Prior’s year may end in familiar way
The Chicago Cubs placed Mark Prior on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with shoulder tendinitis, a move that could mean an end to the right-hander’s season.
Prior has been on the disabled list eight times in his four-year career in the majors, including three this season. The latest trip comes after he allowed five earned runs in three innings in an 8-6 loss to Milwaukee on Thursday.
Prior began the season on the DL with a sore shoulder and went back on in July with a strained oblique muscle. He’s made nine starts, going 1-6 with a 7.21 ERA.
His only win came against Pittsburgh on Aug. 5, when he allowed five hits and two runs in 5 2/3 innings.
Colon hopes for spring
Bartolo Colon thinks that with rest and rehab, his partially torn rotator cuff should heal by spring training.
“I feel confident that everything is going to be fine,” the 2005 American League Cy Young Award winner said in his first extensive remarks since being told Aug. 4 his season was over.
Colon was just 1-5 with a 5.11 ERA in 10 starts this year for the Los Angeles Angels after going 21-8 with a 3.48 ERA last season. The 33-year-old right-hander was on the DL from April 19 to June 17 with an inflamed right shoulder and made his last appearance at Tampa Bay on July 27, when he left after allowing two home runs in the first inning.
Hunter’s glove heats up
Minnesota Twins Gold Glove center fielder Torii Hunter microwaves his black Rawlings glove for 30 seconds if he fails to make a play the night before. Even more after an error the glove gets nuked for two minutes.
Hunter said it’s partially a reminder that he needs to stay sharp defensively. But there’s a sadistic side to the ritual he has performed since the mid-1990s.
“That’s punishment (for the glove),” Hunter said. “You do something bad, you go to hell.”
Benson returns to Baltimore
Baltimore Orioles pitcher Kris Benson was activated from the disabled list in time to start the game against the Boston Red Sox.
The right-hander was placed on the 15-day DL on Aug. 4, retroactive to July 26, with tendinitis in his throwing elbow. He entered the game with a 9-9 record and 4.71 ERA.
Clearing the bases
Astros outfielder Preston Wilson was designated for assignment, a roster move Houston made so it could promote pitcher Jason Hirsh from Triple-A Round Rock. … The Cincinnati Reds placed left-hander Kent Mercker on the 15-day disabled list and called up pitcher Chris Michalak from Triple-A Louisville. Mercker has inflammation in his left elbow. He pitched a scoreless inning in Cincinnati’s 14-inning loss to the Phillies on Friday night. The left-handed Michalak, 35, is 8-11 with a 4.66 ERA in 53 career games in the majors. The Reds also designated infielder William Bergolla for assignment. … The Cleveland Indians recalled right-hander Jeremy Guthrie from Triple-A Buffalo to start the second game of a day-night doubleheader against the Kansas City Royals. … The Indians designated infielder Ramon Vazquez for assignment to open a roster spot for Guthrie, then traded catcher Einar Diaz to the Los Angeles Dodgers for cash.