remember.

"Atlanta LF Greg Norton was a late scratch with a twisted left knee. He is day to day. Josh Anderson was the fill-in starter." I looked a bit deeper into this one hoping to find a 'I tripped over the dog' story in it. Instead, I found trouble for Norton. His replacement, rookie Anderson, had a good night going 1 for 3 with a triple and a walk. For a guy who is a replacement himself, Norton may find himself with reduced playing time or even out of a job soon.

"DH Travis Hafner, on the 15-day DL with a right shoulder strain, won't pick up a bat until the weekend, giving him a full week to rest and strengthen the shoulder." Hafner is no where near his projected stats for the year which has caused plenty of fantasy owners to bail on him. He's gone from a 99% own and start percentage to 61% and 8%. The hope with this trip to DL land is that Hafner will heal the shoulder that has been causing his troubles.

"Alexei Ramirez is hitting .372 with six RBI in his past 11 games." These numbers are a bit deceiving as he went 1 for 5 last night.

"Jon Rauch had retired 19 consecutive batters until Ryan's double in the ninth." I'm still a Rauch believer. This was only his third blown save.

Streaks! "Johnny Damon extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a third-inning single...Manny Ramirez extended his hitting streak to 11 games...David DeJesus' triple in the fifth extended his hitting streak to nine games..Kansas City's Mark Teahen hit a home run for the third consecutive game."

Here's hoping you all have a great fantasy weekend...unless you're playing my team.

Ever read the Game Notes at the bottom of a game recap?  I do. Sometimes I even learn something.  Today's post looks more like streaks and injuries.

I cheated a bit and actually read a beat writer's article this morning.  Tom Gage of The Detroit News covers some of the changes that Jim Leyland is implementing in the Detroit line up.  Not least among them is "that Carlos Guillen has been working out in left field, with the thought of that position being added to others where Guillen can be used."  I'm a big fan of having players eligible at multiple positions.  To me it makes them much more valuable to a team.  If Guiilen does begin playing LF, he wll be eligible at four positions (1B, 3B, SS, and LF).  For a 20/100 player who consistently hits .300 that's value.

For those Dice-K owners who live under rocks, just came out from under them and read my blog first thing..."The Red Sox placed RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka on the 15-day DL and recalled 1B/OF Jeff Bailey from Triple-A Pawtucket. Bailey struck out in the ninth."  For the rest of us, Bailey was a crusher in the minors but he's no Jay Bruce.

Yet another reason Chase Utley is getting MVP talk.  "The left-handed hitting Utley has nine homers against left-handers, tops in the majors. Utley has 12 RBI in the past four games."

Play. These. Guys.  "Shane Victorino extended his hitting streak to a career-high 11 games... Texas' Ian Kinsler extended his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games with a seventh-inning double...Michael Young stretched his hitting streak to 15 games with a first-inning single...Jose Reyes extended his hitting streak to 15 games with an infield single in the first. He has reached base safely in 30 straight games, the longest run from the leadoff spot in team history."

"Dodgers SS Rafael Furcal, on the disabled list retroactive to May 6 with a sore lower back, was examined in Los Angeles by Dr. Robert Watkins, a back specialist. There is no timetable for Furcal's return. "We're not close yet," Torre said."  Tough, tough break for Furcal owners.  He's had a great year so far and is very much worth a reserve spot.  "We're not close yet" does not bode well...

"Chicago (SS) Juan Uribe (strained right hamstring) is expected to reinstated from the 15-day disabled list and rejoin the team for Saturday's game."  Uribe isn't of much fantasy value except in AL-only leagues.

"With INF Ben Zobrist optioned to Triple-A Durham, the Rays plan to use rookie 3B Evan Longoria as their backup shortstop. Longoria played the position for about 20 games in college at Long Beach State, however manager Joe Maddon stressed he is the team's third baseman." See my Guillen comments...minus Thursday's hemorrhoid reference.

"Braves OF Mark Kotsay went on the 15-day DL with a strained lower back." 25% of fantasy owners care.  Really.  They do.

"RHP John Smoltz is expected to make another rehabilitation appearance for Class A Rome on Saturday. If he comes through that without a problem, he could be activated on Monday and go into the bullpen. Smoltz went on the DL on April 29 with a sore upper arm and shoulder."  I don't think Smoltz is going to the Braves bullpen. I have a deep affection for John Smoltz.  We're from the same area and we're the same age.  I love that an old guy like me is still in the big leagues as a player.  I simply think that the body has had enough.

I think its obvious that Derek Jeter is having a poor season by Derek Jeter standards. "Jeter, who has struggled since he was hit by a pitch on the wrist 10 days ago, went 0-for-5 and is in a 3-for-37 slide."  I wonder how much getting plunked has truly affected him.  It would not surprise me to see Jeter go on the retroactive DL at some point to rest.

Todd Wellemeyer is quietly putting together a career year for the Cardinals.  " Wellemeyer had four strikeouts, giving him 36 in 37 2/3 innings for his career against the Pirates."  More importantly, he's 6-1 with a better than 2 to 1 K to BBI and a WHIP of 1.14.  But 86% of you knew that already...

"Albert Pujols also singled in the third and has 10 hits in his past 18 at-bats, raising his average to .364."   So much for injury concerns for Prince Albert.

"Washington RHP Jason Bergmann starts Saturday night against the Diamondbacks. Bergmann (1-1, 4.50 ERA) has thrown 19 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings."  This is not the same guy who was sent down to the minors earlier this year.  For larger leagues, this guy is worth a flier.

And finally from the TMI files, "Giants 1B Rich Aurilia was sidelined for the second straight day still waiting to pass a kidney stone."