While some continue to believe the fantastical idea of the Orioles as big spenders this offseason, Roch Kubato of MASN Sports writes that Koji Uehara will be used as a reliever in 2010.
Uehara
posted a 4.05 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 48/12 K/BB ratio over 12 starts in 2009, but his debut campaign was cut
short with a torn tendon in his right elbow in June. His FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) of 3.56 hints at even better results to come, if healthy. Uehara was recently given permission by his doctor to begin throwing at his home in Japan.
Uehara
has stated a willingness to be a reliever, but it’s kind of a silly
notion when you realize Orioles starters had a major-league worst 5.37
ERA to go along with a 1.52 WHIP (28th in MLB).
Sure, the Orioles have Brian Matusz,
Chris Tillman, Jeremy Guthrie, Brad Bergesen and a host of
fifth-starter candidates in-house, but isn’t Uehara exactly the type of efficient starter
the Orioles should be looking for?
MLB homer leader Pete Alonso to IL with bone bruise, sprain in wrist
Dale Zanine/USA TODAY Sports
PITTSBURGH — The New York Mets will have to dig out of an early-season hole without star first baseman Pete Alonso.
The leading home run hitter in the majors will miss three-to-four weeks with a bone bruise and a sprain in his left wrist.
The Mets placed Alonso on the 10-day injured list Friday, retroactive to June 8. Alonso was hit in the wrist by a 96 mph fastball from Charlie Morton in the first inning of a 7-5 loss to Atlanta on Wednesday.
Alonso traveled to New York for testing on Thursday. X-rays revealed no broken bones, but the Mets will be missing one of the premier power hitters in the game as they try to work their way back into contention in the NL East.
“We got better news than it could have been,” New York manager Buck Showalter said. “So we take that as a positive. It could have been worse.”
New York had lost six straight heading into a three-game series at Pittsburgh that began Friday. Mark Canha started at first for the Mets in the opener. Mark Vientos could also be an option, though Showalter said the coaching staff may have to use its “imagination” in thinking of ways to get by without Alonso.
“I’m not going to say someone has to step up and all that stuff,” Showalter said. “You’ve just got to be who you are.”
Even with Alonso in the lineup, the Mets have struggled to score consistently. New York is 16th in the majors in runs scored.
The team also said Friday that reliever Edwin Uceta had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. Uceta initially went on the IL in April with what the team called a sprained left ankle. He is expected to be out for at least an additional eight weeks.
New York recalled infielder Luis Guillorme and left-handed reliever Zach Muckenhirn from Triple-A Syracuse. The Mets sent catcher Tomás Nido to Triple-A and designated reliever Stephen Nogosek for assignment.
Nogosek is 0-1 with a 5.63 ERA in 13 games this season.