Rays Longoria leaves with sore oblique (AP)

The Tampa Bay Rays hope they don’t have to find a way to jumpstart their sputtering offense minus slugger Evan Longoria. The three-time All-Star third baseman left Saturday’s night game against the Baltimore Orioles with a sore oblique muscle in his left side and the defending AL East champions are not sure of the severity [...]

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http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2011/04/03/rays-longoria-leaves-with-sore-oblique-ap/

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Kinsler, Beltre power Rangers by Red Sox (AP)

Ian Kinsler had another leadoff homer and Adrian Beltre hit a grand slam to help power the Texas Rangers to a 12-5 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday night. Beltre’s first homer for the Rangers came against his former team and capped a six-run outburst that made it 9-3 in the fourth against [...]

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http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2011/04/03/kinsler-beltre-power-rangers-by-red-sox-ap/

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Rockies Jimenez, De La Rosa both ailing (AP)

Lefty Jorge De La Rosa scattered three harmless singles and drove in a run before leaving in the sixth inning with a blister on his left middle finger, and the Colorado Rockies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-1 Saturday night. With De La Rosa listed as day-to-day, the Rockies’ top two pitchers are now dealing with [...]

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http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2011/04/03/rockies-jimenez-de-la-rosa-both-ailing-ap/

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The Pittsburgh Pirates DFA Ramon Aguero

The Pirates have designated 26-year old righty reliever Ramon Aguero for assignment. He pitched in 25 games (0 starts) in A+AA-ball last year and he was 2-5 with 3 saves, a 6.14 ERA and a 1.84 WHIP. Aguero pitched in 103 games (30 starts) in his five years in the minors with the [...]

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http://www.bucslocker.com/2011/04/02/the-pittsburgh-pirates-dfa-ramon-aguero/

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The Pittsburgh Pirates place three players on the
D.L.

The Pirates have placed starting catcher Chris Snyder, righty starting pitcher Brad Lincoln and righty reliever Jose Ascanio on the 15-day disabled list. Snyder has a sore lower back, so the Pirates are hopeful that a couple of weeks of rest will get him ready to go. Ryan Doumit will likely do the [...]

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http://www.bucslocker.com/2011/04/02/the-pittsburgh-pirates-place-three-players-o
n-the-dl/

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The mysteries inside Brian Wilson's beard

San Francisco Giants closer Brian Wilson is everywhere. And it appears so are dancing Irish girls.

Join us now for a journey inside his beard...

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Flying Squirrels announce 2011 Opening Day roster

In conjunction with their parent-club, the 2010 World Series Champion San Francisco Giants, the Richmond Flying Squirrels have announced their 2011 opening day roster. The Squirrels will carry the Eastern League maximum of 24 active players at the outset of the season, eight of whom are rated among Baseball America's top-30 prospects in the Giants' system.

Highlighting that group is 2B Charlie Culberson, who Baseball America recognizes as the #6 prospect in the San Francisco chain. Culberson will advance to Double-A for the first time after spending the entire 2010 season helping San Jose (A+) to the California League title and starring in the prestigious Arizona Fall League. Joining Culberson among players touted as top-30 prospects are; LHP Eric Surkamp (#9), OF Roger Kieschnick (#14), RHP Jason Stoffel (#22), OF Juan Perez (#24), LHP Ryan Verdugo (#25), C Johnny Monell (#28) and LHP Clayton Tanner (#30). (Baseball America Rankings in Parentheses)

Seven members of the Flying Squirrels' Inaugural Season team will return to the River City, including; Kieschnick, Tanner, RHP Daryl Maday, LHP David Quinowski, RHP Ronnie Ray, C Aaron Lowenstein and INF Sharlon Schoop. Maday and Tanner were both selected as Eastern League All-Stars in 2010, and Maday earned the first-ever win for Richmond at The Diamond on April 15th, 2010.

Three members of the Flying Squirrels' opening day roster have Major League experience, including; 1B Joe Koshansky (Colorado Rockies), OF Justin Christian (New York Yankees) and RHP Osiris Matos (Giants).

The Flying Squirrels will be led in 2011 by veteran manager Dave Machemer. Machemer spent the past two seasons with the Augusta (A) GreenJackets in the South Atlantic League. Ross Grimsley returns for his second season as Flying Squirrels' Pitching Coach, and Ken Joyce will take over as Hitting Coach in his first season. Joyce served in the same capacity for the Fresno (AAA) Grizzlies in 2010. Eric Ortega will return for a second season as Athletic Trainer, and Garrett Sherrill will serve his first season as Strength & Conditioning Coach.

Complete Flying Squirrels' 2011 Opening Day Roster:

Pitchers -- LHP Justin Dowdy, RHP Justin Fitzgerald, Maday, Matos, RHP Dan Otero, Quinowski, RHP Edwin Quirarte, Ray, Stoffel, Surkamp, Tanner, LHP Ryan Verdugo, LHP Thomas Vessella.

Catchers -- Lowenstein, Monell.

Infielders -- Culberson, INF Jose Flores, Koshansky, Schoop, INF Joel Weeks.

Outfielders -- Christian, Kieschnick, OF Mike McBryde, Perez.

Individual game tickets for the 2011 season of Flying Squirrels baseball, including 2011 Opening Night on April 7th, are currently available. For more information, or to purchase tickets, fans can call (804) 359-FUNN (3866), visit the Flying Squirrels' ticket office at The Diamond or visit SquirrelsBaseball.com.

Richmond Flying Squirrels News Sources. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

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A concern about Chris Dwyer's mechanics

I was browsing through the pictures from the Futures Game when I came up on one of Chris Dwyer about to throw a pitch. 

The potential problem here is that Dwyer uses an "Inverted W" arm action, which many in the pitching mechanics community (which includes many doctors and physiologists in sports medicine) believe puts abnormal strain on the arm and leads to a greater risk of injury.  An extended, thoroughly researched and meticulously sourced discussion of this subject can be found here.  Mark Prior infamously used inverted W arm action.

Look familiar?

I guess my only point here is that this is something of a concern.  The above linked article makes it clear that this kind of arm action isn't necessarily a career killer, nor a guarantee of future Tommy John surgery.  But it is worrisome.  And I don't reacall having read anything about issues with his mechanics before.  Hopefully Kyle Boddy or someone else who knows more about pitching mechanics than I will assuage my fears.

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The Lees Shall Inherit The Earth: Astros Lose 9-4

This is the kind of thing that we should have expected. And yet, it's also something completely unexpected, too.

We should have known that the Phillies, who have been in the National League Championship for three straight seasons, would begood. We knew that Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee would be tough to beat. Lee certainly proved that Saturday, striking out 11 Astros and not really allowing many big rallies. He was as good as expected.

What we didn't anticipate is the pitching staff struggling as much as they have. Sure, the Phillies have a good offense, but this was supposed to be a good group of Houston pitchers, too. Wandy struggled early and often, which is worrisome when added onto his slow spring and shoulder tendinitis. The bullpen also got hit around a bit, as the Phillies scored nine runs on singles and doubles.

At least it wasn't just Brandon Lyon who's struggled. It's still very early and we can't draw too many conclusions from two games, but I can safely say this wasn't the start Astros fans wanted.

Carlos Lee's resurrection? That's been a nice surprise. Who'd have thought Lee would hit a triple in the second game of the season? Again, it's too early to make any strong conclusions, but it seems like Lee is swinging the bat like he did at the end of last season and not how he started the 2010 campaign. That should make a difference in this offense.

Tomorrow, the Astros Past (Oswalt) will meet the Astros Future (Norris). Let's hope there aren't more surprises about this 2011 team.

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Mets score 3 in 10th to beat Marlins 6-4 (AP)

The way David Wright sees things, the New York Mets got more than a win on Saturday night. They got some lessons to help get them through the 160 remaining games. Wright’s third hit of the game brought Jose Reyes home with the go-ahead run in the 10th, Willie Harris added a big two-run single [...]

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http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2011/04/03/mets-score-3-in-10th-to-beat-marlins-6-4-ap
/

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