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DENVER -- Michael Cuddyer Jersey The Rockies have still not locked down a return date for right-hander Esmil Rogers, but manager Jim Tracy said when the pitcher does make his way back, it will likely be as a starter. Rogers, 25, on the disabled list since May 2 with lat muscle and oblique injuries, gave up five runs on eight hits while throwing 76 pitches over five innings during a rehab start for Triple-A Colorado Springs on Saturday. Rogers said Monday he will start again for Colorado Springs on Thursday, with a 105-pitch limit, but he is not sure what is scheduled beyond that."I'm just going to try to do my job and wait to see what they tell me," Rogers said.Rogers is 3-1 with a 7.66 ERA in five games (four starts) for the Rockies this season. Tracy wants more looks at the young right-hander as a starter. "I think, right now, you have to view him as [a starter]," Tracy said. "It's not only important as we continue to analyze our situation here, but also from the standpoint of the development of the player. "We're not doing ourselves the greatest of services to have this guy pitching out of the bullpen, if in fact there's opportunity to start. Doesn't make any sense to me to do that with that Authentic Alfonso Soriano Jersey young pitcher."            &n bsp;             ;            &n bsp;         Betancourt benefiting from clear head             ;    DENVER -- Rockies reliever Rafael Betancourt is done tinkering with his hand positioning and no longer thinking about how quickly he is pulling the ball out of his glove. In the end, those matters aren't at the top of his list."I was trying to work on some mechanic stuff that I was doing wrong, but mentally I have to be strong and have confidence every time I come Cubs Alfonso Soriano Jersey into the game," Betancourt said. "That is more important to me than mechanics, getting my confidence back and getting focused. When things go wrong, you start thinking too much. You can't do that in this game."For the last three outings, a clear mind has produced clean results over 2 1/3 innings in which he has given up one hit, struck out three and not walked anyone. He had been touched for runs in Johan Santana Jersey seven of his 12 outings before this successful stretch. On Sunday afternoon, he threw a perfect inning with one strikeout against the Brewers."I always say one game doesn't mean anything, but that's what I want -- to have the confidence to go into the strike zone and attack the hitters," he said. "You have to keep doing it, Cubs Starlin Castro Jersey every time."Betancourt could be a major cog if the Rockies make a dramatic turnaround. But if the Rockies don't become a factor before the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline, contending teams could be interested. There could be payroll relief for the Rockies. Betancourt is in the first year of a two-year deal that is paying him $4.25 million this year and will pay $4 million next year plus a $250,000 buyout on a $4.25 million mutual option for 2013.Being traded from the woebegone Indians to a contending Rockies club in 2009 was a shock for Betancourt, who had spent his Major League career in Cleveland. He Authentic Johan Santana Jersey realizes it could happen again because of the way baseball works, Alfonso Soriano Jersey but he can't bring himself to believe the Rockies' hopes are anywhere near finished."If you start thinking you don't have any chance, you don't have to come to the ballpark," Betancourt said. "I don't like to think that way or feel it. This is our job, the game we love. You represent your team 100 percent. I don't think anybody's thinking that way. I know we have to do something. That's Starlin Castro Jersey all we're thinking about."I don't like to think that way. 'That's it.' In July? No. I can't tell you if we're going to do this or if we're not going to do anything. The only thing we can do is go out on the field and play, worry about what we need to do and forget about other teams. Besides that, I don't have anything else to say. If I had the right answers ... that's why this is a tough game."            &n bsp;             ;            &n bsp;        Wigginton steps in for Stewart           &n bsp;    DENVER -- Rockies third baseman Ian Stewart was removed from Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Brewers in the fifth inning after committing two errors, and he wasn't in the starting lineup on Monday. But Rockies manager Jim Tracy said that decision had less to do with what Stewart did wrong and more with the quality of Ty Wigginton's at-bats on Sunday -- including a run-scoring double off Brewers closer John Axford in the Mets Johan Santana Jersey ninth that cut the lead to one run. "You had a veteran player that you brought in that was very influential in putting you in a position to win the game yesterday in a game that, early on, in the first few innings, didn't look like we had much of a chance at all," Tracy said. In his third stint with the Rockies this season, Stewart has hit well since returning from Triple-A Colorado Springs on July 5. In his last five games, the third baseman is hitting .368 (7-for-19) with a pair of doubles. Tracy said Monday's lineup decision Authentic Michael Cuddyer Jersey was also based on Stewart's history against Braves starter Derek Lowe. Stewart was just 1-for-15 against the Atlanta right-hander. Twins Michael Cuddyer Jersey Wigginton was 2-for-10 against Lowe. Authentic Starlin Castro Jersey

At the beginning of June we explored how every Rangers Josh Hamilton Jersey team's trade needs have changed.Fast-forward one month Justin Morneau Jersey and we now have a clearer picture of how most teams will be approaching the trade deadline in terms of buying or selling, and what their priorities are regarding what they will seek in return for swapping their players.As we get the second-half of the season underway, the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, Washington Nationals, Florida Marlins, Ike Davis Jersey Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins, Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners appear to be definite Authentic Ike Davis Jersey sellers in the next few weeks.The Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Cubs Matt Garza Jersey Bay Rays and New York Mets (with David Wright and Ike Davis hopefully returning soon) are likely headed in that Authentic Justin Morneau Jersey same direction at some point in the next two weeks, however Wild Card hopes may have both teams still weighing their options.The remainder Authentic Matt Garza Jersey of the league is still within striking distance of the division and Wild Card Twins Justin Morneau Jersey leaders, and will likely be searching for help to push them over the hump Mets Ike Davis Jersey and into Josh Hamilton Jersey the postseason.Without further ado, let's take Authentic Josh Hamilton Jersey a look at how Matt Garza Jersey each team's needs have changed post-All-Star break.

SEATTLE -- Mike Napoli spent five seasons with the Angels, a team known for strong starting pitching. But what Napoli and Yorvit Torrealba saw this weekend, and through what is now an 11-game winning streak, is unusually good. "It's fun," Napoli said after the Rangers completed a four-game sweep of the Mariners with a 5-1 victory on Sunday. "The guys are making it Authentic Lan Kinsler Jersey easy on me and 'Torre' by executing pitches. It's pretty impressive what they are doing. These young guys are learning how to pitch and not just throw. We're getting a good scouting report and plan, and we're sticking with it." Matt Harrison turned in the latest impressive performance by holding the Mariners to one run on five hits through 7 2/3 innings. Mark Lowe and Neftali Feliz finished up and the Rangers have now allowed just two runs in their past five games. The Rangers may not have been able to set a club record for consecutive scoreless innings, but this is the fewest runs they have ever allowed in a five-game Authentic David Wright Jersey stretch. The staff that had a 39-inning scoreless streak in 1981 ended up allowing four runs in five games. During Authentic Kosuke Fukudome Jersey their 11-game winning streak, the Rangers' pitchers own a 2.09 ERA, they have held opponents to a .194 batting average and posted 86 strikeouts against just 23 walks over 99 innings. "These guys in the rotation that didn't realize their potential are realizing it now and understanding what they are Rangers Lan Kinsler Jersey capable of doing," said second baseman Ian Kinsler. They were particularly hard on the Mariners this weekend. In 36 innings, the Mariners mustered just two runs on 20 hits. Seventeen were singles, and all three extra-base hits were doubles. Seattle drew seven walks and struck Cubs Kosuke Fukudome Jersey out 33 times. The starting pitching was Authentic Joe Mauer Jersey most impressive, but Feliz pitched in three games and retired six straight hitters to earn two saves. Feliz has still not given up a hit to the Mariners in his career. They are 0-for-33 with two walks and 13 strikeouts against him. But right now, the Mariners aren't hitting against anybody wearing a Rangers uniform. "I mean, there were a few things I thought were a little bit better, but overall, a lot of the same," said Mariners manager Eric Wedge. "What makes it painful for everybody is the fact that it's just been so drastic offensively. I still go back to the fact that you are going to David Wright Jersey win games if you play good baseball. We've been playing pretty good baseball, just not been hitting at all, and that's why it sticks out so bad." The Lan Kinsler Jersey Rangers didn't have a big Joe Mauer Jersey weekend offensively, but they were able to score early and played excellent defense. They committed just one error in Seattle and have made just three during this 11-game win streak. Mitch Moreland had the big blow on Sunday against Mariners starter Blake Beavan, the former Rangers No. 1 Draft pick who was making his third Major League start.  Moreland, moved down to the No. 9 spot, gave Harrison all the runs he needed in the second inning with a three-run home run. It was both his first home run and RBI in 11 games, going back to June 28 in Houston, and it snapped an 0-for-14 skid. "It was good ... I have been working on some stuff, and it's a sign of progress," Moreland Twins Joe Mauer Jersey said. "I'm still not where I want to be, but I was able to put us in the lead, and Harry was pitching great." Harrison has been. He is now 5-3 with a 1.94 ERA in his past 10 starts. That leaves him 8-7 on the season with a 2.91 ERA -- the lowest in the Rangers' rotation. "The biggest key is staying mentally focused with each batter," Harrison said. "When I get in trouble, I'm adjusting between batters, getting back my mental focus quickly and executing my pitches." Harrison was also smart enough to realize Sunday that he had a great sinker working in the bullpen. He Mets David Wright Jersey took that into the game and relied on it for most of the afternoon, getting the Mariners to hit one ground ball after another. Shortstop Elvis Andrus did most of the work, and his nine assists -- including one while Kosuke Fukudome Jersey turning a first-inning double play -- was a single-game career high. "I was able to throw the sinker when I wanted and get ground balls," Harrison said. "I had a lot of three-ball counts, but I was still able to come back, throw my sinker and get the outs." That's the way the entire weekend went for the Rangers' staff.

ST. PETERSBURG -- While the Red Sox were wrapping up a three-game series on Sunday night in Carl Crawford's old haunt of Tropicana Field, the speedy left fielder was arriving in Baltimore for a night of rest before rejoining Boston's lineup on Monday night at Camden Yards.Crawford has been out since June 18 with a left hamstring strain. He went 1-for-5 in a two-game rehab stint for Triple-A Pawtucket."He didn't swing the bat great, but he was real healthy, which is perfect,"  Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "He got some at-bats out of the way. The timing at the plate, hopefully it will come quick. He'll be ready to go tomorrow. There are no issues physically. He felt really good, so that's great."After a nightmarish start offensively, Crawford was just starting to show the Red Sox what he could do before he got injured. He is hitting .243 with six homers, 31 RBIs and eight stolen bases."His batting average might be lower this year than we're used to," Francona said. "But if he comes back for the last couple of months and is kind of that terror, a guy that Authentic Carlos Beltran Jersey causes havoc and stuff, what a lift that would give us."            &n bsp;             ;            &n bsp;        Red Sox schedule Lester Carlos Beltran Jersey for July 26 return           &nb sp;    ST. PETERSBURG -- The Red Sox have a return date for Jon Lester. The power lefty will be activated from the disabled list and start the game on July 26 at Fenway Park against the Royals.Lester injured his lower left lat muscle during Cubs Carlos Zambrano Jersey his Carlos Zambrano Jersey start against theBlue Jays on July 5.There will be a steady progression for Lester between now and his start, which will take away the need for a Minor League rehab assignment."He'll throw a side [session] tomorrow," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "He'll come back Wednesday and throw a pretty significant side and then Friday or Saturday, he'll throw a smaller side. Then he'll pitch Tuesday."Lester, being the competitor he is, was hoping he could have pitched the first day he was activated, which is Friday night."I think he was actually aggravated," Francona said. "He wanted to pitch Friday. So I think that's good news for us that he must feel good. But we need to give him a chance where he can go out and not be stuck on 60 pitches in his first game back."            &n bsp;             ;            &n bsp;        Red-hot Reddick could create outfield logjam           &nb sp;    ST. PETERSBURG -- The red-hot hitting of Authentic Michael Young Jersey Josh Reddick has provided a big boost for the Red Sox the last few weeks. But with Carl Crawford set to return to the lineup on Monday night, manager Terry Francona Authentic Denard Span Jersey could be dealing with a big logjam in the coming days.While Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury figure Michael Young Jersey to be mainstays in the lineup, Reddick could reduce some of J.D. Drew's playing time in right field.Drew has struggled nearly all season, hitting .228 with four homers and 22 RBIs in 224 at-bats. Reddick, meanwhile, is hitting .379 Authentic Carlos Zambrano Jersey with three homers and 17 RBIs in 66 at-bats.It could be similar to earlier in the season, when a younger player -- Jed Lowrie -- got red-hot and veteran shortstop Marco Scutaro switched to a backup role."If that's considered a dilemma, I'd like to have a lot of them," Francona said. "I understand your point. At some point, when he's hot like that, the kid's got to play. It's kind of like Lowrie earlier in the year. You're not doing your team a service. He's been terrific. And to be honest with you, until Denard Span Jersey we're there, I don't know how to make that work perfectly, but we're just going to try to win. Whoever we think can help us win, we'll play."            &n bsp;             ;            &n bsp;        Ortiz expects appeal ruling before O's series           &nb sp;    ST. PETERSBURG -- David Ortiz was right back in the fifth spot in Boston's batting order for Sunday night's game against the Rays, but he was well aware he might not be Twins Denard Span Jersey so lucky by the time the Red Sox get to Baltimore on Monday night.Ortiz is still waiting to hear back from Major League Baseball regarding the appeal of his four-game suspension for his actions Mets Carlos Beltran Jersey on July 8 in a bench-clearing melee with the Orioles and right-hander Kevin Gregg.With the Red Sox and Orioles set to meet Monday for the first time since that eventful series, Ortiz seemed to have an expectation that his appeal would be ruled on before the game starts."I'll probably hear something today," Ortiz said. "Probably, I'm not sure. It's 5 o'clock and I haven't heard anything. I'll probably hear something later on tonight or probably tomorrow morning."Whether Ortiz plays in the three-game series against the Orioles, he hopes that there will be no more incidents Rangers Michael Young Jersey between the two teams."Hopefully not," Ortiz said. "MLB is paying attention to all that stuff. I'm not a pitcher. I can't tell you anything about that. I don't throw the ball. Hopefully they'll be smart and put that away and play the game the way it's supposed to be played."

TORONTO -- Veteran reliever Jason Frasor now owns a little piece of Blue Jays history.Frasor appeared in his 453rd game with Authentic Nelson Cruz Jersey Toronto on Sunday afternoon to surpass Duane Ward for first place on the club's all-time list.The record has been more than seven years in the making. The Blue Jays are the only team Frasor has known at the Major League Nelson Cruz Jersey level, and the special accomplishment wasn't lost on him after Toronto's 7-2 loss to the Yankees. "I've been fortunate enough to play in Toronto for eight years," Frasor said. "Met my wife, got a Canadian dog, bought a condo here. I have some roots here now, and I'm very fortunate. "I got traded here in '04, and eight years later Ryne Sandberg Jersey here, Rangers Nelson Cruz Jersey I never thought I would still be here. But that's the way it has worked out, Carlos Pena Jersey and I'm very thankful for that."Frasor's path to success hasn't been an easy journey. He was acquired from the Dodgers for Jayson Werth and immediately became a key member of the club's bullpen. Frasor recorded a career-high 17 saves that season and Mets Jose Reyes Jersey the future appeared bright, but he never received much job security. The native of Chicago has signed eight consecutive one-year contracts with Toronto. There was a period of time when the 34-year-old didn't know whether he would still have a job when his team broke camp at the end of Spring Authentic Jose Reyes Jersey Training. "2004 and 2005 were good, and then the springs of 2006 and 2007 were kind of hairy because the previous seasons weren't very good, or as good," said Frasor, who then added his own bit of humor. "I don't know if guys got hurt or they said, 'What the heck? Let's put him back on the team.'"I've said a few times -- I was probably traded a few times Jose Reyes Jersey at the end of Spring Training, and our GM just asked for the other team's best player and the trade fell through."Relievers tend to bounce around from club to club, but that Frasor has been able to find a permanent home for such a long period of time speaks volumes to not only his performance but his overall health as well.  Frasor has appeared in at least 49 games every year of his career. He has struck out 421 batters compared to just 192 walks and made a series of adjustments to his arsenal in order to accomplish his prolonged success."I've adapted, and I've settled down and stopped worrying about things," said Frasor, who is 24-28 with a 3.71 ERA in his seven-plus seasons in Toronto. "Thanks to [Blue Jays pitching coach Bruce Walton] and Doug Bochtler, who helped me with the changeup that has really catapulted me the last couple of years. "I've had decent years; the changes made all the difference. [I started] throwing more strikes and stopped worrying about things. These great relievers have short memories, and it took me a while to learn that."Frasor still doesn't know what the future will bring. He is currently on a one-year contract with a club option for 2012. It's just another season without long-term security, and Cubs Carlos Pena Jersey the veteran righty is well aware he'll need another strong finish to the season to secure a new deal.Frasor also hopes that deal gets done in Toronto."It does seem like pitchers Authentic Carlos Pena Jersey bounce around," Frasor said. "Not only from league to league and team to team, but sometimes they go to Japan and come back or something. I'm just very, very proud. I just don't know how many Cubs Ryne Sandberg Jersey relievers have stuck with a team for that long. I can't imagine there's that many."Eight great years. Authentic Ryne Sandberg Jersey I don't know how many more, but if they offer me a contract, I'd love to keep coming back."