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Low & Outside: AL Notes
By Phil Anastasia, Inquirer Staff Writer
Jul 24, 2008
Relief, comic and otherwise Effective relief pitchers don't grow on trees. Sometimes, they sit in the dugout disguised as backup infielders. Royals reserve shortstop Tony Peña Jr. took the mound for the ninth inning of a 19-4 loss to the Tigers on Monday night, with surprising results: three up, three down. He threw 12 pitches, eight for strikes; consistently topped 90 m.p.h. on the radar gun; and fanned catcher Pudge Rodriguez.
Maybe the Tigers were tired from scoring 10 runs in the eighth. Maybe they wanted to make last call. Or maybe Peña can pitch.
Kansas City manager Trey Hillman said Peña's performance provided "comic relief, because he was so effective."
The Royals needed a laugh, since reliever Jimmy Gobble surrendered 10 runs - all earned, on seven hits and four walks - in the previous inning. Gobble was placed on the disabled list with a sore back Tuesday.
Kansas City Hall of Fame scout Art Stewart graded Peña as having an "above average" fastball with "above average" command.
Asked about his future, Peña said, "Playing shortstop."
Can he pitch, too? Yankees catcher Jorge Posada might postpone shoulder surgery until after the season, even though he won't work another inning behind the plate.
Posada, on the 15-day disabled list, believes he can help the Yankees as a designated hitter or first baseman.
"I've got 15 days to make a decision," he said. "I'll rehab it and see how it feels and have a decision by then."
Posada said his sore shoulder made catching "out of the question." And he knows that delaying surgery until after this season likely will cost him some of the 2009 season.
As usual, the Yankees have more subplots than War and Peace . Outfielder Hideki Matsui, out since June 23 with a sore knee, also is delaying surgery.
The Yankees also have Jason Giambi and newly acquired Richie Sexson in the first base-DH mix.
Notable Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez was held out of yesterday's game against Seattle with a sore right knee. Asked whether Ramirez would be available for tomorrow night's series opener against the Yankees, Red Sox manager Terry Francona said, "I don't have a good answer for that." . . . Angels starter Jered Weaver was removed from Tuesday night's game after just three innings because of tightness in his lower back.
This article contains information from the Associated Press. Contact staff writer Phil Anastasia at 856-779-3223 or panastasia@phillynews.com .
Copyright 2008
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