Baseball Guru
07-09-2001, 04:40 PM
July 9, 2001
BY GENE GUIDI
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
The Tigers and Mariners have discussed a deal that would send outfielder Juan Encarnacion to the Seattle Mariners.
Despite baseball's best record, the M's think they must improve against left-handers and are seeking a right-handed-hitting leftfielder.
Mariners general manager Pat Gillick thinks Encarnacion, 25, does a lot of things well.
The Tigers want pitching in return, and it would be no surprise if any deal with Seattle included left-hander John Halama.
When the Tigers negotiated a trade last summer that would have sent Juan Gonzalez to the M's, Halama was one of the players who would've come to Detroit.
Halama was 14-9 with a 5.08 ERA last season and started two games against the Yankees in the league championship series. He opened this season in the rotation but was sent to the minors last month to work on his mechanics after going 6-5 with a 5.42.
Saturday night, Halama, 29, pitched the first perfect game in the 99-year history of the Pacific Coast League when he retired all 27 batters in a 6-0 victory for Triple-A Tacoma over Calgary.
NEW FACE: Left-hander Adam Pettyjohn is expected to make his first start at Cincinnati in the second series after the All-Star break. Pettyjohn will replace right-hander Willie Blair, who is 0-4 with an 11.94 since rejoining the Tigers. "We'll move Willie to the bullpen," said manager Phil Garner, who might use Pettyjohn in relief first. Garner said the rotation after the break will be Jeff Weaver, Steve Sparks, Jose Lima, Chris Holt and Pettyjohn.
DOCTOR'S VISIT: Dean Palmer will have his surgically repaired right shoulder examined Thursday by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala.
Palmer has been limited to 57 starts this season -- all as the designated hitter -- because his shoulder has been too weak and sore to play third base.
"I'll have it scoped and see what's going on," Palmer said. "If there's something that needs to be done, I want to get it taken care of now."
Palmer repeated his earlier statement that he didn't want to return to the lineup as the DH.
"I want to be 100 percent and play third base," he said.
FUN IN THE SUN: Garner believes there should be a stipulation in a player's contract that he must go to the All-Star Game if selected, including participation in all festivities and events. "It's fun and good for our game," Garner said.
NOTEBOOK: General manager Randy Smith wouldn't confirm reports that the Tigers will bid to sign outfielder Roger Cedeno to a mulityear contract other than to say: "He's a player we like a lot." Cedeno said he would like to hear what the Tigers have to offer.... Kerry Wood, on the way Jose Lima and Matt Anderson celebrated getting outs Sunday: "Their pitchers definitely have been working on some dance moves." ...Sosa's two homers Sunday were the 414th and 415th of his career, passing former Tiger Darrell Evans into 31st place on the all-time list.... Sunday's crowd of 38,729 was the third straight sellout with the Cubs and fourth of the season.... Jose Macias' home run Sunday was his first since April 27.
BY GENE GUIDI
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
The Tigers and Mariners have discussed a deal that would send outfielder Juan Encarnacion to the Seattle Mariners.
Despite baseball's best record, the M's think they must improve against left-handers and are seeking a right-handed-hitting leftfielder.
Mariners general manager Pat Gillick thinks Encarnacion, 25, does a lot of things well.
The Tigers want pitching in return, and it would be no surprise if any deal with Seattle included left-hander John Halama.
When the Tigers negotiated a trade last summer that would have sent Juan Gonzalez to the M's, Halama was one of the players who would've come to Detroit.
Halama was 14-9 with a 5.08 ERA last season and started two games against the Yankees in the league championship series. He opened this season in the rotation but was sent to the minors last month to work on his mechanics after going 6-5 with a 5.42.
Saturday night, Halama, 29, pitched the first perfect game in the 99-year history of the Pacific Coast League when he retired all 27 batters in a 6-0 victory for Triple-A Tacoma over Calgary.
NEW FACE: Left-hander Adam Pettyjohn is expected to make his first start at Cincinnati in the second series after the All-Star break. Pettyjohn will replace right-hander Willie Blair, who is 0-4 with an 11.94 since rejoining the Tigers. "We'll move Willie to the bullpen," said manager Phil Garner, who might use Pettyjohn in relief first. Garner said the rotation after the break will be Jeff Weaver, Steve Sparks, Jose Lima, Chris Holt and Pettyjohn.
DOCTOR'S VISIT: Dean Palmer will have his surgically repaired right shoulder examined Thursday by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala.
Palmer has been limited to 57 starts this season -- all as the designated hitter -- because his shoulder has been too weak and sore to play third base.
"I'll have it scoped and see what's going on," Palmer said. "If there's something that needs to be done, I want to get it taken care of now."
Palmer repeated his earlier statement that he didn't want to return to the lineup as the DH.
"I want to be 100 percent and play third base," he said.
FUN IN THE SUN: Garner believes there should be a stipulation in a player's contract that he must go to the All-Star Game if selected, including participation in all festivities and events. "It's fun and good for our game," Garner said.
NOTEBOOK: General manager Randy Smith wouldn't confirm reports that the Tigers will bid to sign outfielder Roger Cedeno to a mulityear contract other than to say: "He's a player we like a lot." Cedeno said he would like to hear what the Tigers have to offer.... Kerry Wood, on the way Jose Lima and Matt Anderson celebrated getting outs Sunday: "Their pitchers definitely have been working on some dance moves." ...Sosa's two homers Sunday were the 414th and 415th of his career, passing former Tiger Darrell Evans into 31st place on the all-time list.... Sunday's crowd of 38,729 was the third straight sellout with the Cubs and fourth of the season.... Jose Macias' home run Sunday was his first since April 27.