Around the Ballparks 07/28

• The Indians traded Jhonny Peralta to the Tigers for LHP Giovanna Soto.
• The Angels Joel Pineiro will be out six to eight weeks (strained left oblique) He was a late scratch on Wed after sustaining a left oblique strain while warming up in the bullpen.

Noteable players on the DL this season (with abdominal or oblique injuries)

MIL – Yovanni Gallardo (RHP)

TEX – Tommy Hunter (RHP)

SD – Mat Latos (RHP)

TEX – Cliff Lee (LHP)

BAL – Brian Roberts (2B)

SD – Mike Adams (RHP)

SF – Jeremy Affeldt (LHP)

NYM – Rod Barajas (C)

PHI – Shane Victorino (CF)

• Derek Lee rejected a trade to the Angeles yesterday. Lee “agonized” over the decision about whether to accept the trade but he decided his family came first.

“When the trade was presented to me, I felt for me and my family the best thing to do was to stay here,” Lee said after the Cubs’ 8-1 loss to the Astros. “That was a decision we made. Jim and I had a great conversation about it. That was the decision.”

“It just shows the kind of guy he is,” pitcher Randy Wells said. “He’s a great guy, great teammate and a valuable asset. Without a guy like him on your team, you never know where you’re going to be, and not just on the field but in the clubhouse. He’s the guy everybody looks up to and he walks in the room and everybody perks up. As far as where we’re at right now, that’s huge that he stays.”

• The Nationals have placed Stephen Strasburg on the 15-day disabled list for shoulder stiffness.

“They’re taking every precaution with me,” he said. “It’s doing great already. [I'm] making big strides … and when the time comes, I’m going to be ready to go.”

• The Giants have won 17 of their last 21 games and Buster Posey extended his hitting streak to 21 games.
• Giants closer Brian Wilson was fined $1,000 for his orange cleats. They are the flashy (but cool in my opinion) he wore at the All-Star Game. Marlins Manager Rodriques complained about the cleats, calling them “a little too bright, too flashy.” During pregame Brian colored in 50 percent of the cleat black with a sharpie.

“I’m going to keep wearing them, but I’ve changed them to 50 percent black for the guidelines, and you guys can attest to that,” said Wilson, holding up one shoe. “I’ve got pretty good eyes. I can eyeball 50 percent. I don’t think they’re going to be nit-picky about 53 percent not black. I’m making an effort.”

“The fact that he thinks these shoes throw 97-100 with cut might be a little far-fetched,” Wilson said. “I guess we should probably have these checked for performance-enhancing cleats.”

• The Orioles hire Buck Showalter as their manager -MLB
• The Royals traded OF Scott Podsednik to the Dodgers for two minor leaguers, Lucas May (C) and Elisaul Pimentel (RHP)
• The Rangers placed Ian Kinsler on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left groin. The club called up (1B/OF) Mitch Moreland from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
• Ben Sheets in out for the remainder of the season with a torn flexor tendon in his right elbow.

“He’ll be missed both on the field and off the field,” Geren said. “He’s been a great teammate for a lot of the young guys. A lot of them looked up to him for his competitiveness and, off the field, he was just a pleasant guy to be around.” 

“The whole year’s been frustrating,” Sheets said. “From where I was before spring, it’s never really taken any jumps you always hear about. To say I felt good for extended periods of time would be false. I felt good here and there — a couple innings here, a couple innings there, but nothing sustained throughout the year.” 

• Dan Uggla hit his 143rd Career Home Run, ties Mike Lowell for Marlins franchise leading record. It is his sixth homerun in his last six games.
• Cardinals are 39-10 this season after scoring in the first inning.
• The Chicago White Sox are 17-1 at home since June 9th.
• Roy Halladay pitched his eigth complete game of the season. He gave up 6H, 1ER, 9K, 114 pitches. The Phillies have won seven straight games and 10 straight victories at home.

Doc (Last 5 home Starts) 4-0, 0.43 ERA, 38/4 K/BB, 0.83 WHIP

• The Tigers have lost nine straight road games.
• Joey Votto (last eight games) .471 AVG, .853 SLG, 4HR, 10RBI