Arizona floundering in N.L. West
The bullpen’s a mess, the big slugger probably is out for the season and nobody but Randy Johnson can win games.
The Arizona Diamondbacks, expected to contend in the N.L. West, haven’t been this bad since their expansion season in 1998.
Manager Bob Brenly, in the final year of his contract, has vacillated between exasperation and stubborn optimism.
Asked before Monday’s game if he thought his job was in jeopardy, he snapped at the questioner.
“My job is to help the team win in any way I can,” he said. “If the team doesn’t win ballgames, then everybody can draw their own conclusions. I’m going about my business the same way I always have, and I’m quite honestly getting tired of answering all these questions.”
He held the latest in a series of team meetings before Monday night’s game, then the team went out and committed three errors, allowing three unearned runs, in an 8-4 loss to San Francisco.
The defeat left Arizona with its worst May record in the team’s seven-year history at 9-20.
No part of the team has been worse than the bullpen, which was supposed to be the team’s biggest strength and help shore up a thin starting staff.
Closer Matt Mantei, who earns $7 million this season, lost his job, then went on the disabled list with tendinitis. Jose Valverde, impressive a year ago, replaced Mantei, was awful, then was demoted, too.
As of now, journeyman Scott Service is the designated closer, although Elmer Dessens – whose poor performances knocked him out of the starting rotation – has the team’s most recent save.
Then there’s Richie Sexson, The Diamondbacks gave up six players in a nine-player deal to get the big first baseman as a right-handed power hitter behind Luis Gonzalez.
Sexson tore cartilage and bruised a bone in his left shoulder checking his swing on April 29. He returned three weeks later, but in his second game back, re-injured the shoulder on another check swing. Now team physician Dr. Michael Lee is recommending season-ending surgery.
Cardinals’ Rolen beaned
St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Scott Rolen left Tuesday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first inning, shortly after he was hit in the helmet with a pitch from Ryan Vogelsong.
Vogelsong’s 1-0 pitch knocked Rolen’s helmet off, but Rolen quickly rose to his feet and walked to first without assistance. He came around to score two batters later but did not take the field in the bottom half. He will be evaluated today.
Mets buy out Cablevision contract
The New York Mets might follow the lead of the cross-town Yankees and start their own cable television network.
The Mets paid $54 million last week to buy out the remainder of their contract with Madison Square Garden Network and Fox Sports Net New York, exercising their right to terminate the deal after the 2005 season.
Under a 1996 agreement, the Mets had until Monday to exercise the buyout.
Clearing the bases
Milwaukee pitcher Ben Sheets missed Tuesday’s start against the Dodgers because of a viral infection and inflammation in his inner ear… . Cincinnati placed infielder Juan Castro on the 15-day DL with a strained rib cage muscle, and recalled infielder Felipe Lopez from Triple-A Louisville… . The New York Yankees claimed right-hander Jason Anderson off waivers from Cleveland. The Yankees optioned Anderson to Triple-A Columbus and designated catcher David Parrish for assignment… . Atlanta left fielder Chipper Jones left Tuesday’s game against Montreal in the fourth inning after he pulled up while trying to beat out an infield grounder.